Something is worrying me about next season. This is we have seen some high transfer players moving from mid table teams. Bolton,Newcastle, Sunderland, Everton.this is going to give them a sizeable pot in which they can enter the transfer market,possibly outbidding us on any move we may make. Only this morning did I see that Scott Parker,& Denba Ba,were wanted by Bolton & Sunderland. And Everton for C Adam. And a spokesman for Newcastle saying we have sizeable funds available for new players. Your views please
That's certainly true Tosh and as Valjing says we could well be in for a pleasant surprise in a couple ofweeks. We've been linked with so many unlikely players (Keane, Cole et al) that I can't help hoping that this is just a smokescreen with the real work in the market going on behind it
We've been linked with Alan Hutton today - I think that would be a very good signing for us (as I've said it several times this last week!). That said, it's just a rumour. There's not real point speculating until Jol has had a week or two more to assess the team and pick out his targets.
Hutton would be great for us. He's got everything ... speed, guile and a nasty, competitive streak. What's not to like? I'd give Tottenham Dembele in a straight swap for Hutton.
Also agree that hutton would be great. Not sure about letting dembele go however. Don't think we've seen the best of him yet and I for one would be gutted if he did go to spurs and arrest all the doubts we've had about him this season. I think we largely agree he is wonderful with the ball at his feet, but many of us doubt his finishing, strongest position and see him as indecisive in the final third. Would hate to see him rectify this whilst playing for spurs.
Hutton has blown hot and cold since moving from Rangers - some excellent runs of form, some mediocre ones (hence Spurs loaning him out to Sunderland at one point). If we get the on-his-game version, he'd be a great signing. A straight swap for Dembele, DR? I don't think so. I'm open to parting with Dembele, but it would have to sizable cash plus Hutton to make that deal work. We've turned down (rightly, I think) £10mil for Dembele, and I wouldn't want to see us pay anything like that much for Hutton.
If Hutton came to us he'd get a solid run in the team and I suspect he'd recapture his best form. I'd be against a straight swap with Dembele though.
I agree with all the comments above and have a few points too. 1. Salcido is a left back but right footed, not sure why he plays there, has he played right back at all? 2. Jol won't get rid of anyone until he gets in to the office. It's all speculation but if you think about it, why would he put good squad players who are versatile on the market? 3. Demeble would play the same role as Van der Vaart so might not be tempted to move as he wouldn't get a guaranteed start. Can't think of anything else.
I'm told Jol really likes Kelly, who he knew at the Spuds. Didn't realise till now that Kelly, who I don't rate, had been around so many clubs. We're his seventh. Hope his lucky number is 8.
I like Hutton. I've never seen a bad game from him. I've never seen him caught out. He always seems aggressive and dangerous. And since left and right backs (IMO) are the two most critical areas for us to fill, I'd take Hutton in a moment. I like Dembele. I'm not advocating that we dump him for nothing, but Hutton is a unique talent, and at 28, he's in his prime. Left back's another matter. Salcido isn't terrible, but he's not good enough. But left backs are harder to come by.
you've never seen Hutton caught out?Let me remind you he was the one who hacked down Dempsey in the 4-0 win in the FA Cup at the Cottage. For me he's better than what we've got and would be a good signing in my view.
Salcido as our left back ... embrace the idea, Rocky. Jol just came from a league where Salcido was considered a top left back, plus he's got time on his contract. Dollars to donuts (Americanism), he could well be our left back for the next year. I'm not happy about it either, but he was no worse than Baird. Cottagecravens -- I didn't get to see that game, unfortunately. It wasn't on Sky.
Its been said before....Salcido has awful positioning, does not track the winger and constantly Hangeland had to cover therefore leaving us open time and time again in the middle. Fact was after he was skinned so badly he never crossed the half way line from xmas onwards. Players never even looked to pass him the ball. His tackling left a lot to be desired for, always diving in, he spent more time on his ass then he did standing up. Everyone raves about the cross he put in for Dempsey away at Blackburn, decent yes but he did nothing else to convince me we should continue to play hime although Hughes did. Even Pantsil was a better option or switching Baird to LB etc but we never did it. Hughes had to play him, his man, his purchase did not want egg on the face. Hughes screwed up bigtime getting him to replace Konch - who lets be honest was considerably better. FB's remain the on the priority list for me.
DR: 'Hutton is a unique talent'. A touch of overstatement, perhaps? Messi is a unique talent; Cruyff is a unique talent; Hutton is a decent right back in a world awash with similar or better players. I'm not saying we shouldn't sign him, but I think you're overplaying your hand with that statement.
I think Hutton, yes but Assou-Ekotu no - he always looks to me like one of those defenders who is good going forwards but not so good at actually defending. I wouldn't swap Dembele for either or both of them and I don't think Jol will either - Moussa was one of the first players Jol mentioned as being a good member of the team when he was appointed and he obviously saw a lot of him in Holland. Interesting that he rates Kelly who I think is an ok squad player but never going to make the first team. However, maybe Jol can get the best out of him
Hutton would a useful player but a straight swap for Dembele is ludicrous. Dembele is adjusting to life in the prem and can only get better, Hutton, although good, is a solid right back who scores the occasional screamer. As for left backs, i am going to get pelters for this, but I would welcome back Konchesky any day of the week. He does his main job of defending well and can put in a decent cross. He has an engine on him and under Jol's tactics he would fit in perfectly. Yes, he left us to be become a Liverpool player, but he is still a solid full back not too dissimilar to Hutton.
