Summer transfer, gossip, speculation thread

[Richard E]

I think we need two wingers. Green hasn't done enough to warrant being first reserve yet.

We’ve got more than enough whingers on here as it is. Oh, wingers?

[Damo70]

You have to laugh when our biggest gripe at the moment is that we are spending too much money on players! Personally I trust the people who are now in charge on and off the pitch. Obviously donating some money to a club to enable them to sign Small Heath's best player is a bonus.

[Ads]

Seems Smith's other unspoken criteria is players should be tall...

Aye, I was thinking the same. Maybe we're going to be nasty bastards off the ball and silky on it.

[Ger Regan]

Am I right in thinking that the main FFP issue in the premier league relates to limits on the increase in wages? Presumably the players we've released this summer will help massively on that score.

[PeterWithesShin]

New rules today on FFP

Premier League clubs have been handed a boost in the market, after changes to the ruling in the transfer window freed up additional budget for player wages.

Each summer, and January, teams compete against each other to acquire the best talent while adhering to recruitment guidelines and spending within their means.

With Financial Fair Play (FFP) forever looming over top level sides, Premier League teams have always been cautious when taking to the market. Now, however, a rule keeping check on wage bill increases has been removed.

As of July 1, an adjustment to the ruling system has increased the scope for clubs to buy players.

As part of the transfer window, clubs have been governed and somewhat limited by Short Term Cost Control (STCC), which was brought into play in 2013.

The STCC meant that any 12-month increase in player wages of above £7m had to be funded by new commercial deals.

However, this has now been dropped, meaning clubs have more room for manoeuvre when it comes to agreeing wage deals with players.

Clubs no longer have to be as wary of the total costs of deals being handed out. Under the previous ruling, even if clubs could afford certain wage demands, this would have to be partly made up by the commercial deals in order to show an ability to generate cash flow and spend within their means.

The change is expected to benefit most clubs, though particularly those who regularly find themselves just below the main competing pack in the Premier League.

Those sides who finished last season in seventh to 10th place, for example, will now find themselves will more freedom to bring in players with the added bonus of being able to offer more enticing wages.

Last season those aforementioned position finishes included the likes of Wolves, Everton, Leicester and West Ham.

These teams have, in previous years, showed both an ability and willingness to spend big in the transfer market.

Likewise, newly promoted sides who have the benefit of the financial windfall of reaching the Premier League will now be able to acquire players more freely, without an immediate worry of how to generate additional capital to show a balanced system. 

[JUAN PABLO]

SaadVilian

Mings will be more than £10 million

still need that winger/attacking type who can get us a few goals like Bowen or Benrahma  .    would love Bowen , he knows where the net is.         

[Border villan]

Can we not keep looking to sign the next “ insert name”. Some of us remember Nii Lamptey who was touted as the new Pele, scored only 3 goals for us and went on to play for over a dozen different clubs before retiring.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Well hello Rafael. Tbh this looks like a link with absolutely Zero basis, but he's a tidy little player. "Aston Villa want £25m Lille forward Rafael Leao" according to HITC.

We can dream. For the first time since Eusébio, Portugal looks like they may have finally produced a top striker. I think he's only 20 but plays with great maturity and knows where the back of the net is. Biggest question is his attitude. He dumped Sporting 15 days before he'd agreed to sign a new contract because some naughty boys invaded the Sporting dressing room and shouted at the players for being crap.

If the rumours are true, I think he'll be wasted at Valencia. They have a habit of turning talent into lazy, greedy, waste of space players. Micah Richards would be well at home there.

[thick_mike]

Well hello Rafael. Tbh this looks like a link with absolutely Zero basis, but he's a tidy little player. "Aston Villa want £25m Lille forward Rafael Leao" according to HITC.

We can dream. For the first time since Eusébio, Portugal looks like they may have finally produced a top striker. I think he's only 20 but plays with great maturity and knows where the back of the net is. Biggest question is his attitude. He dumped Sporting 15 days before he'd agreed to sign a new contract because some naughty boys invaded the Sporting dressing room and shouted at the players for being crap.

If the rumours are true, I think he'll be wasted at Valencia. They have a habit of turning talent into lazy, greedy, waste of space players. Micah Richards would be well at home there.

Erm...Ronaldo?

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Well hello Rafael. Tbh this looks like a link with absolutely Zero basis, but he's a tidy little player. "Aston Villa want £25m Lille forward Rafael Leao" according to HITC.

We can dream. For the first time since Eusébio, Portugal looks like they may have finally produced a top striker. I think he's only 20 but plays with great maturity and knows where the back of the net is. Biggest question is his attitude. He dumped Sporting 15 days before he'd agreed to sign a new contract because some naughty boys invaded the Sporting dressing room and shouted at the players for being crap.

If the rumours are true, I think he'll be wasted at Valencia. They have a habit of turning talent into lazy, greedy, waste of space players. Micah Richards would be well at home there.

Erm...Ronaldo?

Wanker Winger.

I was thinking more classic centre forward, Mike.

[JJ-AV]

If we can get Butland, Mings, Webster and Phillips I’ll be over the moon with our business.

Then it’s time to add 1/2 from Suso’s list

[tomd2103]

Seems Smith's other unspoken criteria is players should be tall...

Aye, I was thinking the same. Maybe we're going to be nasty bastards off the ball and silky on it.

I thought it was noticeable how Brentford developed into a much more physical and athletic side under Smith over the three seasons we played them in the Championship.  They were a small, tidy passing side the first season, but when we played them just before he joined us they were a noticeably bigger and more athletic side. 

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Seems Smith's other unspoken criteria is players should be tall...

Aye, I was thinking the same. Maybe we're going to be nasty bastards off the ball and silky on it.

I thought it was noticeable how Brentford developed into a much more physical and athletic side under Smith over the three seasons we played them in the Championship.  They were a small, tidy passing side the first season, but when we played them just before he joined us they were a noticeably bigger and more athletic side. 

Plus we got bullied by so many teams in the Championship until Smith came in. Thereafter we were nails.

[Sexual Ealing]

Seems Smith's other unspoken criteria is players should be tall...

Aye, I was thinking the same. Maybe we're going to be nasty bastards off the ball and silky on it.

I thought it was noticeable how Brentford developed into a much more physical and athletic side under Smith over the three seasons we played them in the Championship.  They were a small, tidy passing side the first season, but when we played them just before he joined us they were a noticeably bigger and more athletic side. 

And noticeably more proficient at the old shithousery, which I wouldn't be massively against for us.

[exigo]

Our

And noticeably more proficient at the old shithousery, which I wouldn't be massively against for us.

It did seem like we suddenly learnt the simple arts of game management after Smith arrived. Simple things like kicking the ball away to a team-mate after conceding a foul.