Summer transfer rumours, speculation and out-and-out b*ll*cks.

[ozzjim]

So what has Mysteryman said on the transfers subject? Was he not posting in these parts around the time of Eck coming, where is he posting now?

[Salsa Party Animal]

Don't forget we have no goalscorer apart from Bent. So Ridgewell might put that right.

[asgpaul]

Personally I think Agent Ridgewell did well for us......whilst on assignment at Small Heath....

[pauliewalnuts]

Five years on and we are being linked with the likes of DJ Campbell and Liam Ridgewell.

I know it is probably only paper talk, but that isn't the worry. The worry is that it is actually believable.

[PaulWinch again]

Five years on and we are being linked with the likes of DJ Campbell and Liam Ridgewell.

I know it is probably only paper talk, but that isn't the worry. The worry is that it is actually believable.

Quite.

[Greg N'Ash]

Never thought Ridgewell was that bad really. He's just a very very average prem defender and we've got enough of them already.

[Toronto Villa]

Five years on and we are being linked with the likes of DJ Campbell and Liam Ridgewell.

I know it is probably only paper talk, but that isn't the worry. The worry is that it is actually believable.

But why believe the papers? They've been proved wrong way too often. In order to create a story, I think it's easy for a paper to link manager's to their ex-players. It's the height of laziness and predictablity for journalists. So far he's signed two very good players that never played for him, and he's now being linked to an ex-forward and an ex-defender because the papers have assessed we need a defender and a forward.

[noodles_]

I think Ridge is so shit I'd rather the other lad at Bolton came back.

JLloyd?

[Toronto Villa]

I think Ridge is so shit I'd rather the other lad at Bolton came back.

JLloyd?

Bloody J'Lloyd Samuel. The legend himself. Even has his own website if you can believe it.

[pauliewalnuts]

You missed the point.

The disturbing thing is that, if we did sign two utterly shit players of that level, nobody would be surprised.

That's not a reflection on McLeish, it is a reflection on the chairman pulling the plug so soundly.

Still, the General is telling people on VT we can push for fourth, so maybe they see something we don't. It's almost as if you can lose a load of players, sell two of your best ones and only replace one,  and just push on, regardless, whilst trusting a knot of players who let you down badly last season.

[Greg N'Ash]

fourth from bottom more like.

[noodles_]

We've just signed one of the most exciting wingers in the league who happens to be a French International and an £18m striker in the last 2 windows, not exactly a bunch of Sunday league players.

[noodles_]

I think Ridge is so shit I'd rather the other lad at Bolton came back.

JLloyd?

Bloody J'Lloyd Samuel. The legend himself. Even has his own website if you can believe it.

Off to West Ham apparently.

[pauliewalnuts]

We've just signed one of the most exciting wingers in the league who happens to be a French International and an £18m striker in the last 2 windows, not exactly a bunch of Sunday league players.

No, they're not. The problem is, they can't play everywhere. We need a squad, and even trying to get the best out of the ones Houllier discarded, it is nothing like strong enough.

I admire the boundless optimism of people like Toronto, and it isn't going to be a meltdown as some people suggest, either, but when the manager says ninth will be very hard, when you've sold two of your best players and replaced one, when you're relying on the revival of the likes of Warnock and Ireland, when your squad us so patchy and the whole club is geared around recouping money, it is hard to be enthusiastic.

Shedding players without replacing them and hoping the kids come good is asking for trouble.

[RussellC]

I'd imagine that the attraction with Ridgwell is that he proved himself to be a half-decent left-back at the Blose, so would act as cover in that department too.