Transfer Speculation / Gossip

[RussellC]

I've just been looking at the squad and, worryingly (if my maths are correct) we currently have 28 players who are 21 or over. I'm including Jed Steer and Daniel Johnson in this number, but even without them it suggests that we'll need to ship more players out before bringing others in, as I can't see Randy sanctioning paying salaries for players who aren't going to be involved in the current climate.

We also don't have a massive wealth of U21 players close to the first team squad, with Carruthers, Grealish and Robinson (Donacien looks a little way off to me).

Going back to my previous suggestion, Powell is only 20 so wouldn't add to this problem, and would also increase our quota of 'homegrown' players. Who do I need to contact to suggest that this happens...?

You shouldn't be counting Steer, Johnson or Okore, they are all 21 currently and the cut off is over 21 at the start of the season.

That means we have exactly 25 players right now, so loans out for a couple are still needed to be able to bring in the new players we need.

I may be wrong, but my understanding was that an Under 21 player is defined as one who is under the age of 21 on January 1st in the year in which the season commences. If that's the case Okore turns turns 22 next week, Johnson 22 in October and Steer 22 in September making them all too old to qualify. Unless "under 21" should be read as "21 or under"...?

[paul_e]

I've just been looking at the squad and, worryingly (if my maths are correct) we currently have 28 players who are 21 or over. I'm including Jed Steer and Daniel Johnson in this number, but even without them it suggests that we'll need to ship more players out before bringing others in, as I can't see Randy sanctioning paying salaries for players who aren't going to be involved in the current climate.

We also don't have a massive wealth of U21 players close to the first team squad, with Carruthers, Grealish and Robinson (Donacien looks a little way off to me).

Going back to my previous suggestion, Powell is only 20 so wouldn't add to this problem, and would also increase our quota of 'homegrown' players. Who do I need to contact to suggest that this happens...?

You shouldn't be counting Steer, Johnson or Okore, they are all 21 currently and the cut off is over 21 at the start of the season.

That means we have exactly 25 players right now, so loans out for a couple are still needed to be able to bring in the new players we need.

I may be wrong, but my understanding was that an Under 21 player is defined as one who is under the age of 21 on January 1st in the year in which the season commences. If that's the case Okore turns turns 22 next week, Johnson 22 in October and Steer 22 in September making them all too old to qualify. Unless "under 21" should be read as "21 or under"...?

I thought it was the 1st of August but I might be wrong, I haven't checked that rule for a while.

Regardless I think it's safe to ignore Johnson, and Steer won't be a problem before we redo the squad in January.

[Dave]

I've just been looking at the squad and, worryingly (if my maths are correct) we currently have 28 players who are 21 or over. I'm including Jed Steer and Daniel Johnson in this number, but even without them it suggests that we'll need to ship more players out before bringing others in, as I can't see Randy sanctioning paying salaries for players who aren't going to be involved in the current climate.

We also don't have a massive wealth of U21 players close to the first team squad, with Carruthers, Grealish and Robinson (Donacien looks a little way off to me).

Going back to my previous suggestion, Powell is only 20 so wouldn't add to this problem, and would also increase our quota of 'homegrown' players. Who do I need to contact to suggest that this happens...?

You shouldn't be counting Steer, Johnson or Okore, they are all 21 currently and the cut off is over 21 at the start of the season.

That means we have exactly 25 players right now, so loans out for a couple are still needed to be able to bring in the new players we need.

I may be wrong, but my understanding was that an Under 21 player is defined as one who is under the age of 21 on January 1st in the year in which the season commences. If that's the case Okore turns turns 22 next week, Johnson 22 in October and Steer 22 in September making them all too old to qualify. Unless "under 21" should be read as "21 or under"...?

This was my understanding as well.

[RussellC]

Well Boro have just taken a player called Kenneth Emeruo on loan from Chelsea, and he's apparently a centre-back / right-back, so this may end their (reported) interest in Lowton.

[Matt Collins]

The rule is (according to a google search, so I presume it hasn't changed since 11-12?): "Clubs cannot name more than 17 non home grown players aged over 21. . . Clubs will be able to supplement their squads with unlimited additional players under the age of 21 on 1st January in the year in which the season commences." Personally, I'd read this as 21 or under, but I may be wrong.

According to the premier league website we have 12 non home grown players:

1 Guzan, 2 Vlaar, 3 Okore, 4 KEA, 5 Benteke, 6 Tonev, 7 Carruthers, 8 Kozak, 9  Hutton, 10 Siegrist, 11 Stevens, 12 Senderos

Of those, Okore (if I'm right above) and Grealish presumably don't count due to their age. And Siegrist and perhaps Tonev aren't going to be in the first team squad you'd think.

I don't really understand why Carruthers and Grealish aren't home grown, but Clark, Given and Herd are? But either way I don't tally this up to being remotely a problem. I'm sure someone always brings this up every close season and it's never a problem. If Citeh and Chelsea are ok I'm sure we are. It's not much of a rule. We're much more affected by FPP

http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/clubs/profile.squads.html/aston-villa

[RussellC]

Re: the Homegrown rule, I don't think you can be both U21 AND homegrown. So both Carruthers and Grealish will qualify as homegrown once they're old enough. The rule states that a player must "have been affiliated to the FA or Welsh FA for a period of three seasons or 36 months prior to 21st birthday, irrespective of nationality or age."

[IamLegend]

Re: the Homegrown rule, I don't think you can be both U21 AND homegrown. So both Carruthers and Grealish will qualify as homegrown once they're old enough. The rule states that a player must "have been affiliated to the FA or Welsh FA for a period of three seasons or 36 months prior to 21st birthday, irrespective of nationality or age."

Yeah, what this man said.

[saunders_heroes]

Sylla has gone out on a season long loan to some Turkish club. We really do struggle to sell players on.

[ajmant]

The complexities of the rules only goes to prove how bonkers football is at the moment!!

[IamLegend]

The complexities of the rules only goes to prove how bonkers football is at the moment!!

Just because you don't understand it, doesn't make it complex.

[Ads]

The complexities of the rules only goes to prove how bonkers football is at the moment!!

Just because you don't understand it, doesn't make it complex.

Kind of like manners.

[ajmant]

Any rule that states you can't be homegrown AND U21 is daft. I said the rules have complexities, I didn't suggest I don't understand them. You missed my point IamLegend.

[IamLegend]

Any rule that states you can't be homegrown AND U21 is daft. I said the rules have complexities, I didn't suggest I don't understand them. You missed my point IamLegend.

It is not a rule, if you are U21 you are exempt from the home grown rule so you don't count at all to any quota.

[tomd2103]

After watching us last night and over the past few seasons, the most frustrating thing is we are not too far off being at least a mid table team.  Another centre back, a couple of midfielders and a wide option added to our current squad, along with a sustained period of form from the likes Vlaar, Benteke and Delph, would make a huge difference.   

[DrGonzo]

 There simply has to be more players coming o this midfield, we were thin on the ground before...