Summer transfer, gossip, speculation thread

[Toronto Villa]

I’m glad we didn’t pulled into some crazy deal at the deadline just to make a statement that we might have regretted. It’s been an absolutely superb window.

[Clampy]

I would have liked another striker in but can't complain overall. We've done much more than I thought we would.

[Diablo]

well thats it

Smith said no more


lets hope Wes does the biz

Did DS say anything about any one leaving?

[Risso]

I would have liked another striker in but can't complain overall. We've done much more than I thought we would.

Same here.  I think it is a risk going into the first half of the season with no more forwards, but we'll have to trust that Smith and the rest know what they're doing.  Haven't looked forward to a season starting as much as this in many a long year.

[supertom]

Our time in the Premiership post Milner suggested one thing: You're only as good as your midfield.  Doesn't matter who you have up front, or who you have at the back and in goal if the midfield isn't fit for purpose. It's your engine and it's what contributes significantly to both ends of the pitch. We never had that right and sorely lacked the quality and it directly affected us as an attacking unit and most definitely didn't help us defensively (as all too often mediocre players were left isolated by a non-existent mid). 

For me, what delights me most about this window is that we've added to what was a very talented core of players in Grealish, Hourihane and McGinn. We've replaced a couple of aging  defensive mids with Douglas and Marvellous, who both seem to have graft as well as quality. Meanwhile out wide we've secured three talented players in Trezeguet, El Ghazi and Jota.

Signs in pre-season are certainly promising.
I really hope Wesley hits the ground running but I'm certainly very confident in what's behind him. But it's not just that we've signed a lot of players who look pretty decent, we've signed players who should all conceivably fit together, rather than just signing a mismatched hodgepodge of players with no cohesive idea of how to fit them together.

[KevinGage]

Any half decent forwards not called Andy Carroll still out of contract?

[richtheholtender]

Sturridge

[Damo70]

I would have liked another striker in but can't complain overall. We've done much more than I thought we would.

Same here.  I think it is a risk going into the first half of the season with no more forwards, but we'll have to trust that Smith and the rest know what they're doing.  Haven't looked forward to a season starting as much as this in many a long year.

Unfortunately I got very excited about all the transfer business we did in the summer before we got relegated (both in 1986 and 2015).

I am also clinging onto Deano's comment "We are pretty much done" and hoping that means possibly a striker by 5pm.

[KevinGage]

Sturridge gives off the vibe that he enjoys football as much as Gabby post 2013 did.

[Brassneck]

Gutted about  Benrahma but it reinforces the club's policy on not being held to ransom.

Not bothered about a striker because the ones we were linked with didn't appear prolific judging by their stats.

[villadelph]

I'm very surprised Benrahma will remain at Brentford.

[Damo70]

The guy at Liverpool's training ground has just said "Well, it was interesting talking to Jurgen Klopp earlier wasn't it"? I hope he was being sarcastic because it lasted two minutes and didn't tell anybody anything. It was a total non interview and I don't know why Klopp even bothered turning up and sitting down.

[QuintonVilla]

Big risk going into the season with Wesley, Kodjia and Davis as our striking options. Wesley is unknown and could struggle to get double figures and no chance are Davis and Kodjia Premier League quality. We've had a brilliant window but goals will keep us up and I can't see where they're going to come from.

[KRS]

I nearly said it on here last night when someone mentioned him, but trying to get Carroll back to Newcastle is so typical and predictable of lazy Bruce.

[taylorsworkrate]

Its a legitimate point about lack of striking depth. Lot of pressure on Wesley to hit the ground running and not get injured.

We look very strong in goalkeeping, defense and midfield and wuite strong in wide areas. We'll need to see plenty of goals from those areas. Which with the strength we have in players like Luiz and Nakamba, should free up Jack and SJM to contribute more.