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

[Mister E]

Personally I don't rate Herd as a good footballer  ....

Opinions, opinions.
I saw in Herd a very good footballer: his positioining and anticipation is excellent (he covered both FB from time to time from MF last season); his passing is - well- at the very least passable (I remember 3 or 4 raking passes away at Blackburn in the first half that set up good attacking moves); he has goal instincts (goal at Liverpool plus efforts at WBA and ARse); he's got attitude.

[Tuscans]

Personally I don't rate Herd as a good footballer  ....

Opinions, opinions.
I saw in Herd a very good footballer: his positioining and anticipation is excellent (he covered both FB from time to time from MF last season); his passing is - well- at the very least passable (I remember 3 or 4 raking passes away at Blackburn in the first half that set up good attacking moves); he has goal instincts (goal at Liverpool plus efforts at WBA and ARse); he's got attitude.

Sort of agree, kind of don't at the same time. In midfield he offers little in my opinion, as a full back I would have him any day ahead of Hutton. Great engine, puts his noggin on anything and tackles with a little more composure than Hutton. Lambert will cast his eye over things and see where certain individuals should be playing.

[Mazrim]

Yes defence and defensive midfield or that midfield general are priorities but the whole squad needs an overhaul or strengthening. Especially when you consider Lambert likes to chop and change.

I think we could see maybe three defenders come in (as many leaving), 1 powerful defensive midfielder, a winger, a back up keeper and a striker. Plus the odd loan deal.

An example of what I'd like to see:
Naughton, Douglas, Bertrand (loan), Moussa Sissoko, Frimpong (loan w/fee agreed), Adam Johnson, Kuscszak and Guidetti (or Rhodes).

Which is a lot I know but, fuck it.

Giving us a squad of...

Given, Kuszczak, Siegrist
Naughton, Lichaj, Herd
Bertrand, Stevens
Douglas, Clark, Dunne, Baker, Williams
Sissoko, Frimpong, Makoun, Gardner, Delph, Ireland, Bannan
A Johnson, D Johnson, N'Zogbia, Holman, Albrighton, Carruthers
Bent, Agbonlahor, Weimann, Guidetti (Rhodes).

Of these I'd probably send a few out on short term recall loans.
D Johnson, Williams, Stevens, Carruthers and give Delfouneso one last shot at proving himself on loan.

All the best youngsters also on loan.
Burke, Graham, Grealish, Robinson, Webb, Lewis... etc.
Getting them senior experience is more important than reserve team football now, much as I enjoy it.


Yes, yes, what a load of bollocks etc... humour me.

[OCD]

Interesting that you have Herd as a right back Maz. He was excellent there against Wolves and I think it could be his best position.

You also rate Naughton over Clynne?

[Mazrim]

Well, I think Herd will end up as a very good right back who can cover midfield.

Truth is I'm more familiar with Naughton than Clyne and Lambert no doubt rates him.
I think he'd be great for us. Can cover both full back positions too.

[Concrete John]

I think the call for Herd to play RB is largely fueled by how poor we've been there last season.  He's a much better midfielder than he is RB.

[nigel]

I think buying Grant Holt twice is an extravagant waste of resources.

Buying him once would be.

I believe it would be a big, big mistake.

Agreed, I'll be a bit gutted if we sign him.

Would you have been gutted had he been our player last season chipping in with 17 goals?
Which, incidentally, was more than our entire strike force.

[nigel]

Holt is a journey man number 9 that has just had his best ever season.  See Harewood, Marlon.

See, also, Withe, Peter !!

[Matt Collins]

We're not going to sign ten players. I don't know why, summer after summer, people think we might!

[Mazrim]

I think the call for Herd to play RB is largely fueled by how poor we've been there last season.  He's a much better midfielder than he is RB.

What's that based on? He was very good in the reserves at right back and his one senior performance there he was man of the match. I think he could go either way but would err towards right back if pushed.

Why?
He has boundless enthusiasm and energy but lacks positional discipline in midfield (though he's young and can improve this). If narrowed down to one flank I dont think this would be a problem and he can maraud down the right and join the midfield at will.

[PaulWinch again]

I think buying Grant Holt twice is an extravagant waste of resources.

Buying him once would be.

I believe it would be a big, big mistake.

Agreed, I'll be a bit gutted if we sign him.

Would you have been gutted had he been our player last season chipping in with 17 goals?
Which, incidentally, was more than our entire strike force.

As I've said previously I fully admit he had a good season, but he has all the hallmarks of a one season wonder. He's getting on, he wants a 3 year contract, he's not in particularly good shape. We can get better and younger for similar costs I expect. Also I think what our strikers did is more down to the ineptitude of our manager rather than their respective abilities. Bent scored less than Holt, but he is a much much better player.

[Mazrim]

We're not going to sign ten players. I don't know why, summer after summer, people think we might!

Because this is a speculation/wish thread for entertaiment purposes and we can say what we like, even if its unlikely.
Besides, it was 8 players, two of which are loans, replacing probably as many outgoing. It's not impossible.

[nigel]

I'd be OK with 4, it's when people talk about 6s and 7s I think "Hang on a minute".  If for no other reason than getting that many mith a limited budget may dilute the quality.

I also take Mazrim's point about it being staggered over a month or more and pre-season training comes into it.  But we've often seen that nothing compares to competitive games and players can take time to settle regardless of when during the summer they were signed.

Have to say John that I think we'll probably need to bring in 6 or 7. This is mainly due to the fact that another 3 or 4 will be going. The one thing we lacked last season was squad strength.
3 seniors have already gone remember. So if, say, Hutton, Warnock, Collins and/or Dunne go that's 6 or 7 senior players.
This is why I think that, at the right price, Holt would be a good signing. Not necessarily as a first choice, but to put Bent, Gabby & Weimann under a little pressure. When Bent got injured last season we were up s**t creek as Gabby was struggling.

[Concrete John]

Well, I gues numbers depends on how much you trust the yougsters and/or are willing to bear with one or two of last years under performers.

GK - Given, new reserve, Siegrist
RB - Hutton, Lichaj
CB - Clark, new first choice, Collins, Baker
LB - new first choice, Stevens
CM - Ireland, Makoun, new DCM, Herd, Gardner, Bannan
Wingers - N'Zogbia, new, Holman, Albrighton,
ATT - Bent, Gabby, Weimann

That's a decent 24 man squad with all positions covered and only 5 new signings, or 6 if you include Holman.  We may not even need the extra wide player if Bertie intends to use Gabby there and/or sees what he's after in the likes of Carruthers.     

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

An example of what I'd like to see:
Naughton, Douglas, Bertrand (loan), Moussa Sissoko, Frimpong (loan w/fee agreed), Adam Johnson, Kuscszak and Guidetti (or Rhodes).

Be interesting to see if he gets a sniff at Man City after a great season on loan although I would think he would find himself as 5th choice out of their current strikers. He’s unlikely to want to sit on the bench (at best) so he could be gettable its just whether it would be a permanent or loan move.