Summer 2010 Transfer Thread: B*llsh*t, Rumours & Wishes

[lessealey]

He had pace, but it was never blistering.

He might have lost a touch of sharpness too, but at the things he's always been decent at -namely linking up play and finishing- he should still be able to bring that to the party.

Keane at 29/30 would still arguably be the best finisher at the club if we land him. If any signing improves on what you already have it's justified.

Do not agree with this sentiment. A partner for Gabby is the one slot we can really improve our first team. We need to have a better front two than any of our rivals, rather than better than what we had last year. Gabby and Keane is worse than CrouchDefoe, TevezAdebayor, TorresGerrard.

Keane is exactly the signing that keeps you sixth. It is not the cheap option either. He has no sell-on value and will be on huge money. Keane is cooked.

[Phil from the upper holte]

Ireland - part ex milner
Jenas - part ex Davies
Keane - 9m
Carlton Cole - 12m
Clyne - 4m

The thought of three quarters of our major summer activity being Jenas, Keane and Cole just makes me want to weep.

Agreed

[Concrete John]

He had pace, but it was never blistering.

He might have lost a touch of sharpness too, but at the things he's always been decent at -namely linking up play and finishing- he should still be able to bring that to the party.

Keane at 29/30 would still arguably be the best finisher at the club if we land him. If any signing improves on what you already have it's justified.

Do not agree with this sentiment. A partner for Gabby is the one slot we can really improve our first team. We need to have a better front two than any of our rivals, rather than better than what we had last year. Gabby and Keane is worse than CrouchDefoe, TevezAdebayor, TorresGerrard.

Keane is exactly the signing that keeps you sixth. It is not the cheap option either. He has no sell-on value and will be on huge money. Keane is cooked.

Even taking out his time at Celtic, he's scored 11 in 29 games for Spurs since going back to them.  I don't think he's 'cooked', but would like better.

I think trying to compare player for player is always difficult and subjective, but the key is to be better collectively.  Taking into account Gerrard and Torres Liverpool have a better overall squad than us, yet we finished above them.  I think Chelsea have a MUCH better squad than Man Utd, yet they weren't far apart after 38 games.  Man City had a great squad last season, but they couldn't gel and were unbalanced in defense, so didn't do aswell as they should have.  Ultimately, i think we have to concentrate on ourselves - improve on what we've got and get the best from them and we won't be far away!

[jbase]

What's the deal with Benayoun by the way? Is he available on a free or is FSW just looking to shift him? Anyone know what sort of wages he would be on?

[SoccerHQ]

I think Liverpool would sell for 7m or 8m tbh.

Him or Ireland would do me fine.

[jbase]

It's well annoying that the Keane debate from the other day vanished into the ether as a lot of good points were raised on both sides and it's a pain having to repeat it.

My stance on Keane is that I don't think he's past it and I don't think he should be judged on the fact that Harry didn't fancy him last season (Bent, Pavlyuchenko and Bale being examples of players also unfancied by Harry at various points) and the lack of success at Liverpool (as that, IMO, was more a case of him not fitting into the Gerrard - Torres system than lack of ability on his part).

Our attack needs someone exactly like him, so given the above, why not him? Especially in the absence of anyone lilke him being younger and realistically available.

However, we shouldn't overpay for him.

For me, if we could add Keane and Yossi (who I'd play on the right instead of Downing) to our existing squad I reckon our VP form would improve as they are the kinds of players who can help break teams down. Assuming our away form remains around the same level as last season, we could challenge for CL football.

[JJ-AV]

I think something like this is realistic, considering:

Ireland - P/Ex
Jenas - P/Ex + £2million
Richards - £8million
Clyne - £4million
Benayoun - £7million
Borriello - £6million

Milner - £20million + P/Ex with Ireland
Davies - P/Ex
NRC - £5million
Sidwell - £3million
Shorey - £2million
Luke - £3million
Beye - £1million
Heskey - £2million

Net profit - £9million

That'll make us stronger, give us a profit in the transfer market and cut the wage bill.

[London Villan]

I'd put Keane and Benayoun in the same bracket, as players that can come off the bench and make a difference, but not first 11 players.

When you look at what has been sat on the bench or hasn't even played in terms of money, then £8m/£9m for either of these two doesn't seem too bad!

[Concrete John]

I'd be thinking of the followjg as likely and would improve us:-

Out
Milner - £15m (plus Ireland and Richards)
Davies - £6m (part of Keane deal)
NRC - £5m
Young - £3m
Beye - £1m
Shorey - £2.5m
Sidwell - £3.5m
Heskey - £2m
Total income - £38m

In
Ireland (part of Milner deal)
Richards (part of Milner deal)
Keane - £3m (plus Davies)
Bentley - £9m
New holding midfielder - £10m (not sure who yet!)
Clyne - £4m
Total spend - £35m

Transfer profit - £3m

New squad
Keepers - Freidel, Guzan & Marshall
Fullbacks - Warnock, Richards & Clyne
Cebtrebacks - Dunne, Cuellar, Collins & Clark
Centre mids - Ireland, Petrov, new holding & Delph
Wingers - Ash, Bentley, Downing & Albrighton
Strikers - Gabby, Keane, Carew & the Fonz.

I'd be happy with that squad, but if Randy could stump up £10m (not a big ask and should be managable from within club funds) and we take the £9m for Keane and the £3m profit and spunk it all on a REALLY top striker, then I'd be ecstatic!!

[jbase]

Though I rate Keane and would put him into my Villa 1st XI, I can see why people have their doubts about him.

Benayoun however, is IMO at least Liverpool's 5th or 6th best player and surely better than Downing.

[Namlod]

So you think we will get £6m for Davies and Pay £3mm for Keane?

Net profit on that deal of £3m??????

Either I'm crap at Maths or thats a damn good deal!

[Captain Trips]

Sorry to say you are crap at maths!! He is saying Keane would cost us £9m. Davies plus 3m, rating Curtis at £6m

edited oops, sorry I see what you mean now, he is double counting Curtis value. Keane should be shown as 9m

[JJ-AV]

On reflection, the likelyness of two P/X, especially one involving three players happening at the same club in one summer is very unlikely.

Although I think both would be good deals for all involved.

[KevinGage]

He had pace, but it was never blistering.

He might have lost a touch of sharpness too, but at the things he's always been decent at -namely linking up play and finishing- he should still be able to bring that to the party.

Keane at 29/30 would still arguably be the best finisher at the club if we land him. If any signing improves on what you already have it's justified.

Do not agree with this sentiment. A partner for Gabby is the one slot we can really improve our first team. We need to have a better front two than any of our rivals, rather than better than what we had last year. Gabby and Keane is worse than CrouchDefoe, TevezAdebayor, TorresGerrard.

Keane is exactly the signing that keeps you sixth. It is not the cheap option either. He has no sell-on value and will be on huge money. Keane is cooked.

If we take it that Gabby is a fixture in the staring XI (Personally I wouldn't go that way, dropping him occasionally or having him as an impact player from the bench might be far better for him IMO) then a forward like Keane alongside him could be ideal.

Someone cute enough to slide him through with a smart pass, or draw a defender away from him. Unselfish, but can finish too when required. Also, watching him for Ireland and Tottingham he is vocal, a talker. Could bring Gabby's game on leaps and bounds.

Far better than any of our current forward options, who seem to merely co-exist when on the same field, rather than resemble anything remotely like a partnership.

[jbase]

Someone cute enough to slide him through with a smart pass, or draw a defender away from him. Unselfish, but can finish too when required.

Edit - Reckon the same would apply if he played upfront with Carew