Can't wait for the transfer window to shut...

[Canaryboy]

In 19 days time so that we can stop worrying about whether X or Y will leave the club, will probably have welcomed one or two new faces during that time, and can get on with focusing on getting behind whoever we have left.

The transfer window isn't as fun when you go down with a wage bill which needs trimming and have become the prey instead of the predator overnight, and not at all ideal that we have been relegated in a World Cup season where many deals up the chain don't take place until much later in the window.

If players need to leave before others can arrive then so be it, we need more than three new faces this summer - if signing new players is dependent on shifting a few (Pilkington, Bassong, Becchio, Bunn) then perhaps we should look forward to them leaving? You never know we may be in for one or two nice surprises. We have been spoiled by Premier League riches in recent seasons allowing us to do our business early, get a settled squad, and then not having to worry about the players who become surplus to requirements afterwards (in some cases just letting their contracts expire) - we are back in the real world where football clubs need to stick to a tight budget and get good value for money or they end up renting a stadium from their local council.  

Is fairly obvious that Adams and his team have had to make some tough decisions due to budgetary restraints, and getting £1m for a player out of contract at the end of the season (who probably didn't want to sign another, or whose wages were determined to not offer enough value for money over the course of a season) is probably good business sense. I just hope that his 'bomb squad' approach works better for us than it has for Lambert at Villa.

If Becchio leaving got us Wood, and Bassong leaving got us a left footed centre back who wants to be here, and Pilkington leaving gets us a player who may be less technically capable but is motivated and physically able to be called upon whenever required and may have more of an impact over the course of a season - then there will be no complaints will there? 

I think we will look in good shape by the time the window has finished, and that everybody will cheer up by the time we have welcomed a couple of new faces?

 

[Agent Dale Cooper]

Honestly, I don't think we've done badly at all. Snodgrass for £7m+ is good business, RvW out on loan frees up a lot of wages, and if Pilks leaves for £1m that's more off the wage bill and a potential 'bad apple' out of the dressing room.

We've brought in Grabban, a proven goalscorer at this level, for a fraction of the price of McCormack, we've brought in Lafferty, who I think could be a terrific signing, and an experienced central midfielder in O'Neil who knows how to get out of this division.

We've signed up Rudd, Ryan Bennett and Hoolahan on new deals, and we still have Howson, Fer and Hooper to come back from injury. All we really need to sign is a winger to replace Pilks and a versatile defender, and we'll be good to go.

Whether Adams is the man to get the best out of these players is the biggest question mark at the moment in my opinion, not our activity in the transfer market.

 

[Canaryboy]

Agree completely Agent Dale Cooper, we have done pretty well so far. Both players to depart permanently had just one year left on their deals, just simple business sense to get money whilst we can for those players now that we have much less of it in the bank. 

But I would like to see us sign a quality centre back, preferably left footed, if Bassong departs.

We don't need to replace Bunn if he leaves, and if Becchio leaves I wonder whether his replacement will come in the loan window (possibly with him leaving on loan too). 

If Man Utd are looking to loan out James Wilson or Nick Powell for the season.....   B)

 

[Agent Dale Cooper]

Agree completely Agent Dale Cooper, we have done pretty well so far. Both players to depart permanently had just one year left on their deals, just simple business sense to get money whilst we can for those players now that we have much less of it in the bank. 

But I would like to see us sign a quality centre back, preferably left footed, if Bassong departs.

We don't need to replace Bunn if he leaves, and if Becchio leaves I wonder whether his replacement will come in the loan window (possibly with him leaving on loan too). 

If Man Utd are looking to loan out James Wilson or Nick Powell for the season.....   B)

Powell's more of an attacking midfielder, isn't he? Wilson would be a good shout.

If he doesn't go abroad before the window closes, I'd love to see us get Karim Rekik on loan from Man City for a season, he'd be fantastic at this level if we can't find a permanent centre-back to fit the bill.

 

[yellowarmy]

Like to see another centre half come in before it shuts though

 

[Yellow Fever]

With Pilks apparently leaving, the Club needs to be pursuing new signings if fans are not to lose heart.

 

[Lake District Canary]

I can't wait for it to shut either.  I just wish they would close the transfer window as soon as the season starts.  Its madness that teams/fans still have uncertainty as to who is staying or going after the season has started.  I know there are reasons why it is like it is, but it is still disruptive to any club trying to get going at the start of the season. We still may need to strengthen - but how do we know what to strengthen when we don't know who's staying or leaving? 

 

[Yellow Fever]

Well, a replacement for Pilks would be a good start, LDS. Apparently Adams said today that there might be action on new players next week.

 

[Lake District Canary]

Well, a replacement for Pilks would be a good start, LDS. Apparently Adams said today that there might be action on new players next week.

True.   Looking a little light now on the left hand side.  We still have a strong squad and Redmond can play on the left as well as Murphy, but an injury here, a suspension there, will soon affect the team.