Summer 2015 - Transfer Rumours, Speculation & Suggestions

[Lastfootstamper]

I know we have a lot of Benteke money but does anyone else think that we are spending as though money isn't an issue?

Still in the black with our summer dealings, aren't we? We need a major overhaul. There's too much of a premium to pay for players from other PL clubs, especially for ones who'd dramatically improve us, irrespective of whether we could actually entice them here, and there's not many players from bottom-half clubs in the price bracket we seem to be paying that'd make us much better. Yeah, we are probably paying a bit over the odds, but we're a PL club, and, as far as the rest of the world is concerned, that means we're minted and they'll squeeze every penny out of us that they can.
The proof of the pudding shall be in the eating, but I'm looking forward to a spoonful.

[KRS]

Bit of a slight tangent...but with all the new signings and the likelihood that we'll shed a few more British players, how are we looking in terms of meeting the home grown rules? I know we were well in surplus a few months ago but I believe we have approx 12 at the moment and need 8 home grown players in a squad of 25 as the rules currently stand.

edit:
1. Baker
2. Clark
3. Steer
4. Bunn
5. Richardson
6. Hutton
7. Richards
8. Sinclair
9. Cole
10. Westwood
11. Grealish
12. Agbonlahor

If we sign Adebayor and Veretout then that will likely bring homegrown players down to 10 in a squad of 25, but we could still afford to get rid of upto 4 of the highlighted above if deemed surplus to requirements.

[Clark W Griswold]

I'd off Baker but keep the rest.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

For me Sherwood has acted more like an experienced football manager than Lambert did in his past two years. Or even McLeish for that matter. And not talking about signings but more about the staff he put together to help him in areas where he is inexperienced. That and Fox has acted to add to people to the club to help with the administration. Fox and Sherwood or Faulkner and Lambert?

With so many new faces arriving this summer it's just as well Sherwood has a large backroom team to support him. Now it's up to him and his team to get the lads playing as a unit. One trait I recognise in all the new chaps is a willingness to work really hard. Add that to the ability to play fast, fluid football, hopefully it shouldn't be too difficult to get the squad in sync.

On transfers, Sherwood has had our 'unofficial' Director of Football, Paddy Reilly, to hold his hand. Together, along with Fox we finally have a structure that could just work well for us.

[Phil from the upper holte]

Blimey Matt. When did you get into that machine from The Fly and become part Silhilvilla?

I was thinking the same but didn't want to be the first to say,

Cheer up Matt

[aev]

I am with you Matt, all this optimism is dangerous.

[Ryu]

Bit of a slight tangent...but with all the new signings and the likelihood that we'll shed a few more British players, how are we looking in terms of meeting the home grown rules? I know we were well in surplus a few months ago but I believe we have approx 12 at the moment and need 8 home grown players in a squad of 25 as the rules currently stand.

edit:
1. Baker
2. Clark
3. Steer
4. Bunn
5. Richardson
6. Hutton
7. Richards
8. Sinclair
9. Cole
10. Westwood
11. Grealish
12. Agbonlahor

If we sign Adebayor and Veretout then that will likely bring homegrown players down to 10 in a squad of 25, but we could still afford to get rid of upto 4 of the highlighted above if deemed surplus to requirements.

Senderos is home grown according to the rules.

[brian green]

Joe Cole really is leading a charmed life if he gets retained.   Admittedly his Tout Verre (geddit?) constitution had him injured most of the time but his flashes of talent were even fewer than Charles N'Zogbia last season

[Dave]

Bit of a slight tangent...but with all the new signings and the likelihood that we'll shed a few more British players, how are we looking in terms of meeting the home grown rules? I know we were well in surplus a few months ago but I believe we have approx 12 at the moment and need 8 home grown players in a squad of 25 as the rules currently stand.

edit:
1. Baker
2. Clark
3. Steer
4. Bunn
5. Richardson
6. Hutton
7. Richards
8. Sinclair
9. Cole
10. Westwood
11. Grealish
12. Agbonlahor

If we sign Adebayor and Veretout then that will likely bring homegrown players down to 10 in a squad of 25, but we could still afford to get rid of upto 4 of the highlighted above if deemed surplus to requirements.

Grealish is too young to take up a spot in the squad.

Whatever happens, Clark, Richards, Bunn, Gabby, Sinclair, Westwood and Hutton will likely be included meaning that one of Senderos, Baker, Steer, Richardson and Cole will be the eighth that we need and more likely more than one of them.

So we don't need to worry about it anytime soon.

[Clark W Griswold]

Joe Cole really is leading a charmed life if he gets retained.   Admittedly his Tout Verre (geddit?) constitution had him injured most of the time but his flashes of talent were even fewer than Charles N'Zogbia last season

To be fair though Cole has hardly had any kind of chance to show what he can do, and I think if he stays fit (big if) he will have a decent season for us. N Zog has had shit loads of opportunity for 4 seasons and has proved himself to be cack. I'm not sure I've actually seen him have a good game once.

[brian green]

Clark, I do not doubt Cole's talent for one minute.   The problem is that in the Premiership you do not have the luxury of time.   I fear that we will not have time to shepherd Joe Cole back to anything like full fitness.   Regrettable though that is.

[mr underhill]

Who's Joe Cole?

[*shellac*]

Who's Joe Cole?

A very talented pedal steel player.

[Clark W Griswold]

Clark, I do not doubt Cole's talent for one minute.   The problem is that in the Premiership you do not have the luxury of time.   I fear that we will not have time to shepherd Joe Cole back to anything like full fitness.   Regrettable though that is.

If deemed to be fit when the squad has to be submitted though I'd keep him in. If there is any doubt and it will end up as a wasted place, then that's different.

[Villatillidie25]

Yes but they had a strong spine: clyne, fonte, schneiderlin, wanyama

We've lost ours

Not saying it won't work but it must be a risk / might take some adjusting to

Wanyama is a bit rubbish. And they lost their centre forward, main centre back and attacking midfielder, which is all pretty Spiney. 

Wanyama is very good...

They also replaced an ageing Lambert with Pelle (an upgrade), Lovren with Alderwield (an upgrade), Lallana with Tadic and Mane (an upgrade).

While I am excited by our signings we are currently probably in the position where we haven't really replaced Benteke and Gueye is something of an unknown quantity so may not be the answer to replacing Judas.

Having said that, Ayew, Richards and (hopefully) Veretout are all upgrades.

That's a good use of hindsight there but very few people were seeing that business as a bunch of upgrades at the time.

For me if we add Adebayor and Veretout I think the squad is stronger than last season.  If we can add a couple more youngsters to bring through slowly then I'll be very happy.

I'm not sure it is too much hindsight:

Lambert was solid but relatively unspectacular and ageing.
Lovren, I think most thought was decent but overrated. His move has been something of a disaster.
Lallana was probably the biggest loss and, although Tadic was well known and rated, I confess that Mane was new to me.
I wouldn't say Chambers was much of a loss either, having not played loads of them that season.

As for, whether we are stronger. If we add Adebayor and Veretout then we probably are but only when you include the other signings and departures. I woudn't say Veretout and Adebayor are better than Benteke and Judas on their own though