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

[Concrete John]

As we've seen with the James Milner links over the summer, things can soon change in football. Or perhaps more accurately (as he hasn't actually moved yet), scenarios open up that would be unthinkable just a few short months ago.

Currently we have Ashley Young and Downing for the wide slots. I still think we could have done a lot worse than take Victor Moses off Palace's hands last season.

Ledley at Cardiff should also be one we seriously look at, particularly on a free. Both are young, are more realistic than the likes of Walcott et al, would see us as a step up and could increase in value substantially over the next few years.

So we might not have a specific gap for them in the first team yet (though with the amount of games we could face incl the Europa League they could still see a fair bit of game time). That picture could quite easily change in 6/12/18 months, by which time they'd be assimilated enough to -in theory- make the step-up to the first team.

Those should be the type of players we pay more attention to, young players capable of making the transition. They won't all come off.  Law of averages, and all that.  But if just a few do it's worth it.

I agree with the sentiment, but the way I'd like to see us operate is to have three established players for every 'set of two positions', such as CBs, wingers, etc., plus a youngster coming through to make four and therefore have two for each slot.  

For example, upfront I'd like to see Gabby, Carew, + 1 (probably Keane) and then Delfouneso.  If those first 3 are all clearly capable of regular PL football, it allows for genuine competition and some rotation, and you then have the young apprentice getting cup games and developing.  We can get that aswell with the CBs (Dunne, Cuellar, Collins & Clark), the centre (Petrov, Milner, a '+ 1' and Delph) and the fullbacks we all know need sorting.  

So wide, I'd like to see someone come in who can genuinely challenge Downing and Ash for a starting place, which I don't think either Moses or Ledley would do.  Now get someone like Bentley and we have three established and good players fighting for 2 positions with Albrighton coming through, which is healthy.

[Concrete John]

I wouldn't touch Walcott, all he has is pace and when that goes eventually he won't have a whole lot else. We don't need that kind of player anyway, we need to bring in something we don't have!

Agreed.

We need players that add different dimensions to our play and Walcott is another speed merchant that wouldn't offer anything different to Gabby or Ash.

[Concrete John]

I can see Fergie getting Joe Cole.

I may be proven wrong, but as soon as it became clear he'd be leaving Chelsea on a free, it was a signing that had 'Man City' written all over it for me!

[PaulTheVillan]

I also thought it would be Man City. I read that Cole wanted £100k a week and Chelsea would only go as far as £80k a week.

City are stupid and would pay whatever.

[JUAN PABLO]

I also thought it would be Man City. I read that Cole wanted £100k a week and Chelsea would only go as far as £80k a week.

City are stupid and would pay whatever.

Hope they get Cole. Would put Milner off wanting to go there... You can only play 11 at a time.

I think we should snap Wickham up of Ipswich for the future and Palace's Clyne cheap..

[JJ-AV]

I'd take Clyne and Ledley, we shoud have got Moses too...

Players like that can only increase in value, even if they don't set the world alight and need to be moved on.

Clyne,
Onuoha/Richards
Parker
Ireland
Ledley
Boyd
Keane

Davies, Shorey, Luke, Beye, NRC, Heskey all going.

[Chris Smith]

I can see Fergie getting Joe Cole.

I may be proven wrong, but as soon as it became clear he'd be leaving Chelsea on a free, it was a signing that had 'Man City' written all over it for me!

I thought Manu, with no fee involved it should make it easier to meet his wage demands and the potential to be out bid isn't there.

[Phil from the upper holte]

Joe Cole wants £100k a week, What a billy big bollocks wanker. Someone needs to take a look at these pricks. NOONE is woth £100k a week

Arseholes

[Risso]

I think Man U is a more likely destination for Cole as well.  They need a bit of craft in midfield, and I can't see him wanting to miss out on a season of Champions League football at his age.

[Concrete John]

Man Utd would make sense from a footballing point of view, but he's a free agent and likely to be after the best deal he can get and who's going to pay him more than Man City?

[JUAN PABLO]

Joe Cole wants £100k a week, What a billy big bollocks wanker. Someone needs to take a look at these pricks. NOONE is woth £100k a week

Arseholes

He will need the money for his hair clinic treatment soon..

[BedsVillain]

I also thought it would be Man City. I read that Cole wanted £100k a week and Chelsea would only go as far as £80k a week.

City are stupid and would pay whatever.

Hope they get Cole. Would put Milner off wanting to go there... You can only play 11 at a time.

I think we should snap Wickham up of Ipswich for the future and Palace's Clyne cheap..

I've heard a lot of positive rumblings about Wickham, only 17 and a big,big lad as well and still growing! Would be a good idea to buy him off Ipswich and loan him back for a couple of years. Let him continue toughening up in the Championship then bring him in alongside The Fonz!

[Clampy]

That was all Gabby had a few years back, but he worked at his game and improves season on season. I dont think Walcott has the attitude to do that.

Whilst that might be true, i'd like to think that Walcott would have put away a few of those one on one's that Gabby missed last season.

[eastie]

Let's be honest-there's no way Walcott would leave arsenal for villa., I doubt we could afford him and arsenal wouldn't sell him anyway!

David bentley would be a decent shout as would andy Carroll, robbie keane and Stephen ireland, was impressed by clyne against palace and would be a good signing.

[lessealey]

Joe Cole wants £100k a week, What a billy big bollocks wanker. Someone needs to take a look at these pricks. NOONE is woth £100k a week

Arseholes

There are people on this site who want to buy Robbie Keane for 9 million and pay him 65k a week. At the end of a three year contract he would be worthless and we would have paid 123k a week for Robbie Keane. Makes J Cole seem cheap