Looking through the list of free agents, a few worth noting. Most have been previously mentioned but hey ho; Gk- J Ashdown (Portsmouth) B Guzan (Villa) T Heaton (Man Utd) LB- Nicky Shorey (West Brom) RB- Paul Robinson (Bolton) RB/CB - H Hreidasson CM- P Green (Derby) Tchoyi (West Brom) ST- R Fuller (Stoke) F Eastwood (Coventry) E Heskey (Villa) M Owen (Man Utd) Some more likely than others, if any. But like I said just worth noting I thought ^who could say no to reigniting that partnership
Before Kilgallon, it was Shorey that used to always bang on about signing from Reading. In between, it was Hoolahan from Blackpool. This summer, I will be mainly concentrating on Liam Trotter from Millwall and a winger I haven't quite decided on yet.
Heskey would be a great signing for us, as we all saw the impact Jason Roberts had at reading. But is Heskey that far past his best the Championship would be just to much for him? I reckon he would be a great signing, if it happens.
Before you look at signings you net your shape and formation to suit you style. I think Bruce would go with 4-4-2 a striker playing slightly deep, I would expect a realistic squad to be: Gordon/Mannone (poss Sorenson) - £500k Dudgeon/ Dawson Hobbs/Loan until Hobbs is fit (further cover from Bradley) Chester/Cooper Roseinor/new RB (versitile to play CB too) - Macca leaving Stewart/Loan cover McKenna/Evans Koren/Cairney (poss free signing for more depth too) King/Loan cover (think we wil look to buy a 1st choice for around £1.5 mil, migh king for this plus add ons) Fryatt/Cullen Waghorn/Heskey (Think Waghorn looked great for us last season, would be costly though if Leicester would deal with us!!! Lets say £2.5m) McShane and Simpson, and McClean could raise around £1.5 mil, meaning our out lay could be less then £3m ish
City would have no chance with Rhodes, even if Huddersfield didn't get promoted. He'll end up in the Prem
I'd have Simpson and McLean ahead of Cullen any day, and I hope we'd never fork out that sort of money for Waghorn, £1.5m max.
Probably true. Ive just always liked both those players and to see both available on frees but both are too good for the Championship and would expect them to have at least of couple of clubs to chhose from in the Prem
Stephen Davies is a free agent after being released by Derby, someone I've always rated. Banged in 12 goals last season.
Do we already have a player on our books who should be doing what he does already? Oli? I accept he isnt a striker but he has simular atributes. Ricardo was also very hot and cold when at Southampton, he got slated for being lazy. As a neutral in the crowd when he played against Man U in the cup, I felt that he was playing too wide and he struggled to make any impact against a world class defence. I felt sorry for him that day as he got booed off and have taken an interest in seeing him do well, just to piss my Saints following friends off. But he does see red and even on
Brucie has been saying you have a desperate need of a striker or two. He could well go for the following from Sunderland - Ryan Noble - needs another championship loan season (possible permanent) Connor Wickham - needs at least one season on championship loan. Ji - needs at least one loan season in the championship to continue and broaden his English football experience. All much better than heskey !
What about restoring the famous Heskey / Owen partnership in black and amber? All they need is a plutonium injection before each game and a bag of Werther's Originals at half time and they'll devour this league.
buy an out and out goal scorer at this level, someone to replace Dawson & McKenna, 2 new wingers and a creative midfielder to provide cover for Koren. An extra centre back would be great too.