Make That Two...

I can't see us picking up anyone better than Bulot. His attitude at the end of the season was good, and his first touch is excellent, so I hope he signs- better the devil you know etc. I wonder how Holmes-Dennis is coming on? For my money he's more a midfielder than a FB, so he might offer a different option in that position.

 

You have your answer

 

Bulot is a typical winger. One good game in seven. Or more accurately, four good games in 28 as his good games came in one patch. We have had a string of wingers who dd not pull their weight: Wagstaff, Green, Kerkar, Cameron Stewart, Harriott, etc,

If you are going to play wingers in the modern game, they need to be very good indeed or you need outstanding full-backs behind them who can defend single-handed, like Solly at his best. A combination of Bulot and Wiggins/Fox satisfies neither criterion.

(Even being "very good indeed" may not be enough. Di María is one of the most skilful footballers in the world, and quick too, but a waste of space when used as a straight winger for Man Utd).

I would like to see Watt and Vetokele (assuming both fully fit and motivated) and a provider behind them, then three half-backs who can defend. Let the full-backs provide the width (a fit Solly and Wiggins are ideal for this formation) and consign wingers to the museum of football history.

 

If he's still with us next season, Gudmundsson would be perfect as the provider. If he's not, we don't have one.

 

Just back from holidays and found that what was a strong rumour before I left soon turned into reality. To be honest, I thought Gomez would go. My reading was that he had 12 months left on his contract after which he would have walked for free, so we either had to convince him we were serious about promotion (which would involve some serious spin on recent events) or get a good price. Frankly, I reckon 3.5 million is derisory, and suggests the oficial line that we no longer have to flog our assets cheaply is just rubbish. Why bother with a millionaire president if that happens.
Bauer I know nothing about, and I can't find a reference to Bulot signing, so we seem very short of exciting signings just yet. Looks like another thin summer coming up...

 

He had 2 years to go, Ken. JBG has 12 months and hasn't signed an extension.

 

Cheers Forest, did'nt know that. That is a seriously bad bit of business in that case, and paints a clear picture of where our owner sees us going.

 

Cousins also has a year remaining.

 

Which means on 1 January 2016 he can start talking to other clubs but he is under 24 so we would get about £500k

If we are not talking to him about a big pay rise and a new contract then somebody at the Club should be sacked!

 

I think Cousins will sign a new contract.

 

Wouldn't blame him waiting to see how our summer recruitment drive goes first.

If an official bid comes in from Villa, I expect him to be the next exit. It's basically in the interested teams hands where his future lies IMO.

 

I don't think anyone but the most slavish Duchatelet sycophants (Hi Reams) would claim anything other than the recruitment so far has been pathetic. Bauer and maybe Ba, FFS. That is really going to have the shiny new turnstiles at the Valley ringing on 8 August.

Get some home bred Championship standard players in FFS ! Players we have actually heard of and have an affinity with. How about getting Diego Poyet back on a season long loan? He has no chance of a breakthrough with West Ham.

 

Reams told us that we were getting "three players from a Premier League club" That number gradually fell over the week faster than a chav's knickers.

 

Update from the Oracle himself.

"We are getting five players in over the next week to ten days"

He then goes on, apparently without irony, to berate Sue Parkes and the Club's new player welfare woman for posting vague and misleading transfer rumours.

 

I think Poyet has a very good chance this season of making a few appearances for Wham. He's I think with the Uruguay U20s at the moment but I expect he'll feature a lot in these Euro qualifiers; they're going to need a big squad.

 

Agree that I think he will get some European game time, but with West Ham expected to make moves in the market it will be difficult for him over the course of the season.

It also depends on how seriously they take Europe, as I imagine they will want to give it a good good - increase revenue, become a more attractive proposition to talent across Europe etc.

 

I hope that turns out to be true, Dickp. Cousins may lack a bit of finesse in his game, but his energy in midfield is important to us.