Have'nt we come a long way?.

We really have come a long way, which is now seeing us compete in the transfer market with the big boys of British football.

1. Manchester City (£56.9 million).
Jesus Nava (£14.9 million), Stevan Jovetic (£22 million), Alvaro Negredo (£ 20 million).
2. Tottenham (£50 million).
Ezekiel Fryers (free), Paulinho (£17 million), Nacer Chadi (£7 million), Roberto Soldado (£26 million).
3. Cardiff City (£28 million)Andreas Cornelius (£7.5 million)John Brayford (£1.5 million)Simon Moore (free)Steven Caulker (£8 million)Gary Medal (£11million)
4. Chelsea (£26 million).
Andre Shurrle (£18 million), Marco van Gikel (£8 million), Mark Schwarzer (free).
5. Liverpool (£23 million).
Luis Alberto (£6.8 million), Iago Aspas (£7.2 million), Simon Mignolet (£9 million), Kolo Toure (free).
6. Southampton (£21 million).
Dejan Lovren (£8.5 million), Victor Wanyama (£12.5 million).
7. Swansea (£20 million).
Jose Canas (free), Jordi Amat (£2.5 million), Gregord Zabret (free), Alex Gogic (free), Alejandro Pozuelo (£500,000), Jonjo Shelvey (£5 million), Wilfried Bony (£12 million), Jernade Meade (free).
8. West Ham (£20 million).
Andy Carroll (£15 million), Daniel Whitehead (free), Stewart Downing (£5 million).
9. Norwich (£19.2 million).
Ricky van Wolfswinkel (£8.5 million), Nathan Redmond (£3.2 million), Martin Olsson (£2.5 million), Carlo Nash (free), Leroy Fer (free), Gary Hooper (£5 million).
10. Sunderland (£16.38 million).
David Moberg-Karlsson (£1.5 million), Modibo Diakite (£free), Adilson Cabral (free), Valentin Roberge (free), Vito Mannone (£1.5 million), Jozy Altidore (£6.5 million), El Hadji Ba (£380,000), Emanuele Giaccherini (£6.5 million).
11. Aston Villa (£10,200,000).
Leandro Bacuna (£3,000,000), Jores Okore (£4,000,000), Nicklas Helenius (£1,200,000), Antonio Luna (£2,000,000), Jed Steer (free).
12. Everton (£ 8 million).
Arouna Kone (£6 million), Antolin Alcaraz (free), Joel Robles (£2 million).
13. Crystal Palace (£7,700,000).
Jerome Thomas (free), Stephen Dobbie (free), Dwight Gayle (£6,000,000), Jose Gomez Campana £1,700,000), Kevin Phillips (free), Elliott Grandin (free), Marouane Chamakh (free).
14. Hull (£5.75 million).
Maynor Figueroa (free), Curtis Davies (£2.25 million), Ahmed Elmohamady (£2 million), Allan McGregor (£1.5 million), Steve Harper (free), Yannick Sagbo (free).
15. Stoke (£3 million).
Erik Pieters (£3 million), Marec Muniesa (free).
16. Fulham (£1.2 million).
Sascha Riether (1.2 million).
17. Arsenal (£0).
Yaya Sanogo (free).
18. Manchester United (£0).
None.
19. Newcastle (£0).
Olivier Kemen (free).
20. West Brom (£0).
Nicolas Anelka (free), Diego Lugano (free).


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Cheers



Mabon

 

I think we owe Dai (and a few others) a great big thank you as if it wasn't for them Huw would still be sitting in Rossi's counting the money
Saints surprise me - 21 million on just two players - don't appear to be afraid of second season syndrome

 

Ricky van Wolfswinkel is the best name in the prem by far.

Cardiff havn't got much for their £28m.

 

Don't know that I agree with that. They've strengthened down the spine: tall, strong and quick centre back, experienced midfield hardman and an exciting young prospect at centre forward who will be hungry for success. If he gets good service, at 6ft 4" he'll be a danger to most teams and he's a good finisher.

Now let's look at the other side of the coin. Caulker was good with us and decent at Spurs BUT he played with good footballing teams who thrived on possession, which reduced his defensive duties a great deal. He was also playing alongside quality central defenders who helped him a lot. Cardiff don't play a possession game, don't have the same quality to partner him and he is likely to come under the sort of pressure he hasn't experienced before. Can he deal with it? Then you have to ask the question as to why Spurs sold him on - he's young, has been capped, has the necessary physical attributes etc. Obviously Spurs would have kept him if they felt he was going to make it but they didn't, so you have to ask why? You also have to wonder why there was no move from us because we already knew he was a good fit and he liked it here. Perhaps not good value given Laudrup's expertise at buying bargains abroad.

Next, the midfield guy. Medel is his name? Can't remember and I don't know much about him either, other than he's an abrasive type who collects cards for fun. Obviously has quality given his price but Cardiff won't be pleased if he keeps missing vital games through suspension. The problem is, if he reins in his natural game, he might lose his effectiveness.

Finally the striker Kornelius. If he hits form he could fire the goals to keep Cardiff up. I liked the look of him earlier in the season and wondered if we might make a bid long before Cardiff snaffled him. He's got the tools - height, strength, pace and knows where the goal is. Last season Cardiff relied a lot on the set piece and this player is going to help that side of their game. On the other hand, he's young, inexperienced and will be thrown in the deep end at a level he hasn't experienced before. It could backfire particularly if Premier League hardened teams snuff out the service to him.

It's fascinating really. If these signings all gel then I can see Cardiff having a reasonable season. If they don't.........

 

Thank you Ivor, for your well balanced and analytical answer to Fistos post. I was about to write something personal and abusive pointing at thé obvious flaws in his post, reasoning etc....

But sheer logic wins every time. BTW Medel is (if playing at his potential) a very competetent signing. Remember him playing a major role for the stand-out Chilenian squad at the World Cup in South Africa, coached by Marcelo Bielsa...

 

They have strengthened - but £28m worth?

I think, and hope, Cardiff will stay up. It's good for Welsh sport and good for us to have a couple derby matches to look forward to. Palace and Hull are week, it could just be a fight to avoid the last relegation place. I'd put Cardiff at around 5/2 to be relegated.

 

Shorter than that if the new signings don't measure up. If they do, lower mid-table.

 

I think they will be well up the table this year. Had a good second half of the season, well coached and have picked up two additional quality players.

 

Your English is top-notch Mikra, but that one's a no-no.

 

Actually he is closer than you think. Chilenia is an ancieng area of Argentina/ Chile

 

17. Arsenal (£0).?







What the hell is going on with the gooners? I can see a big shout of AV out this season!................

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