Summer transfer madness thread

[Matt Collins]

If someone would like to suggest a club with a better squad I'd be interested. Maybe Boro for me, can't see it otherwise (unless wolves just keep buying)

[AVH87]

They've added Asombalonga and over paid for him given his injuries and the time it takes the chunk to get match fit. But he is decent and quick when he actually is fit. They're solid at the back and unspectacular in the middle of the park.

I don't think they've overpaid for him in the current climate, prices rising every season. He cost the same as Kodjia cost us last summer, is 2 years younger, and has got a 1 in 2 goals to games ratio for 2 seasons in this division, Kodjia had only done it for one season. Also only 3m more than McCormack, who was turning 30 when we signed him.

I expect Assombolonga to be top scorer or not far off this season and think Boro will be our biggest promotion rival.

[RussellC]

Do people genuinely think we have the best squad in the league?

Player-for-player yes. Who else has the same number of current Internationals in their squad, let alone a Champions League winning Captain to boot?

Kodjia, Chester, Taylor and Whelan are all comfortably Premier League players.  I'd say that Hogan is too. Terry, Jedinak, Elmohamady and Samba all have PL pedigree, even if age isn't on their side.  The likes of Green, Grealish and Bree should all be improving again this year. Adomah, Lansbury and Hourihane are very good Championship players.  No other side in The Championship has that kind of strength in depth.

[peter w]

The difference with many teams last season was that they had more settled line-ups than we did. That was true from Aug - Dec and then after a rash of purchases the same again from Jan - April. Not having to buy virtually a whole team during a transfer window (twice) will no doubt make us stronger.

[cdbearsfan]

Who has a better one?

All the teams that easily finished above us last season?

[RussellC]

Who has a better one?

All the teams that easily finished above us last season?

You think that Preston, Cardiff and Reading have better squads than us....?

[cdbearsfan]

Yes, that's why they finished above us. If we were better than them, we'd have finished above them.

[AVH87]

On whether we have the best squad in the division, we are up there in terms of top 3/4.

On whether we are the best 'team' in the division, little evidence of it so far. Chemistry is virtually non-existent, compare that to a team like Norwich who were thumping teams for 5, 6 and 7 regularly at Carrow Road last season, despite not finishing top 6.

I do think we overrate a few of our players though, based on their pricetags (Hogan) or what they have done for previous teams (Hourihane and Lansbury), both looked good in mid-table or lower teams, doesn't necessarily mean they are good enough to form a Top 2 team.

[Hairbandinho]

Yes, that's why they finished above us. If we were better than them, we'd have finished above them.

Correct I agree

[peter w]

Yes, that's why they finished above us. If we were better than them, we'd have finished above them.

Correct I agree

You're confusing squad and performances.

[RussellC]

Yes, that's why they finished above us. If we were better than them, we'd have finished above them.

By which logic they'll all finish above us this season too?

[RussellC]

Yes, that's why they finished above us. If we were better than them, we'd have finished above them.

Correct I agree

You're confusing squad and performances.

They're also ignoring any transfer-business or squad development that's happened since the end of the season. Not to mention confusing past and present tense.

[MoetVillan]

Yes, that's why they finished above us. If we were better than them, we'd have finished above them.

Correct I agree

You're confusing squad and performances.

Remember when Leicester won the Premier League?

[mr underhill]

you can quite easily have the best squad and not get promoted .

[peter w]

So the inferior squad on paper played better as a team. How did it go for them the next season against all those better squads?