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

[eastie]

It's all very well saying that Downing isn't all that jazz, can't tackle and not really a realiable crosser of the ball. But as we have lost Fridel, Walker, NRC and Young already this summer, maybe it's a better idea to start looking for replacements rather than continue selling the rest of our regular first team last season.

Lets hope we do a sunderland and sign 5 players on the same  day -i wont hold my breath.

[Concrete John]

I wasn't too fussed with Downing when we signed him, but last season he impressed me.  Is he a great loss?  No, but when combined with Ash also going then it's a major blow for us.  Is he worth what we'll want for him?  Again, no, but Liverpool have made it a sellers market with what thay paid for Carroll and Henderson, so it's their own fault.
   

[Tony Boucher]

I can see another Barry saga happening here with Downing.  Liverpool are a disgrace if they offered only £15m for him.  We should hold out for £20m.  Ian Taylor was asked the question on talksport if Joe Cole could be part of the deal.  How many of you would like that?  I wouldnt as I dont rate Cole at all.  Past his best (whatever that was) and is on too much money

I used to quite rate him, but he was comfortably the worst player on the pitch at VP in May & he seems to have bulked-up to such a degree that he can barely move.  No thanks!

[bob]

It seems to me we've done a lot of "Let's just wait and see..." since 2006.

I don't think I need to wait any longer. It feels like we're just about the biggest sell-to-buy operation in the league. All evidence says so, and I'm certain we won't spend all the money we receive this summer.

[Concrete John]

It seems to me we've done a lot of "Let's just wait and see..." since 2006.

I don't think I need to wait any longer. It feels like we're just about the biggest sell-to-buy operation in the league. All evidence says so, and I'm certain we won't spend all the money we receive this summer.

Isn't our net spend since 2006 something like £80m?

[VillaAlways]

The thing I don't get is that after the 'The Mighty Reds YNWA' game.Gary Mac spoke about potential targets we had identified and implied that the wheels were in motion to obtaining these targets.ITK's had also indicated that these signings had the potential to propel us to top4/6.We then get rid of GH(albeit on health grounds) and employ a championship manager so it's no wonder that players such as SD are agitating a move.The lack of ambition is frightening and I wouldn't be suprised if N'zogbia chose another club above us it's certainly doesn't appear nailed on to get him ,and then what ? We're fast running out of options

[Villa'Zawg]

If and I say if it is true that the young money was spent in advance on bent and that we have only the cash left for a keeper as kendrick says

If that statement from mat is correct, then the board have clearly chucked the towel in and maybe they should be thinking of a prospective buyer.

For me it's always actions that speak louder than any story/link/gossip, even from someone usually well informed like Kendrick.  I'm sure the whole 'we are broke' and 'sell to buy' stories were flying around in January, too.

I'm still in the wait and see camp.

Buying Bent in January was entirely in keeping with a sell-to-buy strategy, the money was raised through the sale of Milner.

Unless the board make a serious investment in the squad this summer, then it is time to accept that their investment strategy is Ellisian at best.

[pauliewalnuts]

If and I say if it is true that the young money was spent in advance on bent and that we have only the cash left for a keeper as kendrick says , then the sell to buy and playing youth policy we will be looking at will see other teams go past us like Sunderland and Newcastle.

Without decent investmest in this league you will struggle and maybe randy gave it his best shot and it failed , if he no longer can put the money in needed to compete then what will he do-stay and be happy to survive or sell up to a rich investor who can pump in cash to take us forward?

Hang on, the Young money was spent on Bent? So who was the Milner money spent on?

[pauliewalnuts]

Unless the board make a serious investment in the squad this summer, then it is time to accept that their investment strategy is Ellisian at best.

Unfortunately, it's hard to disagree with that. I hope they prove us wrong.

[VillaAlways]

If and I say if it is true that the young money was spent in advance on bent and that we have only the cash left for a keeper as kendrick says , then the sell to buy and playing youth policy we will be looking at will see other teams go past us like Sunderland and Newcastle.

Without decent investmest in this league you will struggle and maybe randy gave it his best shot and it failed , if he no longer can put the money in needed to compete then what will he do-stay and be happy to survive or sell up to a rich investor who can pump in cash to take us forward?

Hang on, the Young money was spent on Bent? So who was the Milner money spent on?

Milner minus the12 million we spent on him originally= Makoun

[Greg N'Ash]

I'm off round to Chris Smith's to raid his medicine cabinet for some Prozac.

Even Chris Smith seems to be turning sour.

They've been softening us up for Downing going ever since they let it be known McLeish would not be getting all of the Young money.

Wouldn't be surprised if Downing now hands in a transfer request, spouting all the usual bollocks. We reluctantly accept it, spouting all the usual bollocks. It will mean we can accept a slightly lower offer as we won't have his contract to pay up.

We then buy inferior players while some on here tell us we've got the best of the deal, a la Milner.

Personally, I cling to the desperate hope that McLeish will surprise us. But to me, a pleasant surprise would be mid-table safety.

What I fear is that bad news ("Er, it's not Ancelotti or Fat Benny, but Big 'Ech") will be followed by more bad news ("We sold Young as you expected, but we couldn't hold onto Downing either"), which will be followed by yet more bad news ("The season has started, and we have only signed Shay Given, who's injured"), followed by an underwhelming start to the season despite easy fixtures, giving the sense that we've started a freefall, not a retrenchment ("Er, the transfer window has now closed and who exactly did we sign?").

When Smudger is having doubts about the club's direction, then you know that something is seriously wrong.
And it is.

Dunno. I reckon his account's been hacked as its so out of character. Either that or by mid-day there will be a local breaking news story about a disturbed patient holding his doctor hostage

[pauliewalnuts]

If and I say if it is true that the young money was spent in advance on bent and that we have only the cash left for a keeper as kendrick says , then the sell to buy and playing youth policy we will be looking at will see other teams go past us like Sunderland and Newcastle.

Without decent investmest in this league you will struggle and maybe randy gave it his best shot and it failed , if he no longer can put the money in needed to compete then what will he do-stay and be happy to survive or sell up to a rich investor who can pump in cash to take us forward?

Hang on, the Young money was spent on Bent? So who was the Milner money spent on?

Milner minus the12 million we spent on him originally= Makoun

Crikey, we really are a "spend what you earn" organisation if that's the kind of maths we're doing.

[ROBBO]

Slowly coming round to the prospect of mediocrity. Randy has probably given it his best shot but wasted it with MON. It takes a lot of capital to keep chasing a dream and i believe Randy has realised he just can't compete. The best we could hope for is for him to find us someone who wants a plaything in the Midlands and is willing to throw money away, it's the rich and the dead.

[Le Lapin]

If Downing wants to go play for the Mighty Liverpool, well then let him.
If we get in N'Zogbia, Given, a good young back up keeper and someone like Bentley (fired up and willing to play for us), I would reckon we have a bones of a side that will do okay this season. Our squad isn't that bad, provided we replace the guys that have left and motivate the player we have like Warnock and Ireland. Collins and Dunne are two great centrebacks, they acting the fcuk last season, but they obviously had issues with management. They were not alone there. We have some great young players like Delph, Albrighton and experienced guys like Gabby, Petrov. With the right management and letting all the players know that things have settled down I think we are going to have a good season.
Happy clappy me!

[UsualSuspect]

Slowly coming round to the prospect of mediocrity. Randy has probably given it his best shot but wasted it with MON. It takes a lot of capital to keep chasing a dream and i believe Randy has realised he just can't compete. The best we could hope for is for him to find us someone who wants a plaything in the Midlands and is willing to throw money away, it's the rich and the dead.

I think if someone offered RL 100 million today we wouldnt see him for dust.

With buying the club and transfers, the holte pub etc etc he's probably spunked close on £200 million and got back nothing.