Pearce from Readiing is a decent CB, although I hear Liverpool are interested in him Remy is good and I think Kone has looked good too
When we went down in '74 we had Channon and Osgood in the side. You're right, they were crap! However, as a general principle, I do find it odd that teams outside the top 6 or so suddenly start fighting over the scraps when teams get relegated. It's not that they are inevitably bad players, but usually they will be low in confidence if they've had a season being battered. Wigan are an exception because they have won the Cup and showed flashes of inspiration this year, though sadly not enough. I'd take the scouser if only to give Rickie a mate when Fox goes!
When we went down in '74 we had Channon and Osgood in the side. You're right, they were crap! However, as a general principle, I do find it odd that teams outside the top 6 or so suddenly start fighting over the scraps when teams get relegated. It's not that they are inevitably bad players, but usually they will be low in confidence if they've had a season being battered. Wigan are an exception because they have won the Cup and showed flashes of inspiration this year, though sadly not enough. I'd take the scouser if only to give Rickie a mate when Fox goes!
Well, I don't imagine we'll be shopping exclusively from that pool. But being relegated doesn't make you a bad player (just ask Ravanelli, Juninho, van Hooijdonk, Stuart Peace or Scott Parker, to name a few) and we'd be stupid to pass up a bargain if they are available.
McManaman and Maloney? Not sure about McManaman yet. I know he's been superb lately but it is very early in his career. How often do we see players explode onto the scene and then fizzle out as they get older? He may be the real deal and I guess we'd never get him cheaper than now, and he would fit our profile, young and English. Maloney looks interesting. He doesn't look like a great footballer which is probably why people aren't so excited by him on this thread. However, I think he is excellent and has looked good all season even when Wigan were playing badly. Apart from his undoubted skill he has a great work ethic, not to mention a decent shot. Definitely worth a punt. I think we tend to fall into the trap that because someone is foreign they are going to be better. Its not always the case although it can sometimes look that way because they are playing in better teams. I just looked Maloney up, I hadn't realised he was 30. Maybe a bit old. That said, my hope for Wigan is that they can keep that team together more or less. I think they would then have a decent chance of getting promotion. A lot will depend on what happens to the manager I expect.
Point taken Channon but I still think we need to be setting our sights higher. Are we saying the Wigan players would be automatic selections for us now. I'm not so sure.
Remy (wages permitting) would be worth having, and maybe McManaman (though I'm not totally convinced) but that's it really. I haven't paid much attention to QPR, how bad has Hoilett been? He was highly rated before and must still be quite young.
He has been positively dreadful, can't see him getting a move away from QPR. I can't think of any players from those I would sign.
I think we'll be bringing in players from Spain more than anything. Our scouts have spent a great deal of time over there in the last 6 months.
Whether he's guilty or not he's not the type of player we want. He's obviously on massive wages or why would he have gone to QPR
I have thought all season that Espinoza from Wigan is a really good player, hard working left wingback
Re read, mate. I think we agree. The young lad from Wigan excepted, I wouldn't even look at the others.
Was just about to write the same , been very impressed over past few weeks ,would be a good replacement for Fox ,plus looks like he could push forward to left midfield ,not high profile so wages should be reasonable
Pearce was on loan at Saints previously - not that tall for a CB, and no better than what we have, I suspect.
