Could very well be our only signings this window. Not sure MAF will give MJ very much money, if any. He spent big in the summer and we are on a budget.
I would have thought a striker was our main priority even if AJ does stay? We do have Kelly, Baird and Hughes who can all play right back.
I don't know about sell-to-buy, but both of the 17 year olds represent a continuation of our wise policy of investing in quality youngsters. We'll see the fruit of it in years to come, I'm sure. They're not the exciting transfers we're all hoping for, but they are good news.
Agreed. The Scots are up in arms about us soft southern jessie's stealing all there talented youngsters.
And while I'm delighted that we've got two good youngsters at a cheap price, I think the Scots have got a point. The system has to protect clubs who invest in developing youngsters, then see them leave with minimal compensation. Just because we're benefitting from it in this instance, doesn't mean it's a fair system. I'm not saying we shouldn't have taken advantage of the system - we have to operate to the rules that exist, like everyone else, not the rules that should exist - but it's a rotten system.
I'm making light of this signing, but this is how Chris Smalling came our way. I doesn't matter to me how good this kid turns out to be; he'll never replace Sherman Tankovich in my heart.
And we have AJ, Bobby, Sa and Dempsey can fill in there if needed. We also have Dalle Valla and Trotta (although they'll probably find loan clubs). I don't expect to see us sign a striker.
Problem is Bids is that Dempsey isn't a natural striker and his place there would leave a hole in our midfield and Sa and AJ aren't consistent scorers. Whereas Hughes, Kelly and Baird can all do a decent job at right back. Sa, AJ, Zamora and Dempsey can't all do a decent job for us up top.
It's a case of hunted becoming hunter for a change. I get your point but lets be honest. We've been on the wrong end of nurturing talented young 'uns and then been diddled by bigger clubs. With the exception of Gordon Davies when he went to Chelsea as he wasn't a teenager. I'm not bitter about the arbitration settlement after all these years honest!
This has happened since the dawn of time in football. The big clubs take players from the smaller clubs. It's one of the reasons I can't stand the SPL, if any player outside of the Old Firm has a good season or scores a few goals they soon snap him up for a pittance.
Absolutely. And we shouldn't forget the other youngsters out on loan - Danny Hoesen for instance, is doing all right in Holland.
