Summer 2015 - Transfer Rumours, Speculation & Suggestions

[curiousorange]

I do fear that once you lose a quality player like Benteke, you enter the realms of treading water until another one happens to come along. There are about five post-Yorke seasons that blur into one for me, save for the Cup Final and a few goals by Merson or Angel. But, after this clutch of seasons stinking up the league, I'd take treading water with no undue alarm.

I don't think it's that difficult to see where we could improve. Defence needs solidity and reliability, midfield needs a creative spark, and we need more than one person who can put the ball in the net. I would go so far as to argue that defence and midfield are the key areas to improve, because we won't constantly be looking over our shoulders about goal difference, and we should create more chances. My concern is that Sherwood has said Benteke should stay because we're the team that crosses the ball the most, and if that's the style we're going to play, then the replacement has to be basically a carbon copy of Benteke, and they usually cost more than your average slippery striker. So unless there is some unknown wonder lurking out there on the continent, the bulk of the transfer kitty will probably go on a frontman.

[Ads]

It depends on how you use the cash.

Spurs and Liverpool spent poorly when Bale and Suarez was sold. Swansea on the otherhand, seemed to invest their money wisely time and again, while Southampton showed what could be done too.

We need quality and a lot of it.

[curiousorange]

That's the unknown about Sherwood - will he be the manager that goes for the headline grabbing signings, or will he build steadily like a Swansea or Southampton? I mean, he's a mouth but he may be shrewder than people realise.

[Drummond]

That's the unknown about Sherwood - will he be the manager that goes for the headline grabbing signings, or will he build steadily like a Swansea or Southampton? I mean, he's a mouth but he may be shrewder than people realise.

I hope a bit of both, because that's what we need.

[tomd2103]

I do fear that once you lose a quality player like Benteke, you enter the realms of treading water until another one happens to come along. There are about five post-Yorke seasons that blur into one for me, save for the Cup Final and a few goals by Merson or Angel. But, after this clutch of seasons stinking up the league, I'd take treading water with no undue alarm.

I don't think it's that difficult to see where we could improve. Defence needs solidity and reliability, midfield needs a creative spark, and we need more than one person who can put the ball in the net. I would go so far as to argue that defence and midfield are the key areas to improve, because we won't constantly be looking over our shoulders about goal difference, and we should create more chances. My concern is that Sherwood has said Benteke should stay because we're the team that crosses the ball the most, and if that's the style we're going to play, then the replacement has to be basically a carbon copy of Benteke, and they usually cost more than your average slippery striker. So unless there is some unknown wonder lurking out there on the continent, the bulk of the transfer kitty will probably go on a frontman.

Dion Dublin scored a fair few in that time!!

As for the squad, in terms of numbers, I think we are just about right now.  What we really need are 4-5 quality players who can come straight into the team in certain positions. 

[Steve67]

I can't help thinking that Sherwood knows the Benteke money will be his war chest to improve all areas. I also wonder some contract cancellations will occur for the likes of Cole, Luna, Sylla etc. There is no doubt that a lot needs doing and I wonder if Sherwood sees this as his best chance of doing it in one window?

[villadelph]

I don't think Benteke will jump ship until he sees the club sold and reinforcements brought in. Seriously, with the way Liverpool are going post-Suarez there's no real reason a new, rich owner can't come in and at least compete in the 5th-8th range.

Benteke deserves Champions League football, not friggin Liverpool.

[DB]

I like that Sky news banner is reporting on Benteke's buy out clause and nothing on the cup final......trying to make a story as they don't have the F.A. cup.

[Toronto Villa]

I like that Sky news banner is reporting on Benteke's buy out clause and nothing on the cup final......trying to make a story as they don't have the F.A. cup.

That's because we are not playing in the FA Cup final, Arsenal are. We're there to make up the numbers in some areas of the media. No problem, I hope we don't ruin things when we win it. We'll just sneak out the back with the trophy so we don't bother people too much.

[OCD]

The press have brought the issue of Benteke's contract up and SSN are regurgitating that. It is laughable that they show as little coverage of the build-up to tomorrow just because they don't have the rights for it. Are they going to do the same with the Champions League once it goes to BT.

[aj2k77]

I like that Sky news banner is reporting on Benteke's buy out clause and nothing on the cup final......trying to make a story as they don't have the F.A. cup.

That's because we are not playing in the FA Cup final, Arsenal are. We're there to make up the numbers in some areas of the media. No problem, I hope we don't ruin things when we win it. We'll just sneak out the back with the trophy so we don't bother people too much.

I hope we muller them, get all the decisions, dubious goals, make all the noise and act like we've completed football.

[Lsvilla]

I know he's obviously got plenty on right now, but once the cup is won and TS gets the fully deserved plaudits for a few days, I hope he then moves in on his key targets (Cleverly included) before any Benteke to be sold stories gather too much momentum so we get value and not held to ransom by clubs knowing we have £40m burning a hole.
Better still, get key targets signed and the big fella on an extended deal !!

[Monty]

I like that Sky news banner is reporting on Benteke's buy out clause and nothing on the cup final......trying to make a story as they don't have the F.A. cup.

That's because we are not playing in the FA Cup final, Arsenal are. We're there to make up the numbers in some areas of the media. No problem, I hope we don't ruin things when we win it. We'll just sneak out the back with the trophy so we don't bother people too much.

Like fuck we will. We'll invade the Wembley pitch (bringing the game into disrepute, of course), Prince William being crowdsurfed with the Cup, which he'll hands to Tim who'll proceed to spray-paint the letters 'A V' on it in claret and blue.

[Toronto Villa]

I like that Sky news banner is reporting on Benteke's buy out clause and nothing on the cup final......trying to make a story as they don't have the F.A. cup.

That's because we are not playing in the FA Cup final, Arsenal are. We're there to make up the numbers in some areas of the media. No problem, I hope we don't ruin things when we win it. We'll just sneak out the back with the trophy so we don't bother people too much.

Like fuck we will. We'll invade the Wembley pitch (bringing the game into disrepute, of course), Prince William being crowdsurfed with the Cup, which he'll hands to Tim who'll proceed to spray-paint the letters 'A V' on it in claret and blue.

I have to say I am interested to see when we do score and when we do win if the Prince can retain control of his emotions. Because the rest of us won't. I want him to go mental and then kiss Fabian's sweaty head as he hands him the trophy!

[Monty]

He might leave Kate to try and put on the first gay royal wedding with Tim or Fabian. He'd have to join the queue though.