In the Transfer market signing 9 players to improve their squad. Arry please take note Anybody think Sunderland will do well? Would like to see Arry spring a surprise with a double bid for Malouda and Drogba
I don't think Malouda would come to be back up for Bale and I'd definitely rather we didn't make 9 signings. We are starting to run a bit short on time if we're going to get everyone in and out that we want to.
Sunderland have been busy, but I think that their example is a bit overboard and it will be very tough for them to hit the ground running Red & Blue Mancs and Liverpool on the other hand, busy in the transfer markets, identified and got their targets early, so they get a full pre-season melding them into a team.... worrying
A few have been free transfers though, and if we didnt get them when we did, someone else would have snapped them up. We had 5 loanees last season, and a barrel load of injuries to boot. we need a squad that can last the season, last year we didnt have that and it cost us badly. But i would rather get 9 in now, than wait till the last day of the transfer window and get them in then, at least they have time to gel, and they all wont start either, maybe 4 or 5 will along with some of the team from last year.
We do need to take note from the others. Bringing in the players we need early is crucial if we are going to push on this season. 9 are not needed but certainly Jenas out (takes up a place on the squad list that can be used for anyone else), Crouch out (not a footballer), Keane out (had his best days before the pool destroyed him). Yes we're away on tour, but that is why we have these things called scouts and agents to sort these things out. Levy is not on tour and I'm sure he can get hold of 'Arry quite easily. Long gone are the days of messenger birds.
Sunderland's signing have all been improvements on what they've got, as far as I can see. With Sessegnon having had time to settle in now, they could put together a pretty decent season. No offence to the Mackems, but I don't think that any of their signings would have improved our team, though. Wickham would have been a good investment for the future, but how many of them would've displaced a member of our first XI? That's the real problem. We need to improve on what we've got and without breaking the bank.
Up until xmas we were great, then we got 11 players injured and bent ****ed off, and we just had a dismal run. The 9 players we have bought are to help the squad, they are not straight into the 1st team players (some may be but not all), and we will loose Gyan for 1-2 monhts in January as well with the ANC. all that really counts though is that we are happy with them, but most of us want 1-3 more signings, LB-LW-Striker, who those will be though is anyones guess.
Wickham to Sunderland - I think - was a good move, it will give an indication of how he handles himself in the step up in class, and pressure, and atomsphere that is the PL. If he does well, and Sunderland don't improve, then I wouldn't be surprised if he moves on in a couple of seasons, but if he does well and Sunderland cement their league status with a decent cup victory/European position then he could be there for four or five years quite easily, prior to them falling off the pace they looked quite a handful last season.
Still would only want to see Gyan in a Spurs shirt out of everyone they have including all their new signings.
I saw Wickham in action at Carrow Road for the Old Farm Derby, and he really didn't impress. He couldn't get past Elliot Ward and Zak Whitbread, two League One defenders a couple of years ago. Along with his 8 (I think) championship goals, I really don't think he'll cut it in the Prem. Especially not when the defences are arguably a lot stronger.
As I said, a couple of seasons at Sunderland and he may be the player that Spurs fans thought he was when we were first linked with him and that may be when he moves up a gear and onto a slightly more successful side.
Name me an 18 year old kid that has set the world on fire and scored tons of goals? there cant be many out there. We have bought the potential, if he ever lives up to that potential remains to be seen, but he has the potential to be great.
Sunderland may have signed a lot of players, but a lot of them are to replace players they lost last season - for example, Seb Larsson is a replacement for Bolo Zenden, and they're hoping Wickham and Dong can chip in with the goals that Darren Bent used to score for them. It also has to be said a lot of their signings are midbetter players around them or referees protecting them...referee's protection
Ok thats one, and he will probably go for 30 million or something crazy, which we just cant afford, and he still may not make it in a higher league.
