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

[Dave]

I'm sorry but those saying we can rely on Delfouneso and Weimann to get the goals are talking shite and not being realistic. Do you have any idea how many goals they have got in competitive football as a senior??

We wouldn’t be replying on them though.  We’re relying on Bent and to a lesser extent Gabby.

Exactly, were relying on a player who has been injured twice in 6 months and another who completely lost his form.

But there comes a point where you can't just so "fine, let's wash our hands of two strikers" as well as our entire defence and start from scratch.

If we have to go through a season playing mainly 4-2-3-1 with Bent, Gabby, Fonz and Weimann as our striking options then I have no problem with that.

[villastikz]

Disagree completely. Pulling stats like 12 goals in 94 appearances out is ridiculous when they're both youngsters and most of those are run-outs consisting of about 5 minutes.

When you're basing our strikers on last season with he who shall not be named in charge you're being extremely unfair. You could have put RVP in the team and he would have struggled just as much as Weimann and Gabby did at the end of last season. We have two quality strikers and two very promising strikers to fill 1 possibly 2 spots in the first XI. Another striker just is not necessary.

That's my point exactly regarding the younger players, they haven't had the game time and some of where they have been playing is in a lower division, they aren't proven and we can't risk it in the EPL unless we want to risk another season without enough goals.

I understand under TSM players weren't playing to their best but Gabby might not be back at his best yet, he hasn't had match time to get that form back and he may need this season to get back on track.

I'm looking at things realistically and don't think we can go into the season hoping Bent stays fit, Gabby will find form and that Weimann and Fonz will score goals and it's a big risk crossing our fingers and saying our prayers that those players will be up to the standard we need, do we really want to risk a repeat of last season with the pathetic goals total we got.

I would rather be safe than sorry and bring in another striker who has been on form recently to help ensure our season goes to plan.

[villastikz]

I'm sorry but those saying we can rely on Delfouneso and Weimann to get the goals are talking shite and not being realistic. Do you have any idea how many goals they have got in competitive football as a senior??

We wouldn’t be replying on them though.  We’re relying on Bent and to a lesser extent Gabby.

Exactly, were relying on a player who has been injured twice in 6 months and another who completely lost his form.

But there comes a point where you can't just so "fine, let's wash our hands of two strikers" as well as our entire defence and start from scratch.

If we have to go through a season playing mainly 4-2-3-1 with Bent, Gabby, Fonz and Weimann as our striking options then I have no problem with that.

I'm not saying wash our hands of them, I'm saying let's be safe than sorry and add strength and experience to our attack with a proven goal scorer. We have to face the fact Gabby may take time to rediscover form and the younger strikers need time to develop and bringing in someone who can get the goals now is a prudent move and can only make us stronger as a team.

As for the formation, plenty are saying about playing 1 up front but no one knows if that will be the formation prefered for the season and Lambert seems to be favouring 2 up front in pre-season.

[Dave]

I don't necessarily think that it will be the preferred formation - my point is that Lambert seems flexible enough that if we did have two, or even three strikers out injured then given the number of attacking midfielders that we have then playing three of them behind a lone striker wouldn't be the end of the world.

[villastikz]

Think we will have to agree to disagree as I think that would be a massive and stupid risk to take.

If things happen that we do lose strikers through injury and/or other strikers aren't on form and we don't get goals and drop down the table the fans will be in uproar and demanding why we didn't buy another consistent striker prior to the season and I'm sure if that situation arises you will be one of those fans saying why didn't we get another striker in or will you be saying oh well, the risk didn't pay off, we aren't getting the goals, we are tumbling down the table and staring at a repeat of last season but it did save us some money.

[N'Zimidy]

How will we ever develop The Fonz and Weimann if we keep putting three strikers ahead of them? They're of the age and quality now that they can make an impact in the league. Bringing in another average striker for the total cost of £20m is a massive waste when The Fonz and Weimann are tearing up the reserve league for yet another season.

This is a development year for our squad. We're not meant to be challenging for Europe just yet. We can't see how good The Fonz and Weimann are if we're going to put a no-mark striker like Steven Fletcher ahead of them for yet another year. Give the two kids a  chance and when the time arises and I'm fairly certain they will deliver for us and mature into PL quality strikers.

[Percy McCarthy]

I agree. Hope we find out once and for all.

[Dave]

I'm sure if that situation arises you will be one of those fans saying why didn't we get another striker in or will you be saying oh well, the risk didn't pay off, we aren't getting the goals, we are tumbling down the table and staring at a repeat of last season but it did save us some money.

I'll be saying the latter.

I'd say that four strikers, supplemented by the likes of Ireland, Holman and N'Zogbia should be enough. I wouldn't say no to another attacking player coming in, but again I'd want them to the sort to play in a more withdrawn role like the three above.

Everton have four strikers, none of whom I'd want over any of our four apart from Jelavic. Fulham have two, Newcastle have three, Stoke have three (one of whom is Cameron flipping Jerome) and Spurs just have Jermain Defoe.

Injuries can happen anywhere, but the best way to deal with them is to adapt rather than just say "let's buy ten strikers just in case the first eight all get injured at the same time".

[nigel]

I'm sorry but those saying we can rely on Delfouneso and Weimann to get the goals are talking shite and not being realistic. Do you have any idea how many goals they have got in competitive football as a senior??

Between them they have scored 12 goals in 94 games (both starts and subs), some of which are at lower level than the EPL, that is not good enough to be relied on to get us goals in the new season. Don't get me wrong I like both these lads and think they have good futures but saying they can be relied on to get us the goals we need now is ridiculous.

Gabby is also a big unknown, he has the capability to get goals but he has had 2 bad seasons and we don't know yet if he is going to find his form again, pre-season was the chance to judge him but he picked up the injury so now we won't know until he is fit and playing again.

We saw last season what happened when we lost Bent and we can't risk that again, we need another striker with a proven track record of getting goals otherwise we are relying on Bent and 3 strikers who could or could not get goals for us this season and even if they do they won't be getting any where near the amount of goals Bent can get

Bent has already picked up an injury in pre-season and that don't bode well for the coming season that a player injured for a good part of last season has also picked up an injury in pre-season, we have to bear this in mind and remeber anyone can get injured at any time.

We need to ensure we have the strength and depth in attack, something I don't think we have at the moment. Our younger players need the next couple seasons to grow and develop and during that time we need proven seniors to get our goals but to also help mentor and develop our youngsters.

I expect Lambert will have all this in his mind and will be looking to fill the gaps, as he has/is, in midfield and defense, before he looks at how much money he has left to be able to buy another striker as he won't want a repeat of last season when we lost Bent and the goals dried up - I do expect another striker to arrive before the start of the season.

Disagree completely. Pulling stats like 12 goals in 94 appearances out is ridiculous when they're both youngsters and most of those are run-outs consisting of about 5 minutes.

When you're basing our strikers on last season with he who shall not be named in charge you're being extremely unfair. You could have put RVP in the team and he would have struggled just as much as Weimann and Gabby did at the end of last season. We have two quality strikers and two very promising strikers to fill 1 possibly 2 spots in the first XI. Another striker just is not necessary.

If I was to say you're talking sh*t, villastikz, what would your reply be?
Probably along the lines of 'I'm entitled to my opinion', plus a shed load of abuse 
The magic words here are "entitled to my opinion" just like the others.

I have to admit that I'm unsure of Fonz, but, I also think he just needs a break.
I heard a rumour that PL was looking to take him to Norwich, so he must have seen something.
I reckon if he got some games, with a manager who has faith in him, a few goals and he'd have shed loads of confidence, he just needs a break. He is a pretty talented footballer

[pedro25]

It looks like PL will play a diamond midfield and 2 up top, in which case I don't see a case for signing any more midfielders or wingers, but a striker should be a priority.  An N'Zog or similar could play as a 2nd striker but it might get a bit congested with him and 3 advanced midfielders, so I'd rather see another genuine striker up top with Bent, with Gabby pushing them hard when fit.  A striker and a left back would do me, Makoun staying would be a plus but i wouldn't rush to replace him if he goes.  Warnock and Hutton out is a must.

[villastikz]

Like I said we will have to agree to disagree but personally I think we are taking a massive gamble, I really hope I'm proved wrong but the logical side of me says we could seriously get bit on the ass if Gabby, Weimann and Defouneso don't live up to peoples expectations.

[villastikz]

I'm sorry but those saying we can rely on Delfouneso and Weimann to get the goals are talking shite and not being realistic. Do you have any idea how many goals they have got in competitive football as a senior??

Between them they have scored 12 goals in 94 games (both starts and subs), some of which are at lower level than the EPL, that is not good enough to be relied on to get us goals in the new season. Don't get me wrong I like both these lads and think they have good futures but saying they can be relied on to get us the goals we need now is ridiculous.

Gabby is also a big unknown, he has the capability to get goals but he has had 2 bad seasons and we don't know yet if he is going to find his form again, pre-season was the chance to judge him but he picked up the injury so now we won't know until he is fit and playing again.

We saw last season what happened when we lost Bent and we can't risk that again, we need another striker with a proven track record of getting goals otherwise we are relying on Bent and 3 strikers who could or could not get goals for us this season and even if they do they won't be getting any where near the amount of goals Bent can get

Bent has already picked up an injury in pre-season and that don't bode well for the coming season that a player injured for a good part of last season has also picked up an injury in pre-season, we have to bear this in mind and remeber anyone can get injured at any time.

We need to ensure we have the strength and depth in attack, something I don't think we have at the moment. Our younger players need the next couple seasons to grow and develop and during that time we need proven seniors to get our goals but to also help mentor and develop our youngsters.

I expect Lambert will have all this in his mind and will be looking to fill the gaps, as he has/is, in midfield and defense, before he looks at how much money he has left to be able to buy another striker as he won't want a repeat of last season when we lost Bent and the goals dried up - I do expect another striker to arrive before the start of the season.

Disagree completely. Pulling stats like 12 goals in 94 appearances out is ridiculous when they're both youngsters and most of those are run-outs consisting of about 5 minutes.

When you're basing our strikers on last season with he who shall not be named in charge you're being extremely unfair. You could have put RVP in the team and he would have struggled just as much as Weimann and Gabby did at the end of last season. We have two quality strikers and two very promising strikers to fill 1 possibly 2 spots in the first XI. Another striker just is not necessary.

If I was to say you're talking sh*t, villastikz, what would your reply be?
Probably along the lines of 'I'm entitled to my opinion', plus a shed load of abuse 
The magic words here are "entitled to my opinion" just like the others.

I have to admit that I'm unsure of Fonz, but, I also think he just needs a break.
I heard a rumour that PL was looking to take him to Norwich, so he must have seen something.
I reckon if he got some games, with a manager who has faith in him, a few goals and he'd have shed loads of confidence, he just needs a break. He is a pretty talented footballer

Nah, I'm used to being told I'm full of shit, the misses tells me everyday and I don't insult people for having a mind of their own, I've already said with those that disagree with me that we will have to agree to disagree as I think one thing and they think another and everyone is entitled to an opinion and different opinions create debate.

I also said that I think Weimann and Delfouneso have a future at the club and that I like both players, I don't expect them to be strikers who get 25-30 goals over a season but I do think they will develop into 12-15 goal a season players, just they aren't there yet and I think the pair of them need another 2 seasons of development in our squad to get to that level. I'm not saying they are no good or that we should get rid of them just that I don't think they are ready yet to get the goals we need if we experience injuries.

[Chipsticks]

I'm sorry but those saying we can rely on Delfouneso and Weimann to get the goals are talking shite and not being realistic. Do you have any idea how many goals they have got in competitive football as a senior??

Between them they have scored 12 goals in 94 games (both starts and subs), some of which are at lower level than the EPL, that is not good enough to be relied on to get us goals in the new season. Don't get me wrong I like both these lads and think they have good futures but saying they can be relied on to get us the goals we need now is ridiculous.

Gabby is also a big unknown, he has the capability to get goals but he has had 2 bad seasons and we don't know yet if he is going to find his form again, pre-season was the chance to judge him but he picked up the injury so now we won't know until he is fit and playing again.

We saw last season what happened when we lost Bent and we can't risk that again, we need another striker with a proven track record of getting goals otherwise we are relying on Bent and 3 strikers who could or could not get goals for us this season and even if they do they won't be getting any where near the amount of goals Bent can get

Bent has already picked up an injury in pre-season and that don't bode well for the coming season that a player injured for a good part of last season has also picked up an injury in pre-season, we have to bear this in mind and remeber anyone can get injured at any time.

We need to ensure we have the strength and depth in attack, something I don't think we have at the moment. Our younger players need the next couple seasons to grow and develop and during that time we need proven seniors to get our goals but to also help mentor and develop our youngsters.

I expect Lambert will have all this in his mind and will be looking to fill the gaps, as he has/is, in midfield and defense, before he looks at how much money he has left to be able to buy another striker as he won't want a repeat of last season when we lost Bent and the goals dried up - I do expect another striker to arrive before the start of the season.

Disagree completely. Pulling stats like 12 goals in 94 appearances out is ridiculous when they're both youngsters and most of those are run-outs consisting of about 5 minutes.

When you're basing our strikers on last season with he who shall not be named in charge you're being extremely unfair. You could have put RVP in the team and he would have struggled just as much as Weimann and Gabby did at the end of last season. We have two quality strikers and two very promising strikers to fill 1 possibly 2 spots in the first XI. Another striker just is not necessary.

If I was to say you're talking sh*t, villastikz, what would your reply be?
Probably along the lines of 'I'm entitled to my opinion', plus a shed load of abuse 
The magic words here are "entitled to my opinion" just like the others.

I have to admit that I'm unsure of Fonz, but, I also think he just needs a break.
I heard a rumour that PL was looking to take him to Norwich, so he must have seen something.
I reckon if he got some games, with a manager who has faith in him, a few goals and he'd have shed loads of confidence, he just needs a break. He is a pretty talented footballer

Nah, I'm used to being told I'm full of shit, the misses tells me everyday and I don't insult people for having a mind of their own, I've already said with those that disagree with me that we will have to agree to disagree as I think one thing and they think another and everyone is entitled to an opinion and different opinions create debate.

I also said that I think Weimann and Delfouneso have a future at the club and that I like both players, I don't expect them to be strikers who get 25-30 goals over a season but I do think they will develop into 12-15 goal a season players, just they aren't there yet and I think the pair of them need another 2 seasons of development in our squad to get to that level. I'm not saying they are no good or that we should get rid of them just that I don't think they are ready yet to get the goals we need if we experience injuries.

That is how it should be. People seems to lose sight of that a lot.

[peter w]

Is Artur Numan still employed as a scout? Or, if not, I wonder if McLeish gave us all of his inside knowledge (Numan's) of the Dutch market in the same kind of way you still want to do everything for your ex even though she  liked you and you try and get her to think so fondly of you they want you back.

[IFWaters]

I would like Berbatov here and even at 100k a year for say 3 years I think it would be worth it.  A slightly different option, also very expensive, but with a resale value, would be Sturridge. I think him and Bent could be the best attacking partnership in the league>

given he is a bit-part player at Chelsea I think we could have a chance of getting him, although he might also end up at spurs - AVB used him a lot when he was there.