Leery has 3 years left I believe plus an option for another £12m would be pretty good return, £20m for leroy and Snodgrass would be far better business than most of us expected we'd do before the summer.
I agree 1950 - Josh should certainly be considered as a replacement for Snoddy (I know others will strongly disagree, but this is a forum and we're all entitled to our opinions!!). Let's hope both Pilks and E Bennett stay reasonably fit this season, so that they can play more regularly. Interesting post Supers and I'm hoping NA may well use different formations against different teams.
According to the Daily Fail, Bournemouth have reached an agreement with Callum Wilson, so that's probably one less wide forward. Given that both Grabban and Lafferty also play as wide forwards as well as the centre of a 4-3-3, City would seem to have 6 options (including Surman) plus Josh, which would seem to be enough. If Martin is going to play primarily as a CB, it will depend on whether Adams feels Gafaiti is sufficient cover for Whittaker, given that emergency loans can be used. If Fer or anyone else leaves it would seem a replacement would be sought. Finally, are Wes and Surman (if they stay), sufficient in the ACM role, particularly for breaking down stubborn defences?
gafaiti is a centre back - never seen him play right back would love to see surman feature heavily this season but centrally, not wide.
Harsh nickname! What makes you think that? If we got as much as £12m, that would be fantastic business too. The combined £20m would make up half of our losses from relegation as well as freeing up a large chunk of the wage bill (though obviously we would have lost two excellent players). That really does a good job for shoring up our finances
To me Gafaiti is cover for our 3 centre backs - 4 if you include RM - and with E Bennett as cover for Martin and Whittaker we seem to have cover across the back 4 especially as we will be able to access the loan system in the event of an injury crisis. Wes with Surman and others in the squad as back up seems strong enough to me. As always this is subject to outgoings.
Me too. Feels like a new signing having him back. Proven at this level and creative from centre midlfield too. Something that was lacking last season.
I also agree about Surman, who apparently did very well in the centre for Bournemouth, who offered £1.25m for him but were turned down.
Just seen a video of Lafferty on YouTube. I saw him play a few times for Burnley but nothing really since then. ANYWAY, he looks like Grant Holt mk. 2 with his work rate, and especially his finishing style. The way he puts the ball away, you'd think Holty had been stretched then put in a Rangers shirt. He can take a good free-kick too - this guy has everything he needs to be the new messiah, as long as he can control himself.
Now you mention it, there was only one headed goal in there... At least suggests that we're probably going to play on the floor, which is good to know (as long as it's successful)!
Instead of toffee offer him a night with a page 3 girl and he will turn into Ron Davies overnight!!!!
Stil cant understand the hype around Surman. He gives the ball away faaaaar too easily, he is sooooo slow and he is extreeeeemely weak in the tackle. Unless he has developed some amazing ability to play as a number 10 I see absolutely no use for him in midfield that has the pace, power and energy of Tettey, Johnson (not so much for pace), Howson and Fer. We need a stronger version of Fox if we are looking for a CM, not someone who is as weak and worse at passing.
He played as a number 10 pretty much all last season, so must have been doing something right in a fairly high-scoring side. Also hopefully has a decent understanding of how to work with Grabban already. Those limitations are no different to any of Hoolahan's, but he's younger and less of a traitor! I'm not suggesting we shouldn't look for more central midfielders, but do think he's a viable option, depending on how we play. If a 4-3-3 is the way we're going, then a player who can create from deep is probably a higher priority signing than a Wes replacement, even more so if Fer leaves.
I don't think he played as far forward as wes last year i.e. off the striker, but did come into the team having struggled to hold down a left midfield or midfield slot at the beginning of the year and begin a rapid climb up the table. More of a distributor and neat footballer moving the play forward than and exclusive wes esque no 10. I personally think a midfield 3 of tettey, surman, howson would be a good mix, plenty of energy and tettey to do the donkey work and fouling
Youre right those limitations are similar to Wes but some people want him as a CM and he would be sh*te as a CM. In terms of playing as a 10, Wes is still a better passer than Surman, or at least he was! If as you say Surman has played as a 10 and is any good, id be happy to see him there. 3 assists and 0 goals though :-/
Also id like to think (as you mentioned) us playing a 433 or 4123 formation which would imo leave Surman surplus to requirements imo.
I think Surman would be good as one of the 2 box to boxers with Tettey behind. He's got the neat passing and control on the ball that would be good foil for Howson or Fer. I wouldn't expect him to be first choice but he's certainly good enough for this level.
