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

[Mazrim]

Has the General had VT taken out for all the abuse?

[Risso]

If we don't strengthen, we're in for a season of struggle.  Our squad showed it wasn't good enough last season, and we've lost lots of players from it.  Any attempt to spin this as a positive is utter madness.

It's not spin, it's accepting the reality of the situation. As a fan I want us to spend a trillion pounds but can understand why they want to see what they can get out of those who are already here. So, for example we buy a new central midfield player how do we then give Bannan, Delph, Makoun and Ireland all an opportunity to prove themselves?

If you think that we can make an effective midfield out of that lot, plus Petrov then you are simply kidding yourself. 

[Mister E]

I reckon the plan is to get N'Zogbia asap. Go to this Asia trophy, which will in essence act as a testing ground for who is and who isnt going to be of use this season, then get back and address any needs in the transfer market.
And if so, that's fine by me. For now.

I dont believe there isnt money there to address needs at that stage.

What he said.
On a related point: people here keep disregarding Beye and Hogg, particularly.
- Re the former, there is a decent player in there whom MON quickly seemed to diss and whom GHou seemed to ignore. Can McMinge get some value out of this expensive resource?
- Re the latter, he has now had a half season as a holding CMF first-pick in a middling Championship side; I would guess he is a vastly different player to that which we saw briefly in our first team last season: stronger, fitter, more confident.

[Greg N'Ash]

If we don't strengthen, we're in for a season of struggle.  Our squad showed it wasn't good enough last season, and we've lost lots of players from it.  Any attempt to spin this as a positive is utter madness.

It's not spin, it's accepting the reality of the situation. As a fan I want us to spend a trillion pounds but can understand why they want to see what they can get out of those who are already here. So, for example we buy a new central midfield player how do we then give Bannan, Delph, Makoun and Ireland all an opportunity to prove themselves?

If you think that we can make an effective midfield out of that lot, plus Petrov then you are simply kidding yourself. 

thats the point though, he is kidding himself. A week ago he was predicting spending to match thr MON years

[Klaus Katt]

As it is, I guess many teams will look to dominate the games against us. I believe that was our main strength under MON's first half. Not the way to go forward, but it's a bit exciting.

[Greg N'Ash]

well yeah. Relegation battles are always exciting

[Chris Smith]

If we don't strengthen, we're in for a season of struggle.  Our squad showed it wasn't good enough last season, and we've lost lots of players from it.  Any attempt to spin this as a positive is utter madness.

It's not spin, it's accepting the reality of the situation. As a fan I want us to spend a trillion pounds but can understand why they want to see what they can get out of those who are already here. So, for example we buy a new central midfield player how do we then give Bannan, Delph, Makoun and Ireland all an opportunity to prove themselves?

If you think that we can make an effective midfield out of that lot, plus Petrov then you are simply kidding yourself. 

I think you are being your usual over pessimistic self to suggest that it is not possible, there are some very talented players there and if he can get them organised then there is a chance it can work. We won't know until they are given a chance.

However, we know that the owner does not want a squad containing players who are not contributing. If we buy more for that area of the pitch there is no way that they can all play.

[Chris Smith]

If we don't strengthen, we're in for a season of struggle.  Our squad showed it wasn't good enough last season, and we've lost lots of players from it.  Any attempt to spin this as a positive is utter madness.

It's not spin, it's accepting the reality of the situation. As a fan I want us to spend a trillion pounds but can understand why they want to see what they can get out of those who are already here. So, for example we buy a new central midfield player how do we then give Bannan, Delph, Makoun and Ireland all an opportunity to prove themselves?

If you think that we can make an effective midfield out of that lot, plus Petrov then you are simply kidding yourself. 

thats the point though, he is kidding himself. A week ago he was predicting spending to match thr MON years

No I wasn't you bullshitter.

I was saying wait until the end of the window before pissing your pants about it.

[Greg N'Ash]

If we don't strengthen, we're in for a season of struggle.  Our squad showed it wasn't good enough last season, and we've lost lots of players from it.  Any attempt to spin this as a positive is utter madness.

It's not spin, it's accepting the reality of the situation. As a fan I want us to spend a trillion pounds but can understand why they want to see what they can get out of those who are already here. So, for example we buy a new central midfield player how do we then give Bannan, Delph, Makoun and Ireland all an opportunity to prove themselves?

If you think that we can make an effective midfield out of that lot, plus Petrov then you are simply kidding yourself. 

thats the point though, he is kidding himself. A week ago he was predicting spending to match thr MON years

No I wasn't you bullshitter.

I was saying wait until the end of the window before pissing your pants about it.

So now we know there's one coming in, have we got your permission to uriniate? Or do you expect the"1" to be Messi?

[asgpaul]

Think we'll all be a lot clearer on things, more importantly AM will be, after this Asia cup comp., about who'll be able to step up to the mark with regard to the youngsters and those who fell from favour under GH.

Lets give AM a chance to view what he's got, theres time to strengthen when we get back, transfers dont have to be made now (with exception of N'Zogbia....!!) 

[Mazrim]

We've got a shitter squad, and a shitter manager than last season. if 1 player is coming in, then that isn't going to change. Just got to pray the youth can keep us up really.

- Shitter squad.
The squad didn't start with Darren Bent and Makoun last season. We know one is top quality, I think the other is potentially excellent. Yes, I know Young and Downing have gone. If we dont play the same system and get N'Zogbia in we could still be as effective. In addition we have a better keeper and the youngsters will be that bit more experienced. A lot of them have seen the elephant now. Time will tell.
Also, we cant expect to have anything like the injuries we had last season.

- Shitter manager.
I wont argue that at this moment but there's always the hope that somehow, he gets more out of these players than Houllier did. In particular, the defence.


These are turbulent times. There's no getting away from it.
I may be a fool but I like the chaotic element. I'd rather go into something that might work like a charm or blow up in my face than predictable mediocrity. I appreciate I may be in a minority but football has become all about spending and its equal parts tedious and vulgar now. Ive had it up to my tits with it.
So if its getting back to producing your own players and measured spending, fine. I know teams at the top will be hard to reel in for a while but ultimately it needs to happen for the sake of this game. In my opinion.

[pedro25]

Here's another thing - we've lost a lot of players this summer, but only 4 that had a 1st team impact, who were Freidel, NRC, Downing and Ash.  So, who have we replaced/improved on?

Freidel - Given.  Good move and should be at least the equal of Big Brad.
Downing - N'Zogbia (probably).  Good move and again should at least give us the same amount of goals and assists.
NRC - Nobody.  As I mentioned above, I think this is the real problem area in our side.
Ash - Nobody.  However, I think this is a key area where McLeish wants to take a look at a few and see if Ireland, Delph, Bannan or Gardner the Younger can step up. 

Walker as well, 5 1st teamers and a maximum 2 replacements, not good enough, we nearly went down with that squad, taking away 3/4 starters leaves us very weak.

[Risso]

Greg is right Chris, you say one thing one week, and then when we get another bit of bad news, you change your view to accommodate that.

[OzVilla]

Nothing McLeish has said seems unreasonable to me. 

I think there is certainly untapped talent at the Club and I also think we have some of the most promising finest young players in the Country.  We don't need to be spending 20 million on potential, we've got plenty developing nicely ourselves and for that i'm sure we are the envy of alot of Clubs.

I'm actually relieved that he's taking stock of the current squad, looking at what we've got and seeking to add one or two quality additions where we need to - makes perfect sense to me.

[Maradona10]

The Asia Cup will not prove anything that he cannot already see, in that midfield do you think we have any ball winners because i don't, all i see is midfielders who think they can tackle, expect a few red cards.