I wonder if Hughton will start to free up the midfield next season, DH, which might allow Fox to play as the creative passer, as he didn't really fit the "defensive" central midfield roll last season, which is probably why Hughton never really used him. But with new players coming in, and the creative midfield area being a high priority, you'd think it'd only push Fox down the order. I hope I'm wrong though. I would love to see Fox play more for us. He was quality against the Posh (Though it wasn't that hard) and still provides something no other player in out team really has, and that's the expansive passing. if he has some one like Bradley Johnson running the muscular side of things, he can be given a bit of freedom in the centre.
The BBC gossip column are today reporting (through the Daily Mail) that we are competing with Everton to sign Arouna Kone from Wigan as apparently he has a 5 mil get out clause. Can't really see it myself but I think he'd definitely add something to the squad, unlikely to have much of a sell on fee though as he's 29.
I think 5mil is to much, for a player who is 29 and only had one season in the prem. I'd fully expect him to go to Everton though if there in for him.
yeah, i'd expect Kone to go to everton because of martinez. i think he's a cracking player though. i wonder if we are stoking a few fires now to mitigate Hooper not coming off?
I would also expect Kone to go to Everton to join his ex-manager, but you never know. Going back to the present squad of 23 players, I would expect Barnett to move on and any or all of Fox, Ayala and Vaughan could move on as well, which means 3-6 spaces available. Any under 21 player, like Redmond or Maher would't count. Goalkeepers: John Ruddy Mark Bunn Defenders: Russell Martin Steven Whittaker Sébastien Bassong Michael Turner Ryan Bennett (Dani Ayala) (Leon Barnett) Javier Garrido Midfielders: Bradley Johnson Alexander Tettey Robert Snodgrass Jonny Howson Andrew Surman Anthony Pilkington Wes Hoolahan Elliott Bennett (David Fox) Jacob Butterfield Forwards: Grant Holt Ricky Van Wolfswinkel Luciano Becchio (James Vaughan) Given that City could need 6-7 players, it's hard to see Kone as a good investment given that RvW is already coming in. I'd rather see another younger striker coming in from abroad if £5-6m is involved. Even if Naughton and/or Livermore come in on loan, City could still need 4-5 more players in that sort of price range. A younger striker would have sell-on value in the future, whereas Kone won't.
Current count stands at 24, not 23? Does "need" mean "need to replace any leavers", or does it mean "need to bring in someone better than X even though X will be staying"? If you mean the former, then "6 or 7" almost certainly overstates the need, since it seems to me unlikely that more than 2 or 3 will go. If you mean the latter, I think "need" is the wrong word; "would be good to get" would fit the bill better IMO. I'm sure one or two more will indeed be signed, but they will players we've been tracking for months or identified as possibilities well before the end of the season. Everyone knows we are looking for a striker so we can expect to be linked with all and sundry irrespective of any basis to it or not. Would maybe be a good idea if DH could add the current 25-man squad to the running data on the first page and edit it along with the in and outs?
I was going by McNally's trying to get 5-8 players in in my 'could need', Robbie, but you're right, it is 24 at the moment. I'll settle for 'be good to get' as well.
I suppose the thing with the 25 man squad is a bit misleading as we could (and yes I did say could!) draft in a lot of under 21's who would not count. I am sure last season I remember seeing the '25 man' squad listings and their was one team (maybe Everton, but don't quote me on that) who only filled about 17 or 18 spots due to their number of younger players.
Yes, under-21 players are in addition. However, if we are to aim at being able to rotate players without seriously impairing our quality on the field in any game, we need a full complement of seniors IMO (unless the youngsters are top quality and pretty experienced, e.g. have appeared regularly for top division sides). If what you say is true, Everton did brilliantly in the circumstances.
i very much doubt we are in for aruona kone, simply because he will have no resale value were he to a) fail or b) we go down. that's not how the club operates these days - it's not all about the here and now - its about looking forward as well, not to mention that £6m is a huge sum of money!
I agree with you Supers, it would be folly for us to splash out anywhere near £6M on a twenty-nine year old. I know Robin van Persie was 29 when he moved to Manure but that's completely different
actually, when you think about it, that was an unusual outlay for united. fergie rarely spent big money on the 'finished article'. with hindsight, it was a good sign to say fergie was going to retire at the end of this season (and probably would have the previous year had citeh not trumped him). he figured he needed to go out winning and bought a player who could win him the league right now.
i probably go against the grain here but i think that's a very bad move for tom. brentford were absolutely desperate to re-sign him for next year. he's loved at griffin park and was a stand-out performer last season. i don't think he'll be playing regularly at st andrews, and despite lee clark knowing plenty about the boy, his career may falter as a result of this move. i wouldn't be at all surprised to see adeyemi out on loan to a league one side come january. hope i'm wrong and he does really well for birmingham but from what i've seen, its a big step, too early.
To quote: "It is documented that Norwich are trying to offload players for a cash injection with rumours that Anthony Pilkington could be sold, and Town of course in the running for James Vaughan." Cash injection? Documented? Does he mean we are looking to improve our squad and some players are being released in consequence!
actually, i think it's very likely butterfield will leave this summer. god knows what that article is talking about though!
As clubs go I think we are one if the few who really don't need to sell our best players. No one will offer what they're worth to us and we have no debts and decent funds. We also have no player in stupid wages we need to get off our books or a high wage bill in general that needs trimming like say Villa.
