People are coming up with theories on who will and won't be here come February but considering our luck with injuries this season (mainly to defence and strikers) a lot of midfielders have been talked about. Green, Hollands and Wagstaff being the main ones. Now if a player goes they will need replacing otherwise our squad will again be weak in depth in midfield the only place on the field where we have a high quantity back up. Hollands seems most likely to leave at the moment as he has gone out on loan but Green and Wagstaff have been spoken about as being miles away from the starting line up so what are the chances of them being here either? I have seen us linked with McGoldrick off Nottingham Forest who is on loan at Coventry at the moment but other than that I have seen very little but it is still over a month away. I could also see Taylor leaving? So who do we predict we will buy/sell come Jan?
I can't believe Green will stay despite the fact that he should be one of the first names on the team sheet IMHO. Whether that has any impact on Wagstaff's likelihood of leaving I cannot say, although, again IMHO, he is not an asset at this level. Hollands will go unless he rediscovers his form at Swindon. Love him to bits, but not up to this level. I'd keep Taylor if he wants to stay but he is now 4th choice CB. I can't see us willingly clearing out much beyond this list. That then leaves the question of offers we can't refuse. Stephens is the obvious candidate though I'm not convinced that there is widespread interest. I don't see Solly leaving either. Someone might take a punt on Hamer in the way that Newcastle did with Elliott. I'd have thought Wiggins would have been off but his spell out has probably removed him from the shop window for now. Man U have signed Buttner so I guess that Baines/Wiggins scenario has gone for now. I suspect reputations from last year have mellowed a bit given our start so there may not be so many vultures circling. All in all, I don't see masses of activity. If any of our current loans impress we may try to make them permanent
i'd be happy to let green and hollands go if we sign someone like mceachran from chelsea (loan at boro is up at xmas?), or frimpong from arsenal permanently. andros townsend, jake livermore would be good too. i like waggy, i want him to stay.
No idea on arrivals. None of the players we picked up in the summer were names that had been mentioned in papers/forums, so am very hesitant with the current rumours (Gleeson and McGoldrick). I think one of Waggy and Green will go, and see Green as the man who will command more of a fee so expect him to face the axe. Not sure about Taylor - I think like Leon Cort last season, he should stay and fight for his position. He's had an injury so a short term loan could well be a solution.
If I had my way: Out: -Wagstaff on loan to a League One club -Pope on loan to a League Two/Blue Square Premier side -Clarke out on a permanent deal -Hollands -Sullivan -Kerkar (not going to happen though) -Hulse (return to QPR) In: -New left-winger (someone who can use their pace and cross) -A rounded CM with a decent engine
Hmm but of those listed, only 3 have been in and out of the first team, with 2 of those 3 being replaced in the 'In' list so I guess it would only leave us a bit short up front (though that would hopefully be okay if Fuller and Yann return from injury before January) Besides, we can't get suffer any more injuries this season....can we?!!
I happened to see one last night, WeWant - went to Waddon Road to see the Gloucester City vs. Leyton Orient game in which Glos put up a thoroughly decent performance and didn't deserve to lose. Hovever, Dean Cox was my MoM in the Orient midfield and while somewhat on the petite side at 5' 4", his passing was immaculate, crossing precise and he constantly drove the play forward. Even though he's of short stature, he's sufficiently chunky not to get hustled off the ball easily and he was strong in the tackle - fine display.
Hello Chrissywissy! will you be able to field a team against 'Super Wall' on December 1st? - will it be worth your lot turning up?
What I'd like to see happen, but we'll probably be far from it. IN: Matt Richie Anthony Wordsworth OUT: John Sullivan Leon Clarke Think we do need to spend some money in the midfield, though since Powell's moved Johnnie Jackson into the middle we seem to be picking up some results.
I think that unfortunately, Scunny's financial position will more or less rule out Clarke's permanent transfer - even if we were to give him away, their wage bill is eye-watering. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20339688 Villa will come back in for Stevens (you heard it here first...lol) and this time, we'll be hard pressed to keep him and may indeed not want to. Turning down a sum the size of that final bid in the first window was a bold statement that we wouldn't be rushed or panicked or railroaded but the point having been made, this could be seen to be the time to cash in. Especially if Villa are still in the bottom three at Christmas. Duff penalty decision or not yesterday, they were dire.
