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

[eastie]

Won't happen but I'd try and hijack Tuncay's move to Bolton. There's your wide and forward cover, and a contingency plan should Ireland continue to be mental.

Too late, tuncay  has signed for them on season loan this afternoon.
Owen coyle also confirms talks with regarding swp.

Liverpool have reportedly agreed a fee for Enrique and its also being reported arsenal are in talks with blues regarding Scott dann.

[garyshawsknee]

Though i can understand our pulling in of the purse strings this summer,its quite frustrating as there are a few good bargains to be had this summer. Enrique is a great left back,especially when you think of the money we've spent on Shorey and Warnock. And Dann is another one,quality player at a good age,we couldve got him in and tried to shift Collins out(probably to Stoke)

If we did have a quality centre back,and that precious defensive midfielder,I wouldn't be shitting myself about the up coming season as much.

[Clampy]

I still think we'll bring in at least another one, we'd be mad not too.

[garyshawsknee]

Yep,when McCleish see's Petrov treading water after 45 minutes,hopefully he'll have a word in Randy's ear.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Though i can understand our pulling in of the purse strings this summer,its quite frustrating as there are a few good bargains to be had this summer. Enrique is a great left back,especially when you think of the money we've spent on Shorey and Warnock. And Dann is another one,quality player at a good age,we couldve got him in and tried to shift Collins out(probably to Stoke)

If we did have a quality centre back,and that precious defensive midfielder,I wouldn't be shitting myself about the up coming season as much.

Spot on gary!
Have said since the scum went down that we should have moved for Dann (and Johnson at the time). What is he? 24/5 yrs old and a solid defender in a shit team. Someone (Arsenal?) is gonna get a class defender.

[pauliewalnuts]

I still think we'll bring in at least another one, we'd be mad not too.

Indeed, it would be utter madness to think the squad as it stands now is going to be sufficiently strong.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Yep,when McCleish see's Petrov treading water after 45 minutes,hopefully he'll have a word in Randy's ear.

From what he said on the AVTV today we've gotta shift players first!
Unlikely if they haven't gone by now.

[eastie]

Yep,when McCleish see's Petrov treading water after 45 minutes,hopefully he'll have a word in Randy's ear.

I would have hoped that he has already seen the flaws in the squad and asked randy for more by now- he's an experienced manager and must have a good idea of our weaknesses- let's hope randy backs his man.

The generals words about 'imagine what he can do with a chairman who backs him like randy has backed his managers ' need to be put to the test and at the very least one or two more players are needed - even if loan deals.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Yep,when McCleish see's Petrov treading water after 45 minutes,hopefully he'll have a word in Randy's ear.

I would have hoped that he has already seen the flaws in the squad and asked randy for more by now- he's an experienced manager and must have a good idea of our weaknesses- let's hope randy backs his man.

The generals words about 'imagine what he can do with a chairman who backs him like randy has backed his managers ' need to be put to the test and at the very least one or two more players are needed - even if loan deals.

Might be an obvious question eastie, but which flaws are you thinking of?

[Toronto Villa]

I still think we'll bring in at least another one, we'd be mad not too.

Indeed, it would be utter madness to think the squad as it stands now is going to be sufficiently strong.

I said in the Randy thread that today was the first time I got a little concerned having watched the Fulham press conference. I still hope that it's all a front and that they'd strike given the right circumstances. But today, I just got the feeling that unless we move someone, then we'd have nobody else coming in. I can't think outside of Beye, Cuellar or Heskey who else they'd look to sell now. I agree with the philosophy of seeing what the likes of Delph, Warnock, Ireland etc have, as in a Doug-ism kind of way they are like new signings. But still, we are soft in a number of important areas. One or two new quality signings could make a massive difference.

[eastie]

Quality defensive midfielder (captain) ie Parker, and also a centre back should Carlos leave as both dunne and Collins can be injury prone and if Carlos goes we will be short of quality cover.

Not too worried about cover at full back to be honest , I'd like more than 2 signings but that won't happen, so if it's one or two they are the positions I'd strengthen before others.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Quality defensive midfielder (captain) ie Parker, and also a centre back should Carlos leave as both dunne and Collins can be injury prone and if Carlos goes we will be short of quality cover.

Not too worried about cover at full back to be honest , I'd like more than 2 signings but that won't happen, so if it's one or two they are the positions I'd strengthen before others.

Is it too disrespectful of me to think that AM can't see/doesn't want to admit to the 2 areas that almost all of us on here have identified?

The CB and strong Mf have been clear for a long time before now!

[eastie]

I'm not sure it's fair to say he can't see the positions we need to strengthen- if the chairman tells him there's nothing to spend without moving others on then his hands are tied.

In fairness we have moved on or sold a lot of high earners in the last few months so it's frustrating if we still can't add to the squad.

[TheSandman]

Yep,when McCleish see's Petrov treading water after 45 minutes,hopefully he'll have a word in Randy's ear.

I would have hoped that he has already seen the flaws in the squad and asked randy for more by now- he's an experienced manager and must have a good idea of our weaknesses- let's hope randy backs his man.

He has. After the friendly against Derby he made comments about needing to strengthen. The way in which the club acted to dismiss those comments and put another spin on them shows just how much chance there is of any additional arrivals regardless of how much McLeish wants them.

[ozzjim]

The club have been very 2 faced over the money available to McLeish. Krulak said that he would be backed. Thus far he has got a squad that has lost our only defensive midfield player, our best 2 outfield players and yet he has been allowed a keeper and 9.5 million signing. Not even all the Downing cash, let alone the Young money, and the board seemingly are not being asked why. Happily praise them for the good things they have done since coming to VP, but they should face the tough questions too. Long, long, long hard season ahead.