Transfer goss and rumours, Summer 2016.

O'Neil did a good job most of the time, but he also made some pretty serious misjudgements. He's not a natural holding player and it showed at times. At 33, he's also quite slow and tends to be caught out by quicker players. I agree with RM2 that we lost a lot of cover with Tettey's injury and I think it's significant that O'Neil didn't get a start until that happened. I'd very much like us to recruit a younger DM whether or not Tettey leaves.

 

There's a big difference between changing things because players aren't performing and constantly changing things to nullify the perceived strengths of your opponents to the detriment of consistency within your own team.

 

I see Man Utd are in for Bailly. This line made me laugh:
"He can sometimes concede possession in dangerous areas and doesn't always show composure under pressure, but Bailly possesses all the physical tools necessary to succeed and the rest should come with more experience."
Is he related to Seb?

 

According to the BBC gossip "Crystal Palace hope to sell 24-year-old midfielder Jordon Mutch to Norwich. (Sun)"

Bah!

 

Shows how low we have sunk when we are thinking of signing Palace failures. He could hardly get on their bench at times last season.

 

I can'ty say I'd be very excited about that signing. The only real advantage is his age and potential development to come, but I'm not sure he's any better than what we already have.

 

Norwich City, Newcastle United, Aston, Villa. What do these three teams have in common? No, not the relegation bit. If any of these three teams are linked with a player, within nano seconds the other two are linked as well. Obviously journalistic nonsense, or at least i hope that it is. Either that or we have a common scouting setup.

 

I think he's a class young prospect!

30 Million is mental, but he's a player I really rate. He should become a top, top player in time.

If they follow it up with the 47M bid to sign Morata, they wow. they are 2 fantastic exciting young players. again, £47m sounds insane.

 

"Done deal" as the jargon goes.
4 year contract with an option of another 2, I believe.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36480527

 

Might take a season to adapt, but I think that is a fantastic signing for them.

 

Lost his way a little admittedly, but he did still make 20 appearances for Palace last season. If he was going cheap, say £2-3m or so, then I think he'd be worth looking at. He was a big part of the Cardiff side that got promoted a few years ago, creating and scoring goals for them in the Premier League too.

If you simplify the equation to Dorrans or Mutch, seeing as they'll probably occupy similar roles in the squad, then it'd definitely be Mutch for me. If Palace are prepared to accept a loss on the £5.75m they paid for him not so long ago, he might not be a hugely expensive upgrade, particularly if Villa could be ripped off for Dorrans.

 

He is a very solid player, who can do a bit of everything. He reminds me a bit of Howson. I wouldn't be annoyed if we signed him, he's jut not a priority.

Why is every link a midfielder!? As always.

We have known for about 4-5 seasons we need Defenders and Strikers!

 

Wow.

This would be an amazing signing for them,

http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/footbal...s/west-ham-closing-in-on-feghouli_274398.html

 

I'm as bewildered as you are, but at this stage, rumours is all they are.
Please tell me there's no way, even in a lower league, that NCFC have any aspirations of progress without a major overhaul at the back - and the front.

 

Even if all this is always made up! Why don't the papers/Gossip sites see our weak areas, and make up defenders and striker links!?

We are often linked with a load of average midfielders we don't want or need, and fairly often, we end up signing them.

I have no idea what they are thinking.

 

So it would appear we are offering peanuts again, if freshly promoted Bristol are of greater appeal than us. I guess I would hope that O'neil would have become increasingly a squad player but AN obviously wanted him to stay if a contract was offered. A serious clear out maybe in progress if the rumours are to be believed. Dorrans, O'neil looking likely to go, Tettey says he wants to go. I guess this is why we seem to be inquiring about midfielders (Again if the rumours are to be believed) can't imagine that we will want to keep Mulumbu so that would leave us a little light centrally, especially in the defensive mid position.

Bah!

 

Had a dream last night that Klose, Pinto and Tettey all had their contracts cancelled by mutual consent... Fortunately my dreams never come true

 

Please go to bed tonight with a belly full of cheese and dream that i do not win the national lottery!

Bah!

 

I don't give a monkey's about Dorrans and Mulumbu but will be sad & disappointed if Gary O'Neil signs for a side who finished 18th last season as opposed to fighting the Canary cause. Maybe, as GM alluded to, the terms offered weren't enough to persuade him to stay - if we can't even retain established players, what hope of attracting new ones of a decent enough calibre?

 

Strange this - O Neill is a solid, capable player (not a flair player but someone who is dependable and reliable) who we know will do a job in the Championship - more so than Dorrans or Mulumbu I would say. I can see why Bristol City would want him - his experience would be very useful in what is quite a young midfield and he'd be an asset to them - not sure why we'd let him leave unless he really wanted to go or our new offer to him was derisory (or both).

That said, I quite like Jordan Mutch and wouldn't be averse to him joining (vice Dorrans and/or Mulumbu).