MattTheTiger, Febbos is unlikely to know what Darley's is being from Sweden, we've never been anywhere near Giles Barnes and Nile Ranger is actually a hard-working but untalented player. Everything you've said on this thread has been rubbish I still think we need 9 players for next season. 2 GK - Mannone and Murphy/Eilhoff/Guzan 2 CB - Ayala and Hobbs/Gerrard 1 RB - **** knows 2 CM - Danns and Norris/Greening 1 LW - Andros Townsend/Danny Rose 1 ST - Iwelumo or Howard If a couple of those are season long loans (RB and LW?) then that'll be okay but no more than that as we don't want another situation like we have now where we need 4 signings just to get the players we ended the season with.
The Toon fans on this forum seem to think he's a bit of a twat, especially attitude-wise regarding his football. Plus he's in a bit of **** with the club for posing with a gun for a photo.
We tried to get Giles Barnes on a season long loan in June 2009, but Derby told us he wasn't available unless we wanted to buy him for ã2m.
Mannone/Guzan + Maik Taylor(Free) - One quality and one decent experienced back up. Hobbs + Ayala - Both young and talented centre backs. Danns(Free) + Gera/Greening - Very good cheap options to add much needed creativity. Kightly/Zenden(Both Free) - Depending on wage demands it would certainly be worth a punt on one of these two. Harewood/Nugent(Free) - Either one would add something different upfront to what we already have which would be useful. + 1 or 2 Loans - A couple of good young players to add to the numbers, Man Utd/Chelsea kids.
How is that everyone suddenly wants 2 central midfielders? Where would Evans/Cairney or our best player, James Harper fit into the system?
I was only counting the ones likely to be staying. Oli should be shifted reasonably easily and Bullards attitude is unlikely to see him reach our starting 11 anytime soon.
Michael Owen is on a free as is Owen Hargreves would be great signings but not much chance of that we could look at Bebe or macheda from man utd again would be good signings just not much chance of it happening
Owen and Hargreaves will remain in the top flight, Bebe is a possibility on loan but Macheda would be loaned to a PL club.
interesting calls for greening in this thread. noticed he's been playing the past couple of games and appeared to be very well involved. i'd love to see him join but still can't quite see that one happening.
Looking @ some of the signings you lot would like, think you will be brought down to earth with a bang! Expecting too much I fear, still hope I'm wrong!
Owen will likely go to a midtable Premier League club taking a small pay rise. Unless Hargreaves takes a massive pay cut I don't see anyone coming in for him. Bebe is a possibility for gaining on loan, however I think Manchester United would still like to see him at the club for another year so they can make use of there inferior coaching staff, training facilities and etc. Macheda is on his way from Man Utd, you heard it from me first!
Hargreaves is out of contract, so shortly he won't have any wage to cut, so he'll just look at whatever offers he gets. When fit, he's one of the best midfield players around, so it's likely that someone will take a punt on him.
Tbh, we won't get owen in our wildest dreams, hargreaves almost equally as unlikely although prem teams might be put off by his injuries (decent midfielder plagued with injuries sounds familiar?) so could be one of those crazy things that comes off. I think what we should be looking at are west ham and birmingham players who aren't on ridiculous wages. Due to their financial situation they might be glad to offload some players. I'm not suggesting players like Parker, foster, Ba etc. but some of the slightly lesser players like ridgewell, gabbidon, Kovac?
Hargreaves is a quality player when he's fit. Imo, one of the best defensive midfielders in the league. But with all his fitness issues he's not really going to get a very good contract anywhere. I do see a premier league club taking a gamble on him but with a small (for a premier league footballer) wage with bonuses for appearances. As for this greening lark I sincerely hope we don't get him. I know we're looking at experienced players but i'd much rather be going for someone a bit younger. I don't see greening running up and down the pitch for a full 90 mins. As for olofinjana I'm sure there are plenty of suitors waiting to take him. QPR, Cardiff and Wolves already been mentioned. If we cant shift him then surely it's no real biggy? I mean yeah he's on a high wage but its still no where near bullards and he'd be decent in the middle of the park till we can shift him?
I am a big fan of hargreaves, best player at 2006 world cup and, in his position, one of the best around, so he'll probably end up at a mid-table club like owen on the appearance clause contract you suggested. Now then, Greening. A couple of years ago i'd have welcomed him with open arms but as he's getting older i'm not too sure anymore. If we bought him i think we'd be limited to who else we can play in the midfield as i'm sure his age will soon begin to restrict the amount of work he can put in. I doubt we'd see him flying up and down the touchline so he'd probably play centrally. I'd also prefer someone younger but i don't feel they have to be 'young'. With the signings of evans, dudgeon, stewart and the prospect of signing ayala and hobbs (and so on) i feel we may need someone with a bit of experience in the middle of the park. Someone like Norris or Danns would be ideal imho, and i hope we get a player of such a mould. I think we'll probably move olifinjana on this summer but, as you say, keeping him til january wouldn't be the end of the world. Had a decent spell on loan and i'm sure he'd improve our first team if he came in. Maybe just not enough for the money we could save by getting rid of him though? still, it's all speculation till the window opens.
I am a big fan of hargreaves, best player at 2006 world cup and, in his position, one of the best around, so he'll probably end up at a mid-table club like owen on the appearance clause contract you suggested. Now then, Greening. A couple of years ago i'd have welcomed him with open arms but as he's getting older i'm not too sure anymore. If we bought him i think we'd be limited to who else we can play in the midfield as i'm sure his age will soon begin to restrict the amount of work he can put in. I doubt we'd see him flying up and down the touchline so he'd probably play centrally. I'd also prefer someone younger but i don't feel they have to be 'young'. With the signings of evans, dudgeon, stewart and the prospect of signing ayala and hobbs (and so on) i feel we may need someone with a bit of experience in the middle of the park. Someone like Norris or Danns would be ideal imho, and i hope we get a player of such a mould. I think we'll probably move olifinjana on this summer but, as you say, keeping him til january wouldn't be the end of the world. Had a decent spell on loan and i'm sure he'd improve our first team if he came in. Maybe just not enough for the money we could save by getting rid of him though? still, it's all speculation till the window opens.
Maybe Bradley Johnson? I think a midfield of Johnson/Norris/Danns (any two of the three) would be a force is the championship and, they're all on free's!
