So, if Fabio goes will VT trouser the cash or allow Trollope to sign the striker we clearly need? If so, who do we want?
If we couldn't afford to buy him I'd take Matej Vydra on loan from Watford. He has pace and offers a totally different option to Fred and Ken.
But hasn't been able to recapture the form he showed at Watford that year he bagged twenty and was of a League One quality at Reading last season. Appears to be on a downward trend so might actually be a realistic option. WOL had an article recently of the 6 strikers we could sign - wasn't a great list!
Good call Sparks. He was one of 6 strikers WoL listed on Friday. The others were: - Patrick Bamford James Wilson Frazier Campbell (injured at present so would discount him anyway) Vydra Christian Stuani Nick Blackman I wonder if Fabio going to Boro may see Stuani move the other way? While not prolific at Boro, he has an overall 1 in 3 games goal record which is not to be sniffed at. They paid 3m Euros for him a year ago so £2m a year later (matching Fabio's buy out clause is not unreasonable). Played 30 times for Uruguay with 5 goals. I like the look of Vydra though, as you say Sparks, he provides a different option and would bring much needed pace up front. The only downside being a not very good spell at Reading last season with only 3 goals in 31 appearances. Price might be another problem, from Wiki - "On 1 September 2015, Reading signed Vydra on a season-long loan for a fee of £2.5 million with an option to sign him permanently for £10 million if promoted".
OUCH!!! I was aware of his indifferent season last year with Reading but anyone can have a lean spell. I reckon he would be cheaper right now and we should enquire. The guy has pace and can move around the pitch up front to pull defenders wide - a perfect foil for Fred or Ken. He isn't a "hold up" sort of player and runs the channels like Chopra used to do. I can see Whitts and Ralls finding their range to put the guy through. As long as he can finish (unlike Le Fondre ) then he could be the missing link we need to fire us to a top 6 finish.
WoL reports Dikgacoi trying to get a move back to South Africa with 2 clubs interested. Can we set up a crowd funding exercise for his air fare - one way only? No more news on ALF, Macheda or Fabio. Trollope still wants 2 new players in this window. Must be resting on freeing up funds from whoever leaves. No indication of the positions or players involved. So, basically still no real news!!!! But it was WoL!!!
The combined wages wasted on Dikgacoi, Le Fondre and Macheda must be a huge burden in trying to go forward this season. Although he's of much greater value to the team, when you add in what Fabio must be on, OGS really did screw this club into the ground financially with these 4 signings in his "kid in a sweetshop" spell. I don't know at what point in time it's worth cutting our losses and in some way paying the others off, but maybe the time has come to take the reported release figure on Fabio as a start. Unless Tan can be convinced a significant improvement could me made in the widely predicted 8th to 10th place finish by investing another couple of mill before hand, it'll be very much carry on with what you've got Mr. Trollope.
it'll be very much carry on with what you've got Mr. Trollope. And that's why I have so little enthusiasm for this season.
Well would you?..............or are we well enough covered in that area of the park? http://insidecardiffcity.co.uk/former-cardiff-favourite-told-can-leave/
If proven to be fit, at a sensible price as he can't get in their team and if he is realistic about his wages. Unfortunately, Wolves could knock us into a cocked hat on the last 2 points. His ability is undoubted at this level. However, we still need a striker who has a more than passing relationship with the back of the opposition net.
Not unexpected news but I hope he stays after his performances for Iceland. The main problem is fitting in all those who want to play particularly if we were to get Mutch back. Possibly one deal financing another? http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/cardiff-city-iceland-star-aron-11724655.
BfB, I think it depends on the offer. I like Gunnar, but if the deal is right then I think we should take the money. It's not fair on him to remain as a bench warmer even though I believe he can still do a job for us.
True Jay. I'm not sure his style fits with what Trollope wants and we are not likely to build around him. For some reason he has been a bit of a square peg in a round hole since we were in the Prem. Although his injuries haven't helped. He has always given 100% despite whatever he was asked to do. That is more than can be said for some of them. I would be sorry to see him go but if £2m was to finance more quality coming in it would be difficult to argue.
Likewise, I've always liked Gunnar for his committment - however getting stuck in is only half a solution and he's become all grunt and no pace. If you play him with Whitts in the side we might as well hand over the middle 3rd of the pitch to the opposition runners because they'll tear us to shreds unless Gunnar can crock them first. Sadly for all his endeavour, he slows our game right down and Whitts can do that on his own but with better end results. Maybe he should go but how much of a clean slate do we need? If he's sold I suppose Adeyemi is an option, otherwise Trollope will have to rely on the likes of Tommy O'Sullivan to fill the bench spot - maybe that's not a bad idea after all?
'ang on a minute........could this be a replacement for Gunnar? http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2016/08/09/por-cardiff-line-up-move-for-wales-international-huws/
Could well be. And it continues the VT ethos of wanting to sign young Welsh international players. He has always looked useful if a bit injury prone. For 5 clubs has only made 50 appearances in 4 seasons. Has scored some spectacular goals in his time while not being prolific - 6 in total. Looks like Wigan paid £2.5m for him in September 2014 on a 4 year deal. I guess he would cost us £1.5m max. While he could come in to replace Gunnar in the squad, could he ultimately be a replacement for Whtts? Nothing on WoL yet about him or Mutch. No surprise there then. Always the last to know.
"Huws came through the youth ranks at Swansea City before joining Manchester City in 2009" Will he do the Ayatollah though?
Gunnar was only half the player without his long throws but his shoulder seems to be fixed, he done well in the Euros and have scored some good goals. Having said that I think get a bit more than £2 mill and I'd sell him. Emyr Huws could be a good signing but as BfB said a bit injury prone if we can get him for around the £1.3m mark worth a try.
