Personally I can understand the DM links. Trybull is first choice but had several injuries over the last two seasons, he's made 60 appearances out of a possible ~100. Tettey is 33, has his own injury issues, and whilst Farke has got a lot out of him, he isn't likely to be an option beyond the end of next season. Then we've got Treatment Table Thompson who the club definitely can't rely on for a full season yet, and Godfrey who is currently first choice CB - I wouldn't want to be forced to disrupt a CB partnership due to injuries further forward.Given that we are looking for a new striker if Rhodes doesn't come back, a new WAM and a RB definitely, I don't understand these links to DMs/CMs. We have Tettey, Trybull, Thompson and Godfrey at DM and Leitner, Vrancic, McLean and Stiepermann at CM. Surely out of those eight players we have enough options for any situation.
Am I right in thinking that the 25 man squad doesn't include anyone below 21, or has that rule changed?
You're quite right ZK:
"The Premier League introduced new rules mandating that each club must register a maximum 25-man squad of players aged over 21, with the squad list only allowed to be changed in transfer windows or in exceptional circumstances. This was to enable the "home grown" rule to be enacted, whereby the Premier League would also from 2010 require at least eight members of the named 25-man squad to be 'home-grown players'."
That gives SW more scope as long as we hold on to our four young players, assuming that the rule means any player under 21 on 1 January 2019. Aarons will be the only one under 21 next year, which SW will also have to consider. That might make loans more attractive.
Another factor though is that 8 of the 25 players named have to be 'home grown'. We now have 9, but if we lose Rhodes we'll be down to 8, including all four U21 players, which takes us back to square one.
So we need to unearth a couple of young Englishmen to make it easier![]()
To confirm that one: "For the 2018/19 campaign Under-21 players will have been born on or after 1 January 1997".That gives SW more scope as long as we hold on to our four young players, assuming that the rule means any player under 21 on 1 January 2019. Aarons will be the only one under 21 next year, which SW will also have to consider. That might make loans more attractive.
Another factor though is that 8 of the 25 players named have to be 'home grown'. We now have 9, but if we lose Rhodes we'll be down to 8, including all four U21 players, which takes us back to square one.
Nah!Mignolet?
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Can't see anything in Mignolet. He was Liverpool's starting 'keeper for ages, he's going to be on far too large a wage for us. Plus the transfer fee, and that he's not great with his feet - this can't be more than lazy paper talk.
Bit disappointed the Pinkun are faithfully reporting whatever crap they can dredge up, with a simple "is said to be", or "it's been reported". Very much just fuelling these baseless rumours, when they should be in a position to offer better reporting.
In fairness to the Pinkun, they have been giving a "likelihood" at the end of the articles. In this case it's "No chance whatsoever."
I think that's definitely the approach we'll take. I can't see any Yobo/Elmander-type signings this time around, the signings are all going to fit into a long-term plan, which will look to make sure every player we spend reasonable money on has resale value, and use free agents/cheap signings to add more experienced figures. I'm sure the demands of relegation will be covered.Back to who we recruit, IMO we should plan for this year but with the possibility of relegation considered as well. We have a good squad so we should build on that so we don't end up with aging, expensive players if it doesn't work out this time. I think we will survive, but we need to aim long term rather than a quick fix.
Like Rick said, it makes you wonder why they bother - it's either clickbait to generate revenue at the detriment of their reputation, or the NCFC reporters struggling for a way to fill their time over the summer. You've made somebody read an entire article just to say "this is complete fantasy and you've wasted your time reading it" at the end.
Hands up if you're guilty of this!!Every year I promise myself that I won't pay attention until we actually sign someone, but I always do.