What do you think would be the best realistic outcome in the summer. In terms of squad. I think:- Mannone (If Arsenal get a top-class GK, I could see this happening because he'll have the top-class GK, Fabianski, Almunia, Sznezny and possibly Lehmann to compete with.) But could cost around ã1.5m but I think that would be well worth it. Eilhoff - as back up to Mannone and also keeping him competative as well as bieng a free transfer. With Oxley as a 3rd choice. Rosenior Hobbs (I think he's looked very good since joining, but still not as good as Ayala, but i'm afraid I just can't see that happening. But i'd be more than happy with Hobbs) I think he'd cost around ã800,000. Gerrard - Like almost every supporter, I want the Gerrard loan to turn into a perminent and as long as Cardiff stay down this could happen, either a swap for Oli or straight up cash. A new LB isn't essential but i'm starting to get annoyed with his constant bad delivery from set pieces. I don't know of any possible/linked players. Stewart Evans - The deal is all but done with Corry and if the ã50,000 price is true that would be brill, but i'd still pay ã500,000 for him. Danns - I know on another thread it says he's moving abroad but I don't beleive it. If Palace go down he would cost around ã500,000-ã800,000 I reckon. Or will he be a free? Akpan - Havn't seen him play but a few on here say he's strong, good passer and comfortable on the ball. He's a youth player and way out of favour so should be a cheap and good transfer. Cairney A few weeks ago someone posted a thread saying we were linked with a move for James Henry at Millwall and that would be the perfect signing for our Right wing. Him on the right and Stewart on the left. Would terrorise defenses! Fryatt Simpson will be a good bit-part player for a promotion push as well as McLean. A 6ft+ striker, the perfect signing would be Steve Morison also from Millwall. That would be a great double swoop. A pace merchant, can only really think of one (i'm sure there are many more) but the one that keeps creeping in my mind is, dare I say it...... Fraizer Campbell. Oh yeah, I have wayyyyyyy too much time on my hands.
I think the plan is simple Offers for Mannone and Guzan, if either fail then Einhoff, this gives us two good keepers A left back and right back, one or both to be able to cover CB, expect these to be loan signings from a top prem team. Gerrard for Oli in a straight swap Hobbs on a permanent Another winger, possibly two if Koren goes, giving us Stewart, Devitt, Garcia, Belaid plus 1/2, again maybe on loan A CM, someone who can knock a ball around to link with Evans, Akpan (both will sign full deals) Harper and Cairney Another forward, most likely versitile
Danns is out of contract in the summer, so he'd cost us nothing. I'd much rather have Ayala than Hobbs.
Greg Halford seems to fit that versitile defender alright. And he takes free-kicks (and scores them) so Dawson can naff off taking them. And also Oxley would be a good 3rd GK incase of an injury, like Mannone now, so then we don't have to rush a quick deal for a keeper!
How about stealing Huddersfield's big man Jordan Rhodes? I think we need a 6 ft1 traditional number 9 as an alternative option and he would fit the bill for a couple of million.. any takers?
He's probably the sort of player than Pearson would look at, he's done very well in League One and he's still young, my only concern would be that he's not yet done anything at a higher level and his strike rate is similar to Mclean's.
Well tbh if you want a big man who is young and has got plenty of potential look no further than Gary Madine got plenty of potential. I think the free transfer list this summer will provide us with a fair few of our players, likes of Delaney, Danns, Dicker players who have got a good chance at this level and will either start or be back up. There are a fair few going and i think we should look at these type of players rather than wasting money splashing out necessarily. Save our money for the random youngsters that NP and Steve Walsh seem to find, and i wouldn't be surprised if we see a couple more foreign lads we have never heard of come in also.
Adam Pearson said in a recent interview we can expect atleast 5 new players signed in the summer, thats excluding any loan deals i think.
At ã2M it wouldn't be us doing the stealing. And according to soccerbase he only weighs 11 stone so he's not exactly the traditional #9 anyway. For comparison (also on soccerbase) McLean weighs over 12 stone and is 5'6" so he's losing a stone of bulk straight away, and then losing even more muscle because of the extra bone and everything required to be 7" taller.
The best possible scenario for me would be: Goalkeeper: Work out a deal with Arsenal to bring Mannone to us on a permanent. I'd also like to see this Eilhoff guy sign on a free as back-up. I'd let Duke go and send Oxley out on a season long loan with a 24 hour recall clause just in case either of the keepers gets injured. Right Back: Rosenior is a class act in the Championship so he'll be nailing down a first team spot here. I'd like to see us bring in some back-up, maybe someone versatile who can also cover at centre back. Delaney certainly fits the bill and he's out of contract in the summer! Left Back: Dawson is not good enough to start for us anymore so he'll have to become a back-up "squad player". Another full back similar to Rosey would do just fine! Centre Back: Cooper needs game time so I'd send him out on loan for the season with a 24 hour recall clause in case we're struggling for numbers at the back. I'd like to see us tie up a swap deal for Gerrard with Olo going the other way. We could also do with a versatile defender who can cover at right back and centre back as mentioned above. Central Midfield: If Man U permit it a permanent deal for Corry would be wonderful. I'd also very much like to see Danns come in on a free transfer. I'd retain Harper as a utility player and also retain Koren who I'd hand the playmaker role to in central midfield. With so much competition I'd like to see Cairney go out on loan for 6 months then we could bring him back in January and if he's developed well play him. Right Winger: I'd hand Garcia a new contract and also keep Devitt in the squad. We'll have to wait until the end of the season until we can completely judge Belaid but what concerns me is that he can't defend. If he doesn't prove himself I'd like to see us attempt to pick up a new right winger. Left Winger: Hopefully Cam will recover quickly so we'll be fine. Devitt can also cover on the left so we should be fine in this position. Striker: We're crying up for a big man to partner Fryatt up front. Someone like Madine, Morison, Graham or Holt ticks all the boxes but I highly doubt we'd be able to get the latter three and Madine is not proven at Championship level. Therefore my first team line-up and squad for next season would be: GK: Mannone (Eilhoff) RB: Rosenior (Delaney) DC: Chester (Delaney) DC: Gerrard (Delaney) LB: ? (Delaney) RM: ? (Devitt, Garcia) CM: Danns (Harper, Evans) CM: Koren (Harper, Evans) LM: Stewart (Devitt) ST: Morison (Mclean, Simpson) ST: Fryatt (Mclean, Simpson) Loan: Oxley, Cooper, Cairney
how can you be sure sure Akpan will be joining when he's not even made a bench? Hobbs looking assured - I'd take him.. played well vs Swans Evans growing in confidence - should be a deal there as said Amoo we won't take IMO Gerrard MUST be target number one he's the lynchpin we need a midfield general.. it won't be Bullard.. Danns?
The big plus factor for us is the respect the players have for Pearson, they want to play for him, could be a deciding factor for the likes of Gerrard to come to the club. Poor Brownie was the other way in the end, we couldn't get players after the first few months in the Prem because of his reputation for being a bit of a toolbar, it's great that things are being done the right way now. A worry for me would be another club coming in for Pearson, his reputation must be sky-high at the moment.
The love for Pearson was evident with Ayala when we played derby a few weeks ago. Looked very pally and like they got on rather well. I've not given up hope of us getting him back in the summer
Reading all of this how small are these squads people are making? Our squad currently is tiny and that is why we are falling down we do not have enough quality in reserves to go up, it shows when Barmby is the only one really off the bench alongside Devitt who can really make an impact and step up when needed.
