Deano’s wishlist - the Jan transfer speculation/guaranteed nonsense thread

[Risso]

If we don't go up.  Abraham certainly won't be here, I'd say the chances of Grealish hanging around would be maybe 10%, and only McGinn might be prepared to give it another go.  All guesswork of course.  I just don't buy into this "let's forget about this year and plan for next year" defeatism.  Football doesn't work like that.  If we were to get into the play offs and go up, I'd fancy us to keep that trio and use them as a basis for a decent team in the Premier League.  Outside of the top 6, there's not much difference between the other 14 teams.  I'd rather go up this year personally.

[paul_e]

I just don't agree. The squad today is, in my opinion, far more balanced than it was on 31/12. That's really all we could hope for. As with any transfer window there's a potential for disruption over the next few weeks but I'm much happier looking at the options we have now.

[Toronto Villa]

It won’t surprise me if Smith has looked at with Purslow and said privately we’re not ready for promotion.

When will we be ready?  When we lose Abraham, Grealish and McGinn next season?

Teams this season will be promoted with lesser players than those. We are sitting 10th with them in our squad. I love what each offers but it’s takes more than three players to get promoted. And I love McGinn and he’s a super player but I don’t see him being glamorous enough for the PL. For what we will want clubs looking for that type of player will have lots of foreign, cheaper options.

[Toronto Villa]

If we don't go up.  Abraham certainly won't be here, I'd say the chances of Grealish hanging around would be maybe 10%, and only McGinn might be prepared to give it another go.  All guesswork of course.  I just don't buy into this "let's forget about this year and plan for next year" defeatism.  Football doesn't work like that.  If we were to get into the play offs and go up, I'd fancy us to keep that trio and use them as a basis for a decent team in the Premier League.  Outside of the top 6, there's not much difference between the other 14 teams.  I'd rather go up this year personally.

We need more than a team. More than just a few key players. We need a squad of players. We need to commit to a style of play and have players who are bought to play that way. We’re a complete mixed bag right now and you can see that every week. That is a long term approach, somethignwe bave all been saying we need to do. If it doesn’t happen this season I don’t fear any of the sides who will comprise the league next. I expect us to be better prepared and the strongest side in the league.

[Risso]

I just don't agree. The squad today is, in my opinion, far more balanced than it was on 31/12. That's really all we could hope for. As with any transfer window there's a potential for disruption over the next few weeks but I'm much happier looking at the options we have now.

We still don't have a decent right back or left back.  OK we've got two new centre backs, but both of them have hardly played this season, so their contribution remains to be seen.  We also needed a defensive midfielder, and didn't get one either.    We'll get the first glimpse of what Smith has in mind tomorrow, but I'm not holding my breath.  Just can't see that any of those players really improves us much.

[hilts_coolerking]

We need more than a team. More than just a few key players. We need a squad of players. We need to commit to a style of play and have players who are bought to play that way. We’re a complete mixed bag right now and you can see that every week. That is a long term approach, something we have all been saying we need to do. If it doesn’t happen this season I don’t fear any of the sides who will comprise the league next. I expect us to be better prepared and the strongest side in the league.

If not this year then definitely next year?  No-one wants two more seasons down here.  But it seems to me that putting all our eggs in next season's basket is dangerous.  Assuming we improve, which isn't a given, we won't be the only side to improve, we may not be the side to improve the most, we'll almost certainly not have our best current players still here.  I'm not sure why you expect we'll be the strongest side in the league - we're miles off that currently, we'll take a hit on quality if we don't go up, and an enormous amount of fixing will have to take place in the close season.  That suggests to me yet another season of consolidation.

[Brassneck]

We need more than a team. More than just a few key players. We need a squad of players. We need to commit to a style of play and have players who are bought to play that way. We’re a complete mixed bag right now and you can see that every week. That is a long term approach, something we have all been saying we need to do. If it doesn’t happen this season I don’t fear any of the sides who will comprise the league next. I expect us to be better prepared and the strongest side in the league.

If not this year then definitely next year?  No-one wants two more seasons down here.  But it seems to me that putting all our eggs in next season's basket is dangerous.  Assuming we improve, which isn't a given, we won't be the only side to improve, we may not be the side to improve the most, we'll almost certainly not have our best current players still here.  I'm not sure why you expect we'll be the strongest side in the league - we're miles off that currently, we'll take a hit on quality if we don't go up, and an enormous amount of fixing will have to take place in the close season.  That suggests to me yet another season of consolidation.

There would be decent money available if our best players are sold.

January is notoriously difficult.  Nobody has really set the world alight this window and our business is better than most, if not all Championship sides.  Adding Fer as well would have made the window look a lot better.

Clearly there was no LB available or if there was, we were priced out.  There is no way we would have ignored this position out of choice.  The RB is in place for next season and providing that one of Mings/Hause turns out OK, our central defence will be OK.  The loans work both ways and it is an ideal opportunity to assess a player whilst having him play for you at the same time.

[JJ-AV]

I'm in agreement, I don't feel the squad has been sufficiently strengthened. You're asking a lot of these newbies to go in and deliver with little game time under their belts. Maybe they can, I hope they can - but they're far from guarantees so we're probably unlikely.

I think it looks like business aimed at next year, personally. talented players who've lost their way as short term signings with options if we like them.

[Steve67]

We will have a basis for next season with the likes of Kalinic, Guilbert, Grealish, McGinn. Hopefully, Mings, Carroll and Hause are decent and we buy them.  I reckon we will add Rico Henry and Romain Sawyers but we will need a quality striker.  That said, the squad has some deficiencies and will really need attention.  We will, and need to lose the likes of Whelan, Elphick, Richards, Hutton etc to bring the wage bill down but there is still a long way to go in building a squad that can challenge.

[ROBBO]

Name me a side in this division that is strong in every position, apart from Wolves last season I can't think of one.

[hilts_coolerking]

We will have a basis for next season with the likes of Kalinic, Guilbert, Grealish, McGinn.

If we don't go up there has to be a strong doubt that Grealish will be here.  Maybe McGinn also.  No idea whether Kalinic and Guilbert are good signings or not.

[john e]

I don't understand the pessimism. People need to chill.

I’m guessing it might have something to do with people saying exactly what you just said over the past 8 years then seeing us drop from 6 th in the league to mid table championship and still being told what’s with the pessimism and all we need to do is chill

if the last few years have told us anything it’s that we have had quite a bit to worry about and people saying just chill have been consistently wrong over a long period of time

we all hope it’s going to change, I personally still believe in Smith although my faith sometimes weakens
but you can’t blame people for being pessimistic and even a bit paranoid when you look at the state we’ve got ourselves into this past decade,
 I doubt it’s going to help people ‘just chill’

[Brassneck]

The internet is full of fans from various teams moaning about the disappointing January window.

We've addressed the two most critical positions and may even see one of the new guys at LB as well.

[Matt Collins]

For those who think grealish will almost certainly go, I have two questions:

Given he's got a lengthy bumper contract, what do you think we'd sell him for?

Who do you imagine might pay that?

[hilts_coolerking]

For those who think grealish will almost certainly go, I have two questions:

Given he's got a lengthy bumper contract, what do you think we'd sell him for?

Who do you imagine might pay that?

I think first we need to know whether there's a non-promotion clause, a buy out clause, or some such.