Still too good for Div 2. Tate is a Div 1 cert and also could go well in the Championship (for the right team). It's sad to talk about him like that, but there can be no room for sentiment as a squad player. Always a Legend in these parts though
I must confess... I didn't think much of him in League 2. I wanted rid in League 1, found him so frustrating. Was pleasantly surprised at how he coped in the Championship, he definitely used his experience to full effect. He shouldn't be anywhere near a Premier League squad IMO but there you go, he is a 100% man and his heart is in the right place. Deserves his testimonial.
I notice there's a story in the Post today stating all those players I mentioned above (to leave) have been left behind while the rest of the squad depart for the Netherlands
MICHAEL Laudrup has sent a blunt pre-season message to four senior players by leaving them out of Swansea City’s tour of Holland. Swansea stalwart Alan Tate, midfielder Kemy Agustien and strikers Luke Moore and Leroy Lita were all left behind when Laudrup’s men departed for The Hague yesterday afternoon. Read more: http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/Future-doubts-clutch-Swansea-City-stars-left-pre/story-19476230-detail/story.html#ixzz2Y4IjJbKp Follow us: @thisisswales on Twitter | thisissouthwales on Facebook
As mentioned Tate is a legend and should be allowed to finish his career gracefully down the leagues and then come back in some back room capacity with his head held high. In all honesty I forgot Lita was still with us. He, Agustien and Moore need to be shipped out rather than have them riding the gravy train
Moore is a surprise. Is he injured or out? Does this mean we are going the route of False 9 or Michu is the guy or we have a new forward signing imminent.
23 man squad now looks something like this; 1) Vorm 2) Rangel 3) Taylor 4) Chico 5) Ash 6) Canas 7) Hernandez 8) Ki 9) Wilfried Bony 10) Michu 11) Routledge 12) Jazz Richards 13) Davies 14) Jordi Amat 15) Monk or REPLACEMENT - e.g. Mancienne? Botia? 16) Britton 17) Dyer or REPLACEMENT - e.g. Ince / Capel / Pedro Leon etc.) 18) Alejandro Pozuelo 19) YOUNG STRIKER - Vydra loan? Alvaro Morata loan? Michy Batshuayi? 20) Jonathan De Guzman - LOAN 21) Tremmel 22) Roland Lamah - LOAN or will he be sent back and someone like Wakaso Mubarak or Nacer Chadli come in. 23) Jonjo Shelvey Luke Moore, Kemy Agustien, Alan Tate, Curtis Obeng, Leyroy Lita (...and possibly Lamah?) to leave....if only out on loan for the season. The first week of the window is over and we've made 6 signings. Making all of the naysayers looking pretty silly if you ask me. Is that all of our business done? Will Donnelly step up at no. 19? Or will we secure another striker? Would it make sense for the back up striker to be an exciting young talent on loan? Will we sign another? A defender? A winger? A "universal midfielder"?
Sorry for bumping this but when I start something I just have to finish it. I'm anal like that..... Laudrup's 23 man squad (what he sees as his 23 disregarding u-21/unwanted over-21's registration shenanigans) 2013/2014 1) Vorm 2) Rangel 3) Taylor 4) Chico 5) Ash 6) Canas (Free - probably a signing on fee north of a £1m) 7) Hernandez 8) Jonjo Shelvey (£5million?) 9) Wilfried Bony (£11million?) 10) Michu 11) Routledge 12) Dwight Tiendalli (Free - probably a signing on fee of a few hundred thousand) 13) Ben Davies 14) Jordi Amat (£2.5million) 15) Monk 16) Britton 17) Dyer 18) Alejandro Pozuelo (£425k compensation, apparently) 19) Alvaro Vazquez - LOAN (£1 million, so we hear) 20) Jonathan De Guzman - LOAN (Probably paid approx. £1million loan fee) 21) Tremmel 22) Roland Lamah - LOAN (Loan fee must be peanuts) 23) Jazz Richards Out on loan Ki, Gwion Edwards, Dai Cornell (?), Alan Tate Patently unwanted Alan Tate, Leyroy Lita, Curtis Obeng Released (??? not sure actually) Kemy Agustien and Luke Moore Total transfer fees = approx. £20-23 million
