2023 Summer transfer window - hopes, needs, expectations and rumours.

[Smithy]

Longer term I wouldn't be surprised if, when one of the 4 leaves, we don't replace them directly and instead we leave space for Feeney and have Kamara/Dendoncker/New DM as the cover if we need an experienced option at centre half for a run of games.

That must be at least a couple of years away. He's got to go out on loan next season for his first loan, probably at a league 1 or 2 side. Then, assuming that goes well, a season in the Championship. I would have thought going straight to a Championship side would be a bit much.

Sounds like Bogarde's done well at Bristol Rovers so it will be interesting to see whether he can get a loan move to a championship side.

There is Kerr Smith to consider for the CB slot long term too. Him & Feeney both need Championship loans.

Bogarde did well at Bristol Rovers, but mostly at CDM. By all accounts, it sounds like he has performed like Iroegbunam. Lots of pace, breaking up play, driving forward with the ball, simple passing, etc.

He is versatile player so could be useful for the squad in the longer term, depending on where we are competing at that time.

Feeney and Smith are both only 18 (Feeney only just), so I would be surprised to see them loaned out this coming season considering they are centre-backs, and still growing.  It's not like like they are attacking players who could be used from the bench to change games.  They'd either be starting, or not playing at all - and they're not going to be starting in the Championship unless someone has an injury crisis.

I suspect they'll both be key parts of our U23 PL2 campaign this coming season, then next year, with another year of growing and filling out under their belts, they might be ready for a loan (much like Bogarde was halfway through this season).  I really think it depends on physicality at their age in their position.

[Dogtanian]

Feeney is going to be an absolute beast.

[Drummond]

Carlos has hardly played enough to judge him, and at 30 has plenty of time left. Coutinho has had no links with moves, and I think can still do a job under Emery, in fact I think he'll do really well when fit.

Digne was an opportunistic signing, and a definite improvement on Targett. However, his style isn't a great fit for Emery with Young at Right Back, but could prove to be much better with Cash and another RB.

[paul_e]

"If you're good enough, you're old enough" is something that I think applies perfectly to Feeney. Lets not forget he was part of the first team squad at Fleetwood when we signed him, I think he'd cope fine in the championship next year, and there are plenty of teams that will need players like him in that league.

Look at someone like Levi Colwill as an example who played 30 odd games for Huddersfield at the same age.

[Clark W Griswold]

I don't think you can grumble at Gerrards signings other than Olsen. They've either been good, not bad or unfortunate. It's just that Gerrard had no idea what to do with them, or the rest of the squad for that matter.

[Smithy]

Carlos has hardly played enough to judge him, and at 30 has plenty of time left. Coutinho has had no links with moves, and I think can still do a job under Emery, in fact I think he'll do really well when fit.

Digne was an opportunistic signing, and a definite improvement on Targett. However, his style isn't a great fit for Emery with Young at Right Back, but could prove to be much better with Cash and another RB.

I would be stunned if Coutinho went this summer, given he hasn't played for several months and has been battling a hamstring injury since November.  Surely no one is going to spend big money on his wages off the back of that?

Personally, I'd like to see him fit and firing under Emery, as I think he could still be a huge asset.

[Smithy]

"If you're good enough, you're old enough" is something that I think applies perfectly to Feeney. Lets not forget he was part of the first team squad at Fleetwood when we signed him, I think he'd cope fine in the championship next year, and there are plenty of teams that will need players like him in that league.

Look at someone like Levi Colwill as an example who played 30 odd games for Huddersfield at the same age.

I agree, but as I said, physicality is a big part of whether defenders are ready for first-team football, and young players develop physically at different ages. There are 17 year olds built like grown men, and players who still look like kids at 19. Go and look at images of Colwill playing for Huddersfield.  Then look at photos of Feeney for the U23 this season.  I agree that Feeney is an absolute top-class prospect, but he strikes me as someone who still has some filling out to do.

Of course, he may just be a skinny player, like a smaller Crouch, but at just turned 18, I think it's too early to say either way.  Jack looked quite lightweight at 18, but by 21 players were bouncing off him (when he wanted them too, rather than taking the foul).

But I agree, I think Feeney is going to be ace in a few years time.

[rob_bridge]

I can’t remember exactly, but were the Gerrard signings Coutinho, Carlos and Digne? If so - Jesus. Aside from his ego, lack of man management and lack of tactics, he’s left us with 3 expensive, relatively old, not fit for purpose players.

High wages little sell on value too.

[Richard E]

None of those three are duff signings from an ability perspective.

[Risso]

I can’t remember exactly, but were the Gerrard signings Coutinho, Carlos and Digne? If so - Jesus. Aside from his ego, lack of man management and lack of tactics, he’s left us with 3 expensive, relatively old, not fit for purpose players.

High wages little sell on value too.

Carlos was fit for purpose, he just got a really bad injury, which nobody could have foreseen. Digne very much is fit for purpose. He's on high wages, but he's easily good enough for where we are now, and proved his value when Moreno was injured. Coutinho hasn't really lived up to the hype due to a succession of injuries but if he can get fit and stay fit, he could still be an important player.

[PaulTheVillan]

I can’t remember exactly, but were the Gerrard signings Coutinho, Carlos and Digne? If so - Jesus. Aside from his ego, lack of man management and lack of tactics, he’s left us with 3 expensive, relatively old, not fit for purpose players.

At least he got us Kamara.

[Drummond]

I can’t remember exactly, but were the Gerrard signings Coutinho, Carlos and Digne? If so - Jesus. Aside from his ego, lack of man management and lack of tactics, he’s left us with 3 expensive, relatively old, not fit for purpose players.

At least he got us Kamara.

I think he was the final thing with the personal visit etc. But we'd been on the case for a while hadn't we? The same applies to Duran.

[eamonn]

But Bouba must have been excited by someone he would have admired as a kid trying to seduce him (foootballingly, not sexually).

[frank black]

I can’t remember exactly, but were the Gerrard signings Coutinho, Carlos and Digne? If so - Jesus. Aside from his ego, lack of man management and lack of tactics, he’s left us with 3 expensive, relatively old, not fit for purpose players.

High wages little sell on value too.

Carlos was fit for purpose, he just got a really bad injury, which nobody could have foreseen. Digne very much is fit for purpose. He's on high wages, but he's easily good enough for where we are now, and proved his value when Moreno was injured. Coutinho hasn't really lived up to the hype due to a succession of injuries but if he can get fit and stay fit, he could still be an important player.

TBF Coutinho was relatively shite before his injuries. Although from memory didn’t he have a good game prior to breaking down? What a frustrating player he is. He could easily be the best player in our squad one game and then our worst for several matches.

[jwarry]

"If you're good enough, you're old enough" is something that I think applies perfectly to Feeney. Lets not forget he was part of the first team squad at Fleetwood when we signed him, I think he'd cope fine in the championship next year, and there are plenty of teams that will need players like him in that league.

Look at someone like Levi Colwill as an example who played 30 odd games for Huddersfield at the same age.

I agree, but as I said, physicality is a big part of whether defenders are ready for first-team football, and young players develop physically at different ages. There are 17 year olds built like grown men, and players who still look like kids at 19. Go and look at images of Colwill playing for Huddersfield.  Then look at photos of Feeney for the U23 this season.  I agree that Feeney is an absolute top-class prospect, but he strikes me as someone who still has some filling out to do.

Of course, he may just be a skinny player, like a smaller Crouch, but at just turned 18, I think it's too early to say either way.  Jack looked quite lightweight at 18, but by 21 players were bouncing off him (when he wanted them too, rather than taking the foul).

But I agree, I think Feeney is going to be ace in a few years time.

Gareth Barry didn’t look out of place at 17