I am worried that we don't get the striker we need before transfer deadline. I cannot see why we would let long go for us to go and replace him for the same price for a player that isn't proven at this level, and I don't like some of the names we have been linked with. I fear Bruce becomes desperate and makes the wrong choice, or worse, doesn't find anyone. The Dawson saga has gone on long enough and if a player really wanted to join us he would have done by now, something not right.
Bruce won't buy someone just for the sake of it. Although we all want new signings to be completed quickly I reckon at least two deals will be done on deadline day - Rhodes or another striker and an as yet unnamed midfield play maker - with the Dawson deal hopefully finally done by the weekend.
A decent striker and Dawson would be good, but do you really think he will bring in another midfielder?
Understand what you are saying but you can only judge the situation once the transfer window has closed. I must admit that Spurs clearly not allowing Dawson to leave until they've got a replacement; why didn't we do the same with Long? That said none us know all the background so we just have to 'roll with it'! Might be wrong, but I envisage Rhodes will be on board before the window closes. Brucey and 'Unc's Agnew' clearly not giving up on him yet.
Still 6 days to go. The problem now with the Rhodes transfer is that it's a case of who blinks first, us or Blackburn. I hate the transfer window as it is, it should be closed BEFORE the season starts.
I can't see why we shouldn't bring in two strikers? We have lost: Pros, Matty, Long and Sagbo not pulling up trees. Is Ince a striker or winger?
Either that or another striker as well as Rhodes. I got the impression from SB's post match interview with Burnsey that we are after someone other than the 2 names in the public domain.
An interesting post from someone using the Username Thudds. Touch of irony there in the light of the previous signings by Steve Bruce.
No Irony TT. I just feel that Bruce may become frustrated, putting all our eggs into one basket, if the Rhodes deal doesn't materialise who are we going to get? Are you saying that you're not worried a little?
I think Steve Bruce would have to have not only a "Plan B" but also a "Plan C" and "Plan D" as well. There are also 'loan-in' options which I don't think have been investigated thoroughly during the transfer negotiations. There are two strikers from the French League who I believe we still have 'irons in the fire' but I don't think anyone would believe that we will go through until January with what we have got up front.
I agree, neither Jelavic nor Sagbo will get 20 goals this season, probably not even between them, so I'm fairly certain that Bruce has many targets lined up as he will want at least 3 in who can score goals. Probably a pair of 20+ goal strikers and maybe a younger 10 goal striker in on loan? I've nothing to back these up with but I think he's looking at Cavani, Falcao and Benteke. Just a strong feeling.
With regard to why we didn't do the same with Long, I suspect it's because we couldn't believe we were being offered virtually double his value only six months after we'd bought him and didn't want to risk them taking their money elsewhere.
We don't know what conversations SB has had with other managers, I think they'll be a lot of movement over the weekend and only then will we know how cool SB has been.
I wouldn't be at all surprised if SB turns his attention that way unless Rhodes now puts in a transfer request. The problem is that a deal for Welbeck probably wouldn't involve anyone going the other way unless Van Gaal fancies a proper CB or a decent ball playing CM!
He's got a chance of 12 and that's not bad as long as we get another 12+, we have a few goals from midfield too
I'm not worried. Look back over the last season. If you were to ask most pundits to list the 5 best signings taking into account cost/position as a "newbie" in the EPL/performance, of any Premier League club, then I would expect it to read:- 1) Huddlestone to Hull City 2) Davies to Hull City 3) McGregor to Hull City 4) Livermore (loan) to Hull City 5) Pulis to Crystal Palace and again so far this year the signings of Ince, Snodgrass, and Robertson must rank up there. So, no, I'm not worried. SB will get it right in the long run. Dawson/Rhodes/Mystery, or whoever, it will be right.
Not even a little. I don't see how anybody could be given that a) our history in previous windows suggests we always get who we need and b) we've picked up 4 points from teams that'll be around us already and that's without any improvements. We aren't putting our eggs in one basket, Brucey has already said we have plenty of targets. Plus we still have two loans to fill. Hoenstly can't see anything to worry about.
