Summer '08: Ins and Outs

If we're in Europe, we should be attracting bigger names. I can understand if UEFA doesn't give us that European spot that names will not want to come here, but if we do get that spot then I see no reason why the likes of Saha and Odonkor would not want to play for us. If we get that spot and fill our squad with Andreasens and Nevland we would've wasted the best opportunity we have ever had in getting bigger names. I've heard of all 3 of the players Roy brought in. I think he can do well in the market, but he needs to bring in a bit higher quality to the club. We have been stuck in shit since we've been up. Where is the ambition? The board needs to look long and hard at what they're going to do this summer. If they bring in the players of decent quality, but players who will just keep us up or maybe sneak into the top 12, then they're obviously quite happy with where we've been. If they decide to spend like crazy, then I think that we have a chance to break into the top 8 and stay there because of our brilliant manager.


About the wage thing, we need to improve here. We really need to start thinking of giving players what they want(as long as it's reasonable). It's time to stop paying the minimum for the players and time to start paying what the likes of Everton and Tottenham pay. I don't think it's gonna hurt to give somebody 50K a week. It's not like we're paying all 35+ players this amount. Time to solve this.


Also totally agree on London. Not only London, but our Cottage and our damn location. If a player saw this and went to Newcastle because they were interested, then there is no reason why he shouldn't want to come here. Honestly, the likes of Newcastle and Tottenham are old news and we should really beat that in the head of players that we're interested in.

 

Gudjohnsen would be a welcome addition. He can definitely score goals and provide a target man, a la, Brian McBride up front.

 

Here's another few players that we should be interested in. Maybe these lot would be more realistic.



Kevin Doyle

James Harper

Steve Cherundolo

Phillpe Senderos

 

Not that I know of. Flamini is off to Milan, but that's it. Appearently Senderos will still be a Gunner next season, but I highly doubt this. He has underperformed and he's out of favor.


Gudjohnson would be a damn good signing. I could see him and Kamara playing quite well. Lots of goals, provided they play to their capabilities.

 

Who knows anything about Hugo Campagnaro? Apperently he's a right back and plays for Sampdoria. That's all I know.


http://www.eatsleepsport.com/articles/731816.html

 

Anyone hear anything about whether we might be interested in and/or able to sign Stalteri permanently? He's played a significant role down the stretch and I can't imagine he'd be in line for much playing time at Spurs after they paid a big pile of money for Alan Hutton in January. He's not getting any younger, but he might be a good option for a couple of years, since Roy doesn't seem to think Omozusi is ready to be a starter quite yet.

 

I'd still like Ljuboja. I think Baird and Boca are worth keeping for depth. One of Smertin or Elliot will be gone, but it might be good to keep one for cover and maybe as a player-coach, kind of like Billy McKinlay a couple years ago.

 

Fulham has signed GK David Stockdale from Darlington

I wouldn't freak out about the overweight thing, I think he has been good for Darlington this year, and will make a good backup behind Keller (if he stays, I hope he does).

Niemi...SOLD! (not yet) Batista...SOLD! (not yet) I think we should keep Tony as our 2nd/3rd choice.

 

This guy's available, and I hear he is worthy of a look, no?

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 48,00.html

 

I know that, Don. Just my way of highlighting the folly of the rumour mill this early in the transfer timeline.

You caught me.

 

I'm really excited about Stockdale. 22 clean sheets now, and his career path is looking frighteningly similar to Joe Hart's. Even their transfer fees are the same! I'm still hopeful for Batista, but I have a feeling Admiral Stockdale could be better.

 

WHO AM I? WHY AM I HERE?

I feel dirty for making fun of a decorated war hero, but SNL's spoof of him was really funny.

Regarding Ljuboja... I dunno. I was intrigued by the possibility the last couple of times it was mentioned, but I thought the development of great chemistry and an us-against-the world team mentality was crucial to the Great Escape, and while I obviously don't expect the team to stand pat, I'm concerned about the prospect of adding a guy who's known as a headache to what seems to be a good mixture.

 

I was reading an article yesterday (Times, perhaps) and Roy said he felt 30 was too large a side. Article implied he'd be shrinking the roster. How many players does a non big 4 typically carry? I think I recall hearing Villa had the smallest side this year.

I'd like to see a striker added above all else. McBride's getting older and may not be back and the rest of our forwards don't excite me. And since I'm playing 20 questions (sorry, still new to eng football), isn't the #9 reserved for your big gun scorer? Why is Healy wearing it?

 

I'm sorry but Keller still has a lot left in the tank. Sunderland performance aside, he's been stellar . . head and shoulders above Niemi. I think he should maintain his spot.

 

Going by what's on clubs' Wikipedia pages, including players in on loan and excluding players out on loan:

Man United 27
Chelsea 26
Arsenal 37
Liverpool 35
Everton 31
Villa 22
Blackburn 31
Portsmouth 26
Man City 27
West Ham 31
Spurs 31
Newcastle 26
Middlesbrough 26
Wigan 27
Sunderland 35
Bolton 35
Fulham 33
Reading 41
Birmingham 23
Derby 29

Average: 29.95. I think this is skewed by the listings for Arsenal and Liverpool both including a lot of youth players.

So you can get relegated with a small squad or win the title. You can get relegated with a huge squad or make the Champions League. The key isn't the number of players, it's the quality. Villa obviously treads a fine line with their squad size; a few injuries and they'd be in lots of trouble, but a fixed salary pool pays for better players if it pays for fewer of them, and Villa have capitalized on that. I think Roy is also recognizing that fact. Cut loose (for example) Christanval and Baird and that money goes to pay one player who's better than either. Clearly there's some dead weight that can be cut loose.

 

Josh, Ian Pearce is furious right now that you didn't mention him :lol: