Summer transfer, gossip, speculation and the usual butter ollocks thread

[Clampy]

Don't get me wrong, getting players in nice and early would be great but I'm sure it's not for the want of trying. The amount of work that goes into a transfer must be very complex.

[ozzjim]

Agree in parts, although our front line is as dangerous as a pillow in a knife fight still. It is more that the manager has made the point repeatedly about getting time to work with the new players, as recently as this week, and we have not signed any, and appear to be some way from doing so. That is a risk, whether you think it is a manageable one is open to debate, but it is a risk. Especially when we were survived by the skin of our teeth.

[paul_e]

In the main I agree. I'd be ok with younger players as cover in 1-2 positions where I'm happy with the first choice but we don't have depth. I'm also ok with filling those gaps from the U23s for a year though.

[Toronto Villa]

Just under 6 weeks until the transfer window closes and fans are coming out with 'It's not looking good'. Unbelieveable.

Our manager said he doesn't want another Douglas Luiz situation with him only arriving 2 days before the first game literally 3 days ago. Hardly a shock that fans are a little concerned. Mind you we finished last season a good 15 points clear didn't we so we will be fine.

He said that he doesn’t want another Douglas Luiz situation in that a player is signed two days before the first game which also coincided last year with the window closing in PL. But it’s going to happen and especially this summer. It’s unavoidable. The season officially only ended last weekend and we are about to start the new English season this weekend with the Community Shield.

So whatever represents the ideal set of circumstances is also out of the window. And at a time when money isn’t as freely available, clubs will also try and get every penny they can as they are not getting the same commercial revenues as before and may not for a good while yet. So in the case of Brentford, they will hold out for the very best offer. They have two prized assets, they don’t have to sell, they have a brand new stadium and they have no fans coming to games. This will be the case for many clubs. So unless you are at the top of the food chain, which we are not, we have to be patient.

And it also goes for us unloading players too. Take Lansbury or Taylor. We have a valuation which is likely higher than clubs lower down will want to pay for all the same reasons as they will play hardball with selling their best players.

It’s just not going to be easy.

[Malandro]

A loss at West Ham and we'd be begging Premier league clubs to loan us youngsters and  buying players like Hugill.

I'm not worrying too much. It’s exciting.

[themossman]

I'm sure people are busting a gut to get the signings, but we still don't have them, and it is starting to worry me a tiny bit.

My guess is we are being very selective, or being held to ransom, or both.

[LeeB]

This is starting to mirror last January's window.....and look who we ended up with: Drinkwater, Samatta (jury's still out) & Borja Baston! Villa just about scraped it, but not even a bid put in yet, seemingly?

Don't believe the hype.

Yo  Drummond, they must be on the pipe, right?

[Toronto Villa]

Benrahma and Watkins ommitted from the Brentford squad to play in their warm up games.

[Damo70]

This summer is not like last summer when we had to buy practically a whole new team due to letting older players past their best and youngsters not classed as good enough go along with loan signings returning to their clubs. We can concentrate on a few signings in positions we need to strengthen. With money so tight in football at the moment I am glad we don't have to recruit as many players as we did last summer. It might be very tough for the sides newly promoted to the Premier League to recruit top players this summer.

[Mister E]

... My guess is we are being very selective, or being held to ransom, or both.

Could well be, and there's also that all clubs are waiting for the transfer inertia to 'break': the market needs a little more movement in it to create the momentum for other transfers to happen.

[ASHTONVILLA]

Agree we do not need a drastic player turnover.

However our forward line is egregiously shit and needs very urgent attention before play resumes. As it stands we have a choice of the woeful Samatta and Davis up front (who I rate but doesn't score goals). Wesley was one of the worst I have ever seen play for us, and is coming back from a nasty injury which may have made him worse. We absolutely have to sign at least one striker before play resumes.

On the wing we have a paucity of options also. Grealish is wasted there, and El Ghazi and Trez need a better player ahead of them so they can develop from the bench and as infrequent starters. I still think both could come good, but they need to be relegated to back up players.

Because the attack needs such a lot of work, it would be far better if the business got done earlier rather than later. Other positions are rather less urgent and can fit in later if needs be. That said we need a mobile and aggressive midfielder, and a left back with pace if we are to stop flirting with relegation.

[Villafirst]

If we want these players, we'll most likely have to pay over the odds. Far better to pay a bit more to ensure we stay in this League. Better to pay more now than risk losing £200m through relegation. The PL is now so money orientated you have to live with it.

[themossman]

... My guess is we are being very selective, or being held to ransom, or both.

Could well be, and there's also that all clubs are waiting for the transfer inertia to 'break': the market needs a little more movement in it to create the momentum for other transfers to happen.

Agree with this and with Damo. That’s why I’m not that worried - we only need 4 players and they are by definition going to be more specific, more expensive, and harder to buy than last summer’s signings.

It is just annoying that we’re likely to have to do business after the start of the season.

[Clampy]

If we want these players, we'll most likely have to pay over the odds. Far better to pay a bit more to ensure we stay in this League. Better to pay more now than risk losing £200m through relegation. The PL is now so money orientated you have to live with it.

I'm not sure what that has to do with us not signing anybody yet.

[chrisw1]

I'm surprised we haven't sorted Watkins yet to be honest.  It seems we want him and he wants to come.  How far apart can we be in our valuations?