Looks like the cheque book is about to be thrown at a quick return. Talk of a bid for Adam Clayton going in as well. Looks like Ole is looking to do business early. I can see a few exiting in the coming weeks in addition to the obvious 2 of Caulker and Medel. Marshall staying is key. But I just cant see him staying.
On to the midfield. We need pace. Noone , Mutch , Whitts , Daehli id keep. I think id release the rest or accept small fees and sell Kim as wed get a decent price and weve enough small players. Ralls and Harris as back up with players coming in who are quick and mobile. Something weve lacked. I think Declan and Fabio will be great attacking full backs next season but id worry about their lack of height being targeted.
What I said on Monday, slightly amended "As for Grabban from Jay's link, I've seen him a few times at Bournemouth where he is highly rated and scored well in the Championship this season - 22 is pretty good and 33 in 83 games overall. He is very quick and plays off the shoulder of the last defender. His first touch is not always good but his pace helps him get over that at Champ level. Grabban is 26 so could be worth a shout. Probably cost nearer £2m now though after a good second half to the season and with Bournemouth's finances under Russian control they are in a much healthier financial position." Just 50% out on price.
Was that bid accepted then? Surely the value is set by both sides not just the one making the offer. Regarding the Grabbon bid I know hardly anything about him except his stats, glad to see Ole looking to get things sorted quickly though. I'm even happier that he's looking to sign players who know the division.
Hope not, there's no need - throwing the chequebook at it didn't keep us up when we got there last year. Offload those that don't want to be here along with their wage comittments, and get in the players who'll scrap to get us back up. They needn't be that expensive to buy, nor their wages - just the right characters to join those that got us up last time. Big time Charlies won't want to play anywhere other than the Prem, but if you can offer "lesser" players the opportunity to get there with a club setting out their stall to do just that, they'll bring a lot more to the club than stepovers. I hope Ole goes down that route and builds. If it is to be this year, everyone (especially Tan) will be delighted, but if it takes another season to achieve it, there's another £18M parachute payment due next year.
He looks likely to replace Campbell. City will have to offload some strikers surely? Maynard looks a prime candidate. Mason surely should be retained. Kenwynne Jones? Surely if someone came in for him, he'd be waved on his way. Beget? Grabham looks an exciting prospect.
From Blue's description he sounds like a ready made FC replacement. You'd expect Grabban and the Spanish bloke to be the first choice to start, with 48 goals between them last season, at least we might finally have a couple of finishers in the side. I think we'll take offers for Maynard, Mason and KWJ. I wouldn't expect offers for KWJ though Only Ole knows about Berget as we haven't seen him, might be good enough for the Championship, might not be. I think we'll see him next year unless he hasn't settled and we can get our money back.
Agree with Hilts re: midfield If they all stay & keep fit these four will form the basis of our midfield - I'd still keep Kim & Cowie though as back-up & I think Gunners' going to be essential in the 'Medel' role.
Is Kimbo's contract up this year? I've got in my head it was a 2 year deal. Ignore me, wiki says 3 years.
This excites me. Not getting my hopes up just yet, afterall, it is just papertalk right? We need a player like this though. 20+ goal championship striker last season. Could be the answer to our prayers this season.
Grabban is certainly no big time Charlie - look at his list of clubs - Palace, Oldham, Millwall, Brentford, Rotherham and Bournemouth. He knows how the lower leagues look and feel and has clearly built his career from the bottom up. My brother-in-law, Trev, is a big Cherries fan and will be well pi$$ed off if we get him. Quote from a text this morning "I cannot see why he would leave other than for the money!!" Don't worry, I have explained why but I now might struggle for a ticket amongst the home fans at Bournemouth next season if I can't get an away ticket. Lol!! Away allocation normally about 1,000. I heard the rumour about Adam Clayton as well. He had some time with Bellers at Man City so that might be a positive influence in him coming to us. A useful midfielder who has also come through the ranks with Man City, Carlisle, Peterboro, MK Dons, Leeds and Huddersfield. With some of those clubs on his CV he must know all about getting stuck in. Knows where the net is too scoring 11 in 85 games at Huddersfield. Not sure if he will cost us a fee or out of contract. Huddersfield turned down a £1m bid from Brighton in January. He was Huddersfield's player of the season this year. Have we got a scout for us on Brighton's books as they made a £1m bid for Grabban in January also?
I think Kim will be at a new home after the WC. Incidentally, Cowie's contract is up. On the basis OGS offered new deals to Taylor & McNaughton, it would be expected he will do the same for Cowie.
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/paper-talk-tom-lawrence-again-7123390 WOL link on same subject
Gunnarrson IMO is shot. He was woeful this season, looked half fit, and that beard is ridiculous - give him a checked shirt & an axe and send him off to Canada to chop wood. His best attribute, his long throw has gone and so should he.
