I was looking at our squad and some potential targets we could/should go for in the summer, and their approximate cost (according to: http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk) Left Wingers Jeffrén Suarez - FC Barcelona - ã2.64m. He can play with both feet so can play on either Left or Right wings. Apparently frustrated with lack of first team opportunities which is understandable. He would obviously get first team appearances often as a winger and he could meet up with Suso and Pacheco (ex-Barcelona academy). To me, that price looks wrong though - so I'd be more inclined to increase it to something like 7-9m simply because he comes from the barca academy. Juan Mata - FC Valencia - ã22.0m Obviously a top class winger for Valencia and probably justifies his weighty price tag. Valencia will also probably have to sell one of their players in the summer due to their financial difficulties and more than likely to shift one of the higher cost players than reduce their squad numbers. So far in 38 games he has 8 goals and 18 assists to his name, surely make him right up there in the list of world class wingers. Eden Hazard - OSC Lille - ã15.84m It's more unlikely we'll sign him now than we did last summer as Lille have had a stormer of a season currently top of Ligue 1. Although Hazard may be wishing to move to a better league. His price tag is obviously deflated a bit and I think if we were to go for him it'd be more like 20-25m. So far he has 11 goals and 12 assists in 47 games this season. Ashley Young - Aston Villa - ã15.84m We have more of a likelihood of signing him than people think. His price tag is actually correct this time around as his contract ends in 2012 and Aston Villa will be wanting to get rid this year than let him go next year after a season of Young wanting to leave. Young may also want to move to a club where he could get European experience soon. So far he has 8 goals and 11 assists in 36 games. Charles N'Zogbia - Wigan Athletic - ã7.92m A stand out player for Wigan this season, he's impressed in an otherwise weak side which has a very real possibility of being relegated meaning his price tag could be lowered even more. Can also play Right wing. Currently 6 goals and 10 assists in 34 matches. Sylvian Marveaux - FC Stade Rennes - Free He's been injured since november and has failed to renew his contract at Rennes. So far he has 3 assists and 1 goal in 10 matches. Left Backs Taye Taiwo - Olympique Marseille - Free The 26 year old Left Fullback has been a regular for Marseille this season and has scored 5 goals and 3 assists in 35 appearances making him quite an attacking Left Back. He'd be a good option if we were given a limited transfer sum. Fábio Coentrão - Benfica Lissabon - ã14.52m Truly an exciting prospect to anyone who has watched him play. He reads the game very well and will chase to close down anyone coming down the flanks or in the box. He can also play as a left winger. He has 5 goals and 5 assists to his name in 41 appearances this season. In my opinion, would cost more than 15m. Gaël Clichy - Arsenal FC - ã13.2m With him looking to move on after not signing a new contract he could possibly be looking for another premier league outfit as it is the best league in the world. Although he does have defensive frailties and is less attacking than the other 2 options. 2 assists and 1 goal in 42 appearances this season. José Enrique Sánchez DÃÂaz - Newcastle United - ã4.84m So far he has 2 assists and 0 goals in 32 appearances this season; showing he also isn't a very attacking left back. I reckon we need a LB with a bit more substance and style as I feel we're only going for him because he has English experience. Emilio Izaguirre - Celtic FC - ã2.42m Apparently a very good LB. This season he currently has 1 goal and 7 assists in 38 games showing he is perhaps a more attacking full back than Clichy or Enrique. The only problem would be judging how good he is based on his performances in the SPL which is probably the equivalent of Championship and League 1 mixed together. Holding Midfielders Ãâ°ver Banega - FC Valencia - ã10.56m An impressive Holding mid who has impressed at Valencia. As I've said for Mata, Valencia need the money and may be looking to offload some of their talent in order to service their debts. Currently has 3 goals and 3 assists in 28 appearances this season. Keisuke Honda - CSKA Moscow - ã8.80m Another impressive midfielder who has shown his worth on the champions league stage. Seems to be far too much for the league he's in at the moment and has already expressed his wish to leave for better leagues such as the Premier league. He can also play left wing and attacking mid, but his main attributes lie in being a deep lying playmaker. Currently 1 goal and 4 assists in 14 appearances this season. Fernando Gago - Real Madrid CF - ã7.92m It could be very likely that he's on his way out as Mourinho is apparently planning a summer sweep out of players. He has only played 7 appearances this season and has no assists or goals to his name. Esteban Granero - Real Madrid CF - ã6.16m Another player likely to be moved on in the summer during Mourinho's clear out. Currently has 2 goals and 3 assists to his name in 28 appearances. Yann M'Vila - FC Stade Rennes - ã14.08m Right Wing Dimitri Payet - AS Saint-Ãâ°tienne - ã7.48m Jérémy Ménez - AS Roma - ã14.08m
From the reports I read,Damien Comolli has identified 3 targets for each position that he and Kenny think the squad needs strengthening in.These are and this is only a report. A centre back. A left winger. A right winger. A deep lying playmaker. A left back. A Striker.
A consistent left winger that I'd recommended would be Ashley Young. He's already established himself in the Premier League, and wouldn't have a problem adapting to the Premier League. Taiwo is an outstanding solid left back, and has proven what he's capable of with Marseille. Taking into account the amount of goals he's scored and how many goals he's assisted. I personally think if Liverpool were given a limit budget, he certainly would be a great option. Ultimately, I've had to take time to think about the holding midfielder position. It's pretty tricky to chose either Honda or Gago. Well, as we all know Gago has only made 7 appearances this season and has no goals or assists. Gago hasn't been a regular for Real Madrid. So, therefore if I was Kenny, I'd go for the safest option which would buying Honda even though he costs a bit more than Gago.
Why wouldn't they want to go to Liverpool? I'm sure those players mentioned above would have something to prove if they were to play in the Premier League.
Yes, but if they want to play a lot in the Premier League, Liverpool would not be in their long term interests.
If they were to sign for Liverpool, I'm sure Kenny would give them the opportunity to prove what they're capable of. Why would they not play a lot? Each club is limited to certain amount of squad players. Every player would be given at least a game to play.
Why would a side pushing for Europe with an ambition for winning the league not be in a players best interests?
Oops I forgot it would be in their best interests instead to join the OAP's at Plastic bridge or join Debtchester United.
I think he was implying we would be relegated at some point hence lack of premier league football. Pathetic. That's a nice start to things Ze. There's a lot of mixed opinion on Ashley Young (even from Villa fans) but i have to say i've always rated him, and i think some of the Villa dislike is because they know he's leaving. He consistently gets goals and assists (minus a few as he probably wouldn't take pens for us) and his price is value- not cheap but the right price for his ability and reputation. One thing i notice with Young is that he does swing in quite a few good crosses. Next time you watch the BBC live text commentary keep a look out- he's always mentioned a few times for a cross that leads to a chance/goal. Bearing that in mind his assists could go up when supplying Carroll rather than the likes of Carew and Heskey. Also as he's somewhat a mix of winger and wide-forward he's likely to link up with Suarez more than a conventional touchline winger. If i had our budget, and it was at the top end of the 'Football Manager' estimates (so ã70-80mil) i'd get Coentrao, Young and Mata. Coentrao can double up on the left wing in a crisis, Young can play as a second striker or on the right or left wing, Mata is the main man on the left wing.
I reckon Mata would be a ''Kenny type signing''.I'll tell you why,Kenny likes greasy fast speed on one-side and a player that will go up and down the pitch as often as Jordans knickers do on a saturday night on the right.Mata has skill and from what I've heard,He's as hard-working as our own Dirk Kuyt is.
I thought Valencia said they weren't going to sell any of their stars because they are trying to build their team back up again. Why not go for another winger like Sanchez or Lucas (the other guy called Lucas from Brazil) who would be on the market?
No I said that Kenny likes greasy fast speed on oneside ie John Barnes/Craig Johnston and a player on the other side that will get up and down the pitch as often as Jordans knickers do on a saturday night ie Ray Houghton/Ronnie Whelan ie hard working.
