What (not who) else do you think we'll bring in this summer?

[dee]

[quote author=Redshrek link=topic=41043.msg1139281#msg1139281 date=1279655877]
[quote author=Brendan link=topic=41043.msg1139256#msg1139256 date=1279654875]
Raul? Jesus Christ.
[/quote]
Sorry enlightend one. I think he could be worth a punt for a season. Considering the financial predicament the club finds itself in, we could get rid of ngog and have him as backup to remi / Torres. Gaining an additional 3-5 million to use towards other areas of the team. Hopefully after a year the club will be in a better financial state to find a better replacement.
[/quote]
signing on fee - agent's commission -wages you Re looking at £10m before you even consider a fee

 

[El Pistolero]

[quote author=Dee link=topic=41043.msg1139287#msg1139287 date=1279656312]
[quote author=Redshrek link=topic=41043.msg1139281#msg1139281 date=1279655877]
[quote author=Brendan link=topic=41043.msg1139256#msg1139256 date=1279654875]
Raul? Jesus Christ.
[/quote]
Sorry enlightend one. I think he could be worth a punt for a season. Considering the financial predicament the club finds itself in, we could get rid of ngog and have him as backup to remi / Torres. Gaining an additional 3-5 million to use towards other areas of the team. Hopefully after a year the club will be in a better financial state to find a better replacement.
[/quote]
signing on fee - agent's commission -wages you Re looking at £10m before you even consider a fee
[/quote]

Well this is what it would depend on. If we could get hom on pay as you play contract then it maybe worth it. If he was demanding high wages then i wouldn't bother.

 

[eecheerow]

First priority obviously should be a left back... after that we should be in for Bellamy if he's available on the cheap...

I rate Cattermole and wouldn't mind him coming in once Mascherano fucks off to Italy or wherever he wants to go.

If Bellamy comes in to sort out our forwards, I'd use the rest of the money from Mascherano's sale on Turan at £12 million than Remy.

 

[Sunny]

[quote author=Frogfish link=topic=41043.msg1138641#msg1138641 date=1279564513]
[quote author=Buddha link=topic=41043.msg1138607#msg1138607 date=1279563153]
[quote author=Frogfish link=topic=41043.msg1138601#msg1138601 date=1279562966]
Oh and Werder have said offers starting at 20M for Ozil ..... so we are out because we don't really need him at that price.
[/quote]

Benfica were quoting 35-40m odd for Di Maria not so long ago -and he went to Real for 21m.

I still maintain that Ozil will not go for 15m or more - not with only a year left on his contract. It simply doesn't happen.
[/quote]

There were 4 or 5 teams sniffing around. I can't see him going cheap.
[/quote]

I agree with Buddha, with a year left on his contract, there's no way he'll go for that price. Take Michael Owen as an example.

 

[Modo]

LB
DM (if Mascherano leaves)
ST

 

[peterhague]

i can't believe there are people on here who'd seriously advocate us turning down ozil because we couldn't fit him into our team, what with all the barely plausible alternatives we've got like aquilani or jonjo shelvey!

this kid looks to have all the ingredients to be a world class creative player, something we haven't had since probably barnes (yeah, maybe gerrard, but i still think he's more of a dynamic, power, player than a purely creative one like, say, fabregas). i personally doubt we've got any chance of signing him, but if we have, we'd be absolutely mental not to throw everything at it.

as for paying for him - i'd sell aquilani in a heartbeat if it meant we got ozil in return.

 

[Modo]

Nothing new really, just listed the players in the first team and their positions to get a clearer picture of where we need culling or strengthening.
What I'm considering are mainly factors like, reducing the wage bill and generating transfer money.

Goalkeepers: Reina, Cavalieri, Gulacsi, Itandje, Hansen, Bouzanis

I'm not overly impressed with Cavalieri, sure he has experience but I still think Gulacsi should be given a chance to deputise for Reina. Bouzanis is also a very good prospect. Hansen will never be good enough.

In: -
Out: Cavalieri, Itandje.

Center backs: Agger, Carra, Kyrgiakos, Skrtel, Wilson, Ayala

A bit controversial and a big risk, but I think we can afford to let go of Skrtel. Mainly because we need the cash. I was very impressed with Ayala, he came on last season and didn't disappoint. Wilson has been playing regularly for Rangers and is therefore good enough to deputise for Agger or Carra. The youngsters need to play or they'll never be good enough.
Kirgiakos was arguably our best defender last season. But with the likes of Ayala, Wilson and Kelly for that matter, I think he's worth offloading, considering his age and our financial difficulties.

In: -
Out: Skrtel, Kirgiakos

Right backs: Johnson, Kelly, Degen, Darby, Irwin

Obviously Irwin and Darby aren't ready. The latter is IMO not good enough. Kelly is a very good prospect and could play if Johnson gets injured. We've got Carra as well. Degen has been told to leave. I'll give Darby a second chance because he's a scouser after all.

In: -
Out: Degen

Left backs: Robinson, Mavinga

I don't have to convince you that we desperately need strengthening at left back.
We actually need two left backs but considering the finances I'd rather go for one who's top class.

In: A top class fullback.
Out: -

Defensive midfielders: Lucas, Mascherano, Plessis

Mascherano seems to be desperate to move. Lucas not so much. We need another defensive midfielder. Plessis isn't good enough.

In: A top class defensive midfielder
Out: Plessis, Mascherano

Central midfielders: Shelvey, Gerrard, Spearing, Palsson

I think we're sorted in this department, so to speak. Sure, Shelvey and Spearing aren't exactly the most experienced players in the squad but Aquilani and Lucas can also play there.

In: -
Out: -

Attacking midfielders: Cole, Aquilani, Pacheco, Bruna

Same here, sorted. Pacheco is more of a striker I know, but I think he's better in the supporting role. Attacking mid isn't really the right label but you know what I mean. I hope he gets some games this season.

In: -
Out: -

Right wingers: Maxi, Kuyt, El Zhar, Amoo

El Zhar is what? 24 years old? I think his time is up, sell. Amoo looks like a fantastic prospect wouldn't mind seeing him in the Carling cup. Kuyt and Maxi are good enough IMO, we don't need to change anything here.

In: -
Out: El Zhar


Left wingers: Babel, Jovanovic, Ince, Eccleston

Babel has always been a big prospect but I think we should admit to ourselves that he hasn't got what it takes and cut our losses. In that case we might need another left winger. Haven't seen much of Jovanovic, well except for the WC. I'll reserve my judgement. I'm aware of the fact that Eccleston is more of a striker but I think he's too light weight to play upfront. He can do a decent job on the wing. Ince isn't ready.

In: A top class left winger (that is if Babel leaves)
Out: Babel

Strikers: Torres, Ngog, Nemeth, Dalla Valle

We desperately need another top class striker. Preferably someone who can play alone upfront. Klose, Gyan, Santa Cruz, Llorente and Remy are all realistic targets.
I'm kinda divided regarding Ngog. I think he's a good player but I don't think he's good enough to be our 2nd striker. If we get a decent offer I think we should sell.
I like Nemeth but can he play alone upfront, I don't think so. Dalla Valle isn't ready.

In: A top class striker
Out: Ngog, Nemeth

Summary:

In: Left fullback, defensive midfielder, left winger and a striker
Out: Cavalieri, Itandje, Skrtel, Kirgiakos, Degen, Mascherano, Plessis, El Zhar, Babel, Ngog and Nemeth

I'm not going to predict any transfer sums but we should be able to generate enough money to cover the areas that need strengthening.

 

[keniget]

That's pretty fair summary. I wouldn't sell Skrtel though and would probably prefer to loan N'Gog out unless the offer was too good to turn down.

A couple of minor points - Palsson is a deep lying midfielder who also played CB a fair bit last season, Bruna is an attacking midfielder who typically played out on the left and Ecclestone is perhaps more of a striker that can play out wide.

 

[Modo]

[quote author=keniget link=topic=41043.msg1140935#msg1140935 date=1279867764]
That's pretty fair summary. I wouldn't sell Skrtel though and would probably prefer to loan N'Gog out unless the offer was too good to turn down.

A couple of minor points - Palsson is a deep lying midfielder who also played CB a fair bit last season, Bruna is an attacking midfielder who typically played out on the left and Ecclestone is perhaps more of a striker that can play out wide.
[/quote]

Oh OK, I'll fix it.

 

[Squiggles]

You can only really have one of Aquilani or Ozil.

And now Cole has signed, I'm not sure where a player like Aquilani, or Ozil for that matter, fits in at all.

 

[Buddha]

Ozil would walk into our side - it would be a case of someone else (Kuyt?) making way. He's a world superstar in making and will only go for 15m odd once in his career.

We cannot afford to let the chance of signing him (our only chance unless we become the next Citeh) go without any attempt at getting him in.

I don't agree either with the mindset of we can only have one of Aquilani or Ozil. Aren't our frequent envious glances at the likes of Utd's and Chelsea's squads precisely because they have a full bench of attacking options?

 

[keniget]

Yeah, but unless we sell someone like Aquilani we are not going to be able to afford to buy him.

Priority has to go to signing to the left-back and striker positions.

 

[mark1975]

[quote author=keniget link=topic=41043.msg1141024#msg1141024 date=1279879029]
Yeah, but unless we sell someone like Aquilani we are not going to be able to afford to buy him.

Priority has to go to signing to the left-back and striker positions.
[/quote]

Yep. And Cole and Aquilani are both heavily injury prone so you'd fancy them to both get a fair amount of games between them.

 

[Buddha]

Keni, we can surely find an adequate replacement for masher for much less than the fee we'd receive for him (Banega, Parker, Diarra etc), thus freeing up some extra cash.

We'd also get 8-10m for Babel.

We could raise the 14m (or less) for Ozil if we wanted without selling Aquilani.

 

[ILD]

I presume the Turan link's are dead in the water due to Cole arriving.

 

[peterhague]

[quote author=Buddha link=topic=41043.msg1141027#msg1141027 date=1279879516]
Keni, we can surely find an adequate replacement for masher for much less than the fee we'd receive for him (Banega, Parker, Diarra etc), thus freeing up some extra cash.

We'd also get 8-10m for Babel.

We could raise the 14m (or less) for Ozil if we wanted without selling Aquilani.
[/quote]


aye. it seems clear enough that we'd be idiotic to turn down the chance to sign ozil. any player who'd improve us that much would be a priority, plus you've got a ready-made replacement for gerrard.

 

[manwithnoname]

If we sold Aquilani, Masher and Babel and brought in Ozil, Defour/ Banega/ Lass Diarra/ Plus a new striker/ whoever, you'd have to be happy

 

[robinhood]

I think we're keeping Aquilani and he's going to come good.

 

[Buddha]

[quote author=robinhood link=topic=41043.msg1141193#msg1141193 date=1279901768]
I think we're keeping Aquilani and he's going to come good.
[/quote]

I think he's got it in him to, it's just whether he can stay fit for any length of time.

On the latter point we can't be more than hopeful.

 

[ankreds]

ozil would be one HELL of a coup. Can score goals and his creativity is second to none. With him, Cole, Torres,, and Gerrard we could potentially be ruthless in that all players can score goals...not to mention our new signing wilson who can attack corners very well.

 

[peterhague]

[quote author=Buddha link=topic=41043.msg1141200#msg1141200 date=1279902041]
[quote author=robinhood link=topic=41043.msg1141193#msg1141193 date=1279901768]
I think we're keeping Aquilani and he's going to come good.
[/quote]

I think he's got it in him to, it's just whether he can stay fit for any length of time.

On the latter point we can't be more than hopeful.
[/quote]


i reckon aquilani will be underwhelming again this season and then be sold next summer. him and gerrard just don't seem to fit in the same team, and i don't particularly rate him individually either, especially given his strong links to the injured community.

 

[H]

[quote author=ankreds link=topic=41043.msg1141203#msg1141203 date=1279902135]
ozil would be one HELL of a coup. Can score goals and his creativity is second to none. [/quote]

You got all that from one tournament........

 

[Avmenon]

He's been playing well for some time though.

 

[Frogfish]

There's a difference though between being an established superstar and someone with potential. Ozil had a cracking WC and has obviously performed well in both the U21 and the Bundesliga to get his chance, however will / can he maintain that level and would he be able to adapt to the faster EPL. Whatever the answer (within reason) the price is right.