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

[PaulWinch again]

I just read Johnson on loan with a view to move at end of season

Yes please

From where?

[Matt C]

McLeish 'wants a new midfield general' according to Matt Kendrick in the Mail:

http://t.co/jNMZrCB

[K3Villa]

McLeish 'wants a new midfield general' according to Matt Kendrick in the Mail:

http://t.co/jNMZrCB

He needs one as well!

[PaulWinch again]

Hitz is not a midfield general. It's a sad state of affairs if we need to sell a player in order to get in a free transfer.

[willywombat]

Dennis Mortimer reincarnate now please, wherever you are

[pedro25]

Not really, our squad's right in terms of quantity, just not the quality, shipping out a squad player to bring in someone the manager feels would improve us would be good shrewd business.

[Dave P]

Trezeguet? (Which as we all know is French for three times as gay) Well there's one out of left field. I cant believe he's a free agent.

"Three Times as Gay" and Bent up front.  Ooo Err Missus.

[eastie]

Crikey kendricks report is bleak with mcleish saying 'we don't have any money to spend'- says a lot about the failure to attract a bigger name manager and also why mon went if he was aware of the finances - I feel sorry for mcleish- what was all this ' randy always backs his manager ' talk from the general?
More pie in the sky!

Now we have to move on players just to get a loan or free transfer- worrying times.

[Risso]

McLeish 'wants a new midfield general' according to Matt Kendrick in the Mail:

http://t.co/jNMZrCB

He needs one as well!

"
Asked how likely it would be to get a player out and another in before the window closes on August 31, McLeish replied: “We’re working on it.”

“We don’t have any money to spend at the moment until we trade. That is the way it is.

“I knew all the parameters when I took the job and that’s how it is just now."

So despite selling Young, Downing and getting the likes of Carew and NRC off the wage bill, we're still skint?  All that bollocks the General came out with about Lerner backing the manager, and expecting activity in the next few weeks - he was clearly talking out of his hoop.

[Le Lapin]

Trezeguet would be a fantastic signing, but it's most likely bullshit. He's has a fantastic goals to games ratio at every level.

The fact that Parker hasn't moved on yet is weird, Arry is in the same boat as us, has to move a deadwood player or two on to free cash, Chelski have enough good players but might pounce, they must be waiting for something else to happen and might have Parker as a plan B.
Would love if he came to us, but it's a long shot. We need an experienced midfield player that can pass the ball forward and doesn't look banjoed after 60mins or so. Petrov needs to be eased out of the team slowly and Delph and Makoun need to show what they can do.
What is critical is back up for our wingers, bring in an SWP type player and take the pressure off Albrighton as being the replacement for Young.
I think that Collins and Dunne are going to have a cracking season, and Clarke or Cuellar(if he still with us) would be good backups. Young and Warnock should be okay.
I was to try move any of our so-called first teamers on to generate less wages it would be Petrov, as long as we can get a better replacement.

[eastie]

Seems that way risso- I suppose If he said we were skint it wouldn't have exactly boosted ticket sales- extremely disappointing though.

I wonder what the ambitions are for the future- just to be in the premier league?

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

I don't see how Hitz would improve on what we already have.
He's got a few years on him since he did the biz for us and didn't hold down a regular place at WH.
Just cos we have fond memories of him doesn't mean he's good enough to suddenly become a "midfield general".
Directly opposed to that Parker would be great but with him would come the cost which AM is saying we don't have.
Stalemate?

[Chris Smith]

Why do people keep acting surprised?

We've known about the wage situation since last summer. They'd be stupid to spend all this time, and put up with all the criticism, bringing it down only to go out and add to it again. 

[Whiney MacWhineface]

Why do people keep acting surprised?

I'll wave my paw in the air and admit to some self-delusional behaviour at the beginning of the summer. Whilst I agree the clear signs have been there about wages I did at least think, after the quite considerable exodus since this time last year, that we would at least break even with the spending this summer, especially in supprt of the controversial managerial appointment.

My own hopes are now pinned on next season, having steadied the ship. In the meantime we're a couple of key injuries away from a struggle. I think.

[Mister E]

Why do people keep acting surprised?

We've known about the wage situation since last summer. They'd be stupid to spend all this time, and put up with all the criticism, bringing it down only to go out and add to it again. 

Correct.
Re Hitz, is he someone who could play in front of the back four, rather than as a LMF / attacking midfielder? - if so, he might be worth a punt on a free. I personally have my doubts, but he has a good footballing brain, which is a large part of the holding role.