January Transfer Speculation (or lack of) Thread

[Concrete John]

I'll take your word for it John. My point is if you add in all the players that were signed,  and have been let go since DOL left then it does seem shocking we're roughly back where we started in terms of squad size and quality

Not really when you consider the biggest signings, bar Bent, have all been sold on again for profits, with that money then not being re-invested.  By that I'm thinking of the likes of Ash, Milner and Downing.  Had we just spent that money again we'd be in a much stronger position.   

but you're talking an original investment of what 30m in those three? Add up the other names and their cost. That's where the real money has been wasted.

Not sure what point you're getting at?  I'm trying to evaluate the value of our present squad and what we should therefore be expecting from them.

the point i'm getting at is in the short space of time from the end of DOL's reign to currently, many many millions has been invested in players and wages and we're not much better off for it, if at all. just the money spent on Davies, Sidwell, Warnock, Heskey, MFH,  and Makoun, about 30m, would probably supply a first team for one of our rivals in the mediocrity league. And you could name another 6 players bought during that time that cost similar that were as pointless. And probably another 6.

But there's been a lot recouped aswell.  Of course not everything was spent well, but I'd argue that the essential signings simply to stay in the division have got to be £5-£10m a year anyway.  And £30m for a PL first team is relegation guaranteed, IMO.

But then we can argue the pros and cons of the signings for ages, the balance of those sold is best seen when you look and who's left and what they cost.  Come to your own conclusions about their worth compared to the cost, but the cost is greatlt diminished from what has been spent, due to the sales.       

[fredm]

Bent to QPR
Cuellar to Rangers with Davis coming the other way.

I can see Bent going to QPR. Perhaps Liverpool too if they can shift Carrol.

Would AM consider swapping Bent for Carroll?  He likes a big target man and I wouldn't be surprised to see Dalglish try and move him out.

[luke25]

I'd like us to get Jordan Rhodes from Huddersfield, the guy has it all to succeed at a higher level, big, strong, pace and the most impressive thing about him is his finishing is fantastic, granted I know that a striker is the least of our needs but I believe this guy is going to go on to big things and I may be out of touch with how much young strikers from league 1 cost but maybe £2m would get him.

[Greg N'Ash]

I'll take your word for it John. My point is if you add in all the players that were signed,  and have been let go since DOL left then it does seem shocking we're roughly back where we started in terms of squad size and quality

Not really when you consider the biggest signings, bar Bent, have all been sold on again for profits, with that money then not being re-invested.  By that I'm thinking of the likes of Ash, Milner and Downing.  Had we just spent that money again we'd be in a much stronger position.   

but you're talking an original investment of what 30m in those three? Add up the other names and their cost. That's where the real money has been wasted.

Not sure what point you're getting at?  I'm trying to evaluate the value of our present squad and what we should therefore be expecting from them.

the point i'm getting at is in the short space of time from the end of DOL's reign to currently, many many millions has been invested in players and wages and we're not much better off for it, if at all. just the money spent on Davies, Sidwell, Warnock, Heskey, MFH,  and Makoun, about 30m, would probably supply a first team for one of our rivals in the mediocrity league. And you could name another 6 players bought during that time that cost similar that were as pointless. And probably another 6.

But there's been a lot recouped aswell.  Of course not everything was spent well, but I'd argue that the essential signings simply to stay in the division have got to be £5-£10m a year anyway. And £30m for a PL first team is relegation guaranteed, IMO.

But then we can argue the pros and cons of the signings for ages, the balance of those sold is best seen when you look and who's left and what they cost.  Come to your own conclusions about their worth compared to the cost, but the cost is greatlt diminished from what has been spent, due to the sales.       

you reckon? I'd be willing to bet the likes of Swansea and Norwich haven't spent that much on their whole squad and i think both of them will survive this season

[ozzjim]

I reckon he would jump at Carroll for Bent, but can't see it happening. Mind you Carroll and Gabby might gel quite well in the world of HOOOOF!

[hipkiss92]

I'd like us to get Jordan Rhodes from Huddersfield, the guy has it all to succeed at a higher level, big, strong, pace and the most impressive thing about him is his finishing is fantastic, granted I know that a striker is the least of our needs but I believe this guy is going to go on to big things and I may be out of touch with how much young strikers from league 1 cost but maybe £2m would get him.

Agree entirely about Rhodes, also think we should try to pick up Clyne from Palace, and Butterfield who we have been linked with in the Mirror seems quite impressive. If we've got to cut expenses, then getting in young, hungry talented players from the lower leagues seems a good place to start, will hopefully help us turn a profit in the future as well.

[ozzjim]

Aidrian Durham asked if we had a direction/ policy in the transfer market and I just don't think we do. I think we need a DOF, with the owners we have I think it would actually work quite well. Under GH there was a plan. I agree with the above, and think 10 million a season should be put aside for U23 players from around the leagues. It would pay off handsomely in the future given the propper scouting.

[Matt C]

Kris Boyd now without a club and available on a free. Just saying...

[Clampy]

Kris Boyd now without a club and available on a free. Just saying...

Would'nt surprise me if he went back to Rangers.

[Greg N'Ash]

we need cover up front certainly. we're toothless if bent or gabby are unavailable. Fonz isn't good enough and i doubt he ever will be. I'm obviously not including Heskey as a striker for obvious reasons.

[ozzjim]

we need cover up front certainly. we're toothless if bent or gabby are unavailable. Fonz isn't good enough and i doubt he ever will be. I'm obviously not including Heskey as a striker for obvious reasons.

Barn door, can't hit. Really have to get Heskey off the books ASAP. 60k a week for being a total waster. I think we need 2 forwards to make us more complete squad wise, a true target man that can get goals, and a number 10, that can drop between the front and create something. We then also need another winger of quality, a top central midfield player, a Samba like centre back, a right back, and a manager. I reckon scout em on Football Manager, get a DOF in charge of transfers and get buying/ selling. We need Arry in wheeler dealer mode.

[KevinGage]

On the subject of Ivanhoe, I have to admit this made me laugh:


New Heskey

He believes Wickham has the talent and physique to fulfil the role Heskey played for him at Villa.

O’Neill said: “Without a doubt that would be nice. Connor has excellent natural ability. He is not just a sizeable centre forward up there for the sake of it."

Natural ability, not just up front for the sake of it. 

In other words, nothing like Ivanhoe at all then.

[Dante Lavelli]

I'd like us to get Jordan Rhodes from Huddersfield, the guy has it all to succeed at a higher level, big, strong, pace and the most impressive thing about him is his finishing is fantastic, granted I know that a striker is the least of our needs but I believe this guy is going to go on to big things and I may be out of touch with how much young strikers from league 1 cost but maybe £2m would get him.

Agree entirely about Rhodes, also think we should try to pick up Clyne from Palace, and Butterfield who we have been linked with in the Mirror seems quite impressive. If we've got to cut expenses, then getting in young, hungry talented players from the lower leagues seems a good place to start, will hopefully help us turn a profit in the future as well.

I agree.  I think a bit of a legacy of the MON era is that we signed a fair number of players who had "made it", at least from a financial sense, so their motivation is not what it could be.  This problem is amplified because the guy that signed them has fucked off. 

A good splattering of promising youngsters should increase the squad's determination in training and willingness to listen to the coach's instructions even if they do not break into the first team themselves.

[ozzjim]

I'd like us to get Jordan Rhodes from Huddersfield, the guy has it all to succeed at a higher level, big, strong, pace and the most impressive thing about him is his finishing is fantastic, granted I know that a striker is the least of our needs but I believe this guy is going to go on to big things and I may be out of touch with how much young strikers from league 1 cost but maybe £2m would get him.

Agree entirely about Rhodes, also think we should try to pick up Clyne from Palace, and Butterfield who we have been linked with in the Mirror seems quite impressive. If we've got to cut expenses, then getting in young, hungry talented players from the lower leagues seems a good place to start, will hopefully help us turn a profit in the future as well.

I agree.  I think a bit of a legacy of the MON era is that we signed a fair number of players who had "made it", at least from a financial sense, so their motivation is not what it could be.  This problem is amplified because the guy that signed them has fucked off. 

A good splattering of promising youngsters should increase the squad's determination in training and willingness to listen to the coach's instructions even if they do not break into the first team themselves.

I was chatting to my dad about this yesterday and looking at the blues squad last season and ours, the older players for them had been rescued by Mcleish and owed him performances. This was mixed with hunger from players signed either on loan from top sides wanting to get games, or calculated gambles from the championship. None of our senior pros owe McLeish anything really, Hutton aside, and the youngsters are not getting consistent enough runs in the side to form confidence or understanding of their role, short of Herd and Delph, the latter of whom for me needs 6 months in the Championship with a decent side that uses the ball well to get his mojo back.

[charlie]

Indeed the players who put bodies on the line, Dunne, Collins etc are no longer interested. we dont have a Barry ferguson, but even with ''owing eck''players who fought for him the noses still went down,......... with disinterested high earners who effectively blight the rest we arrive quickly at apathy. As posted elsewhere we have seen poor scottish manager plus apathy=relegation in the 80s, and whatever is said in his defence eck is a poor manager. Time to go. [and Hutton may owe him but he is dire].
Pride swallowing time is suggested...sparky welshmen come to mind.