I could definitely be alone here, but at least compared to Neil Adams, we all know that Alex Neil has a knack of getting the best out of players. Is anyone else also hoping Ricky stays just to see if he does get back to his best under AN?
I wonder what Elmander is up to?
I doubt that Kemp but it will be a pretty poor show if we don't manage to bring in any more players. So far we have turned a loan signing into a permanent one and have a 'free' transfer. The squad we have at the moment wasn't good enough to survive last time around so it is imperative that we strengthen.
I know some people think I am obsessed with the ' 25 man squad ' but if I am it is only because others seem to ignore it's existence - just a general point, Rick, and not a dig at you - but if we now buy 4 more quality players and keep Wolfswinkel how many have we got to sell? At the moment whilst everything is quite quiet on the incomings it is even quieter on the outgoings.Elmander is up to 34 years of age and still playing for Brondby in Denmark.
Only 16 of our 26 senior players were in the squad last time in the PL. Since then we've added Jerome, Grabban, Mulumbu, Dorrans, Lafferty, Odjidja-Ofoe, O'Neil, Andreu, Rudd (who was on loan) and Miquel. Three of those have considerable PL experience and we're looking to add another 4 quality players. Can't see that there's much to worry about.
I'm also happy to let AN decide on RvW.
I could definitely be alone here, but at least compared to Neil Adams, we all know that Alex Neil has a knack of getting the best out of players. Is anyone else also hoping Ricky stays just to see if he does get back to his best under AN?
I know some people think I am obsessed with the ' 25 man squad ' but if I am it is only because others seem to ignore it's existence - just a general point, Rick, and not a dig at you - but if we now buy 4 more quality players and keep Wolfswinkel how many have we got to sell? At the moment whilst everything is quite quiet on the incomings it is even quieter on the outgoings.
DOB -March 6th 1994 - does he still not count?I'm happy to let AN decide about RvW.
Believe me, 1950, I'm just as obsessed with the '25-man squad' as you are. We're allowed 26 though as Redmond still counts as under 21. Even so, RvW staying would make it difficult to bring in another striker unless Hooper and/or Lafferty leave. That's what AN has to weigh up, I guess.
I'd love him to stay and succeed, I agree it would speak volumes about CH's style of play, bit unfair to include NA in that though!
DOB -March 6th 1994 - does he still not count?
Dwight Gayle would make little sense to me, he can't play as a lone striker, and we've already got Grabban and Hooper to bring on when we want to use two strikers.
He's a promising player, but Palace would want far more for him than he'd be worth to our squad.
I agree, DH. As the transfer window goes on, some people look at a player and say, he's good let's have him. Gayle is a good player, but would he fit AN's approach? I'd also say no. Gestede would come closer, but he's more the conventional 'target man' than the team oriented lone striker role which Jerome has taken on so well under AN. Scoring goals yes, but also laying off balls to others coming into the box behind him with a better chance of scoring. I do think there's a chance that RvW could add that to his game as well, but if not, we need another striker who can.

I'm absolutely perplexed by this. Everthing I have read about him screams "I fit into Alex Neils approach".
Interesting, Carrabuh, but what exactly have you read about him that makes you think that? What I have read and seen suggests that he isn't, but I'm very willing to listen to why you think he would.
The press is talking about £10m for Gayle and I can't see us paying that. I can see your arguments for Gayle, but my doubt was his very low rate of assists, whereas I think AN wants a lone striker who will provide lay-offs to midfielders following into the box, which Jerome has taken on well and Grabban is improving on. It could be that Gayle could develop that side of his game as well. Out of curiosity, do you feel RvW could fit into AN's approach if he stayed?