It seems clear that Watford will be bringing some players in, Wiggins looks like the most likely of all, the player, who is transfer listed by choice is desperate to come to Watford (LB) also Conway looks likely to come to Watford, If DG is sold I would also like to see a striker come to Watford, hopefully from league 1, Wright Phillips would have been good, however Mackail Smith scored 27 in league 1 and would be a good replacement for DG. What I dont want to see is the money disappear, Watford can not afford to go down and to do that we can not just sell, I accept that some of the money will go but Malky has to be given something to spend
Nobody. We will sell Danny Graham John Eustace and another player and then in May 2012 the directors will wonder how we got relegated and sack Malky Mackay.
GoldenBoy - by Wright Phillips do you mean Bradley? Look at his record under the headings "theft" and "assault" and you will find him. There is very little difference between the likes of BWP and Izale McLeod at Barnet - both trouble, both best avoided. We can do better than either of these.
Wiggins isn't transfer listed, they rejected his request. Hopefully we'll get him though because he looked good on Saturday from what I saw of their game against Huddersfield. Either Wiggins or Aaron Cresswell would be ok for left back although we may as well try for Taylor if he doesn't sign a new contract at Boro. Ryan Flynn, a winger from Falkirk sounds possible, even more so now that we've signed Falkirk's head of recruitment! I heard a rumour that Conway doesn't wanna come to us, could be rubbish though as nobody really knows with rumours! As for strikers, I think CMS is a definate no. Too expensive and I reckon Norwich will go in for him again anyway. If Wolves stay up I wouldn't mind us getting Leigh Griffiths on a season loan as we were linked with him before they signed him in January, equally I wouldn't mind Weimann coming back for the season which is probably more likely to happen.
Hopefully Ashley Young will move for a big fee, and DG is almost certain to go, so hoping we can get a fee of about ã5m+ add-ons for him. If Malky can get the 30-40% of the fee to buy players, then this should be a pretty good kitty. Also, hopefuly the Young money is an unexpected windfall so MM would get 100% of this (Not sure if this counts within the transfer stipulation). As for buying. For LB, I think we should offer Andrew Taylor a decent signing-on fee and try for him. If not, this Wiggins seems a good shout, but don't really know enough about him. i think his transfer and value depends on Bournemouth's perfomance in the play-offs. I'd say we also need a 'natural' left winger, and from reports does sound like we are signing this Conway on a free although no doubt he will have a signing-on fee as well). This should free up Cowie for a more central role. If it is just DG who leaves, then I think we just need a 'back-up' striker, behind Marvin and Troy. I fully expect a couple of loanees so maybe get Weimann back, and sure there is one or two players Fergie will be willing to lend us - hopefully the Drinkwater episode hasn't soured the relationship (Malky thinking he got a lemon, and Fergie annoyed he hasn't had as much game time). I think CMS will be too much money... money we can ill-afford to splash on one player unproven at this level. It would be interesting to hear how Walker has got on out on loan, if he is ready to be a squad player now. If JE does go, I personally think Jenkins can step up... just not sure if he can keep up form over a whole season! Hoping JE doesn't go, but think we have a good cover for that role. McGinn will also feel like a new signing once he is back... so we may need cover there until he is fit... so well into the New Year!
I cant see MM getting 100% of any AY profit, as you say is unexpected windfall so i would expect it to be absorbed into the business and day to day running. I for one would love to see AT back at the vic, but i fear my heart is ruling my head here. There has been no news on the subject for a while now which could mean that he is not on MM's radar now or that we are just waiting till the last moment to snatch him for a small fee. I have to agree with Hornet24 that CMS is not likely to leave posh, the club need him, especially if they get promoted! I cant see us getting anyone notable but knowing MM he will pull something out of the bag.
BHD - you're dead right MM is unliley to get 100% of any AY profit - but hopefully he will get some of it - Baz still has as his best chance of making money to get us promoted - not relegated
We all love speculating about potential signings, but its impossible to guess who'll be coming in at this point - no-one knows the exact amount of cash Malky has to work with, and its hard to tell who, if anyone, will leave. If no players are sold, then obviously id like to see a left-back and a left winger to sign, plus a central attacking midfielder if the budget allows. Should any senior players be sold, we'll need like-for-like replacements as the squad is just too thin.
Here's my take - i am (perhaps perversely) getting more optimistic about next season. I don't believe Bazza is working alone on this and I think that there is substantial backing behind him - and the only way for an investor to get a return would be for us to be promoted. I've seen no evidence to contradict this so far, all the decisions we've seen so far have been sensible business decisions. So my predictions: DG to stay at least til Xmas (with a secret payrise) to see whether we have a decent shout. Recruit Andrew Taylor plus one of Cresswell or Wiggins. recruit Conway or the lad from Falkirk; recruit Andi weimann on a season long loan or on a permanent. Jordan Mutch back from Birmingham on loan (unless they go down). Eustace stays after another secret pay deal. I've been taking my happy pills!
bbt is right, it's impossible to speculate at the mo. However, were i to speculate, i'd say AT is off the radar, and CMS is out of our price bracket. He's not exactly inexperienced at championship level though, he was playing when Peterborough were in the Championship two years ago...i don't remember how many goals he scored that year, but he scored far more this season! i'm sure SAF won't be soured after the Drinkwater affair, if anything, i'd say he'd respect Malky's view that Drinkwater just isn't up to it, and may react on that. So more loanees from SAF are definitely possible. And i'd like to see Weimann back but i doubt that one too. There, gotta love speculating! lol
No but say MM gets 50% to spend, which is about right, that could still be around the million mark, plus say he gets another million from the Graham transfer, there is some dabbling around the market money there surely. Love the idea of getting Griffiths on loan a very special player, I think Weiman had a good spell with us also.
But to get ã1mill Young has to go for a fair wack, and that is unlikely. It is also unlikely that MM will actually see this at all. We have to look at getting players who are out of a contract or from lower leagues for pittance which is what he is looking at doing. I think ideally we should get AT for a free or the 200,000 we offered (Boro' will want something rather than nothing) then get Conway for the wing and have WB on the other with Cowie and JE in the center, thats a strong and attacking midfield and a stronger defence if we switch Doyley to the right and have Tiny and Maps in the center. The only issue then is how on earth do you replace someone like Super Dan?
Jenkins is not yet strong enough for Watford, maybe Scott Parker, I jest I think someone said earlier a return of Mutch! Now that really would be fantastic. O and thank god we are finally getting rid of our Fernando Torres, Nathan Ellington.
Seen Danny Webber has been released by Portsmouth, massive pay cut to watford as a replacement for DG a possibility we think?
He is 30 now so will be on the downward part of his payroll career. His best goals per game ratio came while at Watford - not impressive for Portsmouth - not going to be a Danny Graham I'm afraid
I really like Harrows take on this pass me the happy pills too!... Most important thing is to keep MM! and try to keep some sort of continuity , also liked the Dario Gradi quote
