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

[dave.woodhall]

Have I just entirely invented that ^^^^ or did it happen?

I think you are thinking of the Fans United day -

https://www.theleaguepaper.com/features/featured/7299/20-years-on-fans-united-when-football-came-together-to-help-save-brighton-hove-albion/

There were Villa fans there.

They relegated Hereford out of the league on the final day of the season. Hereford's captain, Dean Smith, moved to Orient during that summer, played for them for six seasons then after retiring he went back there as youth coach. If Hereford hadn't gone down he might have stayed with them and his subsequent career might have been a lot different.

[edgysatsuma89]

Have I just entirely invented that ^^^^ or did it happen?

I think you are thinking of the Fans United day -

https://www.theleaguepaper.com/features/featured/7299/20-years-on-fans-united-when-football-came-together-to-help-save-brighton-hove-albion/

There were Villa fans there.

Add 'googling ability' to what I am shite at.

[Holte L2]

The Donk has been here five minutes and we're talking about a replacement for him 

Most pointless signing we've ever made?

Wayne Routledge says no.

DAFUQ? He played for us? That's completely bypassed me.

Two whole games in 2008. Weirdly, given my sporadic attendance this millennium, I saw him on his debut.

I actually saw him score, at Bescot in a preseason friendly.

Simon Dawkins says Hi!

[Mister E]

Brighton are VERY good at finding players in the £10-£20m range, who could be worth £30m+ after a year or two of experience in the premier league.  Would I like us to buy a few players like that? Of course. Do I think we should do more of it? Of course. Do I think it should become our primary aim with transfers? Absolutely not.  And I don't know how you get Brighton's success rate without it being your PRIMARY focus when buying players.

I'd say McGinn, Dougie, Konsa, Cash, Martinez and Watkins are examples where our investment would be doubled / tripled if we chose to sell in the summer(and, of course, in SJM case the multiple would be 15-20 times, perhaps).
We're not doing badly: I think I'd want to continue to see smart acquisitions AND a good return on our youth investment.

[astonvilla82]

at the moment we have 'hijacked' Leeds United bid for young Hearts player James Wilson who was looking at the facilities at Bodymoor Heath,no wonder Mcginn upped his game on Saturday, trying to impress the lad

[nigel]

Linked with Denzil Dumfries from Inter

[enigma]

The Donk has been here five minutes and we're talking about a replacement for him 

Most pointless signing we've ever made?

Wayne Routledge says no.

DAFUQ? He played for us? That's completely bypassed me.

Two whole games in 2008. Weirdly, given my sporadic attendance this millennium, I saw him on his debut.

I actually saw him score, at Bescot in a preseason friendly.

Simon Dawkins says Hi!

Salifou might have said hello but no one's ever seen him so we'll never know.

[curiousorange]

Linked with Denzil Dumfries from Inter

Galloway wi'yer.

[pablo_picasso]

The Donk has been here five minutes and we're talking about a replacement for him 

Most pointless signing we've ever made?

Wayne Routledge says no.

DAFUQ? He played for us? That's completely bypassed me.

Two whole games in 2008. Weirdly, given my sporadic attendance this millennium, I saw him on his debut.

I actually saw him score, at Bescot in a preseason friendly.

Simon Dawkins says Hi!

Salifou might have said hello but no one's ever seen him so we'll never know.

Václav Drobný adds his "hello" to the list...

[Richard E]

Well he would do if he wasn’t the late Vaclav Drobny

[tomd2103]

I want us to do whatever Brighton are doing. Signing some brilliant players, many not well known and having them perform at a high level before selling them for a massive profit. We may want to hang on to one or two given our long term objectives but buying ready-made players at exorbitant prices isn’t sustainable.

Yes, but part of the reason why the Brighton model works so well is they sell their club as a finishing school. Players join with one eye on the next move.

We may have had one or two players think that in the past (Benteke and Gueye were open about it). But in general it's not a thing with us. Our managers will usually up more roadblocks re players departing and the fans kick off if a popular player moves.  For Brighton it's an accepted way of life.

That's not to say we can't learn from the metrics they (or Brentford etc) use when scouting a player.

Nobody REALLY wants us to do what Brighton does. Not really.  What they actually want is for us to find quality undervalued players who can play at the top end of the premier league, but not the selling bit.  No fan is going to be "happy" when we're selling our best DM to Spurs, or our best left-back to Chelsea, or our best winger to Arsenal.

The problem we have, is that VERY few of Brighton's successes were instantly successful from the very moment they appeared in the first team. And I'm not sure we are the sort of club that can allow our main purchases to "develop" in our side over time.  We need to be buying players who can play in the team almost straight away.  Developing players is more for the youth players, and the odd young punt like Duran.  Brighton can afford to give that time to players.

I also think Brighton's success is romanticised a little, for example Bissouma, Trossard and Curcurella were all £15-£20m signings. They weren't unknowns picked up for peanuts and turned into diamonds. Yes, they were all sold at a profit, but we made a bigger profit on Chuk Jnr than they did on Bissouma and Trossard.

The problem with that model is if you are selling 3 of your best players every season and having to replace them, there is going to be a time when the replacements don't work out and you star slipping down the table.  Can see that happening at Brighton next season.

[pablo_picasso]

Well he would do if he wasn’t the late Vaclav Drobny

Really?

I did not know that...

[dave.woodhall]

Well he would do if he wasn’t the late Vaclav Drobny

Really?

I did not know that...

A skiing accident about ten years ago I believe.

[Holte L2]

The Donk has been here five minutes and we're talking about a replacement for him 

Most pointless signing we've ever made?

Wayne Routledge says no.

DAFUQ? He played for us? That's completely bypassed me.

Two whole games in 2008. Weirdly, given my sporadic attendance this millennium, I saw him on his debut.

I actually saw him score, at Bescot in a preseason friendly.

Simon Dawkins says Hi!

Salifou might have said hello but no one's ever seen him so we'll never know.

Václav Drobný adds his "hello" to the list...

I saw Salifou in the flesh away at Slavia Prague in 2009.

[CT Villan]

Jermaine Jenas is waving a big foam hand and is wanting his name added too !