Let me start by saying I am a Pearson fan. However when we got promoted he said planning for the Premier League had been going on for some time and targets had been identified and would be pursued early in the transfer window. In a moment of nostalgia I watched the dvd of our last Premier season and in it Mickey Adams states that players are on free transfers for a reason, namely generally not good enough. Contract situations may have changed in 10 years and players now may deliberately let their contracts run down to get themselves better deals but we do seem to be rushing in the freebies. Have we messed up by announcing truck loads of money to spend and therefore pushing prices up or is this just squad development and there will still be key signings to come?
Kasper's contract just ran down. If someone else had signed him, would you consider him not good enough? Times have changed but, as far as I remember, this has never been the case. Not the greatest moment for Adams - and looks even more wrong-headed considering we got into financial **** shortly after.
Frees once upon a time were released because they wern't good enough, but as you illude to now, its more dominated by the players wanting improved deals. Really its more upto clubs to tie down contracts over a year before they expire. Kasper would have been a freebie, still could be, and hes far far away from any "poor" tag. Upson was Brighton's POTY last season, and Hamer is also well known as a good prospect, Albrighton was one of Villas best players at the end of last year. A fair few Villa, Brighton and Charlton fans were disappointed that they have left, so its not exactly like they are free flops. Also, filling out the squad with these free signings (not saying they couldn't start tbh, wouldn't be surprised if Upson and Albrighton are in the first 11) leaves us more funds to find the game-changing players in key positions.
I see it as very valuable squad filling. We were lucky with injuries last season and I think we used the fewest number of players. Fact is we're going to need different options and people with prem experience.
Ok, deep breathing starting in 3.....2....1.... All good points from posters. Squad makeups have changed so much in the last few years (top 4 had 70-90 players out on loan) that it is going to take a bit of getting used to having so many players. Someone is now bound to mention Sven's era. We will clearly still have more to come, nothing from overseas as yet.
Upson was signed because liam moore is not good enough to consistently play in our defense. Especially on a free, this is good news. Albrighton was signed because we need competition on the wings as Lloyd seems to want go. This is also good news. Ben hamer was signed because we need better cover than conrad logan. Also good news. Nigel pearson is utilising the freebies because in any parallel universe it may prove a masterstroke. LEICESTER are plotting a £2m move for West Brom defender Craig Dawson while Brighton’s Matthew Upson, Aston Villa’s Marc Albrighton and Charlton’s Ben Hamer all had medicals yesterday ahead of their free transfers to the club.
I don't think so. As far as I'm aware there's nothing definitive that he's actually left. He hasn't signed a contract yet either, but I'm still holding out hope.
