Summer transfer thread

I would try and get Roberts in on a long term deal. Huge value in the pipeline with him and he has shown he can do it in the championship.

I would get Gooch tied down again. I would like to see Doyle back for another season. I would keep Hoffman if we can. I would do a deal for Broadhead, but only if the price is right. Same for Dujaku.

I reckon we will strengthen across the park, but we have a core of a very good championship team already. Patto, Cirkin, Baath, Evans, Neil, Embo, Pritch, Stewart will all be better in the championship for me.

 

I knew there was something I was forgetting when I typed that out. Yeah, selling Flanagan and trying to shift Gooch are both ticks in the cons column for Speakman. I think you're right about several of the squad being Johnson's picks, which just shows that his ideas weren't all bad. I just feel that when you look at the season as a whole, some of the criticism that Speakman got, at the times that he got it, now seems like heat of the moment stuff.

 

Thank you. 23 yearold and he has a one of the richest clubs in the world on it's knees. Dangerous Dangerous times.

 

That yesterday, as many many people predicted could've been Defoes swan song. There was 10 games to play and he could've signed off at Wembley. Madness.

 

I wouldn't mind one or two possible leauge one players signed in the summer, however, we now need to aim for top end championship players or even the Premier players. Signing like for like is no good, we need to, like we did last windows ie Robters, Pritchard etc sign players better than the leauge we're in. Personally I'd offer a bid to Norwich for Pukki.

 

We've already got one "new signing" hopefully - Niall Huggins.

 

No sniff for Dan Neil in the final yesterday. Odd.

 

First choice right back
Two center mids (assuming Neil goes)
Two center backs (one adding pace)
A striker

are my obvious shopping list. Nowhere near the wholesale changes one might expect

 

Hmm, centre midfield we have Embo Pritchard, Neil, 09, Evans, Matete, Winchester.

RB, LB, CB and striker agreed

 

It might just be me worrying too much but I find his lack of game time slightly worrying if I'm honest. From where he was under Johnson and then hardly getting a look in. I hope he has a big part to play under Neil.

 

I agree mate, in that a lot of heat of the moment stuff. I am guilty of it. I am sure he will have his review with KLD on his performance, just hope he holds his hands up on mistakes he made and understands what he needs to do to improve personally. He is still a relative novice, so will make mistakes, I just hope he realises he has made them.

 

Honestly mate, if Neil goes it will be a bloody travesty. He is tailor made for higher level football and will look a million dollars in the championship. I would be amazed if he doesnt increase his value significantly. If he is worth £10m now he will be £25m after a year in the championship. The lad is on another level to anything we have produced out of our academy, in my opinion, in many a year. If we sell low now it will be a bad sign for me.

 

He is battling with Pritchard and Embo for a place.

Unfortunately he is not great defensively, most sides have 2 DMs and if we play wingers Dan Neil is squeezed out.

 

When Embo played that deeper role for a few games I was surprised (he did very well though, so not knocking Embo) but I thought that might have been the time to play Dan with onien and Evans. Saying all that, I can't knock the gaffer at all. Evey decision he has made has been spot on.

 

Agreed. No one is above criticism. If he's going to progress into what we'll need when we eventually find our way back to the Premier League, he'll need to be self-analytical enough to recognise his own failings.

This is potentially the litmus test for Speakman. If he can keep the best parts of this squad in place and augment what we already have, he'll be doing well.

 

Looks like young Bellingham was there again yesterday. I know he’s only a kid but would be some coup.

 

Mitrovic top earner please ! Bellingham a great player, need to keep Patterson, Embleton, Drogba, pritchard, Broadhead, Dan neil ( or to Manc / Newcastle £20m) Bathe, Roberts, Willis, for starters.

 

I wouldn’t call Embo and Pritchard CM. Embo at a push.

Evans has been great recently but I’d worry about both him as a starter in the championship.

And Winchester is a right back in my mind now. Again I don’t see him as a championship CM

 

I agree with you. I just fear the writing is on the wall. He definitely suits championship football more and I’m hoping Alex Neil was just wanting a different type of midfielder for this run in

 

Birmingham are losing their Cat 1 academy status so wouldn’t be surprised to see us get Jobe Bellingham and perhaps some other of their youth