we'd be very silly to do no inbound business. once again, we've got a massive chance to capitalise and make the CL, but there's 1 or 2 gaping holes. If we make the same mistakes again... i'll be devastated.
Do we ever learn from our mistakes though? We left holes after this summers transfer activity, and once again succumbed to the too little too late philosophy of Levy et al. trying to get blood from stones
nope! As I've posted before though DB, how many lives has Levy got left? He's brought in a new coach to take us forward. he's got to back the man, otherwise the fans will be going after him, not AVB. this pattern has been continuous. the fans aren't stupid! it's levy's fault we didn't get the summer targets. so it's down to him to sort it out in Jan, whether it's his preferred transfer window, or not. blood from a stone is so very true
if this is to be believed, it could make a difference in Jan!! http://hereisthecity.com/2012/12/19...in-the-fernando-llorente-saga-which-could-h/? A new twist in the Fernando Llorente saga which could hasten his exit Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur will be on red alert after the latest developments in Bilbao. Spanish striker Fernando Llorente is one of the most wanted strikers in football, rated at £28 million last summer by his club, his expiring contract means he is available for one third of that now. Llorente stated earlier this month he would likely see out his contract with Athletic Bilbao until the summer, but developments in Basque country this week could force him out of the club this January. As the players attended the training ground yesterday for a usual morning session, a group of Bilbao fans attended and unveiled a banner which read: "Llorente, Go now!" Club staff quickly made them remove the banner, and sought to remove those responsible, but the damage had been done - Their point had been well made. Reports in Spain stated that a shaken Llorente had to be calmed and encouraged by manager Marcelo Bielsa, who he had a public disagreement with earlier in the season, in order to continue the session. It is sad to see fans turning on Llorente like this, but it is perfectly understandable, star players who announce their intention to leave can face indifferent and angry responses from supporters, and in Bilbao's case - The results are not there either. Last season's Europa League runners-up are struggling on the pitch, stuck down in 12th position in La Liga, despite a 1-0 win at the weekend away to relegation battlers Mallorca, only their second away win of the season. The mindset of fans appears to be that for the club to move on, Llorente must too - And get the club some cash rather than leaving on a Bosman. Will the news trigger action from his suitors at Juventus, Tottenham, Liverpool, or Arsenal? It is as yet early to say, but with the players mindset likely to be affected by the saga - It isn't a bad time to slap down a bid and make him think about doing just what the supporters say, 'leave now.'
If we managed to land Llorente for £7m that would also mean we have about £13m left over from the expected spend, which can be used for other players as well as kept back for wages (which, in Llorente's case, is likely to be necessary)
Yeah... Wouldn't mind eriksen. http://www.101greatgoals.com/gvideos/golazo-christian-eriksen-v-groningen/
Llorente... not a hope in heck, if Huntelaar is staying at Schalke then Llorente is more likely to go to L'Arse! Eriksen... not a hope of that one either, I don't think, whilst he or Mouts or Wilian may be what AVB wants/needs, it won't happen in January and if they have another half season like they've just had there will be MUCH bigger fish in for them. On the other side of things, who's this Maher geezer I've been hearing on el grapevine about?
The Sun was saying we spent £78m on transfers during the summer. ...apart from the fact we spent a mere £22.5m less than that figure.
Apparently Levy's trying to shift 3 of ours out the door (so that's the 2 keepers & probably one of Daws/THudd) to generate extra fundage for Andre. But lets be honest, NONE of our marginal players are worth enough to generate anything supremely 'extra' (THudd/Daws are £6/7 mil players in a Jan window, Gomes/Carlo maxing out at £2/3 mil each) So unless the rumours are accurate about Llorente/Huntelaar being available for around the £7 mil mark, the VERY best we could hope for is to prise Ba from Newcastle. Eriksen/Mouts/Wilian/Atsu/Isco/Higuain/Callejon are just frickin crack pipe dreams
HBIC - They also seem to be forgetting how much we made in sales!!! DB - that's a good assessment and wouldn't at all surprise me. Like u say, that would only raise us about 10mill or so. If we can't get those players u mention, who else will it be?! Andre said yesterday that he'll only get someone who makes us stronger. - therefore, it really has to be someone in that list u mention. But again, like u say... The big fish could well come in. I got the impression in the summer that moutinho wasn't actually that keen on us and Andre was calling in a favour. There's also the fact that we've never spend 20mill+ As I said earlier on this thread.. Feb 1st could well be the point where some of my views change, quite significantly.
Huntelaar is staying put,and Llorente is going to Juventus,according,to the Latest on the Gossip column
Maher plays in a similar role to what Eriksen does, behind the number 9, while people could compare the two, I think Maher is more of a skill/ flair type playmaker more so than a creative and technical one like Eriksen. He's very neat with the ball at his feet and likes either nutmegging or cutting inside defenders to get away a shot or pass. I think I read that AC Milan and City were looking at him not so long ago so I think our chances of getting him would be really slim if I'm honest. I doubt we'd get anything over £500k for Carlo mate, he's 39 and third choice, I can see him leaving for free anyway as a good will gesture from the club, he's been a great professional here and I wouldn't want him losing out on the opportunity to leave for first team football due to Levy wanting a sum. We'd be stupid not to make a bid for Ba, he's been one of the Prem's most consistent since joining West Ham and for £7m/£7.5m we should bite Newcastle's hand off (not that they'd have a choice ).
Not sure I would call someone who knowingly and irresponsibly broke a club rule by riding around central London on a motorbike, a "great professional".
I don't know why, but I am not keen on us going for Ba. I just don't see him as an improvement on what we already have. For some reason, there's something about him that reminds me of Darren Bent and/or Pav. I think it's his footwork and close ball control. he often looks like he's going to fall over himself. Also, the thought of us going back to playing the long ball to the target man like we did with crouch, would kill me. Then again, if Remy is going to Newcastle for 10 mill (according to the Daily Mirror), Ba coming to us wouldn't surprise me at all. hmmm.
Making the rounds through some of the posts this morning as your end of the world newbie, hello and merry christmas! Eriksen would be fantastic but doubt he'll move in Jan, Ajax rarely do it and Eriksen is their best player by a country mile. Alderweireld is also quality, but I don't know if we could keep him happy given that we've got Kaboul, Jan and Caulker - all of whom would want (and deserve) regular playing time. mertens as cover for the wings could be very handy. I could only see us moving for Willian in the summer as bale's replacement. I really hope that doesn't happen. If only to prove we really can hold on to players - that'll be champions league dependant though I'm sure. As for moutinho, the jury's out. I'm not doubting he's a quality player, more that a midfield 3 of him, sandro/ parker and dembele is a little defensive. There's no flair further up the pitch - no link to the striker. Dembele has been dropping deeper and deeper as he grows as a player and is now in my eyes, a very adapt box to box mid. I don't think his best position is in the hole anymore; we need a hole player (eriksen, oscar, hazard, isco etc) not a DLP. But then as my football manager game has shown, I'm almost always wrong so perhaps not. As for Ba, I'd agree if it weren't for his spurs esq injury record. You never know when he's going to go again... Get rid of the keepers, Cuducini has had such an unlucky career - benched wherever he goes but a strong keeper. I wish him well in the US. Gomes... please just leave. Then there's the deadwood, if we buy in jan (IF) hudd needs to go, the rest can wait til summer. I'd like to see us keep the youth (townsend, livermore etc) as they might have more to show and always provide loyal, adequate cover while we find replacements. But they're cover. COVER! On a side note, Rose looks to be having a good season at sunderland. Keep him there for now - improving day on day under a decent technical manager in oneill, not to mention playing for their back 4 at the moment is giving him plenty of experience. Might be a decent long term replacement for BAE - but he'll need to make big strides before I completely believe that. Carroll looks quality when played - raw but quite calm. And from what I've heard about, a really nice lad with a good head on his shoulders. Could potentially do with a loan move. In short, lots of promise not only in our 1st XI but youth too which can only grow. Quality additions needed now, the flair players to change a game! Levy please get out the cheque book and don't faff about as per.
Fair point on the motorbike incident but I still think he's a great pro. Never complains, always does his best when selected and seems to come across a well presented and genuinely nice fella.
Welcome aboard KOTL Pretty much agree with all you've said too. I mentioned earlier in the thread that Mertens COULD be used as a number 10. To me he has all the ingredients for it to work, though I can appreciate it'd be a risk slotting him into a new position and expecting him to wonders straight off. Rose, as good as his spell at Sunderland has been, I don't think will ever reach Benny's level or near it to be honest. Hope I'm wrong but Benny's been the best left back we've had in yonks and I just can't see Danny getting near that standard we'd need, great for cover but don't see him as a successor to Benny. Welcome again, and a Merry Christmas to you too mate
Thanks very much. You never know, Rose might surprise us all, but that's the Christmas optimism talking i'm sure. More thank likely he'll remain second choice. Left back seems to be a position that's lacking in a lot of the teams at the moment. Any thoughts on a decent player within our reach anyone? Arse and liverfool could do with one too. There's some good talent apparently in Russia, but... the flaw is they're Russian and they tend not to perform so well outside of their home country. Hence my scepticism on players like dzagoev etc.
