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

[nick harper]

Anyway, back on transfers, for what it's worth I think McLeish will only sign 2 players - a goalkeeper (Given) and a dominant midfielder (not sure who that will be if it's not Parker). Other than that he'll try and get the likes of Ireland and Warnock to start being footballers again, utilise the existing squad, and bring through more of the young players. I think he'll only go for N'Zogbia if Downing goes. I'm certainly not expecting the kind of frenetic trading we may have seen if Houllier was still here.

You might not be too worng there.  And if he can get the likes of Dunne, Ireland and Warnock playing again that would leave us with a pretty decent looking squad. 

However, if he can't they board needs to back him in shiopping them out and getting replacements otherwise we're mid-table at best.

We still have an Ashley Young sized hole in the squad. Even if he was inconsistent at times, his workrate and presence in the team is going to be sorely missed. If he's gambling on Albrighton and Ireland filling that gap, I think he's going to be disappointed.

[bob]

You're making assumptions that people are receiving news in a certain way just because they don't like the manager. That isn't correct.

You admit there may have been a change in approach by the board. Can you accept that people agree with that and logically take their views to a more pessimistic conclusion than your own?

I'm not assuming anything. 

If you go back a year the lack of activity was placed fully at MON's door and Randy was being backed for taking a more prudent approach by wanting some players moved on first.  Fastforward 12 months and Randy is cutting costs and wanting to sell the club.

Of course they can.  But if we were in this exact same position with David Moyes as manager what would you expect the atmosphere on here to be like?

Your comment 'you don't like the manager - get over it' sounded like you were making that assumption.

I think the managerial appointment is a significant indicator of how much we will spend in the foreseeable future. If Moyes was manager right now, I may feel a bit differently about that. The atmosphere may well be different, some of it because the Blues factor wouldn't be there, but that wouldn't affect my opinion.

[ASHTONVILLA]

If we could shift Heskey and Beye that should enable 1 more signing, big if though.

I'm sure Heskey could do a job for someone and someone would possibly pay his wages to enable him to move.
But Beye, who the hell is going to buy that sack of shit on the salary that he would demand.
I'm afraid we're stuck with him.

In fairness to Heskey he was one our better players last season. I think he still has something to offer for his ludicrously high wage so long as he keeps off the physio's bench. Would probably play well with Bent.

[Phil from the upper holte]

I wouldn't say Heskey was one of our better players he played well for about 4 games

[UsualSuspect]

Heskey might try but he isn't good enough.

I hate it when I hear "heskey doesn't score goals but he brings other players into the game and holds the ball up well"

He's a centre forward his job is to score goals. Just having him still on our books shows our intentions

[Mazrim]

Heskey wasnt one of our best players last season and though he's a nice guy and you know what you're getting from him, he needs to get to feck as soon as possible.
I'm hoping Sven will come a calling.

I've no problem with McLeish coming in and assessing the squad to see who can and can't be worked with. They're expensive assets and though as fans we'd like to shift some of the useless shithouses out and get new exciting useless shithouses in, it's prudent to take stock first.
But a couple will have to go and even a new manager will know who. He wont completely disregard Houllier's and other staff's thoughts.

For what it's worth I think McLeish will make four or five signings. At least one of which will be a high profile loan signing.
Houllier and McAllister were talking about getting players in. Why should McLeish have any less resources?

[eastie]

Amazed anyone would want heskey in the team alongside bent, I see our only hope of getting rid to be by paying a proportion of his wages for anyone who signs him- but I can't see him going anywhere unless Sven fancies him.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Heskey wasnt one of our best players last season

A real shame how it turned out last season.
His first few games under Houllier, he was on fire.
He was holding the ball up well and pinging some lovely passes out to Ashley and Downing.
Excellent goal against Wolves as well.

[andyh]

Heskey wasnt one of our best players last season and though he's a nice guy and you know what you're getting from him, he needs to get to feck as soon as possible.
I'm hoping Sven will come a calling.

I've no problem with McLeish coming in and assessing the squad to see who can and can't be worked with. They're expensive assets and though as fans we'd like to shift some of the useless shithouses out and get new exciting useless shithouses in, it's prudent to take stock first.
But a couple will have to go and even a new manager will know who. He wont completely disregard Houllier's and other staff's thoughts.

For what it's worth I think McLeish will make four or five signings. At least one of which will be a high profile loan signing.
Houllier and McAllister were talking about getting players in. Why should McLeish have any less resources?

Probably because we have pissed a fortune up the wall in compo to managers, Maz.

[Mazrim]

Heskey wasnt one of our best players last season

A real shame how it turned out last season.
His first few games under Houllier, he was on fire.
He was holding the ball up well and pinging some lovely passes out to Ashley and Downing.
Excellent goal against Wolves as well.

All true, but nothing more than a nice snapshot in an otherwise typically average season for him.

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Cannot fault Heskey. He just gets on with his job, no arguing and training bust ups. But he has now come to the end of his premiereship days. Need an alernative striker unless Gabby can have a revival after all the injuries he sustained last year. It will be all about confidence and "play time"  this season with Gabby ...

[sg]

We still have an Ashley Young sized hole in the squad. Even if he was inconsistent at times, his workrate and presence in the team is going to be sorely missed. If he's gambling on Albrighton and Ireland filling that gap, I think he's going to be disappointed.

This.

Even if last season was below his usual high standards, watching the season review still showed how influential he was to our play. Just him getting the ball sent opposition defenders into a panic. Im not sure who in the squad is capable of having such influence.

Albrighton - possibly. Hard worker and out of 10 times he tries to take on the full back, will probably fail 4-5 times, not knocking him for it, it happens. Love his effort, but Ashley Young he is not.

Ireland - jurys out on him. If he gets his head in order, could be a very good player for us.

Delph - clearly has the ability, needs to have a big season to show he deserves to be a 1st teamer.

Bannan / G.Gardner - still learning, wouldnt class them as ready to fill such as massive void.

Downing - will he still be here? Doubt it.

N'zogbia - will we sign him? Hopefully. Could do a good job for us on the wing.

Who else is there?

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Negativity would evaporate in an instant if we could get

A Left back, Parker, N'Zogbia and a couple of  promising fringe players - £25m-ish. £17m of which we've recouped from Ashley.

Not too much to ask, is it?

[Ads]

Heskey wasnt one of our best players last season

A real shame how it turned out last season.
His first few games under Houllier, he was on fire.
He was holding the ball up well and pinging some lovely passes out to Ashley and Downing.
Excellent goal against Wolves as well.

He destroyed Tottenham for half an hour... then got injured.

That's the story of Heskey.

[UsualSuspect]

Negativity would evaporate in an instant if we could get

A Left back, Parker, N'Zogbia and a couple of  promising fringe players - £25m-ish. £17m of which we've recouped from Ashley.

Not too much to ask, is it?

It shouldn't be but it could be....

Isn't the AY money going to pay for Bent?

Parker I just cannot see RL stumping up the cash for