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

[Concrete John]

If you're judging him on taking a club from genuine top four challengers to avoiding relegation in the penultimate game of the season then: Paul. You're fired!!" 

Holy sensationalism batman.

here's me thinking we finished top half of the table after beating liverpool and arsenal.

are you sure you're not gregnash'sbruv?

Holy 'PaperingOverTheCracks' Batman!!

A lot of posters on here get carried away with our 9th place finish last season, whilst blissfully ignoring the fact that 48 points would not, in most other seasons, get you a top half finish.

That's such a spurious argument. So was Manu's league win any less important because it was achieved with fewer points? We were better than 11 other clubs in the league over the course of the season, that's why we didn't get relegated.

The reason that it was only 48 points is the same as why Man Utd won the title with less points than usual - it was a much tighter and more even league.  Had we had the same side going into one of the pooer PL seasons we'd have got more points.

[Clark W Griswold]

Wow, 9th. I can barely contain my excitment for the coming season.

What i want to see is Given, Parker, N'Zogbia, Dann, a full back and maybe another centre forward come in to replace, Freidel, Walker, Young, Downing, Reo Coker and possibly Cuellar.

Then, we might do a bit better than 9th, provided some of last seasons turds get sufficiently polished to make an impact this time. Looking at you Ireland, Warnock, Dunne and Collins.

[mazrimsbruv]

We 'just fended off relegation' last season, with Friedel, Ash & Downing in the side. On what basis do you say that replacing them with N'Zogbia, Parker & Given means that we'll significantly improve on last season?

I don't believe Downing would have under-performed as he would have wanted to push for a place in the European Championships.

The rest is easy to explain. We didn't have a replacement lined up because we didn't bid for N'Zogbia until yesterday. Why? Because the manager didn't have a transfer budget, other than to sign a keeper, until they'd agreed the sale of Downing. 'Sell-to-buy' in its purest form.

You do realise we finished 9th and our post Jan form was top 6 material, don't you?  Our issue last season was a terrible defence, which I expect Mcleish to fix.  Whether or not we're more potent upfront I have my doubts, but even then i still see a midtable side with those additions, probably equally 9th.

As for the rest, that's one version of what's happening behind closed that neither of us know.  Another is that Downing leaving shifted priorities and the money he raised ADDED to what we've already have to spent also changed who we're after.  Either way we'll know come 01/09.

I do realise that John, yes. I also realise we finished with 48 points as opposed to 64 the season before and conceded 20 more goals. Thankfully we scored almost as many as the previous season, mostly scored by Bent and created by Young & Downing whom the Board have now sold.

My original point was that if the Board are serious about avoiding relegation then signing Given, Parker & N'Zogbia (or similar quality players) is the minimum I would expect of them, not something I should be applauding them for, seeing as they have let go the players they are replacing.

And I don't think you're disagreeing with that, are you John?

[James]

Regarding the Scott Parker debate, I don't see it as 'building the side around' a 30 year old. The side is, by and large, already there, but it's missing the one cog that pulls it all together and makes it function as a team. Dropping that Parker shaped cog into the mix could potentially make it a very dynamic thing, and as others have said, the benefit to our younger players and the rewards of higher placed league finishes and cup runs will offset the cost. Of course there's a risk, there is with any player of any age, ask MON! My only reservation with Parker is that he looks a Thunderbird, but I'll not hold that against him.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Wow, 9th. I can barely contain my excitment for the coming season.

What i want to see is Given, Parker, N'Zogbia, Dann, a full back and maybe another centre forward come in to replace, Freidel, Walker, Young, Downing, Reo Coker and possibly Cuellar.

Then, we might do a bit better than 9th, provided some of last seasons turds get sufficiently polished to make an impact this time. Looking at you Ireland, Warnock, Dunne and Collins.

I think the first 4 you mention are the most we're gonna get Clark. As you imply there's a lot of well paid pro's in our squad and some of them are NOT doing their job well enough - and they need to start!
Clean slate works two ways - and I hope AM makes a few of the highly paid "pro's" appreciate how lucky they are not to be sacked for operating under false pretences!
Get arse in gear or find someone else to pay your incredibly generous MON engineered salary! 

[TheSandman]

One thing I will say is that the most important signing we could hope to make has already been made. Darren Bent's goals will be critical.

Oh and I sincerely hope neither Cole nor SWP EVER darken our doors.

[Concrete John]

I do realise that John, yes. I also realise we finished with 48 points as opposed to 64 the season before and conceded 20 more goals. Thankfully we scored almost as many as the previous season, mostly scored by Bent and created by Young & Downing whom the Board have now sold.

My original point was that if the Board are serious about avoiding relegation then signing Given, Parker & N'Zogbia (or similar quality players) is the minimum I would expect of them, not something I should be applauding them for, seeing as they have let go the players they are replacing.

And I don't think you're disagreeing with that, are you John?

In a word, yes I am!

I think Given makes up for Freidel and N'Zogbia for Downing.  Ash is a big loss, but what we lose in his goals/assists should be countered by not conceding those extra 20 goals next season and being a 'hard to beat' side again, which Parker would contribute to immensely.  So I don't see these players as a minimum top avoid relegation, I see them as the minimum to have a chance of top 6 again.

And try and get over the whole 'the board sold them' and 'let the players go' concept.  To me and many others what they board did was the right thing and holding onto them against their will would have been counterproductive and the wrong decision.

[mazrimsbruv]

I do realise that John, yes. I also realise we finished with 48 points as opposed to 64 the season before and conceded 20 more goals. Thankfully we scored almost as many as the previous season, mostly scored by Bent and created by Young & Downing whom the Board have now sold.

My original point was that if the Board are serious about avoiding relegation then signing Given, Parker & N'Zogbia (or similar quality players) is the minimum I would expect of them, not something I should be applauding them for, seeing as they have let go the players they are replacing.

And I don't think you're disagreeing with that, are you John?

In a word, yes I am!

I think Given makes up for Freidel and N'Zogbia for Downing.  Ash is a big loss, but what we lose in his goals/assists should be countered by not conceding those extra 20 goals next season and being a 'hard to beat' side again, which Parker would contribute to immensely.  So I don't see these players as a minimum top avoid relegation, I see them as the minimum to have a chance of top 6 again.

And try and get over the whole 'the board sold them' and 'let the players go' concept.  To me and many others what they board did was the right thing and holding onto them against their will would have been counterproductive and the wrong decision.

Right, my apologies. So what you're effectively saying is that as the squad stands right now, without Friedel, Young, Downing & NRC, and without signing Given, N'Zogbia & Parker or any players of their ilk, you would go into this season confident that we would avoid relegation?

I'm sorry mate but I can't share your view.

[hartman_1982]

I do realise that John, yes. I also realise we finished with 48 points as opposed to 64 the season before and conceded 20 more goals. Thankfully we scored almost as many as the previous season, mostly scored by Bent and created by Young & Downing whom the Board have now sold.

My original point was that if the Board are serious about avoiding relegation then signing Given, Parker & N'Zogbia (or similar quality players) is the minimum I would expect of them, not something I should be applauding them for, seeing as they have let go the players they are replacing.

And I don't think you're disagreeing with that, are you John?

In a word, yes I am!

I think Given makes up for Freidel and N'Zogbia for Downing.  Ash is a big loss, but what we lose in his goals/assists should be countered by not conceding those extra 20 goals next season and being a 'hard to beat' side again, which Parker would contribute to immensely.  So I don't see these players as a minimum top avoid relegation, I see them as the minimum to have a chance of top 6 again.

And try and get over the whole 'the board sold them' and 'let the players go' concept.  To me and many others what they board did was the right thing and holding onto them against their will would have been counterproductive and the wrong decision.

Right, my apologies. So what you're effectively saying is that as the squad stands right now, without Friedel, Young, Downing & NRC, and without signing Given, N'Zogbia & Parker or any players of their ilk, you would go into this season confident that we would avoid relegation?

I'm sorry mate but I can't share your view.

What he is saying is the side that challenged for the top 6 without DB would be able to again with DB if BF, AY and SD are replaced. It makes sense to me.

[shipscat]

Steven Naismith inbound?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55831352@N05/5940081122/in/photostream/

[Small Rodent]

Thankfully we scored almost as many as the previous season, mostly scored by Bent and created by Young & Downing whom the Board have now sold.

So if you were the board you would have kept Young and Downing? Riiiiight.

[Mazrim]

Terrible photoshopping.

[TheSandman]

Naismith is 5foot6.

Photoshop fail.

[Concrete John]

Right, my apologies. So what you're effectively saying is that as the squad stands right now, without Friedel, Young, Downing & NRC, and without signing Given, N'Zogbia & Parker or any players of their ilk, you would go into this season confident that we would avoid relegation?

I'm sorry mate but I can't share your view.

Well, if we kicked off tomorrow we could put the following siode out in a 4-2-3-1:-

Guzan

Young
Dunne
Collins
Warnock

Petrov
Makoun/Delph

Albrighton
Ireland
Gabby

Bent

Keeper aside, I think there will easily be three worse sides than that next season.  So I suppose I'd say Given is the minimum we need to avoid relegation, but the rest should propel us up the league.

[eastie]

I'm sure the board aren't thinking about avoiding relegation but challenging the top 6 - I think the squad with the addition of shay and nzogbia along with parker would certainly be in contention for top 8 if not higher.

With warnock and Ireland on form too we would be looking a decent side and far from relegation candidates.