Summer 2016: Transfer rumours and suggestions

[tomd2103]

I think we need two more in midfield.

Last season was the pinnacle of our midfield awfulness, but it's been woeful for a number of years.

We lack physicality and get bullied. We lack dynamism and legs to push the game on. We lack organisational knowhow and defensive steel to properly shield the back four and we lack goals.

We have a collection of vanilla players that are just meh.

Tshibola is a big lad, quick and decent on the ball. Hopefully he can provide some of the ingredients we have lacked post-Snake going to Man City. I would like to see a genuine defensive midfielder who can break up the play, but actually has the nous not to get caught up field or recycle the ball cheaply. That sort of player (Bridcut at this level?) may allow Sir Pointsalot to contribute more and increase the tempo of his passing.

We badly need an attacking threat too. Veretout was ultimately a disappointment, but there must be a player of genuine guile who can create and score at that level.

It looks like we're going in with Gardner and Westwood offering much the same; fine, there's a need for a deep lying playmaker and there's ade quote cover there.

However, Tishbola aside, you'd think at least two of the rest of Gana, Veretout and Sanchez are likely to go.

Two more midfielders please.

I agree Ads that for far too long now our midfield hasn't done either of the functions it should be doing - protecting the defence and supporting our attack.  I would personally go with two players in front of the back four this season and then have four players in front of them with a bit of freedom.  I still think we could do with an Elphick type signing as one of those two midfielders, especially if Gana leaves. 

[OCD]

On Twitter: Van Der Vaart is on his way to England to sign for #avfc snubbing #readingfc

Would fill the attacking midfield role that Xia said we were looking to address. If it's a straight choice between us and Reading, it's an easy choice. Not impossible but it is a surprising link, I would have thought he would have more attractive options than a Championship side.

[Smirker]

Van Der Vaart would be an excellent signing. Doubt it will happen.

[olaftab]

Did Rodgers have Sinclair at Swansea?

He had a member of the staff at Liverpool so I wouldn't put it past hom!

[Hoppo]

Sell Gana, spend the money on Jeff Hendricks.

[eamonn]

I remember being linked with Van der Vaart under O'Neill, the pre-season when Luke Moore was banging them in and the prospect of VDV feeding him goals was quite exciting.

[robbo1874]

I was chatting to a Celtic supporter yesterday who seemed to think Sinclair was on his way for 3m. When he asked what I thought of him laughed and told him I'd start the car right now.

[ciggiesnbeer]

I think we need two more in midfield.

Last season was the pinnacle of our midfield awfulness, but it's been woeful for a number of years.

We lack physicality and get bullied. We lack dynamism and legs to push the game on. We lack organisational knowhow and defensive steel to properly shield the back four and we lack goals.

We have a collection of vanilla players that are just meh.

Tshibola is a big lad, quick and decent on the ball. Hopefully he can provide some of the ingredients we have lacked post-Snake going to Man City. I would like to see a genuine defensive midfielder who can break up the play, but actually has the nous not to get caught up field or recycle the ball cheaply. That sort of player (Bridcut at this level?) may allow Sir Pointsalot to contribute more and increase the tempo of his passing.

We badly need an attacking threat too. Veretout was ultimately a disappointment, but there must be a player of genuine guile who can create and score at that level.

It looks like we're going in with Gardner and Westwood offering much the same; fine, there's a need for a deep lying playmaker and there's ade quote cover there.

However, Tishbola aside, you'd think at least two of the rest of Gana, Veretout and Sanchez are likely to go.

Two more midfielders please.

Strongly agree. Midfield has been our weakness for several seasons now.

[ozzjim]

I think if Gana goes I would quite like to see us get Bridcutt and another combative midfielder, then try and get some creativity. There is much more emphasis on winning the midfield in that division and I am not sure we have the depth to cope with injuries in there.

Bond had RVDV at Spurs. Would be a similar move to Portsmouth taking Merson from us.  It would be a brilliant buy IMO

[peter w]

Brilliant but unlikely. But, there again, Allan Simonsen to Charlton was similarly unlikely.

[passitsideways]

Didn't Gardner do a decent job as ball-winner while on loan at Forest? At least from what I read, he was superb the first time around in 2015, and a bit more mixed earlier this year. If needs be, we might get by with him as the holder, even though he's a bit slow. I still can't help but think that if Sanchez does stay, he'll do fine in the Championship, and give us that needed physicality. Westwood to come off the bench to provide a cool head in possession whenever we need that.

I agree with everyone who says we could use another midfielder, especially a forward-thinking one, but we could always play Grealish as the no. 10.

[ciggiesnbeer]

Sadly I dont think so. I saw him in a few games on tv and each time he appeared very slow and unable to influence the game.

Great deadball though.

[peter w]

Can he take throw-ins?

[mr underhill]

we need a couple of midfield players and a striker in asap

[N'ZMAV]

If we assume Sanchez, Gueye and Veretout leave - that leaves us with Westwood, Gardner and Tshibola? (I can't remember anyone else?)
That's really not good enough in terms of creativity, defensive or depth. Maybe two midfielders, it's going to be a 50 game season I guess...
We need 2 players.