One genuine left-back (as opposed to a left wing-back), a backup winger and I think that'll be it, unless Sarr and/or Capoue leave (I doubt we'll add a 5th striker even if the ones we have aren't exactly Mitrovic). The idea of Cucho coming back is probably wishful thinking, even if he's up for it (big if, he's been in La Liga the last 3 seasons), can he even get the right documentation? Would solve a lot of our problems mind you! That'd be 25, unless Dawson (or maybe someone else) goes
Think you’re spot on. LB to start/rotate and a backup winger. Can see more use of the loan market - particularly with some good fringe prem players needing a move - maybe with options to buy. I’m pretty sure Dawson will be off though and we’ll replace him if the right CB option becomes available
It'll be someone like Atsu (who in fairness I wouldn't mind as backup, would be concerning if he ended up being a regular) out wide, hopefully Manning at LB, but I'd guess Barry Douglas is more likely I think the people here that are saying 5 CBs is enough are right, as much as we would like a left-footed, ball-playing centre-half (wouldn't every team like that though!). We were far too hasty in signing Sierralta lol, is he even going to play for us in the league?
I guess we'll see. I presume its partly dependent on whether Ivic sees us playing with 3 at the back much moving forward. We definitely don't necessarily need a player there, but that leaves us well-placed to dip into the market should a very good option (in terms of quality and price) become available. I don't have much of an issue with Sierralta. Clearly he's come in as a last resort, and I don't think we'd likely be able to find a cheaper ok-ish backup in terms of wages or fee.
Son of Dave actually, I used to work with him. Nice bloke. Gary was at Man U as a youth, had quite a good spell at Donny I think but they fell out somehow after a promotion, think that may be when he had his season with us but not sure. Hope he gets on alright at Aberdeen, probably knows Hoban already I would guess?
We should really be expecting a decent influx of signing if what we were told was true: That we had to sell before we could buy - DONE. And that Ivic wanted a big squad so he could rotate a lot - we don’t have that. Are the club going to leave him disappointed?
I can't see us spending much. We only got decent money for Doucoure, Suarez and Estupinan and that was just to meet the shortfall. The only way I could see us spending much in this window was if we also got money for the likes of Sarr, Deulofeu, etc
Agreed. I think Ivic might be disappointed with his desire for a big squad. Best he can hope for is 2 decent options in every position and fingers crossed for no injury crisis. And have them all super fit for when the games come thick and fast (unless they stop altogether)
Yeah, we didn't get as much money this window as I'm sure we would have hoped (maybe not even enough to cover the shortfall), though at least we got the likes of Deulofeu, Pussetto, Penaranda, Sinclair and Welbeck off the wage bill, so I can see us being busy looking for cheap options like Douglas and Atsu, as well as bringing in some loanees
The thing is do they want to gamble? Promotion is worth about 170 million and we can still cash in on Delafeou and Sarr if don't go up this season.
Luke O'Nien has carved a decent career for himself. Jakubiak at a lower level. Woods the hero here is at Aberdeen as number two to Joe Lewis. The rest are scattered in the non league sides.
Ain’t gonna be many clubs queuing up to pay a lot of Deulofeu. Been very poor so far for Udinese and still has doubts over his fitness. Looks very much like a wasted season of sorts for him - and in this market, that means his price will likely have dropped a fair whack I bet. If he has another 6 months like this, think we’ll be lucky to get £10m+ for him quite honestly.
Just seen he's on a free to Lyon. @Filbert I'm assuming his picture won't be joining those of other club legends on display in the "Lineker Lounge"?
His picture will be going on the wall of Dabizas Dungeon, deep in the bowels of the KP alongside our other absolutely crap players.
Who was that 8ft goalie you had once, specifically to come on for penalty shoot-outs? Special teams style.
Zeljko ‘Spider’ Kalac. Martin O’Neill threw him on with 1 minute of extra time left of the ‘96 play off final with Palace with the score at 1-1. It was such a weird move it seemed distract the Palace players because 20 seconds later they just stood and watched Steve Claridge score the winner.
Well what a w4nk transfer window. Still only one LB, but don't bother buying back up, if he gets injured Kiko can cover, it's not like they will both get injured at the same time. is it?
Capoue, Garner and Quina gone from midfield, so we that's 3 needed replacing, we got one. Murray gone, frees up a striker spot.... only joking we have the best strikers in the champ already!! Never mind we'll just keep hammering square pegs into round holes until we hit League 2!!! Good job they have learned from their mistakes or we would have no chance of promotion........... Oh hang on a minute. So bloody angry this morning.
Is there still a window for loans in and out in championship and lower leagues for another few weeks ?
https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport...e-loan-21193813.amp?__twitter_impression=true That prompted Warnock to discuss the list he'd received from the Hornets. "I got a list from Watford today with seven or eight players on there," he said. "There were some shocks really. "They want the wages off now don't they, so someone will crop up. "Agents work for the clubs and they've been asked to help get players out on loan to get wages down when they're signing players. So six or seven were given to me by one agent today. Am I interested in any, unfortunately I'm not on this occasion but it just shows what's happening around the country." Would imagine the 8 we sent them is Dahlberg, Navarro, TDB, Quina, Hungbo, Success, Perica, Gray. Obviously we will be hoping to sell some of them, but a loan is better than nothing.
Although Warnock says there were some ‘shock’ names on there - would any of those names you’ve listed be a shock?
Absolutely none of those names would be shocks to us, who follow Watford closely, but to someone outside the club? Maybe, I suspect it's Quina who Warnock was surprised at, a talented kid who was playing in La Liga, on the face of it, I can see why he'd think he'd get a chance with us this season
So it's all done and dusted, but the question is.....do we have enough to stay up? Goalkeepers - Bachmann, Foster, Elliot I think the keepers are strong enough for the Premier League, so a tick in this box. Defenders - Femenia, Ngakia, Troost-Ekong, Kabasele, Sierralta, Cathcart, Rose, Masina This has been largely a disappointment. Only Rose has been signed. Central defence is only adequate if Sierralta plays. Inadequate if he doesn't. A little weak on the right, and very weak on the left if Rose cannot regain his Spurs form (although his performance was good against Palace) Midfield - Kucha, Cleverley, Gosling, Etebo, Tufan, Louza, Sissoko We've upgraded this from last season, but is it as strong as it was with Doucoure, Capoue & Hughes? Not so sure, although the signs are promising that it will be strong enough to compete. Wide Forwards - Pedro, Sema, Sarr, Baah, Hernandez. There is clearly some talent here and there is enough here to cause teams problems. Central Forwards - King, Dennis, Fletcher. Now with Deeney gone....and to a lesser degree Gray, we're a little light on numbers. King is a bit of an injury risk and I don't think Fletcher is at a Premier League level. We probably need another option in this position.