Summer transfer madness thread

[VILLA MOLE]

I think the team I'd like to see though is;

-----------------Johnstone-------------

De Laet------Chester----Terry---Taylor

Elhammody--Jedinak---Whelan--Green

------------Hogan----Kodjia-------------

Subs:
Steer
Bacuna
Baker
Hourahane
Lansbury
Grealish
Crouch

Based on current squad and strong links. That's 3 good attacking options on the bench if we need a new approach during the second half.

glad we bought that new midfield in January !?

[aj2k77]

Well we still have around 35 first team players, waaaaay too many, we need to trim that by something close to 10 players.

[Clark W Griswold]

Snigger.
Yes, they've not set the world on fire but I haven't given up in them to be fair. If they all play to the standards we hoped they could all break back into the team if the others are not a great improvement.

[brontebilly]

I think the team I'd like to see though is;

-----------------Johnstone-------------

De Laet------Chester----Terry---Taylor

Elhammody--Jedinak---Whelan--Green

------------Hogan----Kodjia-------------

Subs:
Steer
Bacuna
Baker
Hourahane
Lansbury
Grealish
Crouch

Based on current squad and strong links. That's 3 good attacking options on the bench if we need a new approach during the second half.

That midfield is rubbish even for the second division. If Whelan does sign it should only be to rotate with Jedinak. On the evidence of last term Kodjia and Hogan look unsuited to playing up top together too. Need to get our best footballers into the team from early on.

----------------Johnstone
Bree, Chester, Terry, Taylor
--------Jedinak, Hourihane
Green, Lansbury, Grealish
-------------Kodjia

Adamoah, De Laet, Baker, Hogan

[cdbearsfan]

Crouch would be excellent alongside Kodjia. It's a yes from me.

[tomd2103]

Big no from me on crouch, we have kodija, hogan, rhm, mcormack and gabby

As we saw last season, none of those players can hold the ball up and bring others into play.  We need that sort of striker this season and Crouch fits that bill (though there are others who do as well of course).  I still think the 4-3-3 formation we used when we went on that winning run last season is our best bet, with a line up of something like:

                          Johnstone

De Laet        Chester        Terry       Taylor

                        Jedinak / Whelan

                  Lansbury        Hourihane

Adomah                    ?                      Kodjia


Subs:  Steer, Bree, Baker, Whelan / Jedinak, Bjarnason, Green, Hogan

[eamonn]

Well we still have around 35 first team players, waaaaay too many, we need to trim that by something close to 10 players.

Shit, it's not that much, is it?

[wittonwarrior]

How can any team gain promotion with the likes of Adomah?  May as well put a kit on myself.  He is  awful, no real pace, looks ungainly and can't cross.

[tomd2103]

It depends how its used. if the ball up top is desgned for the forward to hold onto the ball to bring in runners then its a valid tactic. If we just launch it hoping for flick ons then its a premier league defensive tactic that you see from bottom teams against the top ones.

Agree Peter, there is a big difference between the two.  One involves just hit and hope to big man up front and then contesting the knock downs.  The other way involves playing balls up to a front man's chest and feet, him holding it up and allowing others to play off him in the opposition's half of the pitch.  You then have a holding midfielder sweeping up behind them. 

I think the latter would certainly bring out the best in the likes of Lansbury, Hourihane and Bjarnason.

[Virgil Caine]

How can any team gain promotion with the likes of Adomah?  May as well put a kit on myself.  He is  awful, no real pace, looks ungainly and can't cross.

Didn't Adomah have the highest number of goal assists last season?

[paul_e]

How can any team gain promotion with the likes of Adomah?  May as well put a kit on myself.  He is  awful, no real pace, looks ungainly and can't cross.

We should ask Boro.

[cdbearsfan]

How can any team gain promotion with the likes of Adomah?  May as well put a kit on myself.  He is  awful, no real pace, looks ungainly and can't cross.

Didn't Adomah have the highest number of goal assists last season?

Yes, and the season before I believe.

[Pete3206]

How can any team gain promotion with the likes of Adomah?  May as well put a kit on myself.  He is  awful, no real pace, looks ungainly and can't cross.

I disagree wholeheartedly.

[Clark W Griswold]

I think the team I'd like to see though is;

-----------------Johnstone-------------

De Laet------Chester----Terry---Taylor

Elhammody--Jedinak---Whelan--Green

------------Hogan----Kodjia-------------

Subs:
Steer
Bacuna
Baker
Hourahane
Lansbury
Grealish
Crouch

Based on current squad and strong links. That's 3 good attacking options on the bench if we need a new approach during the second half.

That midfield is rubbish even for the second division. If Whelan does sign it should only be to rotate with Jedinak. On the evidence of last term Kodjia and Hogan look unsuited to playing up top together too. Need to get our best footballers into the team from early on.

----------------Johnstone
Bree, Chester, Terry, Taylor
--------Jedinak, Hourihane
Green, Lansbury, Grealish
-------------Kodjia

Adamoah, De Laet, Baker, Hogan

Nah, that team's shit. 1 up front? And you don't have enough subs. I know we're going to trim the squad but that's ridiculous.

[Ads]

It's the same players as last season as we've only signed one. The squad we finished with ought to have been good enough to go up.

We need additional pace and to get Hourihane and Lansbury closer to the opposition box. SHQ is right when he says Brighton is the template for how to play. The midfield looked like scoring which is something we've lacked.

Away from home is where our automatic promotion aspirations will live or die. We need to be more robust mentally and grind games out that we were drawing or losing.

Add some width and pace and we'll go very close.