Rumours and speculation

[Canaryboy]

We'd be mugging Sunderland for £4m if they pay that for Naismith.

But wouldn't be able to gloat, because we'd still be £4m down.

That's true friendship though and now I understand why we play the 'Friendship Cup' with Sunderland, having seen that Everton have screwed us out of £8m they come along and offer to split the damage.

 

[Gaffer]

Alex Neil apologists have to explain how he managed to waste £8.5 million on a mediocre 29 year old only to sell him for £4 million 6 months later. You can't blame the board for this one as Naismith is very much AN's man.

 

[Canaryboy]

We did somehow manage to get £8m for Lewis Grabban in the same window though, which was a good £4m more than he was worth, so kinda balances things out. We mugged Bournemouth and then Everton mugged us. 

 

[Gaffer]

The difference is Bournemouth can afford to waste money, we can't. Our success depends on getting things right in the transfer market and nothing happening now or that has happened in the past suggests Neil can deliver.

 

[Canaryboy]

He did come into a club with a fair bit of deadwood, Lafferty, Van Wolfwinkel and VOO weren't on him (harsh on VOO perhaps in terms of talent, but lets face it he was a crock). 

And Klose, Pinto and Brady have all been excellent signings. So not all bad.

 

[Canaryboy]

Seem it said that Wolves have bid £10m for Chris Martin, market for strikers is insane these days. 

 

[eatonparkboy]

I think we may be forgetting that Naismith looked better at Everton because he had better players around him. Of course he hasn't been a success. He came to a team that was not winning or even looking likely to. And this season has hardly started much better, entertainment wise, because the same players are still turning out poor performances on the back of the manager's poor decisions and tactics.

So yes it would be better if he moved on, funnily enough, up a division, and a replacement brought in. But let's not get on the back of the next expensive incumbent if the players and manager still perform poorly.

And funnily enough Canaryboy, a lot of posters on NCFC sites are now beginning to question Klose, Pinto and Brady.

Still chin up, the Checkatrade Trophy looks a Wembley banker if we narrowly miss out on the League Cup. Youngsters and fringe players doing OK. Whose to say they are any worse than what the fire proof first teamers are.

 

[Canaryboy]

Anybody who slates Pinto when the alternative is Martin or Whittaker isn't worth listening to, he's clearly an upgrade even if it came half a season too late. 

 

[eatonparkboy]

Anybody who slates Pinto when the alternative is Martin or Whittaker isn't worth listening to, he's clearly an upgrade even if it came half a season too late. 

Agreed. However, I do feel the same when people think Tettey is so good and Naismith so poor. Let's face it. Our midfield is ordinary. Our key men are Tettey and Howson. And neither of the is pulling up trees. One can't pass and the other would rather do that than anything else. Yet people are saying we have more than enough midfield players. So who are these dynamic players who are going to keep us near if not at the top?

 

[Canaryboy]

I don't think Naismith is poor, I just don't think he wants to be here and therefore we'll never get the best out of him. 

Comparing him with Tettey is a bit silly as they occupy completely different spaces on the pitch. We've already replaced Naismith with Pritchard. 

Hopefully Mulumbu can nail down a place in the team this year. Also, Dorrans has played deep for us in this league doing a holding midfielder type role, did alright. 

With that said I'm a little jealous of Villa signing Jedinek, he's a quality defensive midfielder and a leader. 

 

[eatonparkboy]

I don't think Naismith is poor, I just don't think he wants to be here and therefore we'll never get the best out of him. 

Comparing him with Tettey is a bit silly as they occupy completely different spaces on the pitch. We've already replaced Naismith with Pritchard. 

Hopefully Mulumbu can nail down a place in the team this year. Also, Dorrans has played deep for us in this league doing a holding midfielder type role, did alright. 

With that said I'm a little jealous of Villa signing Jedinek, he's a quality defensive midfielder and a leader. 

I compared Tettey and Naismith for no other reason than the way opinion can be clouded. But in recent games, thanks to the manager's tactics they have actually occupied areas of the pitch very close to each other. Then out of the blue one is sent to wander on his own among the Brum defenders.

Jealousy will be pretty evident by 11pm. Jack Wilshere going to Bournemouth! I remember you doubting the Cherries last season and they are now, wealthier owner of course, in a position to bring in a midfield player full of talent and flair. I bet the Gooners are burning effigies of Arsene right now. Albert Adomah going to Villa! Too right I'm jealous. Kodija to Villa! Green with envy. And believe it or not Murphy to Newcastle! Call me Kermit.

 

[Canaryboy]

I suspect there are a few fans that will end up jealous of Pritchard within a few months as long as he remains fit, no doubt Brentford fans already are.  

The thing with Naismith is that he has never looked like he even wants to be here, from pretty much the game after his debut onwards. When he signed from Everton we kept hearing how he was technically limited but he had this immense workrate where he gave 100% every game for the shirt. Do you feel that we have seen this mystical three lunged workhorse? I think if he'd of put a bit more into earning some respect he'd have got some back.

He also seems to be permanently incapable of completing 90 minutes, probably because he's spent 4 years being a part-time player at Everton. Hope it works out for him at Sunderland, and I hope Pritchard works out well for us - we don't need three players in that position. 

As for Wilshere, I actually think that moves makes him look like a bit of a muppet if it goes through. Allegedly turned down AC Milan and Roma to move to Bournemouth. Why? A few grand a week more? Going out with his mates in London a priority? The Guardian have just this minute reported that Wilshere is in talks with Chelsea anyway, so no point getting jealous about things until they are reported. 

 

[GJP]

Well I guess he needs to prove he can play a season in the Prem, not Serie A.

 

[Din]

Looks like we're set to sign Jerome Sinclair on a 6 month loan deal. Really disappointed with that, just a complete lack of ambition from the club.

Villa may have spent a sh*tload of money, but their strikeforce of McCormack, Kodjia, Ayew and Gestede is undoubtedly the best in the league, and they've boosted their promotion chances massively. I'm not asking us to go out and spend £30m on new strikers, but we've spent a combined £4m on our new forwards. It's so frustrating.

 

[Canaryboy]

I'm a bit jealous of some of the strikers that have moved, I'll admit that, handing Oliviera the number 9 shirt suggests that we aren't going to be signing a marquee player like Rhodes.

But it isn't all about how much money you throw around or the profile of individuals, if it was then Newcastle wouldn't have done down last season. They spent £50m in the summer and £30m in January on numerous highly rated and very talented individuals, but that's what they were... a collection of individuals, they didn't succeed as a team. 

That's why Villa splashing the cash isn't going to guarantee them any success either. In that respect I think one of the best moves we could make today is not an incoming player but an outgoing one, cheerio Lafferty. 

 

[Canaryboy]

Looks like we're set to sign Jerome Sinclair on a 6 month loan deal. Really disappointed with that, just a complete lack of ambition from the club.

Villa may have spent a sh*tload of money, but their strikeforce of McCormack, Kodjia, Ayew and Gestede is undoubtedly the best in the league, and they've boosted their promotion chances massively. I'm not asking us to go out and spend £30m on new strikers, but we've spent a combined £4m on our new forwards. It's so frustrating.

It is strange how we can drop £8m/£9m twice in 7 months on attacking midfielders, but can only muster £4m on a striker. 

 

[Canaryboy]

Looks like we're set to sign Jerome Sinclair on a 6 month loan deal. Really disappointed with that, just a complete lack of ambition from the club.

Unless he allows Carlton Morris out on loan to Hamilton (their manager confirmed they want him back), and another striker is intended to let Lafferty go to Cardiff?

Lets hope so anyway, would kinda make sense as the U23's are in a competitive competition this year and Carlton Morris played against Peterborough. 

 

[Din]

It is strange how we can drop £8m/£9m twice in 7 months on attacking midfielders, but can only muster £4m on a striker. 

I can understand why the board would be reluctant to do what the likes of Newcastle/Villa have done and splash an insane amount on new players. We aren't the size of those clubs so can't go spending £40m plus on new players, I get that. But so far this window the £11m sale of Redmond has cancelled out the money we paid for Canos/Pritchard/McGovern, and the potential sale of Naismith will cancel out the money we paid for Oliveira. If Naismith does go that means we won't have actually spent any money this window, so would it really hurt us that much at all financially to drop £10/12m on Assombalonga/Rhodes/Martin? It's so annoying watching our promotion rivals doing that as we sit back and it could well cost us.

 

[eatonparkboy]

I can understand why the board would be reluctant to do what the likes of Newcastle/Villa have done and splash an insane amount on new players. We aren't the size of those clubs so can't go spending £40m plus on new players, I get that. But so far this window the £11m sale of Redmond has cancelled out the money we paid for Canos/Pritchard/McGovern, and the potential sale of Naismith will cancel out the money we paid for Oliveira. If Naismith does go that means we won't have actually spent any money this window, so would it really hurt us that much at all financially to drop £10/12m on Assombalonga/Rhodes/Martin? It's so annoying watching our promotion rivals doing that as we sit back and it could well cost us.

Especially as we were told we were going for it a this summer window.

I hate, really hate, how money has become the greatest influence on the game. So of course we cannot look to spend the absolutely stupid money that has mostly gone abroad. But when I used to dwell on the past I was repeatedly told it is a different game now. If I can now accept that then why can't our owners? Delia is not a lot older than me.

 

[Din]

Especially as we were told we were going for it a this summer window.

I hate, really hate, how money has become the greatest influence on the game. So of course we cannot look to spend the absolutely stupid money that has mostly gone abroad. But when I used to dwell on the past I was repeatedly told it is a different game now. If I can now accept that then why can't our owners? Delia is not a lot older than me.

Thing is as well if we don't go up this season we're going to be even worse of financially. After 2 seasons when the parachute payments stop if we haven't been promoted then we're going to find ourselves a lot worse off money wise than we would be if we spent £15m on a new striker who helps to get us promoted.