Hull City: Barmby awaits Allam okay for player plans NICK Barmby says he is awaiting the "green light" from owner Assem Allam to put his squad strengthening plans into action at Hull City. The Tigers head to Watford on Saturday aiming to keep their Championship play-off bid alive. ​ Looking to the future: Nick Barmby has 'very good ideas'. But casting an eye on next season already, the City boss admits to having drawn up a summer transfer wish-list. Head of football operations Adam Pearson has warned City may need to do the majority of their trading in the free markets. However, Barmby says he would be confident of building on the progress of this season given 'time and a bit of money'. "We've got very good ideas and I've got very good people behind me," Barmby said. "With Adam and the contacts he's got in the game, we're ready to go with certain things. We just need the green light. "I want players, whoever signs for this club, to know what the rules are on how we want to play, train and look after ourselves. Yes it's about results, we all know that, but if you get a bit of time and a bit of money, then you've got a good chance." Pearson has already pointed to the huge £50m investment in just 16 months by the Allam family, saying they should not be under any pressure to open their cheque book again. But the owners publicly stated in January that they were willing to provide money for Barmby to invest in new players – an opportunity declined by the manager at the time. Asked if he felt he would get the 'time and money' required now, he added: "That's up to the owners. Unfortunately I don't get to make that decision. We've got the ideas in place. I just want to maximise the players' efforts between now and the end of the season and see where it takes us. "Then we'll have to make decisions over the summer but we're ready to go on our part. "It's not just the football side, the powers that be have a big say in where we go." Barmby hopes to recruit at least five new faces as well as tying down James Chester, Liam Rosenior and Corry Evans to new, improved deals. City have already sounded out Arsenal over a permanent move for goalkeeper Vito Mannone, but a tight budget appears to put question marks over that move. City are also keen on Swiss international Eldin Jakupovic, a free agent this summer. Barmby would also like defensive cover for the injured Jack Hobbs, who will sit out the start of next season, as well as a new-look attacking line and a ball-playing midfielder. To help fund the moves, City's coffers will be boosted by the exits of veterans Adriano Basso, Dele Adebola and James Harper when they reach the end of their contracts in June. A trio of high earners still have another year to run on their deals though, as Seyi Olofinjana, Paul McShane and Kamel Ghilas, who command a combined wage of about £55,000 a week, will continue to place a heavy financial millstone upon the Tigers' budget unless an agreement can be struck with new clubs. Kevin Kilbane will also see his playing contract expire but City may retain him on a new dual contract to allow him to stay as reserves boss. http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/story-15790294-detail/story.html?
interesting read... im glad we're STILL in for a ball playing midfielder... pearson tried to sign Danns for us who would have filled that role... i wonder who barmby has lined up. also a new look strike force sounds interesting... does that mean mclean is on his way ?
On monday i was told that City are trying to re-negiotiate Oli's contract along the same lines as Kevin Kilbanes 2 years ago. Now that makes sense IF Oli will agree to it. Its a good read (HDM STORY) and coupled with Adam Pearsons programme notes for the Boro game and what he said in the press/media its looking good for the summer. As for the attacking options, FFS, we only have 2 strikers as it is. We need at least 2 more to replace Adebola and Simpson. One other option City should go for IMO is a striker coach. If money is tight then get Deano in that role. He will be cheap as chips. For me Mclean can be prolific if given the right coaching. Look what Chris Chilton did for Billy Whitehurst in the 80's and Big Billy was far worse than McLean is now.
A ball carrying midfielder!! I can see the appeal but surely that's cheating? BTW I notice the article doesn't mention extending Stewart's contract. Sorry 'Ball Playing' it all makes sense now.
Maybe Tom Briscoe fancies a change and does Cammy Stewart deserve an improved deal Yet ? I would suggest No at the moment.
2014 At the moment we've got (not counting the kids or loans) this summer - Basso, Oxley, Peet, Kilbane, Harper, Garcia, Atkinson, Cullen, Adebola 2013 - McShane, Rosenior, Cooper, Dawson, Olofinjana, Ghilas, Cairney, Devitt, Koren, McKenna, Simpson 2014 - Chester, Dudgeon, Hobbs, Stewart, Evans, Fryatt, McLean
I can't agree with you there, Mclean indeed works his socks off, is apparently good to have in the dressing room for his upbeat personality and can jump for headers better than anyone his size, but he will never be prolific in this division, I don't rate his first touch and his vision for the game just isn't up to scratch. I'd love to be proven wrong though.
Its an interesting debate and delema but...Did you ever see Billy Whitehurst when he first came to Hull City ? He made Mclean look like Alan Shearer. But Chris Chilton got hold of him and turned Big Billy into a fearsum warrior who could score goals. I would like Mclean to be given that kind of one on one coaching and if it dont work then so be it.
My first instinct was that Oli wouldn't accept that but then again, I can't see him doing much better than £8k-10k anywhere else. McLean is about to hit 29, obviously anyone can still improve until they retire but it only gets harder the older the player. Teaching an old dog new tricks as it were. If Barmby wants to keep this tactic and buy the players to suit it then there'll be a fair few leaving, but if we're only going with one up top at all times then I suppose we'll only need two new strikers. The problem with that is, we've got our top scorer, Fryatt, starting.. 2 new strikers would mean one on the bench and one outside match squads, unless they play on the wing of course. I just hope he doesn't use Cullen as our 3rd option.
Bit of a daft argument.. Whitehurst was 20 I believe, and as I said in my previous post, it's hell of a lot easier to coach an up-and-coming player than it is to coach a 29 year old.
You can't compare Billy with Aaron, Billy was a 6' tough brickie and played a totally different style of play, he struggled early on because of fitness playing league football not because of coaching. Billy was never the same player after he left us even when he came back either, not sure why.
Shame as I like him as he seems a decent hard working player, but we need better and IF he's not here next year I think it could be for the best especially if we can keep the likes of King who is finding his feet, or at least can attract the standard of player he is.
IMO, anyone is still young enough to learn even Mclean. There is more right with Mclean than is wrong. Its like marmite i guess.
