Summer 2013 Transfer Rumour Thread - Mk4

Last season? If we want to finish in the top half, then similar performances to those of last season from Davis and Ramirez won't be good enough. You can't just assume that Ramirez will be better next season. He very well might be, but if he isn't then we're going to be lacking in that area. Davis did nothing wrong, but he was not playing in his favoured position, and he's just not that talented of a footballer. They're fine if we want to finish 14th again, but I don't think we do.

 

Davis isn't great, but in terms of unity I think it's better to play him than Ramirez, at the moment. Anyway, I wouldn't have Davis in the starting 11 anyway - I'd have Wanyama in his place and play more of a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1 but with a more defensive AM, and the two CMs and the AM rotate frequently.

I'd be happy as long as we improve on last season, the highest we'll get is 8th and lowest probably 16th. I doubt we'll go down.

Boruc
Clyne Lovren Yoshida Shaw
Wanyama Schneiderlin Cork
Rodriguez Lambert New winger

Subs: Davis, Fonte, Fox, Davis, Ramirez, Lallana, New striker.

Agree with Imps' side based on current players.

 

I think Norwich's signings are pretty impressive personally, I'd have happily taken most of them. Even if they're not all world beaters, they have significantly strengthened their squad.

Oh really? It's not guaranteed you say? Tell me more

 

Barring that little purple patch he had Rodriguez's finishing hasn't been great during his time at the club. I can't find the exact numbers now but he and Lambert had roughly the same number of shots last season and Lambert scored 15 goals to Rodriguez's 6. Anyone who watched us more than a few times last year will have seen Rodriguez get into a good position and hit a powderpuff shot straight at/to the keeper. By the sounds of it he's missed a few chances in pre-season as well. He may improve but that's a heck of a gamble to take.

We were VERY reliant on Rickie Lambert last season and if he has a poor season this time around (and there've been a few strikers who've suffered from "second season syndrome" in the Premier League) we could struggle to score goals.

 

I agree with this, we really do need to invest in another striker, as mentioned by others the way Lambert plays lends to him dropping deeper as he gets older. He has fantastic vision.

 

A string of Mayuka to Wigan stories have appeared Newsnow, is that one likely to happen or just paper nonsense?

 

Quotes from Billy Sharp's agent, James Featherstone:

"It is a bit of a difficult one at the minute.

He has been pre-season training with Southampton, working hard, and obviously he wants to try to force his way into the team.

With him being out on loan last season and a new manager coming in, he hasn't really had a chance to impress.

He wants to play football, he doesn't just want to sit out the last two years of his contract.

But if he doesn't get an opportunity at Southampton and it is getting close to transfer deadline day at the end of August, we will have to start making a decision about what is best for Billy."

 

Alan Nixon who's good friends with Owen Coyle seems to think there's something in it.

 

I posted that a page back slomo!

 

As well as Lambert finishing the season on poor form (possibly due to having to play him as he was carrying a little niggle, showing our reliance on him!). We need a new striker who can come off the bench and score goals, and I think Lambert should have more rests as it keeps him fresher and also as he lacks a bit of fitness, which should help get the best out of him - 2 goals in 3 games off the bench last season. A similar tactic also worked with Kevin Phillips under Holloway.

 

Surely this would have to depend on us getting another striker in, surely? I can't see it happening otherwise.

 

I almost hope that there is something in it, because with our squad as thin as it is up top, I cannot for one MINUTE believe that the club would sanction a loan move for Manny without having someone coming in.




Has anyone else seen those straws I've dropped?

 

I don't think we can really judge Rodriguez yet, he didn't have a settled season at all, and only really got going once Pochettino arrived. He's still young and like Ramirez was adjusting to his new situation on and off the field, and like Ramirez, I expect to see more consistency from him in the coming season.

 

I agree PTF. This should be a huge season for him.

 

Billy Sharp's agent admits he has no idea if his client has a long-term future with Southampton.
Sharp has not been told he is unwanted at St Mary's but he was not part of their first-team squad that went on pre-season trips to Spain and Austria.
The striker was sent out on loan to Nottingham Forest last season and an option to recall him was not taken up by boss Mauricio Pochettino when he replaced Nigel Adkins.
Agent James Featherstone said another loan could be an option but he thinks Southampton may prefer to sell Sharp, whose preference is to stay in the Premier League.
"It is a bit of a difficult one at the minute," Featherstone said. "He has been pre-season training with Southampton, working hard, and obviously he wants to try to force his way into the team.
"With him being out on loan last season and a new manager coming in, he hasn't really had a chance to impress. He wants to play football, he doesn't just want to sit out the last two years of his contract.
"But if he doesn't get an opportunity at Southampton and it is getting close to transfer deadline day at the end of August, or when the loan window opens back up a couple of weeks after, we will have to start making a decision about what is best for Billy.
"Billy is a good goalscorer and a lot of teams in the Premier League and Championship are short of goals, so as you can imagine there have been enquiries."
James Featherstone
"There is no rush at the present though because as I said before there is the loan window, but if he is to go to another Premier League club or another territory then it will have to be done before this current transfer window closes.
"For Billy, going to Southampton was his opportunity to play for a Premier League club.
"While that hasn't happened in terms of getting out on the pitch, now that he has experienced being in the Premier League, if you like, then I certainly think it will form a big part of Billy's decision was he to go elsewhere from Southampton.
"Billy is a good goalscorer and a lot of teams in the Premier League and Championship are short of goals, so as you can imagine there have been enquiries.
"I think Southampton are probably holding out to see if there are any more enquiries that come in that are more suitable as, at this stage, that is not in their interest."

 

Seems we can say that about quite a few of our players, so one way or another it should be a very interesting season!

 

I somewhat agree but Poch seemed reluctant to get Mayuka on the pitch last season. Admittedly that may have changed but there's not much point having him here if the manager doesn't want to use him...

Obviously we don't say "Rodriguez is rubbish and we should get rid" but you have to make some sort of judgement because you have to assess the squad when deciding on transfer targets. At the moment I'd say Rodriguez's finishing isn't good enough for us to rely on him. He may well improve but he may not. I guess it comes down to whether we're prepared to take that gamble. Personally I wouldn't want to but there's no right or wrong answer at this point.

 

Looks to me like the team that came 14th last season with a couple of additions and no depth.

 

Okay, but God forbid should there be a long term injury to Rickie, then it would be madness to have loaned out our cover to J-Rod.

 

Well he cant step up in your team can he ... you didn't pick him, so it become a moot point.