Summer Transfer Thread: Speculation, Lies, Absolute Cr*p and Bosman Rumours

[tomd2103]

who would you sell and what spots would you be looking to fill?

GK:
Given - Keep
Guzan - Keep if possible
Siegrist - Keep

LB
Warnock - Sell
Stevens - Keep
New first choice

RB
Hutton - Sell
Lichaj - Keep
New rotation option to compete with Lichaj

CB
Collins - Keep
Baker - Keep
Clark - Keep and play in his proper position
Dunne - Sell
Cuellar - Already gone
New organiser (and captain/vice captain)

CM
Herd - Keep
Bannan - Keep
Ireland - Keep
Makoun - Keep
Gardner - Keep
Delph - Keep
Petrov - Would love to keep but doubt he'll play again so probably - Retire
New defensive option

LM/RM (keeping them together as a lot of players can play either side)
Nzogbia - Keep (but offload jan if still no improvement)
Albrighton - Keep
Holman - Keep
Carruthers - Keep (and get him a bit more time on the pitch)
New Right sided players to put pressure on Albrighton

Stirker
Bent - Keep (whatever it takes)
Gabby - Keep (but get him working on pace again as he's bulked up too much now)
Heskey - get rid
Weimann - Keep
Delfouneso - Keep (as with nzog, I'd say last chance saloon though)

So for me that's 5 players to get in with at most 6-8m coming in from sales (2-3m each for Dunne,  Warnock and Hutton seems fair to me), can get a couple more bosmans but then need 10-15m added to the incoming to make sure we can get good options for the really important purchases (CB, LB and CM).

I know I'm possibly being a little sentimental with a couple of the youngsters (delph and delf mainly) but I think we need to give them a last season to see if they cut it as this season has been a really bad one to judge most of the youngsters on.  I'm also unwilling to jettison Nzogbia just yet, there is a better player than we've seen in there, writing off a 10m investment after a year seems rushed to me.  Collins is kept against my better judgement mainly for some continuity in defence.

Would agree with most of that assessment to be honest.  I think Guzan will move on, so we will be looking for a back up keeper.  Joe Lewis was in the England squad not that long ago and has just been released by Peterborough (for some unknown reason), so he might be a shout as he wouldn't cost anything.  I would give Hutton another chance, but would also bring in another right back and a left back.  I would like to see some attacking full backs and like the look of the Spurs RB Kyle Naughton who is on loan at Norwich and at LB, Izaguirre from Celtic and Figueroa from Wigan.  I agree about keeping Collins and that we need a new starting CB, with Clark and Baker as cover.  We could also bring in a loan player in that position if needed.

I would look to play a 4-3-3 next season with two defensive midfielders who can get on the ball and get us passing.  I think we need to bring those two in and really rate James McCarthy from Wigan.  I also think Mark Noble from West Ham would be a good signing and wouldn't be too disappointed to see Craig Gardner or Steven Davis back at the club.  In front of them , I would probably keep Ireland (though I have my doubts about him lasting a full season) and Holman could also play that role.  It's not likely to happen with McLeish in charge, but I think if we had central midfielders who could get the ball off the defence and distribute it well, everything could go through Ireland and he could be very effective.

If we were to play 4-3-3, I'd keep Bent, Weimann and Gabby as the central strikers and maybe add a more physical presence as an option.  Would like to see us have a gamble on Jordan Rhodes from Huddersfield, but think someone like Kenwynne Jones could also fill that role.  Again, can't see it happening under McLeish, but Bent should be in the side to be in the box and not really feature too much in the build up play.  He is not a target man and constantly hitting balls up to him is a waste of time.  With the attacking full backs providing the width, it would mean that the other two could find the holes inside a little more and provide service for Bent.  Would give N'Zogbia another go, and Holman and Carruthers could also fill that role.  Would love us to sign a real quality playmaker like a Silva or Mata (don't think we would get someone as good) but would be equally as happy with someone like Matt Phillips from Blackpool.  Hoillet would be another decent option.         

 

[Irish villain]

An emphatic no to Dann and Johnson fro me. Do we want to give them a hatrick of drops? NO!

[villasjf]

TomD isnt Kenwyn Jones a young Emile Heskey? not enough goals in him.

[N'ZMAV]

I wouldn't keep Albrighton and Delph. Both should have progressed this season, and haven't.

[saunders_heroes]

Albrighton's a Championship player. Time to say bye bye.

[pauliewalnuts]

I wouldn't keep Albrighton and Delph. Both should have progressed this season, and haven't.

I know where you're coming from, but in their defence, this has been a pretty awful season in which to make any progression.

[pedro25]

Is Albrighton fit at the moment and still can't make it into the 18 even with 5/6 injuries?

[villasjf]

Injured according to OS last week season over, Hip I think.

[Concrete John]

I wouldn't keep Albrighton and Delph. Both should have progressed this season, and haven't.

I know where you're coming from, but in their defence, this has been a pretty awful season in which to make any progression.

Quite.

Our forwards have suffered this season and had no freedom to influence a game - so add Gabby and N'Zogbia to that list.

Delph I'm less sure about, but I think he should wait for (hopefully!) a new manager to find out if Super Marc is the player we saw emerge under K-Mac/Houllier or the one we saw stagnate under McLeish.

[Mazrim]

I'm still of the mind that there is a cracking player in Delph if he gets a break from injuries and is allowed to develop in a strong side. Neither of which has been the case yet.

Albrighton has been massively disappointing this season but its far too early to write him off. He was exceptional last season.

[Merv]

We've seen flashes of quality from Albrighton this season, but he's struggled for consistency, he's been in and out of the side, and he's been picking up niggly injuries. I definitely wouldn't give up on him. It's been a disappointing season too for N'Zogbia, Gabby and Bent (didn't look at his best before his injury). Let's face it, most of our attacking players have looked off it this season.

Like John M'Zog, I'm not sure about Delph. There's a footballer in there. I guess it depends on what our other midfield options are looking like as the squad shapes up for the new season.

[Percy McCarthy]

Although most of us just seem to accept that Bent and Gabby can't play together, I believe that in the hands of a progressive coach who would have us in the opposition half a bit more often, a front four of those two, CNZ and Ireland could be lethal. I know this is the transfer thread but a good manager is the first and most important signing we need to make.

[OzVilla]

I wouldn't be looking to shift any of the youngsters out just yet. For me the jury is still out on Albrighton.  I'm happy to persevere with him next season, perhaps this season has been a blip - he certainly showed some promise last year. He deserves another crack at it.

Delph we should certainly be keeping. 

[OzVilla]

An emphatic no to Dann and Johnson fro me. Do we want to give them a hatrick of drops? NO!

Funny that cause I'd take them both.  We really need a leader in the middle of the park though as Petrov was a huge miss for us.  Quite like Huddlestone from Spurs.

[Concrete John]

The thing about Delph is that I do see ability in him, but he has failed to produce it for us.  If we're gonna have this 25-man squad, then you'd imagine probably 5 central midfielders.  Ireland, Gardner and Herd are three, plus we need a holder to replace Petrov.  So that's one more place available.  Should be be giving it to Delph?  Trying Makoun again?  Or do we need another new body?

I can't see Delph making an impression here now, so think it would be best for him to move on.