Summer Transfer Thread and Gustavo Cisneros Type Rumours.

[Lastfootstamper]

We've used Nakamba, Tuanzebe and Young as DM's in the last 4 games. There is only one decision to be made, surely?

Yes, but it has to be a good one. A straight in the team, if they're fit they play, good one. Not any halfway house "he gives us options" stopgap. If we're going to stick with trying to play with 2 in there while more teams seem to be deploying 3, they've got to be top johnny bollocks. Luiz is nearing that, he'll be one. Hopefully some poor souls elsewhere in the world will this weekend have watched their favourite player not knowing it's the last time in their colours before he suddenly pops up stretching ours.

There's no way we're not moving heaven and earth behind the scenes to address this. No way.

[Hillbilly]

Kalvin Phillips because why not?

[ozzjim]

We've used Nakamba, Tuanzebe and Young as DM's in the last 4 games. There is only one decision to be made, surely?

Yes, but it has to be a good one. A straight in the team, if they're fit they play, good one. Not any halfway house "he gives us options" stopgap. If we're going to stick with trying to play with 2 in there while more teams seem to be deploying 3, they've got to be top johnny bollocks. Luiz is nearing that, he'll be one. Hopefully some poor souls elsewhere in the world will this weekend have watched their favourite player not knowing it's the last time in their colours before he suddenly pops up stretching ours.

There's no way we're not moving heaven and earth behind the scenes to address this. No way.

It's just not going to happen. Smith has dug his heels in it seems. I really hope I'm wrong, but I think we're done. On the flip of that, I think Dean has been handed a horrible hand by luck of the gods (injuries, timings, international players being a bit silly) which makes getting a team together tough, but the reality is in 6 games time we could be perilously close to the bottom 3, and I think he'll be very close to going.

[sickbeggar]

Yep.  we still haven't played anything like our starting XI presumably so if they are all fit by the next game we're basically starting from scratch against teams who are already well upto speed. We're going to have to pull off some upsets otherwise I can't see how we won't be down the bottom.

[Dante Lavelli]

If that is it, then I am underwhelmed to say the least. 

At best we have strengthened in areas where we were already strong.  Worst case we are significantly weaker and have decreased the usefulness/value of players such as Watkins and Traore.

[Risso]

Not bringing anybody else in would be a bit of a dereliction of duty to be honest.

[jwarry]

I think Dean has final say on any player we sign. He gives the briefing, Lange will report back with options, Dean has to give any signing the green light.

I suspect the whole club has decided this season will be one of development rather than a full out and out assault on the top 4.  So the priority is to keep the pathway open for the youngsters to develop and not block it with emergency expensive stop gaps.  It might be disappointing for us now but in the long run it will be better as we can’t keep spending £150m every year

[Risso]

I think Dean has final say on any player we sign. He gives the briefing, Lange will report back with options, Dean has to give any signing the green light.

I suspect the whole club has decided this season will be one of development rather than a full out and out assault on the top 4.  So the priority is to keep the pathway open for the youngsters to develop and not block it with emergency expensive stop gaps.  It might be disappointing for us now but in the long run it will be better as we can’t keep spending £150m every year

Out net spend is in minus numbers though. We're not talking about a stop gap, we need a top quality defensive midfielder. So far this season we've had to play Nakamba, Young, Tuanzebe and a 17 year old Chuk there. That's "stop gap", signing top players isn't.

[Dante Lavelli]

I think Dean has final say on any player we sign. He gives the briefing, Lange will report back with options, Dean has to give any signing the green light.

I suspect the whole club has decided this season will be one of development rather than a full out and out assault on the top 4.  So the priority is to keep the pathway open for the youngsters to develop and not block it with emergency expensive stop gaps.  It might be disappointing for us now but in the long run it will be better as we can’t keep spending £150m every year

That would be okay if there was a young DMC coming through, but as far as I’m aware there isn’t.  We mainly have attacking players coming through which is where we have also strengthened.

just to add, I agree that having headroom in the squad is a good idea, I just think the application has been haphazard.

[ez]

Yep.  we still haven't played anything like our starting XI presumably so if they are all fit by the next game we're basically starting from scratch against teams who are already well upto speed. We're going to have to pull off some upsets otherwise I can't see how we won't be down the bottom.

Also Smith's poor record without Grealish is still lurking in the background. I reckon we will fall back further before recovering and finishing mid table.

[AV82EC]

If we signed a top quality DM for £40-£50mill our net spend would be in the £40-£50 mill area which I personally think is under par for what I was expecting this summer prob £80-£100mill if Jack had stayed. If we do a roughly break even net spend figure I’m fully expecting a 9-12th finish and a consolidation season. Certainly nothing that gets us anywhere near a European place.

[sickbeggar]

Yep.  we still haven't played anything like our starting XI presumably so if they are all fit by the next game we're basically starting from scratch against teams who are already well upto speed. We're going to have to pull off some upsets otherwise I can't see how we won't be down the bottom.

Also Smith's poor record without Grealish is still lurking in the background. I reckon we will fall back further before recovering and finishing mid table.

Yeah I predicted finishing around about where we were last season, but no-one is going to give Smith a bye if we get mauled by Chelsea or Man United with a full squad playing even if its in reality "his" team's 1st or second outing of the season. All they'll see is the league table in October. I really fear for him to be honest.

[ez]

For that brief time after Ings was announced and Jack not officially gone, about an hour or so, I thought top 4 was a real possibility.  Of course Jack leaving changed everything.

[Vegas]

We've used Nakamba, Tuanzebe and Young as DM's in the last 4 games. There is only one decision to be made, surely?

Yes, but it has to be a good one. A straight in the team, if they're fit they play, good one. Not any halfway house "he gives us options" stopgap. If we're going to stick with trying to play with 2 in there while more teams seem to be deploying 3, they've got to be top johnny bollocks. Luiz is nearing that, he'll be one. Hopefully some poor souls elsewhere in the world will this weekend have watched their favourite player not knowing it's the last time in their colours before he suddenly pops up stretching ours.

There's no way we're not moving heaven and earth behind the scenes to address this. No way.

It's just not going to happen. Smith has dug his heels in it seems. I really hope I'm wrong, but I think we're done. On the flip of that, I think Dean has been handed a horrible hand by luck of the gods (injuries, timings, international players being a bit silly) which makes getting a team together tough, but the reality is in 6 games time we could be perilously close to the bottom 3, and I think he'll be very close to going.

Sorry for long quote, but why do you think it’s Smith who has dug his heels in? I have no inside knowledge at all but I would guess the opposite - Smith is desperate to get an additional DM in but is not being supported to do so financially.

[pauliewalnuts]

For us not to sign anyone else would be a huge optimism sapper. A missed opportunity and an inadequate response to selling Grealish.