The transfer window is not even open yet. I don't see many other teams doing much business yet. As well as that the reason is what late last year is because we had to introduce a new management team who than had to assess the current squad and see than pick out targets.
It's only the start of June, there's plenty of time before I'll start worrying about the lack of transfer activity. If it gets to August and nobody else has signed, I'll be concerned. I'd guess that this year we're less interested in lower league players, and are looking abroad more, that organising transfers is a more drawn out process, particularly when value for money is so important.
What we have to do is re-define the term "squad player". The squad concept is essential to long term "middle-of-the-table-minimum" survival in the PL, and to ever being in a position to challenge for cups and European places. So "squad player" should mean "every bit as good as the other player(s) capable of playing in that position", as opposed to "not as good as the first choice but will do a reasonable job if the first choice isn't available". This is why I think people who say they'll be pissed off if we don't have several more "marquee" signings this summer are misguided. Strength across the entire 25 man squad is every bit as important, if not more important, than two or three outstanding players. Our spectacular rise under Paul Lambert surely taught us that. The squads that lifted us from League 1 to the Premier League contained no outstandingly talented individuals; but they had sufficient quality "across the board". We need to reproduce that now at PL level before we can kick on further.
Every year I forget about the mid-June panic that sets in and it always comes as a surprise! People always think that the transfer window opens straight after the season ends, when actually there's close to six weeks with no activity. I fully expect two or three new players to be announced in the first week of July, if not on the 1st July itself. Not necessarily any big signings, but all the targets we have identified and wrapped up over the course of the second half of the season.
I see according to today's Mirror, Villa have put a £40M price tag on Benteke. I'm failrly sure he won't be at Villa next season and they'll certainly make a massive profit on him and be able to buy other players to replace him. http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footb...istian-benteke-transfer-arsenal-spurs-1934025
But then, the fact the window doesn't open till July doesn't mean we have to wait to announce deals. Anyway, I think it's boredom more than anything that no one is being strongly linked to us and some are getting slightly agitated by it.
Its the standard thing at this time of the season that most players are taking some time away. A lot of rumours will be started by people with nothing better to do or players agents trying to get clubs interested in their players early on. I think we will be reasonably active early on in the window....... once it actually opens!
heh at least this point in early summer this year we are not losing our manager and our captain and top-scorer handing in a transfer request! it may be a bit boring at the moment, but enjoy the stability
Obviously, I was referring to the previous definition of 'squad player, Robbie. Like you, I feel that there should be strength across the squad, including strength in depth. Players like Jackson, C.Martin, Camp and Tierney were squad players of the previous type and so have been released. They will have to be replaced by better players who can compete for starting places. IMO, Fox and Barnett will also be replaced, so there will be 5 places available in the 25 man squad (RvW having already taken C.Martin's place). One or two of these could be marquee signings, but the others should be players at least as good as the player they will compete with (say Garrido in this case). New signings aren't just for this year, but the 3-4 years they sign on for and thus should strengthen the squad for those years to come.
i heard the end of the U21 game last night, nathan redmond started and from what the co-commentator was saying, played very well by all accounts. I wonder if he will be one of our targets - another RW midfielder.
Hmm, if they seriously mean that (which I doubt), Benteke will be there next season, as there's no way he's worth that when proven champions league standard strikers are on the move for less. I'd quite like Benteke to kick up some trouble though, and force himself a move.
Just read in the BBC gossip column that Birmingham, despite money problems, want to offer Zigic another year - he's on £65k a week!! Ludicrous money, and I do hope we have absolutely no interest in him. Also, QPR can't even sign Wayne Bridge on a free, as they need to clear players out first. Ouch.
I see 'Arry is 'throwing his toys out of the pram' and saying if he can't sign him, he's off. Had a quick loook on the QPR board and most fans seem to want him to go!!
i've never under stood all the hype surrounding Harry. an adequate run of the mill manager at best. but he's part of the Lampard/Redknapp football dynasty so must be great. innit 'arry?
He, along with Mark Hughes and Steve Bruce, is one of a group of managers from the early 2000's who everyone in media land thought were wonderful. Iain Dowie, Peter Reid, Alan Curbishley, along with those three all had one good season (Dowie at Palace, Reid at Sunderland), or a couple of seasons of over achievement (Hughes at Wales, Bruce at Birmingham) that had them being linked with every job in the land and promptly flopped when given the chance to go on to bigger and better things.
Sorry, Steve Bruce? The same Steve bruce who just got Hull back up? I think he is a decent manager to be honest. He got sacked from Sunderland after signing players that just did not perform for him or Martin ONeil and just about managed to stay up this year. Everyone was scared Bruce would end up us our manager when we lost Lambert but he seems to have proved a lot of people wrong and good on him. I never thought Hull would have been promoted this season.
