Massive statement of intent - even if it doesn't. As I said, Pulis maybe after some players in the deal!
What a shambles of a transfer window this has been... Not made the appropriate signings and time is basically up. Sure, they've said we are in for Imbula, Berahino and Yarmolenko but honestly will they happen in time and are they going to be everything we need? Berahino maybe - We need a proven goalscorer. Let Diouf leave for the £10 million we rejected and sign a younger and better player. Deal is likely to be costly and unlikely to be wrapped up in time Imbula - Can provide some defensive cover and score a few goals, but will we wrap it up in time and again it will be costly, likely to be priced out of a deal by Porto Yarmolenko - Score goals and set them up, replace Arnie if he leaves in the summer. Been blocked to moving to us before and now Everton and Arsenal are in the race again. Likely to be outpriced or too unattractive for him in comparison to Arsenal. Wrap it up soon or we are going to miss out on him again. We need a centre back and just cover for Wollie, Shawcross and Pieters. Maybe short term loan but everyone we have looked at has moved or is not worth having. Hopefully Hughes has some irons in the fire or I see our season going from promising to being mediocre if we do not get the right people in now. Admittedly I have said this before at this point and we have notched up a record points tally but they are seriously missing the obvious pitfalls of our squad and ways to fill them. Hughes needs to do something or tomorrow will be a nightmare, as will the rest of the season. Hopefully tomorrow will be good then Be back tomorrow to see how this goes
Good points. I raised the issue last season about our squad being old and reaching the end of contracts. We obviously need to recruit in the areas you have stated but we also have to tie down the players we want to keep - at the moment Walters is the only one which doesn't exactly set the pulse racing. With the revenue increases due, doing business now would be more cost effective than next year - prices will only increase. I always felt this year would be a consolidation year and didn't have any particular high hopes, but with the promising start we have made, I am disappointed we have not made moves earlier to capitalise on the downfall of others. Liverpool are poor, Everton are struggling, United are catchable and we could stay ahead of Chelsea - this season 5th was/is achievable.
THREE REASONS TO SAY NO West Brom are digging their heels on regarding Saido Berahino’s future – they don’t want to sell for three reasons, according to our reporter Anton Toloui. 1) Unwilling to sell to a relegation rival 2) West Brom feel they will receive the same amount or even more money for the player in the summer 3) Tony Pulis has no chance of getting a replacement in at such late notice. Newcastle, Stoke City and Tottenham remain very interested in signing the player. This made me chuckle, he hasn't started him in the league for months, cup tied him, and then wont sell him? Surely he should have played him in the league, he would have scored goals, they would have collected more points and the players value would be higher! The player doesn't want to stay, Pulis doesn't want to play him and then the usual excuse of its too late in the window.
Just get Rhodes, get Keane from Burnley. Get shot of Diaf, Bardsley, Wolly, and the other hangers on Easy innit
'STOKE AGREE IMBULA FEE' Stoke City have agreed €24m fee (£18.2m) with Porto for French midfielder Gianelli Imbula, reports The Times. The report suggests Porto will also receive 15 per cent of any future transfer fee.
Er....stunned if true. Do we really need to spend £18 million plus for another midfield player. We want a Centre Forward ...£4 milliin for Charlie Austin...were we even in the bidding ???
This is becoming farcical now, we needed to get proper cover for Shawcross and a goal machine, Hughes may have some irons in the fire but it's looking like he didn't light the fire in the first place.
Well, it's great we got him, I suppose. I wondered why we got a midfielder when what we obviously need is a forward that can actually score and, in particular, a decent partner for Shawcross. But then it occurred to me: are we preparing for Arnier Bojan to go in summer? When all the new money comes in I'm not sure Arnie's pay demands will actually look that out of place, but I wouldn't be surprised if either or both of them set sail for pitches new. Turbulent times and stormy seas ahead…
I don't think either of them will leave. The only reason would be for a bigger club and bigger wages, but they are unlikely to hold a first team place down. I Am happy with the intent of the signing and the legitimate approach for Saido and it will be interesting to see who now goes out on loan? Very disappointed not to get CD cover especially with the Shawx niggles and Wilson being out for most of the season. I always worry about players who have little experience or success in the prem - Diouf being a good example - Bojan also took a season to settle in.
Bojan is supposed to be signing a new contract with us very soon. I can't believe that we had an offer of £10 million for Diouf considering his performanxes
I still think Diouf can do a job, but we have to play him for a stretch of games. This playing him out of position or coming on as a 70 minute sub isn't going to get his confidence or form going. We have 12 million invested in him.
