... it's time for those god awful threads regarding who will be staying and who won't. I'll make it a little simpler. Staying Hangeland Hughes Baird Duff Murphy Dempsey Senderos Etuhu Zamora Davies Dembele Dalla Valle Briggs Possible staying/going Kelly A. Johnson Schwarzer Stockdale Sidwell (6 month contract) Gudjohnsen (end of loan) Halliche Going Pantsil Kamara Salcido Gera Kakuta (end of loan) Greening Dikgacoi Riise E. Johnson Suggestions for who should leave, who should stay and who should come in are all welcome.
Some queries on your definitely going list: Salcido may well go, but I'm not sure that it's nailed on. Hughes seems more positive about Greening than many regulars here are. I suspect he'll still be around for another season, unless you've heard an announcement that I haven't. Also, I understand that the club took its option to extend Dikgacoi's contract by another year. That might mean he has a future, or (more likely) they wanted to make sure they could get a fee for him this summer. I would be very surprised if Sidwell doesn't stay, and I'm confident that Schwarzer and Stockdale will both still be at the Cottage when September rolls around. Halliche too, if it comes to that. Who would I like? If we're prepared to spend serious money, how about Daniel Sturridge? He'd be a good partner for Bobby. It might be a hard sell to get him to come to us rather than Bolton where his feet are already under the table, but if Chelsea are willing to sell, he could be a good signing - good talent, good age, would fit in well to our style of play, and a genuine goalscorer. I'd also like us to sign an up-and-coming targetman to understudy/challenge Bobby and maybe one day replace him, as well as the inevitable army of full-backs that we seem to need.
Evening Captain Well Salcido has complained on more than one occasion that he is suffering from being homesick, and I think Hughes may want to play Briggs more next season, so his place in the starting eleven certainly won't be nailed on. Greening has been continuously linked with Notts Forest and I do think he will go. There are far too many players in front of him and if Kagisho also stays then that's another. Kagisho has done well at Palace and if they stay up they may be interested in a permanent move. I would rather Etuhu left and we kept Kagisho but I doubt that will happen. Good shout on Sturridge, but I fear that if he does leave Chelsea then Bolton will be the first place he looks at. A bit similar to Donovan and Everton, who would also be a quality signing. I think it all depends on whether or not Drogba leaves Chelsea in the summer. If he does then that leaves Chelsea with just Anelka and Torres, both of which have seriously misfired lately.
I reckon the only ones going are the following. Sidwell Gudjohnsen Kamara Gera Kakuta Greening Dikgacoi Riise E. Johnson
Any of you Fulham fans read this yet A dream move to the Premier League for Darlington's teenage centre-back Dan Burn has edged closer after the highly-rated defender underwent a medical at Fulham.
I wasn't aware of us signing anyone so thanks for the update, it's good to see us going for youth after Stephens rejected the chance to join us. Apparently he wanted to stay at Plymouth and help them avoid relegation, but then joined Southampton immediately afterwards. Smooth.
I read about Dan Burn this morning. Apparently he's 18 and 6 foot 6, so I'm guessing he's a centre back rather than a full back. He's had a medical with us, but from what I read that isn't a sign that it's a done deal, it's more a pre-emptive thing so that we can move quickly in the summer if we (and he) decide the move is on. Darlington are resigned to losing him at the end of the season, but several other clubs are interested including Everton, Newcastle, Chelsea and Manchester City. Hopefully he'll have been impressed with the facilities etc from his medical and that may help sway him in our direction, but we haven't landed him yet.
Good list bandy, and it suggests a big shake-up. Whether Hughes stays as manager or moves on (& I think he'll be here a while) there's likely to be a lot of changes. The two I'd be sorry to see go are JP & Gera who have both done so much for us. "A s buchedd" as MH might say.
Hangeland (can see a big 4 approach) Stockdale (again can see a top 4 wanting a reliable backup keeper) Gudjohnsen (end of loan) Pantsil (not enough playing time) E. Johnson (not good enough) Kamara (always on loan) Gera (not happy) Kakuta (end of loan) Greening (getting old) Riise (loanee)
Not sure if any of the big 4 will go for Hangeland. He has had his moments this year and looked a bit more ordinary at times than he did last season. Would love to see a) Gudjohnsen and b) Kakuta stay but don't think Hughes will want to keep a) and won't be allowed to keep b) Lord, let Eddie Johnson leave. Riise will be off along with Dikgacoi and possibly Salicido. Think Stockdale will stay - will be given more opportunities next year having proved himself reliable this year.
Oh, and perhaps we should put in a silly offer for Tevez - seems he'll be off and where better to park up than by the Thames?
It's all gone a bit quiet on the Hangers front, but it wouldn't surprise me if he was to join a bigger team. He, more than anyone at the club deserves Champions League football and I would hold no grudges if he were to leave. I see Stockers today has expressed his disatisfaction at being second choice, I think MH can convince him to stay, but for how much longer is he going to be content with being second best?
I would hope that MH can keep Stockdale - playing cover for a Top-4 club is not going to get him more PL matches. And while Brede has looked not quite as dominent of late, I'd not like to lose him; nor would Aaron Hughes who has really been reliable in the partnership. JP has made too many mistakes, which is a pity, and I still get concerned about Salcido - Trouble is there are quite a few PL teams with problems in these positions. At least we have Chris Baird! Dempsey/Davies/Duff/Murphy is alot of experience in midfield. Sidwell has done well and could stay, which will pressure Etuhu. Greening has done ok as cover, but may go (I'd like him to stay). Extending Dikgacoi's contract by another year is something I missed. Finally of course, Gera will move on (my posting about him is penned and waiting to the right time). I agree with others that Dembele is not an out&out striker. Hopefully AJ will stay - his workrate has been good. Finally, having gone past the first half of the season the reliance on EJ/Kamara/Erik, we need another striker - Sturridge is a great call, but will be in demand. No doubt there will be a few surprises. At least MH will have a chance to do some deals pre-season. COYW
Good thread Bandy, I feel that there is a good atmosphere at the club at the moment with the squad. I was not aware that Stockdale was bemoaning being second choice. It will be interesting to see if Schwarzer decides to carry on for another term. I feel Stockdale was excellent when playing regularly, he commanded his area superbly. He is too good to let go. Hangeland has stated many times that he loves life at the Cottage, he is a straight up guy, so I think he will stay where he is. Some one made a note on a previous thread that they would like to see Dembele on the bench for a game. I feel that Hughes has not given Gera a decent chance. Let's not forget how good he was with Bobby up front last season. Between the 2 of them they bagged a fair few goals. We must give this another chance. I am not cussing Dembele, he is a brilliant player but does not score many goals. I only wish he could play in midfield, his guile and ability to create space could be great in the middle of the park. Sidwell has to stay, he is a quality player. I feel that he will be happy to bide his time and take the opportunity when it arises. Dikgacoi's contract extension is interesting. Suggests Hughes unsure about him. Could he fill in for Etuhu next season? Going for sure is Riise Kamara Pantsil E.Johnson Salcido I would like to see Kakuta and Gudjohnsson stay on loan. Haliche and Senderos are both great cover for centre backs.
Like several of you, I'd like to see Sidwell stay. I love Etuhu's defending, but he still can't pass. I, too, am not sure Salcido will or should go unless we can get Konchesky back. Nani made Chris Baird his bit** during that ManU game, so while I'd argue that we should certainly keep Baird, I think we need an actual right back to replace Pantsil.
I heard that Arsenal might let Clichy go this summer. Just a thought - although maybe an overly ambitious one.
Clichy is a very ambitious option, but if we can get into Europe via the fair play league then I don't see why not. Warnock from Villa could be another good option, along with Matty Taylor from Bolton, although he's a little too attack minded. I'd love to see us move for Kranjcar but like O'Hara, he's another player all the fans want but the manager won't get. If we do qualify for Europe then expect a big shake up that's for sure. We can't go carrying deadwood like E. Johnson around anymore.
