Apparently Hughton has said that he originally wanted to play 2 up top yesterday until Holt got injured. I wonder how Holt and Becchio would do together and who else would start I.e. would we play diamond with Hoolahan or straight 442 without Wes? At least we know he was thinking about trying a more positive home formation. I can deal with dour draws away if we have a go at teams at Carrow Road. Yesterday WAS terrible but having looked at the league table and thought about it, that point along with other results yesterday could prove to be absolutely vital. If we survive, as has been said many times on this board, we will probably look to bring in more quality and start a fresh next season. I know he is just a name that has been thrown around but someone like Biglia to fill the void left by Fox not being given much game time would help. He is someone who can add the extra class of passing whilst maintaining the solid side to our midfiled. Kayal from Celtic would also be a decent signing and is a name that was thrown around last month. In a show of pure speculation I would love to see our starting line up next season as: Ruddy Whittaker, Davies, Bassong, A New Left Back with pace. Snodgrass, Kayal/Johnson, Biglia Redmond Van Wolfswinkel and Becchio/Holt/Hoolahan Now I know there are a few names in there that would cost a fair amount lol but like I said it is pure speculation and just a view of where Id love the club to go (perhaps over the next couple of seasons). Its a classy looking side isnt it?! Maybe a step too far in one summer but we will have a lot more money to play with. Yes, I know people will argue that it is maybe too many changes and we dont want to upset the squad we have but for us to make that leap from potential relegation candidates to a solid, middle to top half side, we need to buy in a bit of extra quality. This will involve making use of the extra money in the kitty. Id say: Davies- £4m Kayal- £5m Biglia- £8m Redmond- £5m (maybe this low if they continue with money trouble at Birmingham) V. Wolfswinkel- £12m? (they are struggling for money and are looking like missing out on European football) So that's a total spend of around £34m Maybe need to sell a couple of players: Fox- £2m Surman- £2m Jackson- £1.5m Tierney- £1m? Ayala- £1.5m? (shame but i think he is too injury prone to stay here, much like Whitbread who was good but injured all the time) Vaughan- £1.5-2m C. Martin- £1m? That's just a few names bringing in roughly £11m to add to whatever we get from SKY. I know we are unlikely to spend this much but if we can bring in even one of Biglia and Kayal and a bit of class in Van Wolfswinkel (or someone else with class) it should make us a better footballing side. I suggested Redmond because I think we would benefit from a bit more pace on the left. Bennett has pace but not as much as Redmond and he isnt really effective on the left. Pilks isnt slow but his pace isnt raw and he has been very ineffective at times this season. I know we've just got out of silly transfer season but im board and wanted to write my thoughts down somewhere OTBC!!!!!
Redmond would cost 10 and a decent left back say 5. Wolfie 12, Biglia 8, Davies say 3. So your figures aren't far off although I'd question some of your sale values. Martin...would be happy with free lol. I can't see Norwich spending 35m just on fees regardless of next years finances. Just can't see it. And now Villa have won that gap has just been closed by a point.
C Martin is out of contract I believe, so we're not getting a penny for him. I think priority areas are CB, LB, LW and up front as highlighted, but some competition for Hoolahan wouldn't go amiss either.
True, I'll admit I'd forgotten about him, who probably would be looking to fill that role. I don't get his signing either at the moment. When he signed he was supposed to be a star in the championship, but on his loans back there he's barely featured. I think he needs a chance.
Cruciate is one hell of an injury to get over for a footballer and maybe he's finding that he never will get back to how he was. Great shame if that's the case.
