I'm pretty sure we won't gamble on any signing, regardless of the situation we are in. I think the only time that might be challenged is if we were firmly rooted in the bottom three. We have our targets, many of them for every position. When we need strengthening in a certain position, then the club click into action, but the deal has to be a good value one. We won't spend more than we can afford, and nor should we. What our position does do is give us a bit more credibility in the market. We always have to battle against our perception as a club, which filters through to potential targets and is off putting, especially as we're looking to sign players who are just outside the scope of elite clubs. That market is extremely small. We've been linked to genuine quality in this window so far, with the likes of Cornet, Suarez and Kabak. So we are looking in the right areas, if these links are to be believed. If we are able to do business in January we will, if not it will be deferred until the summer. Just look at a massive club like Arsenal. Somehow they've got themselves into a mess. They can only sign loans in this window. Many of the top European sides are boxed in financially because of their previous overspend. Watford are in a very good position to pounce, but as always, it has to be a good deal for the club, first and foremost.
Leventhal says Ighalo not coming back as he understands - other PL sides in for him. Also believes it would take £70m+ to get Doucoure in this window. Summer transfer far more likely due to less volatile window.
Bournemouth in talks with Brentford over Chris Mepham supposedly - in two minds about it personally from a WFC viewpoint. He's young and highly rated and exactly what I think we should be looking at. But the fact that its Bournemouth that are in for him could very well lead to the fact that the deal is overpriced. Plucky Bournemouth with another multi-million pound signing.....
Is he somebody that would come in and instantly command a starting spot? I like the idea of somebody who's young and has a load of potential, but I can also see the value of bringing in somebody a little closer to their peak, who'll walk right in and instantly shore things up at the back. In an ideal world, I guess we'd be looking for both. A Mepham type that could spend the next 6 months acclimatizing to the higher level of football and getting ready to start next year, alongside somebody who can have a more instant impact.
We're not going to spend £15m on a defender. We'll wait for a free transfer just like 4 of our 6 centre backs.
Twittersphere has Spurs linked with our Troy. They Spurs must be very anxious over the Kane injury. So have no doubt that they will be picking up a forward or two this window
True. But he was 14 at the time. We also turned down Harry Kane at a similar age but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t have him now! £15m is on the steep side but he seems equipped to be someone who can breakthrough to PL quality. I’m sure the club will be aware of him and Andy Scott will have briefed on him. I’m sure he’d be able to find out the price as well given his connections.... Plenty of championship CB’s now ply their trade in the PL - wouldn’t shock me if Mepham was another that we look back on with regret.
The lack of centre back interest raises the uncomfortable spectre of another run in the team for Britos.
January is our ‘act now or lose out on talent’ window as well as ‘great player needs game time and wouldn’t normally choose Watford’ window. We will get someone decent in on loan with view to permanent deal and a next wonderkid to send on loan
The U20 South American Championships start tomorrow in Chile so no doubt WFC will have scouts trying to unearth (or confirm their interest in) the next Cucho Hern*ndez.
There's also an under 11s match in Ecuador organised by some local dads. I fully expect us to be there.
More than likely, or, as I said, our interest made known. I'll try and find a report on tweeter & will come back with any findings once I've spoken to some of the families.
It's a little more formal than that ! I believe it's our Ecuadorian U11 first team playing our U11 B team.
"We" being our Ecuadorian U11 first team or our Ecuadorian U11 B team ? I expect to be out there (and Galapagos) in Dec so will send through a few Oxhey style updates for you.
Wouldn't surprise me, especially since one of our random contingent of South American teenagers (Jaime Alvarado) is in the Colombian team.
Is there a reason we are so hot in Sth America but seem to have no network in Africa (or Asia) at all ?
It looks like we've room for some more after seemingly selling Valber Huerta to CD Universidad Católica (Chile) and Eduardo Montenegro to Valledupar FC (Colombia) recently. I say sold; Huerta signed for 3 years with Católica on January 4th with the club saying they'd purchased 50% of his contract. I've no idea who owns the other half. And Montenegro signed for Valledupar (set up just 15 years ago) on January 12th but with no confirmation of what type of contract. I contacted a few sites & Colombian journalists/experts with only Sport Witness coming back with a definite answer. They say WyScout has it as a permanent transfer.
There's not a lot going on in Asia that I've seen but we have 4 from Africa not currently based at Vicarage Road. Sulayman Marreh (Gambia) is on loan in Belgium with KAS Eupen. Mamadou (Momo) Mbaye (Senegal) is on loan in France with ES Troyes AC. (Though he's completely off the radar!) Kingsley Fobi (Ghana) is on loan in Spain with UD Ibiza. Kwasi Sibo (Ghana) is currently training with Udinese while a loan is being looked for - he doesn't have a work permit to train here. Admittedly I don't know if these players were actually based in Africa when WFC scouted them, I think Kwasi Sibo was playing in Armenia with FC Banants, but there is an African representation within the club.
Thanks Ox. Relatively few compared to Sth America. Maybe historically the network is better there....plus I guess the overall quality of football (and therefore footballers) is better there.
I think Udinese had/have something set up in South America and we were contracting players from that academy(?) before sending them out on loan early in the Pozzo reign here. And, as a complete guess, African players have been scouted by top clubs for a while since Nigeria & Cameroon did well in the World Cups in the 90s so maybe there aren't the bargains to be had there?
I’d say it’s more an indication that they have a defensive injury crisis with some long term... but when did plucky upstarts like them need an excuse to spend a fortune anyway?
