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

[VillaZogmariner]

No to Adam, Larsson and Samba for me.

Plus people forget that now that MoN has gone it opens a whole new world up for where our signings can come from.

[brontebilly]

OUT:
Reo Coker (dnt think he will stay)
Carew
Heskey
Ashley Young (15 m minimum)
Dunne
Warnock
Beye
Guzan
Ireland
Bradley
Pires
thats 11  players out  from the squad, forgetting shorey, sidwell who have already got permanent deals elsewhere.

IN
NZogbia
Charlie Adams
Larsson
Walker
McGregor
Left back (no idea who)
Samba

In an ideal world Id like to keep Reo Coker and A Young. I think Reo Coker has really improved this season on the ball and for the sake of getting someone new in, Id just keep him.

Brad Friedel and L Young are out of contract too - do we keep them? Perhaps on one year deals on a reduced wage but that is it.

Im thinking maybe we should try and improve Ireland, Warnock, Dunne under a new manager even if only to get decent money for them next summer. We are going to have to take a huge loss on them this summer otherwise. I think Dunne at his best is better than Samba to be honest. Collins for me we should look to move on before Dunne. Beye is a dead loss, I wouldnt mind he was a decent player at Newcastle but after 2 seasons of inactivity cant imagine him even being good enough to cover for us. Decent offers should be considered for Cuellar aswell.

Petrov for me has to go aswell.

Olsson from Blackburn seems to be a left back with potential and wouldnt cost the world. Swap deal for Warnock perhaps.

Larsson is on a free might be a useful option but little more. Adam will be well overpriced in the summer and I think Delph and Makoun need to be given chances next season.

[Rick_avfc]

Its quite scary too see the amount of potential departures from VP this summer.  We need another striker (maybe Defoe as he aint too happy at spurs), new GK, LB, RB, CD, CM, RW.
I've taken a gamble on purchasing a season ticket so early on, lets hope I dont regret it.  We need to buy some decent players to push on next season.  Had we not dropped the points we had from winning positions, we would be challenging for 5th this season.

[*shellac*]

GK - Robinson
RB - Walker
LB - Enrique or Olsson
CB - Hangeland
CM - Parker
Winger - N'Zogbia or Jarvis or Dempsey
Striker - Sturridge

[VillaZogmariner]

Having watched the 2 play off semi finals, whoever loses the final has a couple of decent players too -

Swansea - Sinclair & Duff
Reading - McAnuff & Long.

[Greg N'Ash]

And he's spot on.

No, he's changing the subject, as he often does, as we were talking about whether MON could or would have gotten more out of Bentley had he moved here.  So the reply to my specifically talking about the development of Milner, Ash and Gabby is 'John Gregory MKII'.

Hang on, you were the one that went from claiming MON's regime was like Stalag 9 and suddenly changed tack to stating he got results which has no bearing on whether it was strict or not frankly.

Try reading the post again.  The 'results' I was referring to where the progress made by Gabby, Ash and Milner as footballers under him.

no, you said Bentley would benefit from MON's strict regime. You use the word strict in fact. I said it wasn't particulary strict in any way. You realised there was no evidence to support this and went off on some bizarre defence of MON's results with getting the best of players. I pointed out that that for every Milner and Young there were about 3 failures. I'm more than willing to discuss this aspect of MON's incompetance but don't claim i changed the subject because its there in black and white.

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

Most of the previously listed outgoing I would say are spot on but it depends on who the manager is, for instance if it’s Hughes you could see possibly Ireland, Warnock and Dunne maybe staying as he’s got the best out of them in the past and that would potentially save us millions when bringing in replacements. Obviously they would have to win over the fans again but that would come if they were performing on the pitch

[Greg N'Ash]

Didn't Hughes sell Dunne? Considering he was basically given no option but to leave i'm not sure Hughes would be minded to keep him

[jonzy85]

I dont think as many players are going to leave this summer as people expect. Firstly, we have to remember that most clubs dont have as much money to be spending on players transfer fees/wages as in previous years, so I think a lot of PL clubs will look at taking a chance on a Championship player or a foreigner than going for one of our squad players.
Also, if we have a new manager in, he may well be willing to give everyone (even Ireland) a clean slate and work from there.
And lastly, if we are to get rid of all these players, they will have to be replaced and that will more than likely cost quite a bit, without improving us all that much.

In terms of players in and the realistic targets being mentioned, a goalkeeper will obviously be needed if Friedel decides to call it a day. Given would be my choice, hands down.

With the defence, I dont see the need for new centre halves - Dunne, Collins, Cuellar and Clark are 4 quality players that I dont see us improving on. I would rather keep the 4 of them than get new players in.
Full backs, I would love us to sign Walker on a permanent deal if possible. A new LB will be needed, unless Warnock as a rebirth of sorts (still cant believe how far out of favour he has fallen). Jose Enrique would be ideal, but I think there will be a number of bigger clubs who will be in for him.

Midfield depends on who tays, I think. If everyone stays, I dont think we would need to sign many players. Maybe just one "special" centre mid if there was one available e.g. Paul Merson (from about 10-15 years ago obviously).

Up front, I think we all agree we have our goalscorer in Bent. It is now just about how we bring out the best in him. The likes of Defoe would not be suitable unless he is going to be used as back up for Bent. I think we need someone like Sheringham who can drop off,  and play the killer balls in for Bent. Off the top of my head, Tuncay would be the type of player Im talking about, but Im not sure what has happened him in the last year (still at Stoke?).

Our squad could always do with some improving, but in terms of first choice players, I dont think we are that far off, if we get the right manger in.

[Rick_avfc]

Personally, I would like to see Ireland and Warnock back in the squad.  Ireland only went off the boil due to him falling out with GH.  If a new gaffer comes in, then im sure he will give everyone a second chance.  I think Beye, Petrov and Salifou are ones that need to go.

[VillaZogmariner]

With the exception of the first few months here Warnock has been a liability at the back, giving away stupid free kicks.

There is a good player in Ireland somewhere, but sadly I don't think we'll ever see it.

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

Didn't Hughes sell Dunne? Considering he was basically given no option but to leave i'm not sure Hughes would be minded to keep him

He may have done but didn't they buy Toure and Lescott for big money and the previous player of the year (Dunne) was left out in the cold knowing that it was unlikely that he would start every week, so it was either sit on the bench or find a new club. I think out of the three I mentioned he would be the most likely to move on ig Hughes came in anyway due to his form and fluctuating weight.

Personally, I would like to see Ireland and Warnock back in the squad.  Ireland only went off the boil due to him falling out with GH.  If a new gaffer comes in, then im sure he will give everyone a second chance.  I think Beye, Petrov and Salifou are ones that need to go.

Ireland off the boil? I don't recall him ever being on the boil! Seriously though, as a player I’m a big fan of Ireland and he plays in a position and style to get the best out of Bent the only other players in the current squad who could play behind Bent, threading in passes, would be Bannan or Downing. Given all that I wouldn’t be opposed to Ireland knuckling down and giving it another shot, which we may be forced to do anyway if no clubs come in for him.

[Greg N'Ash]

After the comments he made which i'm guessing was the loon's attempt to burn his bridges with the club and engineer a transfer, i can't see a way back for him. Its one thing criticising the manager but another thing rubbishing the club and the area.

[Concrete John]

And he's spot on.

No, he's changing the subject, as he often does, as we were talking about whether MON could or would have gotten more out of Bentley had he moved here.  So the reply to my specifically talking about the development of Milner, Ash and Gabby is 'John Gregory MKII'.

Hang on, you were the one that went from claiming MON's regime was like Stalag 9 and suddenly changed tack to stating he got results which has no bearing on whether it was strict or not frankly.

Try reading the post again.  The 'results' I was referring to where the progress made by Gabby, Ash and Milner as footballers under him.

no, you said Bentley would benefit from MON's strict regime. You use the word strict in fact. I said it wasn't particulary strict in any way. You realised there was no evidence to support this and went off on some bizarre defence of MON's results with getting the best of players. I pointed out that that for every Milner and Young there were about 3 failures. I'm more than willing to discuss this aspect of MON's incompetance but don't claim i changed the subject because its there in black and white.

You changed the subject by going off on a tangent talking about £80m down the drain and how he's 'John Gregory MKII' and not addressing the development of the three young players I mentioned as specific examples of how he might have helped Bentley and got more out of him.

Yes, there were failiures transfer wise, but when he spent big on young players, which is what a deal for Bentley would have been, he got it right.

But this is a transfer thread and we should stop clogging it up with arguing the toss about players we didn't sign.

[Percy McCarthy]

I dont think as many players are going to leave this summer as people expect. Firstly, we have to remember that most clubs dont have as much money to be spending on players transfer fees/wages as in previous years, so I think a lot of PL clubs will look at taking a chance on a Championship player or a foreigner than going for one of our squad players.
Also, if we have a new manager in, he may well be willing to give everyone (even Ireland) a clean slate and work from there.
And lastly, if we are to get rid of all these players, they will have to be replaced and that will more than likely cost quite a bit, without improving us all that much.

In terms of players in and the realistic targets being mentioned, a goalkeeper will obviously be needed if Friedel decides to call it a day. Given would be my choice, hands down.

With the defence, I dont see the need for new centre halves - Dunne, Collins, Cuellar and Clark are 4 quality players that I dont see us improving on. I would rather keep the 4 of them than get new players in.
Full backs, I would love us to sign Walker on a permanent deal if possible. A new LB will be needed, unless Warnock as a rebirth of sorts (still cant believe how far out of favour he has fallen). Jose Enrique would be ideal, but I think there will be a number of bigger clubs who will be in for him.

Midfield depends on who tays, I think. If everyone stays, I dont think we would need to sign many players. Maybe just one "special" centre mid if there was one available e.g. Paul Merson (from about 10-15 years ago obviously).

Up front, I think we all agree we have our goalscorer in Bent. It is now just about how we bring out the best in him. The likes of Defoe would not be suitable unless he is going to be used as back up for Bent. I think we need someone like Sheringham who can drop off,  and play the killer balls in for Bent. Off the top of my head, Tuncay would be the type of player Im talking about, but Im not sure what has happened him in the last year (still at Stoke?).

Our squad could always do with some improving, but in terms of first choice players, I dont think we are that far off, if we get the right manger in.

Spot on jonzy. All depends on getting the right manager in. Most of them re-invigorate out of form or favour players. GH had a negative effect on almost everyone at the club. Heskey improved, but that was short-lived, and surprisingly, not really rewarded with starts. NRC got a bit better towards the end. Takes a pretty useless new manager/coach to engender a slump rather than any kind of revival, however slight.