We must still be loaded, because although we brought in 8 players, I doubt they cost more than 3 million put together including their wages. So I am expecting an exciting summer in the transfer market regardless of which division we are destined for next season. Whether we survive or not, we should have little trouble attracting some quality players to the club, because for once we should have a pretty good stash of money in order to pay the sort of wages that attract those quality players. Furthermore, it will be a new season, so it will be a clean sheet, and we will look a more attractive prospect to play for as well. I also expect it will be a summer of the long knives, and many of our existing playing staff will be leaving us, which will also add to the coffers. All in all I think it will be an exciting summer How much do you think Aidy will have in his war chest, and who do you think will be leaving :-\
Wouldn't like guess what we have to spend. I'd guess a budget of £10m would be a reasonable marker. Wouldn't advocate it being more than that as there's no point throwing £££ at a one season attempt. Best to save some for if we don't come back up first time of asking. I can see Foster, Blizzard, Osbourne, Jarrett, Seanla, Gill and Campana all leaving for sure, regardless of divisional status. Add to that Alec and Powell retiring I'd guess. I'd also think Malky will take a much less active role. If Chambers signs a new contract I can see Doyley leaving if the fee is right and maybe Macca too.
Just been on London News how much our 3 relegation candidates spent in the transfer window. West Ham, Charlton and Watford. We brought in the most players and spent the least money! We really shouldn't be up there pi55ing with the big boys!
I think we had about 7M in transfer fees to spend in the summer. We spent 1.5 (3M) on Shittu. I think the club would regard that as 3M to be safe although I'm guessing a lot of that will depend on survival. 1.25M on Francis, ? on Priskin, ? on Smith, 4.25 + whatever Priskin and Smith were, which I'll call 1.5M together. That means we would have had 1.25M to spend in this window. Of which we spent a nominal fee on Ashikodi (A burger and two packs of ketchup), and 1M on the Rotherham lads. Then Young left for 9.65M which boosts our budget to 9.9M + 200k for Spring making it 10.1 million pounds. After which we spent 500k on Kabba, ? on Williams and ? on one of the french lads. I'll say that adds up to around 9.1-9.5M pounds depending on how much Williams and the frenchie cost us. In the summer I can see the following players leaving for the stated amounts: Bangura 2-6M (based on potential obviously) Jarrett Free Blizzard Free McNamee 500k-1M Priskin 400k-1M One or more of the new lads Free-300k Powell + Mackay - Coaching Carlisle - This is only if his injury problems do not go away. Free-400k Doyley - If he is in the reserves behind Mariappa and Chambers 300-600K Seanla - Free This could add up to fees of 13-14M This should then be spent on: IF GO DOWN GK - I'm still not amazingly confident with Lee being 1st choice when Foster goes. Although he is extremely agile, his kicking and command of his area is lacklustre. GOALKEEPER NEEDED. DR - I think we would have enough cover here. Mariappa and Chambers would both be decent championship rightbacks and if one gets injured we have a host of youth players who can step in such as Junior Osbourne. DL - Also an area where we would have sufficient cover. Stewart if he plays in the Championship like he has this year will be fine, Parkes is looking like pushing his for a first team spot too. DC - Demerit and Shittu would rule the Championship but I don't think we have sufficient quality in depth here. With Avinal, Mackay (possibly full time coaching next season) and the crock that is Carlisle as our cover I wouldn't be very confident. Although Avinal is an unknown quality, I feel we should bring in atleast one more centre back such as Caldwell and perhaps promote someone from the reserves/youth. CENTREBACK NEEDED MR - With Smith and possibly Campana lined up for next season I'm not exactly filled with optimism. However, Williamson could possibly be moved to the right (if he is right footed that is) and would be a suitable right winger but from the reports of Rotherham fans he is best used in the centre running box to box. So I would get someone like David Thompson depending on how well he does at Bolton and therefore his availablility. RIGHT MID NEEDED ML - Bouazza and Macca perfectly good for Championship MC - Also perfectly good with Mahon, Francis, Williamson, Williams and Bangura all championship quality. FC - With King, Henderson, Hoskins, Moses and Kabba we certainly have the depth but the quality? I'm not so sure. This is purely dependant on whether Hendo and King can return to 05/06 form next year. IF WE STAY UP Well, due to the even greater TV fees we will recieve due to the Setanta deal, plus the Young money we could get talking budgets of 20M. 10M from Young and a 40M TV fund makes 50M. We could spend 20M of that on players easily. GK - Foster. £4-7M DR - Jloyd Samuel. I rate him although he hasn't set the world alight at Villa. 1M DL - Stewart DC - Demerit/Shittu DC - Hermann Hreidarsson - 500k-2M Really rate this guy and would bring experience to our backline. Fee reduced based on ability due to Charlton's relegation and his age MR - McAnuff/Jesper Gronkjaer. 1.5M/up to 3M - McAnuff looks like he would be a decent premiership player whilst Gronkjaer proved it at Chelsea. Again I rate both of these players but Gronkjaer more so, McAnuff added because Gronkjaer would be harder to attract. MC - Mahon/Bangura MC - Benayoun 2-4M A very talented attacking midfielder who would bring a touch of flair to the team. With West Ham's relegation we could pick him up do to the reasonably close proximity of the clubs. FC - King FC - Jan Koller/Martin Palermo 4-8M/2-6M Both great target men who would be ideal for King. Imagine the 7ft Koller or the 6ft 4/5 Palermo pairing up with Marlon. Both can score too, unlike our current big man. Foster Samuel Shittu/Demerit Hreidarsson Stewart Gronkjaer Mahon Benayoun Bouazza King Koller/Palermo Easily a club talented enough for a spot from 8-15th which I would be happy with.
we must have loads we got 9 from young going and those players we've signed cant have cost us much and then we got 40m from play offs and we havent seen much of that go anywhere so our bank balance must be looking kinda good
No chance of getting Benayoun, Koller or Palermo. You'll living in a fantasy football world if you think any different I'm afraid. Also don't think Al will be going anywhere. £2m would be grossly underpriced for his potential but equally no Prem team is gonna splash out £5m based on his scratchy performances at this level so far. Other than those bits I think you talk a lot of sense!
Koller and Palermo I thought were only feasable because of their age, and Benayoun because he was the only decent attacking central midfielder I could think of at the time and because West Ham would be down in the situation.
Benayoun would attract too much attention for bigger Premiership clubs. He certainly wouldn't come here, even if West Ham were relegated. There's no way he could match his wages.
Jloyd Samuel is a left back, is he not? We would definately not be able to get Benayoun or Koller, both of which are quality, Palermo is unlikely too. Mcanuff is a real target, and i hope we attempt to get him, With hoskins, king, kabba abd hendo, as well as priskin and moses, our striking options are wide. We do still have some dosh from the ashley young sale, and im hoping that if/when we go down, we will spend it and strive towards the premiership.
I'm pretty sure samuel plays RB and LB. I agree Koller would be a hell of a long shot and as stated I only included him due to his age, Palermo I think would be more realistic. At 33 this could be his last chance to play in the premiership, although it would be unlikely that he would leave Boca. Well then taking into account what you have said I'll make a new 'If we stay up' team. GK - Foster 4-7M DR - Facundo Quiroga 2-4M from Wolfsburg. Good hard working full back with plenty of top level experience. DL - Stewart DC - Shittu DC - Hermann Hreidarsson - 500k-2M MR - McAnuff/Jesper Gronkjaer. 1.5M/up to 3M MC - Mahon/Bangura MC - Sebastian Pardo/Gennaro Del Vecchio - 2-8M/2-6M. Two great players, Pardo plying his trade at Feyenoord and Del Vecchio at Sampdoria. Both would be fantastic signings and would bring so much more flair and technical brilliance to the team. FC - King FC - Helguson 1-3M - A mouthwatering pairing. With Helguson's brilliance in the air and Marlon's pace and tenacious attitude this pairing could get 30 goals combined. Subs: Lee, Demerit/Caldwell, Bouazza, Hoskins, Bangura
No left midfielder??? Bouazza! Sebastian Pardo is the chilean guy right? If so, he can play on the left wing as well as in the centre, and hed be perfect for us. We need someone with a bit of creativity, maybe Williams can fill that role- pard ois a good sugestion though. Helguson and King would rip apart the championship, and if we stay up, they'd be quality too. ;D Got to say, havent heard much about Facundo Quiroga.
ML - Bouazza Sorry I missed out that position, was an accident. Yep Pardo is the chilean guy, you're right he can play on the left wing but if we got him I would much prefer him to play in the centre where he can really work his magic. That way Bouazza can play as well. Quiroga used to play for Sporting in Portugal and is now at Wolfsburg at Germany I think. He has played a dozen or so games for Argentina and from what I've seen looks a good player.
