Summer transfer, gossip, speculation thread

[Toronto Villa]

Not one of our buys appears a panic buy or one made without thought. For the most part we have secured players from last year and then added pieces to specific areas we needed. Nothing overly fancy or elaborate. What it highlights is the age and quality of the squad coming into this league and how we recognized that sentiment had no place. Carrying those players would have sunk us for sure. We’ve gone about our business very efficiently.

[hilts_coolerking]

There's that fucking 'young and hungry' bullshit again.

[jwarry]

There's that fucking 'young and hungry' bullshit again.

It is but what isn’t getting mentioned is that 3 of the 6 are English and from all accounts the keeper, new CB and DM could all be English too, so although there is a lack of PL experience they are not going to find it as big a shock as some of the players Fulham signed

[Hookeysmith]

Not one of our buys appears a panic but or one made without thought. For the most part we have secured players from last year and then added pieces to specific areas we needed. Nothing overly fancy or elaborate. What it highlights is the age and quality of the squad coming into this league and how we recognized that sentiment had no place. Carrying those players would have sunk us for sure. We’ve gone about our business very efficiently.

Totally agree with this.

If (God forbid) we had got promoted with this wealth with Fist face you just know

Cahill
Sturridge
Austin

would have been in the frame for "Experience" and new contracts would have been given to Jedi and Whelan

Then all of the them told - "Roll up wor sleeves and go do something on the pitch"

I really like the way we are operating

Another CH - possibly the kid from Brentford (unless he is valued at £20mil) as we need someone who will be happy to be benched a lot
DF - Phillips seems to be a common choice amongst the more cued up folk on here and elsewhere
Winger - I think we did not travel to Egypt for no reason so expect to see the Trezeuget geezer
Striker - This is a tough one for me - I do not think our kids are quite good enough and trying to get someone in who knowingly will play 2nd fiddle to Big Wes means we have to take a punt on someone.

Glad I don't have to make the calls

[OCD]

It also means that Southgate will have reason to watch us a lot, that could then be a factor when we're looking to sign English players in future.

[supertom]

There's that fucking 'young and hungry' bullshit again.

It is but what isn’t getting mentioned is that 3 of the 6 are English and from all accounts the keeper, new CB and DM could all be English too, so although there is a lack of PL experience they are not going to find it as big a shock as some of the players Fulham signed

I don't see Smith being as tactically blind as Fulham were for much of last season. They kept on playing their fullbacks like wingers game after game and they were getting slaughtered. Ranieri inherited a poisoned chalice and had no answers. They were well gone by the time the tinkerman left.

I know Smith says we'll play our way regardless, which I'd say should be taken with a pinch of salt. That said, it's not as kamikaze as Jokanovic liked to play at times. That might work in the Championship when players aren't generally as quick, fit or ruthless on the counter, but they got found out majorly. Sessagnon never got going really.

But yeah, I think our signings have been more sensible for one. Smith knows Jota. We've tied up several loans who are already well integrated in the squad, and we're spending sensibly elsewhere. Wesley is the biggest gamble I think, but I think we'll be signing another striker as competition/contingency. Our Wes will be good anyhow.

[passitsideways]

The problem with young and hungry was that those traits were substitutes for actual quality, as opposed to going hand in hand.

[maidstonevillain]

Not one of our buys appears a panic but or one made without thought. For the most part we have secured players from last year and then added pieces to specific areas we needed. Nothing overly fancy or elaborate. What it highlights is the age and quality of the squad coming into this league and how we recognized that sentiment had no place. Carrying those players would have sunk us for sure. We’ve gone about our business very efficiently.

Totally agree with this.

If (God forbid) we had got promoted with this wealth with Fist face you just know

Cahill
Sturridge
Austin

would have been in the frame for "Experience" and new contracts would have been given to Jedi and Whelan

Then all of the them told - "Roll up wor sleeves and go do something on the pitch"

I really like the way we are operating

Another CH - possibly the kid from Brentford (unless he is valued at £20mil) as we need someone who will be happy to be benched a lot
DF - Phillips seems to be a common choice amongst the more cued up folk on here and elsewhere
Winger - I think we did not travel to Egypt for no reason so expect to see the Trezeuget geezer
Striker - This is a tough one for me - I do not think our kids are quite good enough and trying to get someone in who knowingly will play 2nd fiddle to Big Wes means we have to take a punt on someone.

Glad I don't have to make the calls

I wouldnt be surprised to see either Sturridge or Cahill turn up. But if they did it would probably be on sensible contracts.

[Eckybloke]

Cahill and Sturridge could end up at Newcastle if Bruce takes over.

[Mister E]

Cahill and Sturridge could end up at Newcastle if Bruce takes over.

Bruce and Barcodes, you say? - perfect combination!!



... for the Chumpionship.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

The problem with young and hungry was that those traits were substitutes for actual quality, as opposed to going hand in hand.

The reason it didn't work last time was due to the Manager. If you're going to bring in 'young and hungry' they need coaching to develop. The plan wasn't essentially wrong. Lambert was just the wrong manager to make it work.

[brontebilly]

Not one of our buys appears a panic but or one made without thought. For the most part we have secured players from last year and then added pieces to specific areas we needed. Nothing overly fancy or elaborate. What it highlights is the age and quality of the squad coming into this league and how we recognized that sentiment had no place. Carrying those players would have sunk us for sure. We’ve gone about our business very efficiently.

I think the Jota signing was a touch convenient. He plays better in an attacking midfielder role where we are already very strong with Grealish, McGinn and Hourihane. He was average for the Blues on the right so don't think he is a serious option for us out wide. Would be worried about his ability to mix it physically in the top division. Hope to be proved 100% wrong btw...

Something is seriously amiss regarding the Kalinic signing 7 months ago for a big fee and we are already looking at replacing him after 7 games. Not every signing works obviously but that one is perplexing.

[UK Redsox]

Something is seriously amiss regarding the Kalinic signing 7 months ago for a big fee and we are already looking at replacing him after 7 games. Not every signing works obviously but that one is perplexing.

I wonder if the contract was such that Villa had to sign him once the work-permit situation was resolved. Is that possible ?

[Toronto Villa]

Not one of our buys appears a panic but or one made without thought. For the most part we have secured players from last year and then added pieces to specific areas we needed. Nothing overly fancy or elaborate. What it highlights is the age and quality of the squad coming into this league and how we recognized that sentiment had no place. Carrying those players would have sunk us for sure. We’ve gone about our business very efficiently.

I think the Jota signing was a touch convenient. He plays better in an attacking midfielder role where we are already very strong with Grealish, McGinn and Hourihane. He was average for the Blues on the right so don't think he is a serious option for us out wide. Would be worried about his ability to mix it physically in the top division. Hope to be proved 100% wrong btw...

Something is seriously amiss regarding the Kalinic signing 7 months ago for a big fee and we are already looking at replacing him after 7 games. Not every signing works obviously but that one is perplexing.

I don’t have an issue with Jota. Smith clearly likes him and got a lot out of him at Brentford. Going to the beggars would kill most careers so he’ll look at this as a huge opportunity and a fresh start. And for what amounts to £2m it is zero risk and very likely a player that comes in with a really good attitude.

As for Kalinic there might be something amiss. He got legitimately concussed but when we needed him after he opted for a surgery that could have waited until the summer. That could have rubbed Smith the wrong way and luckily Steer came in and played out of his skin. Maybe it’s just better for all parties to part ways.

[andyh]

Konsa from Brentford being talked about on twitter with talks ‘advanced’.
Don’t know anything about him, but with them signing the dick from Leeds, is this just 2+2 or some real mileage in it?