Winter 25-26 Transfer Window - hopes, speculation, rumours etc.

[brontebilly]

It’s not often a team has a single glaring hole like we do for a decent winger.  One player that provides a similar threat to Rogers and can unshackle Watkins.  The impact could be huge.

It could be huge. But to find an electric winger going forward who is able to carry out defensive duties is extremely difficult. Watched Semenyo closely last night, electric on the ball but useless and lazy in defence. Eze is proving the same, thanks to him, we got our first goal against Arses.

Not sure Unai likes conventional wingers, doesn't suit his patterns!!

We don't really play with conventional wingers so not sure why the panic to fix this glaring hole. Bailey did well on the right for sure for a spell, Rashford was tried on the left but eventually pushed up front. Same for Malen. Philogene, Sancho, Guessand, Elliot all signed to compete out wide but failed. Maybe Zaniolo too. The wide positions in our midfield are difficult roles to play, tactically and technically. McGinn excels in it. Ramsey gave us great balance on the left at his best too. That's the kind of profile we need, the next mini McGinn.

[Percy McCarthy]

Barca interested in Pau, according to A Man On The Internet.

Given Mings is obviously miles better (see prevailing opinion ten months ago), maybe we should just sell him to Barcelona and make even more cash from this.

We were getting better results when Mings played 8/10 months ago. That’s not an opinion.

Opinions are fine, but I’ll stick with facts on this one.

Let's get those Barcelona millions then.

Why? The facts have changed.

I don't think anything has changed. My opinion on what our best back five is is the same as it was eighteen months ago, and eight months ago.

Obviously, you’re entitled to an opinion. I’m on about facts. Mings and Pau were swapping with regularity towards the end of last season. We got better results when Mings played.

[cdbearsfan]

And this season?

[Astnor]

It’s not often a team has a single glaring hole like we do for a decent winger.  One player that provides a similar threat to Rogers and can unshackle Watkins.  The impact could be huge.

It could be huge. But to find an electric winger going forward who is able to carry out defensive duties is extremely difficult. Watched Semenyo closely last night, electric on the ball but useless and lazy in defence. Eze is proving the same, thanks to him, we got our first goal against Arses.

Not sure Unai likes conventional wingers, doesn't suit his patterns!!

We don't really play with conventional wingers so not sure why the panic to fix this glaring hole. Bailey did well on the right for sure for a spell, Rashford was tried on the left but eventually pushed up front. Same for Malen. Philogene, Sancho, Guessand, Elliot all signed to compete out wide but failed. Maybe Zaniolo too. The wide positions in our midfield are difficult roles to play, tactically and technically. McGinn excels in it. Ramsey gave us great balance on the left at his best too. That's the kind of profile we need, the next mini McGinn.

Do we know why did we sell Ramsey? Only cause money or might also be not exactly what we needed as well.

[cdbearsfan]

Cos we were skint.

[Dante Lavelli]

It’s not often a team has a single glaring hole like we do for a decent winger.  One player that provides a similar threat to Rogers and can unshackle Watkins.  The impact could be huge.

It could be huge. But to find an electric winger going forward who is able to carry out defensive duties is extremely difficult. Watched Semenyo closely last night, electric on the ball but useless and lazy in defence. Eze is proving the same, thanks to him, we got our first goal against Arses.

Not sure Unai likes conventional wingers, doesn't suit his patterns!!

We don't really play with conventional wingers so not sure why the panic to fix this glaring hole. Bailey did well on the right for sure for a spell, Rashford was tried on the left but eventually pushed up front. Same for Malen. Philogene, Sancho, Guessand, Elliot all signed to compete out wide but failed. Maybe Zaniolo too. The wide positions in our midfield are difficult roles to play, tactically and technically. McGinn excels in it. Ramsey gave us great balance on the left at his best too. That's the kind of profile we need, the next mini McGinn.

You’re right, mostly.  My justification for a pacy forward is because they’d be a point of difference.  We are well stocked for players like Morgan, McGinn, Youri, Buendia and even Elliot. Ideally we need one of the three to be express pace and looking to get behind the opposition, like Bailey did for 12-months and how Rashford was used. 

[cdbearsfan]

We were much better with a really good pacy winger (or two) than without in the previous two seasons. Someone in the Rashford class could make the difference between being top five contenders and title contenders in May.

[eamonn]

Cos we were skint.

It does stick in the craw that we're paying Sancho more than Ramsey wanted.

[Percy McCarthy]

And this season?

I can’t imagine we’d be getting better results this season with Mings playing. So I’d rather Torres play. I’m funny like that, I always want the players who get the best results to play. I put it down to me being a Villa fan and wanting Villa to win.

[andyh]

Cos we were skint.

It does stick in the craw that we're paying Sancho more than Ramsey wanted.

Yes, but it’s nothing to do with being skint, as we all know.
I’m sure we could go out and try and buy the very best players in the world, if we were allowed to.

[cdbearsfan]

So we seem to agree.

[oldtimernow]

Cos we were skint.

Skint never, Restricted definitely

[brontebilly]

It’s not often a team has a single glaring hole like we do for a decent winger.  One player that provides a similar threat to Rogers and can unshackle Watkins.  The impact could be huge.

It could be huge. But to find an electric winger going forward who is able to carry out defensive duties is extremely difficult. Watched Semenyo closely last night, electric on the ball but useless and lazy in defence. Eze is proving the same, thanks to him, we got our first goal against Arses.

Not sure Unai likes conventional wingers, doesn't suit his patterns!!

We don't really play with conventional wingers so not sure why the panic to fix this glaring hole. Bailey did well on the right for sure for a spell, Rashford was tried on the left but eventually pushed up front. Same for Malen. Philogene, Sancho, Guessand, Elliot all signed to compete out wide but failed. Maybe Zaniolo too. The wide positions in our midfield are difficult roles to play, tactically and technically. McGinn excels in it. Ramsey gave us great balance on the left at his best too. That's the kind of profile we need, the next mini McGinn.

You’re right, mostly.  My justification for a pacy forward is because they’d be a point of difference.  We are well stocked for players like Morgan, McGinn, Youri, Buendia and even Elliot. Ideally we need one of the three to be express pace and looking to get behind the opposition, like Bailey did for 12-months and how Rashford was used.

Sure, would be good to have the option but is it a priority? Unless they are a very good footballer they will struggle to fit in our midfield. It's rare enough teams press high against us these days for a rapid forward to take advantage of. West Ham dropped off naturally but that left space behind their midfield for the likes of McGinn and Rogers to drive into. Another former player, Grealish, like Ramsey would have been perfectly suited to that setup. That profile of another strong runner with the ball would be better I think rather than a pacy forward. Guessand and Sancho don't fit the bill. Move Malen on and get a younger quicker Watkins sure but not sure that player is out there in January.

We have options in lots of positions but right back and right mid are very light and priorities to address for me. McGinn to Guessand is just a huge drop off in quality. Cash to Lindelof is similar as we saw in the EL games.