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

[fbriai]

I think quality is most important. We need players that can come in and go straight into the team and make a difference. We've got plenty of potential at the moment, but we need quality now.

[pauliewalnuts]

What would be truly disastrous would be Bent being sold and "replaced" (not directly but in the sense of another striker body in) by the likes of Charlie Austin who we've been linked to.

I have no idea if Austin is shit hot or not, but he's a lower leagues player at the moment, so I'm not imagining he'd have the most amazing impact on the team.

If we are going to sell Bent, then the money in needs to be used in part on two or three experienced players where we need them. Unfortunately, two or three experienced players wages combined will probably exceed Bent's, and we know - because they keep telling us - that the problem is the wage bill.

[saunders_heroes]

What would be truly disastrous would be Bent being sold and "replaced" (not directly but in the sense of another striker body in) by the likes of Charlie Austin who we've been linked to.

I have no idea if Austin is shit hot or not, but he's a lower leagues player at the moment, so I'm not imagining he'd have the most amazing impact on the team.

If we are going to sell Bent, then the money in needs to be used in part on two or three experienced players where we need them. Unfortunately, two or three experienced players wages combined will probably exceed Bent's, and we know - because they keep telling us - that the problem is the wage bill.

Which is probably what will happen. I'm convinced the club are preparing themselves for life in the Championship next season. Getting rid of all the top earners, whilst signing cheap players who will not ask for a move next season.
Paranoid? Perhaps, but I wouldn't put it past Lerner and his cronies.

[paul_e]

What would be truly disastrous would be Bent being sold and "replaced" (not directly but in the sense of another striker body in) by the likes of Charlie Austin who we've been linked to.

I have no idea if Austin is shit hot or not, but he's a lower leagues player at the moment, so I'm not imagining he'd have the most amazing impact on the team.

If we are going to sell Bent, then the money in needs to be used in part on two or three experienced players where we need them. Unfortunately, two or three experienced players wages combined will probably exceed Bent's, and we know - because they keep telling us - that the problem is the wage bill.

Which is probably what will happen. I'm convinced the club are preparing themselves for life in the Championship next season. Getting rid of all the top earners, whilst signing cheap players who will not ask for a move next season.
Paranoid? Perhaps, but I wouldn't put it past Lerner and his cronies.

What absolute nonsense.

Lambert had a successful model at Norwich and got the job with us on the back of that model, which is to sign players who aren't established but have key attributes to have the potential to perform to a higher standard in his system.  Who he signs is nothing to do with some conspiracy to have a young team in place ready for the championship and all to do with him trying to do what he thinks is right.

I don't get why so many people on here seem determined to turn Lerner into some kind of comedy villain who is going out of his way to ruin the club.  Has he made mistakes, yes, a fair number but they are all mistakes, not premeditated acts to inflict as much damage as possible on the club and fans as some people seem to want to believe.

[LeeB]

Never ascribe to malice that which is adequately explained by incompetence.
 

[supertom]

What would be truly disastrous would be Bent being sold and "replaced" (not directly but in the sense of another striker body in) by the likes of Charlie Austin who we've been linked to.

I have no idea if Austin is shit hot or not, but he's a lower leagues player at the moment, so I'm not imagining he'd have the most amazing impact on the team.

If we are going to sell Bent, then the money in needs to be used in part on two or three experienced players where we need them. Unfortunately, two or three experienced players wages combined will probably exceed Bent's, and we know - because they keep telling us - that the problem is the wage bill.

Which is probably what will happen. I'm convinced the club are preparing themselves for life in the Championship next season. Getting rid of all the top earners, whilst signing cheap players who will not ask for a move next season.
Paranoid? Perhaps, but I wouldn't put it past Lerner and his cronies.

What absolute nonsense.

Lambert had a successful model at Norwich and got the job with us on the back of that model, which is to sign players who aren't established but have key attributes to have the potential to perform to a higher standard in his system.  Who he signs is nothing to do with some conspiracy to have a young team in place ready for the championship and all to do with him trying to do what he thinks is right.

I don't get why so many people on here seem determined to turn Lerner into some kind of comedy villain who is going out of his way to ruin the club.  Has he made mistakes, yes, a fair number but they are all mistakes, not premeditated acts to inflict as much damage as possible on the club and fans as some people seem to want to believe.

I'm afraid you're wrong there Paul. Randy is evil, pure evil. I've seen him sat on a rotating chair, stroking a cat and laughing maniacally. True story.

[LeeB]

I heard he bit the head off a jelly baby in front of David Sullivan, and you can imagine how much that would have upset the rags-to-riches weeble.

[tomd2103]

What would be truly disastrous would be Bent being sold and "replaced" (not directly but in the sense of another striker body in) by the likes of Charlie Austin who we've been linked to.

I have no idea if Austin is shit hot or not, but he's a lower leagues player at the moment, so I'm not imagining he'd have the most amazing impact on the team.

If we are going to sell Bent, then the money in needs to be used in part on two or three experienced players where we need them. Unfortunately, two or three experienced players wages combined will probably exceed Bent's, and we know - because they keep telling us - that the problem is the wage bill.

I haven't read or heard anything about the wage bill recently and whether it needs to be trimmed further. 

[ozzjim]

Kendrick said a number of times towards the end of the summer that they are now happy with the wage bill. I think 3-4 will come in January, on wages like Vlaar. I can see us going abroad again, and lets be honest, what is available, experienced in the Prem.

[David_Nab]

Surely only Bent ,Gabby,Ireland and Given are on massive wages (in regards to our turnover) now?

[pedro25]

And Dunne and N'Zogbia and Makoun, Warnock and Hutton when they return from their loans

[tomd2103]

Surely only Bent ,Gabby,Ireland and Given are on massive wages (in regards to our turnover) now?

And Dunne and N'Zogbia and Makoun, Warnock and Hutton when they return from their loans

All of who (Bent aside) could be replaced by better players on less money than they are currently earning. 

[pedro25]

Correct, maybe Bent as well.

[godzvilla]

Under ' Speculation ' , this from Talkshite today  :

Aston Villa are locked in a two-way battle with Fiorentina to sign France Under-21 left-back Massadio Haidara.
Former Villa boss Alex McLeish had lined up a deal for the Haidara earlier this summer but new manager Paul Lambert failed to complete it.
Sources in Italy claim the £2.5m-rated defender, who has spent his whole career at Nancy, is now being courted by Fiorentina.
But Villa are still thought to be interested in the 19-year-old and could make an offer when the transfer market re-opens in six weeks' time .

Apparently one of McLiesh,s ' possible ' signings..................Godzvilla!

[Steve R]

From what I have read we have money to spend without selling.

Wages has indeed been the issue. Hekey's fee of 3.5 mill, for example, would have been dwarfed by amount of money we paid him.

We can also buy/pay in advance against the salaries we are guaranteed to save in the summer - Warnock & Dunne.

So why are we still linked with more lower league crap like James Chester from Hull? If these are the type of players we'll be looking to sign in January we may as well sign up for the Championship right now.

Funny you should ask me that. I saw Lambert in the betting shop this afternoon and asked him the same question. Apparently Chester has the turning circle of the Ark Royal and scores own goals for fun.

Fortunately he only wants 55k a week and at 4 mill is an obvious choice to replace Dunne.