I think its a case of making signings signals some intent in some respects and raises the hope of the fans. If the plan is to kick on and try NOT to be involved in a relegation fight then signing some better players early gives them time to gel into the pre-season etc. But for me its the excitement of signing a new player, something to look forward to watching etc that's all. I am not being doom and gloom about it, but wouldn't it be refreshing to see some progress?
But how do you know progress isn't being made? Maybe we are being quoted ridiculous fees or the players identified by Rafa are either not interested themselves nor their club interested in selling. Maybe the constraints of the budget means Rafa has to prioritise who and what positions he needs and not sign another Jacob Murphy and Atsu with all of his budget with out getting the positions we actually needed. Maybe the Merino saga is having an effect on the transfers going from a 4th choice midfielder (if we spend this year with Mo and Jonjo as starters) to needing a bloomin' good replacement for him knowing full well that someone of equal quality will cost more than the release fee. Or maybe MA is a cnut! Who knows!
The guy cost like £6m, if that is a huge chunk of his budget then we really are in trouble. As for Murphy I'm not convinced he was a disaster. In a year or two if he's not improved then we may as well have stuck with Sameobi but he's got some ability and needs more time. £12-14m is pretty much a going rate for a young English prospect from the Championship nowadays.
I don't feel the need for us to have any new signings completed already, but from past experience, the transfer windows can be so disappointing. It's rinse and repeat with Ashley. I don't think many of us sense anything forward-thinking or refreshing about the club's ways at the mo - which is fine if it helps us get good value in the transfer market.
Aye, you'd have hoped he would have fought for his place, instead of ****ing off home at the first opportunity.
Exactly - poor attitude from Merino but it is close to his home town which is probably the main draw for him. Don't really care to much as we've kept our best players and haven't been relegated. He was one for the future but the sale was out of our hands and sounds like he forced it through.
Unhappy player off the books. Poor attitude if I am honest. Ki was obviously a like for like replacement, aside from the obvious age difference.
If he wants to play back in his home country then so be it, doesn't make him a nob head. Money freed up to buy the players we need
It's ironic he was sidelined last season due to a back injury seeing as though he doesn't have the spine to fight for his place in the team. Let's reinvest in a number 10.
Joselu-lu-lu, He won't score one he won't score two Joselu-lu-lu, If you're ****e he'll miss a few, With his left, with his right he will miss all ****ing night, Joselu-lu-lu, He's so **** it's ****ing true
Modern footballers in a nutshell. He can post all the nice insta messages he likes, he lacked the heart for a fight. Talented lad but this does make me question his fight and loyalty.
Gini is the latest to be linked with us via the Turkish media and for what he'd cost (probably what he was sold for) I think there'd be better on the market but I won't complain as he'd definitely improve us.
Wijnaldum? I can’t see him making a backwards step. Be an interesting signing for the 10 role. Townsend too? Is it 2015/16? I wondered whether we might revisit Joe Bryan. Talk of a 7/8m move to fellow championship sides? He’d be great comp for Dummett and offer a totally different option. Plus with him and Kenedy 343 becomes an option too. We seem like this Zinchenko of Man C is interesting us. What happened to William Jose too? Cost a bomb now as he got better and better but he’d be an unbelievable striker for us. Things will hot up now with transfer with the WC just about done andvthe Big boys starting to make deals.
I don't blame him in all fairness. For whatever reasons he wasn't getting into the team. He's a good player. He wants to play. Then Rafa gets a freebie for his position a couple of weeks ago. Sounds a plan that's come off.
Listen mate you better get the hang of this panic thing. We should have spent 80m by now. Mike is killing the club. He’s trying to make Rafa leave. He had the option to buy Kenedy but chose not to. We are getting relegated same as every other year. Etc etc.
We're also probably caught up in other transfer "chains" as well - this has been suggested in respect of Townsend West Ham signed Andriy Yarmolenko. Which means they will now be willing to sell Michail Antonio with Crystal Palace supposedly at the top of list for him to sign with. If Palace sign Antonio they allow Andros Townsend to join Newcastle. Matt Ritchie then goes Stoke City (potentially) as Stoke look like they will lose Shaqiri to Liverpool
