I dont expect we'll find out who they are until it's done. Where any players spotted at the game, i'd want to see the team going up if I were about to sign?
Fair comment, but sometimes players can put pressure on clubs. Rhodes wants Prem football and saw Blackburn as his ticket. Will he still be confident after this season? As far as Austin is concerned I'm not sure about your +£5m valuation, but if City pay less than £5m for a decent EPL striker we will have done very well.
Austin for me is a bit over hyped, he had a brilliant first half of the season then pleated out and someone like Le Fondre would be a better fit.
The formation Brucey plays next season will be key with whom we bring in. Think he was a 451 man at Sunderland (I could be wrong). If this is so then expect one striker to come in with either Aluko or Boyd to play off him with Pros and Fryatt as back up. Not a striker, but Sako from Wolves was a decent player when with St Etienne
Altidore was the first name that came to my mind. 30 goals in Holland this season and still only 23. I was trying to find out how much AZ paid for him (not very hard mind), but was not able to see. I thought he was good for us last time, if you ignore the goal tally, but with added experience and some confidence he could be a very dangerous addition. On the flip side, Bruce will have his own list and I doubt he starts by looking at people who played here under old managers.
I wouldn't touch any championship players like austin and rhodes. Too much money for a bit of a risk. I'd rather buy cheaper abroad or prem proven players from reading,qpr,wigan
True! Remember when Swansea bought Lita for 3million and Norwich 3 million for Morrision, got to spend wisely!
Scott Sinclair wouldn't be bad, if we could get him on Loan, I'd happily have Michael Turner back to replace Faye (I just don't think he'll hack the pace,sadly) I think alot will depend on how we are going to do things, do we go for the likes of Bent who have decent PL records but will cost a bit and demand high wages, Or do we just consolidate and prepare for a tough season, But keep financially sound.
4-2-3-1 is the formation I'd like to see us play lining up something like this: New New (if we don't keep Rossy) Chester, Hobbs/New, Dudgeon Meyler, New Brady, Aluko, New New That would leave us with 5/6 first team signings. Keeper - Ross Turnbull (free), Vito, Simon Moore RB - Chris Solly (free), Ryan Shotton (free) CB - Figueroa (free), Mariappa CDM -Bridcutt (free), Karacan, Benat AM/Winger - Sako, Matt Phillips (free), Robson-Kanu, McGugan (free), Townsend (loan) ST - Austin, Le Fondre, Stokes, Will Grig (free) There a couple of players from each position i think we should look at, with people I have said to be "free" being reportedly out of contract (but not confirmed)
Wouldn't mind Phil Neville here you know. Apparently Cardiff were looking at him but I reckon he'd stay up North. Bit of experience in the middle and expertise. It's at least worth an attempt to try and lure him here when his contract at Everton runs out.
I think we should go for: Curtis Davies - Birmingham City (2.5 million) Liam Bridcutt - Brighton (Free) Matt Phillips - Blackpool (Free)/Will Buckley - Brighton (2 million)/Chris Eagles - Bolton (2 million) Ahmed Elmohamady - Sunderland (1.5 million) Gedo - Al Ahly (2 million) Adam le Fondre - Reading (3 million) Vito Mannone - Arsenal (1.5 million) Simon Moore - Brentford (750k)