Summer 2024 Transfer Window - hopes, speculation, rumours etc.

[eye digress]

If we do sign Lutsharel we are in danger of reentering MON style right backs collection.

Difference being Emery will actually play our collection of RBs at RB, versus a CB or CM there with RBs on the bench.

Ummm, apart from when he played Konsa there and kept Cash on the bench for a fair bit of last season!

Which worked.

I didn't say it didn't. Just reacting to a post that was plainly factually incorrect!

Jesting aside, I think that, if you argue that Konsa at rightback worked, then what you're saying (or what I'm saying) is that he is now, effectively, a rightback as well as a centreback. Cuellar was definitely a centreback on the right, which worked....less well.

Though MON did have a decent record on these repositionings, turning Barry and later Milner into central midfielders.

Barry was a midfielder from the get go, if I recall.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Though MON did have a decent record on these repositionings, turning Barry and later Milner into central midfielders.

Barry was a midfielder from the get go, if I recall.

Milner had also played in central midfield for Newcastle before joining us.

As for Barry, nothing to do with Pubehead; from our dispute with Brighton:

'The arrogant Gregory meanwhile claimed he alone had turned Barry from a midfielder into a defender, which was why the teenager was now a first team regular. According to the Villa boss, Brighton did not even realise they had such a talented defender on their books.

'Knight countered by pointing out Barry had played in both defence and midfield for the Albion; he knew this having personally watched Barry play because of the presence of Standing in the same age group youth teams'.

[OCD]

If we do sign Lutsharel we are in danger of reentering MON style right backs collection.

Difference being Emery will actually play our collection of RBs at RB, versus a CB or CM there with RBs on the bench.

Ummm, apart from when he played Konsa there and kept Cash on the bench for a fair bit of last season!

Which worked.

I didn't say it didn't. Just reacting to a post that was plainly factually incorrect!

Jesting aside, I think that, if you argue that Konsa at rightback worked, then what you're saying (or what I'm saying) is that he is now, effectively, a rightback as well as a centreback. Cuellar was definitely a centreback on the right, which worked....less well.

Though MON did have a decent record on these repositionings, turning Barry and later Milner into central midfielders.

Barry was a midfielder from the get go, if I recall.

He started at centre back.

[Demitri_C]

Maybe. But Ollie has had no pre season, Duran and Carlos are on their way out and we still haven't replaced Luiz or Diaby. I think we need several new players in order to compete.

Ollie needs a break more than a pre-season, wouldn't worry with him. Ramsey and Rogers fully fit should be key players for us. Mings if gets back to his best returns to our defence and improves us. Buendia will be an improvement on Zaniolo at a minimum. Lots of positives there, not to mention likes of Philogene back. Bailey has had a nice break too and should crack on again.

My worry is midfield, it's the most critical area of the pitch and we are miles weaker than we were this time last season.

How are we miles weaker in midfield when we’ve only lost one player who as good as he could be wasn’t always a regular starter? For the loss of that one player we have added Barkley, Onana, Barrenachea, Iling Junior.  I would argue the loss of Kamara was greater but even he will be back before the seasons out

We have more depth but stronger im not so sure. None of those players do what luiz does and i dont think JPB is as good as diaby is either.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Barry was a midfielder from the get go, if I recall.

He started at centre back.

You're both right. See above.

[PhilVill]

Maybe. But Ollie has had no pre season, Duran and Carlos are on their way out and we still haven't replaced Luiz or Diaby. I think we need several new players in order to compete.

Ollie needs a break more than a pre-season, wouldn't worry with him. Ramsey and Rogers fully fit should be key players for us. Mings if gets back to his best returns to our defence and improves us. Buendia will be an improvement on Zaniolo at a minimum. Lots of positives there, not to mention likes of Philogene back. Bailey has had a nice break too and should crack on again.

My worry is midfield, it's the most critical area of the pitch and we are miles weaker than we were this time last season.

How are we miles weaker in midfield when we’ve only lost one player who as good as he could be wasn’t always a regular starter? For the loss of that one player we have added Barkley, Onana, Barrenachea, Iling Junior.  I would argue the loss of Kamara was greater but even he will be back before the seasons out

We have more depth but stronger im not so sure. None of those players do what luiz does and i dont think JPB is as good as diaby is either.

Playing for a world class coach will undoubtedly improve these players. I think by 31st August we will have a better squad than we had last season...

[SamTheMouse]

We've brought in a lot of players, but I don't think any of them are as good as the ones we've let go.

We could do with someone really top drawer.

[eye digress]

Barry was a midfielder from the get go, if I recall.

He started at centre back.

You're both right. See above.

I remember him coming on vs Wednesday towards the end of the season for the last 15 or 20 minutes and thinking, as he padded around effortlessly at the base of the midfield spraying the ball this way and that, what a classy player he looked.

So unless my memory is playing tricks - not totally out of the question these days - he made his debut as a midfielder for us.

[Gareth]

I think squad wise we could definitely do with a centre half and another forward but we certainly aren’t miles weaker.  Might take a few games to gel as we have engaged in squad revolution not evolution again.

Biggest issue for me is that we won’t be underestimated by other PL clubs this season, we will be targeted as one of the top clubs not as one of the pretenders.

[Risso]

Barry was a midfielder from the get go, if I recall.

He started at centre back.

You're both right. See above.

Not for us, he was a defender to begin with, in a back three.

[Astnor]

I think squad wise we could definitely do with a centre half and another forward but we certainly aren’t miles weaker.  Might take a few games to gel as we have engaged in squad revolution not evolution again.

Biggest issue for me is that we won’t be underestimated by other PL clubs this season, we will be targeted as one of the top clubs not as one of the pretenders.

Hopefully some might think that we did better than we was/are last season.

[frank black]

We've brought in a lot of players, but I don't think any of them are as good as the ones we've let go.

We could do with someone really top drawer.

I actually think Jaden will prove to be better than Diaby over the season. But Doug is going to be very difficult to replace. I agree that we need a real head turner to add to this squad, to give everyone a boost.

[Demitri_C]

Maybe. But Ollie has had no pre season, Duran and Carlos are on their way out and we still haven't replaced Luiz or Diaby. I think we need several new players in order to compete.

Ollie needs a break more than a pre-season, wouldn't worry with him. Ramsey and Rogers fully fit should be key players for us. Mings if gets back to his best returns to our defence and improves us. Buendia will be an improvement on Zaniolo at a minimum. Lots of positives there, not to mention likes of Philogene back. Bailey has had a nice break too and should crack on again.

My worry is midfield, it's the most critical area of the pitch and we are miles weaker than we were this time last season.

How are we miles weaker in midfield when we’ve only lost one player who as good as he could be wasn’t always a regular starter? For the loss of that one player we have added Barkley, Onana, Barrenachea, Iling Junior.  I would argue the loss of Kamara was greater but even he will be back before the seasons out

We have more depth but stronger im not so sure. None of those players do what luiz does and i dont think JPB is as good as diaby is either.

Playing for a world class coach will undoubtedly improve these players. I think by 31st August we will have a better squad than we had last season...

I hope so phil. I have some concerns as i dont think this team will score as many goals as last years ones.

Hopefully we get a few more in because i dont see us qualifying for CL again with this current squad. Just feel there isn't enough goals

[eye digress]

Barry was a midfielder from the get go, if I recall.

He started at centre back.

You're both right. See above.

Not for us, he was a defender to begin with, in a back three.

See above!

[PeterWithe]

We've brought in a lot of players, but I don't think any of them are as good as the ones we've let go.

We could do with someone really top drawer.

I actually think Jaden will prove to be better than Diaby over the season. But Doug is going to be very difficult to replace. I agree that we need a real head turner to add to this squad, to give everyone a boost.

For a start he needs to match Diaby’s work rate without the ball