Summer window

bring him home

 

Same here, remember being gutted when he left us. His son has kicked on this season, played well the last couple of times that I've seen him. Has everything you would want in a fullback

 

Aye, he went for nowt iirc. Bit of a contract dispute from what I can remember.

 

Scotland seem to have an abundance of quality fullbacks atm

 

He wanted to play for Rangers,was tapped up and didn't want to stay with us,ran down his contract iirc. Mind you,I don't think he was at Ibrox for long?

 

I wonder if Shea Charles is a possible loan signing in the summer. He seems to be rated very highly and might enjoy linking up with his Northern Irish teammates as part of his development.

 

I liked Colby bishop when he was at Accrington flying at pompey too but 26 so not sure if we’d be looking at him

 

Teemu Pukki?

Available on a free at the end of the season and has confirmed he's leaving Norwich.

He's probably leaving the country for a new challenge, but he'd be a great experienced head to have around the squad and at 33, he wouldn't expect to be starting. He offers something different and has huge knowhow at this level. As one of 2 new striker options, I'd be happy with him.

 

Could do a lot worse, never been particularly pacey either just very good at being in the right place which in this side would be ideal as an option

 

Slower than Charlie Wyke and not good enough for Norwich. Not for me Clive

 

Watched France v Holland under 20s the other week to see Ba and Michut and the Dutch striker stood out think he scored twice 6ft 5 and quick Emanuel Emegha @Scout73 might have a better insight to him than me though

 

Frances centre half, Toure, was quality when I caught a bit of their games. He was massive, think he was their captain.

 

He's scored 10 goals in the Championship this season. I'm not suggesting we start him and sell Stewart, but the idea that we're going to go and buy a couple of good strikers is fanciful in my opinion. Pukki is a different option who wouldn't need to start but could cover. Each to their own, but I'd have him.

 

Yeah he’s enormous him and Batth at the back wed never lose a header

 

Personally not a fan of buying "squad players". Think it's the road to mediocracy that we have travelled down many times before. I truly believe every signing you make should improve your first team (or at least have the potential to). Easier said than done of course

 

I'm not against the theory, but in practice it's a different story.

Are you advocating that we sign 2 strikers that are better than Stewart (for £30m plus) or 2 strikers that might be better than Stewart in 3 years (probably still cost £10-15m)?

1 player with that kind of promise and Pukki for a year to bridge a gap would do just fine for me.

 

Personally I'd be looking to bring in Simms on a permanent deal and Miles Leaburn from Charlton.
Simms can immediately improve the 1st team, and play alongside or be back up for LND. Leaburn can be the younger prospect, learning from Stewart and chipping in with a few goals here and there.

Not saying Pukki wouldn't contribute, it's just not the direction I'd like us to be going in

 

Both great suggestions to be fair and I'd be thrilled with that

I just feel that's probably the budget gone and maybe more. Leaburn might not be happy coming to be third choice either, we'd have to sell him a path to the first team which would involve Stewart moving on at some point.

 

Just to play devil's advocate, why would 2 replacements for Stewart cost 20m? Wyke cost us 1m and Stewart replaced him and only cost 500k or something like that and I'd rather have the player who cost half of what the other one cost us.

If we get big money in for selling players in ain't going to be the same amount going out on replacements.

 

Obviously, they could cost any price. But finding Stewart was a one off. You don't find many strikers for half a million quid with his upside. I don't think you find many players at all who are under 20 and can be a player of Stewart's ability and stature in just a couple of years either. We'd have to sign someone who's already half developed and in my view, that costs a reasonable level of money.