You know that Saints love a purchase from the Championship Team of the Year. Fancy any of this lot? Kasper Schmeichel, Kieran Trippier (Burnley), Wes Morgan (Leicester), Mark Hudson (Cardiff), Wayne Bridge (Brighton), Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace), Thomas Ince (Blackpool), Peter Whittingham (Cardiff), Yannick Bolasie (Crystal Palace), Glenn Murray (Crystal Palace), Matej Vydra (Watford). Obviously Zaha is already spoken for. I reckon Trippier is worth a look as back up to the fullbacks he can only play RB but Clyne can play LB so effectively we would have quality backup if either Clyne or Shaw were out. Ince I would take without a moments hesitation. Vydra looks quality, but I reckon Watford are coming up anyway, if they don't make it though he would be worth a punt. Not sure how much Udinese would want for him though, or if he is going to pick back up in Serie A next year. Obviously knocking on a bit for a return to St Marys but fair play to Bridge for the recognition of his season, everyone wrote him off at the start of the season and were making jokes about him retiring on a treatment table by the sea, but he's proved everyone wrong. In celebration of this I have included a grainy video of him celebrating in front of the Pompey fans whilst at Chelsea. [video=youtube;0H2BO9qUceU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H2BO9qUceU&noredirect=1[/video]
I think Vydra will be the target of a lot of clubs in the summer. He'll probably stay with Watford if they're promoted, but if not then a lot of clubs will be getting in touch with Udinese. Thomas Ince is the only other player in that team who I'd be interested in really. Obviously Zaha is very unavailable, and I'm not sure if any of the others would be particularly great in the Prem. Schmeichel, Tripper, Whittingham and Bolasie would probably do okay.
Amazed that Trippier hasn't been picked up by someone at significant cost. I really wanted him last summer before we got Clyne (who I had expected to end up with one of the top six), and he seems to only be getting better. And Ince is out of contract...that could make for the contentious tribunal hearing of the century.
There'll certainly be a lot of interest in Ince. We had a bid rejected for Trippier last summer if you believe the papers. Schmeichel, Vydra and Bolasie may well get moves to the premiership as well. Nobody really there to interest us I don't think though.
I'd be keen to see how Ince performs in the prem, wherever he ends up. He looks a very good player but only time will tell against Premier league defenders.
I forgot that we were in for Trippier last Summer. I think Ince will definitely be off this Summer, with his Dad as his manager I really think he will be more likely to move to the likes of Swansea or us as opposed to one of the big clubs, he isn't likely to want to see his son bench warming. At this stage of his career he needs regular games and not be another Scott Sinclair sat on big wages twiddling his thumbs.
Ince. Wanted us to sign him the start of this season. Seem to remember us trying to sign Phillips and Ince.
You wouldn't take Vydra...maybe with a sneaky loan of Mayuka off to Watford? That Philips situation was a protracted affair, glad he didn't come now, has been hit and miss for them this year.
Too right they either played for us, or we bought the 2 best that didn't in the Summer. All that talent robbed from one League!
Schmeichel? To be fair he was quite good when I watched him against Watford the other night, but don't see where he would fit into our squad. He wouldn't displace Boruc and doesn't really fit the "young" talent category anymore.
Remember being impressed with Bolasie when we secured promotion at Plymouth. Thought he might be worth a punt to replace Chamberlain, but we got De Ridder. Ince for me as he is in a position we need to strengthen and he brings a pace which Lallana & Puncheon don't
Have been saying that for weeks. Just look at how tight it is be;low Cardiff. Think the teams that come up are far weaker than last season.
Ince is the only obvious one, although I wouldn't hate the idea of Bridge returning as backup for Shaw.
I think the time for a Bridge return has passed. It would have been a great bit of business last summer, but with his injury record I can understand why we didn't. It was a big gamble by BHA that no one else wanted to make, and because of that I'm glad it paid off for them.
