So, we now know that Danny Graham has left as has Will Buckley. In my honest opinion i cant see anyone else leaving, simply because no one has attracted a great deal of attention and those who might have are too far along in their careers (MT/JE). The question is what will MM do to replace the players who have left and what will Bassini allow? I think this squad would be the best we can offer. Loach Doyley Marriappa M.Taylor A.Taylor(new) Cowie Eustace Deeney Conway(new) Sordell Phillips/New playerSubs Gilmartin Hodson Tompson Bennett Whichelow Mingoia Murray This is obviously not counting on loan players, but we can not predict who MM will look at and who will be allowed to leave. However, as our previous record has shown we can not rely on loan players as they are only short term and can take a few weeks to adjust to the squad. I know that KP is unlikely to be able to play 90mins week in week out which is why i think we need another striker, but who is to say that a youngster wont step up. I thought i would be panicing when DG went and then tearing my hair out after finding out Bucko went but actually after thought its not that bad. What are your thoughts guys and gals??
It wouldn't surprise me if someone comes in for Loach. I know he hasn't had a great season but there is obviously potential there and still young enough to learn. Other than that, unless there is a high bid for someone, then I don't think we will sell any of the 'main' players. As for who to bring in, then obviously depends on Malky's warchest! If the Young deal goes through, I can see it being somewhere around the half a million mark... this will mean mainly freebies and loans. My ideal summer would now be; Phillips - Free A Taylor - Free with signing on fee (£100-200k) Conway - Free Whiggins - Hopefully around the £200k mark The loans - would be happy to get Weimann back, then a central midfielder. I know I've said this before, but I'd also enquire to the availablity of Simeon Jackson at Norwich, who must be about 4th down the pecking order! I'm sure Fergie has a midfielder he can loan us!
Glad to be talking purely about on-pitch stuff for a change, so I'll get the vaguely financial point out of the way early on. I don't think we have any chance of getting Andrew Taylor (although I'm sure we will go for him). Three defenders and no strikers on the bench tells its own story. We were very lucky with striker injuries last season. That luck might hold out until January, or for another season, but when it rains, it usually pours. Is Massey ready for first team football? Will one striker coming in be adequate replacement for Graham and Weimann? I think Josh Walker will be involved this season. I rate Mingoia and Murray highly, and they will get playing time next season. But if anything happens to Eustace, the first pairing we would look at would surely be Jenkins and Walker. I've said ever since he was released that we could do worse than to re-sign Jon Harley, for his experience and as versatile left-footed cover. Having been shown the door by a League One club, we could almost certainly afford his wages. The Super Kev stuff is nothing more than an educated guess, but I hope it happens. It makes so much sense for all involved.
Deeney is no central midfielder - he played mostly as a right-winger last season and i cant see him playing in the centre, even at the tip of a diamond. Cowie is better in a more central role anyway, so swap those two and youre sorted. I think it says alot that we could have a bench made up entirely of academy products (goalkeeper excepted). This shouldnt be the case though, Malky knows how to work the bargain basement market - as long as he stays we'll be fine.
My speculation: I don't think the sales are over at Vicarage Road. Hence, I think that by the end of the window bids could come in for Loach, M. Taylor, Eustace, Cowie and Sordell. I'd say they are our five remaining most saleable assets. I hope none leave (wouldn't be devastated if Loach went for upwards of £1.5m however, with future clauses) but wouldn't be surprised to see one or two of them move on. As for arrivals, I expect we'll try to get A. Taylor, but feel sure we won't succeed. I reckon we might well get Wiggins in as our left back. Further up the field, I'm honestly not sure where this Phillips speculation has come from. Yes, he used to play for us, but would a guy who has just come down from the Premiership, presumably on Premiership wages (c. £10k+ p/w?) come to a club which could, at best, offer him half that? I certainly wouldn't mind having him but I don't expect to see him wearing yellow next season. Regarding Conway, I've never seen him play but have heard good things; then again, I've also heard that a whole host of Championship clubs are interested, so we come back once again to wage competition. I do think we'll make a few signings this summer, despite not having much money. However, I don't expect many of them to be people I've heard of. I imagine our scouts will be scouring their database of lower league and Scottish players. But if they work out like Graham, Cowie and M. Williamson did (on the pitch only, in the latter's case!) then we'll be laughing. Has anyone on these boards watched much League One or Two football? If so, any realistic suggestions would be welcome.
Oh thanks for pointing out my error there NNW, i ment to put Massey not Murray. But i do recognise the shortage of strikers and the problems it will cause.
P.S. Forgot to mention the inevitable loanees. Hopefully our good relations with United continue (I'm thinking more Cleverleys and Fosters, fewer Cathcarts and Drinkwaters) and I'd quite like to see us develop closer ties with Arsenal: it'd be nice to have a few of their prospects here for a season.
Not having a go, but i could have sworn that TD played a central role, hence why cowie and he played as opposed to TD and Jenkins. I for one would like to see jenkins shipped out somewhere far from here!! He has no talent to speak of and often finds himself lost in no-mans land in the middle of the park, or loosing the ball somewhere in the final third. With regard to the KP rumour, it is simply that as are all the proposals on this thread. Who is to say he wont take a wage cut given that he is getting on and unlikely to have many years left, and to pinch an idea from else-where we could offer him a route to coaching after a year or 2. Also i did mention this is soley based on the players we have and have been linked with. Loans are very tricky to predict and could come from everywhere or anywhere.
NZ, when Walker came back from his loan he stated that he was looking forward to pushing for a place next season. http://www.watfordfc.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10400~2357969,00.html Also, later in the season we should (hopefully) have a fresh Stephen McGinn to come back.
