Transfer Rumours The Summer Transfer Rumour Thread 2016

Cork ^

 

Need a pacey CB...

 

What's not cheap? (Some fans are clamouring for the cheque book to come out)

How old is he now, 26/27? Not hit his prime. Has proven time again he can perform in the premier league and in Europe. Only question is injuries and if you add the 30-40% extra injuries because he's at Arsenal, then he'd probably suffer a lot less at Saints.

Now, if I was City, Chelsea or United, then I'd be wanting better consistency in final ball, but for us, I think a few people would be pleasantly surprised.

 

Saints could do a lot worse too.

Wages may be an issue though. We'll see.

 

Walcott.?
I'm usually pretty optimistic about players, but I think he's going over the hill. He peaked fairly early and is on the downside. Just a feeling. Going to Arsenal didn't do him favours in terms of longevity. Oxlade-Chamberlain is going the same way. Don't know what it is about Arsenal but they just do it to some players.

 

I agree with TSS, I think he's past his prime. Horrendous injury record so I think it's misleading to compare him to Bertrand as well.

 

My comparison with Bertrand was no more than them both being out of favour at a bigger club, both seeing only rotation minutes, both looking to reignite their career with a decent pipeline to the England team.

 

Mane = Walcott + Redmond + enough change left over for 5 million buses home.

Nice.

 

Over the hill at 27? There is no hope for any of us ....

 

Walcott is 27. Got plenty left in him.

 

I have a theory that players who start young, like 16/17, are done a lot earlier than those who break into teams at say 19/20. Look at Torres, Owen, Brolin (going back a bit), Rooney, could throw Walcott in and possibly even Fabregas. These players peaked at about 24 and were/are declining as others hit their prime

 

Perhaps over the hill is the wrong phrase. But he just isn't improving, and hasn't done for a few seasons. He's a bit like Rooney. Rooney's been going downhill for 3 or 4 seasons. I think Walcott is at the point where the slide is beginning. A change of surroundings would help him enormously, but is it our job to rescue him, while paying him too much, and waiting for his body to properly recover from the mismanagement of him at Arsenal .?

 

I would pass on Walcott. The guy is so one footed it is crazy. He also just seems to be pace and that's it. Then you have the amount of wages he is on.

Sadly he hasn't really improved since he left us. In fact I would say he has got worse.

 

You might have a point. Carefully managed, I think these players could keep their peak ability for much longer, but it's not being done.

 

Yeah I'm not sure why it happens. Perhaps the body isn't ready for the strain of professional football so young so injuries are more common as they get older, could be about desire for the game as they would've been playing for 10 years at a high level or just that some peak a lot earlier than most.

 

I saw what you meant. Yes, it is possible we could rescue Walcott. Indeed there are two or three players at Arsenal who could benefit in a football sense by being elsewhere. Not convinced it's a good idea from our perspective, as mentioned above.

 

What about this guy...?

 

Maybe TSS, maybe on the injury front. Wages and injury are the only issues for me. The rest I have no concerns over. He can still do it, just needs the right environment. Wages probably would kill it.

 

Your idea has been bounced about at professional pundit level actually. IIRC, I'm pretty sure I listened to a good half hour talk about it on Radio Five's Monday Night Club a few months back. I even think Walcott was mentioned.

 

Ryan Giggs?

Paulo Maldini?

Freddy Adu? .... oh wait