Rumours and speculation

[Lavanche]

To Aaron Tshibola, Zach Clough and Sergi Canos.

First one was of course here already, but you can see certain pattern there with all of them being just 21 and us signing few rated youngsters during winter window. All of them have good ammount of championship games under their belt and proven record in this league.

If we managed to sign all of them it wouldn't break our bank either. Canos is touted to be 2,5 millions, Clough 1,5 millions and Tshibola +2 millions as they seem to have rejected our first bid.In my opinion not a bad total as we would get striker, winger and central midfielder for with 6-8 millions. If even one of them breaks it big time his selling on fee would cut the losses with others.

None of them are too familiar for me, but specially  Canos seems to be useful player for us if we lose both Redmond and Brady as he can bring flair on both sides of the field. What do you think?

I am personaly delighted if we take this kind of road. Outside of needing another ready striker to compete with Jerome and mayby CB and LB if we lose Klose, Olsson and Brady, we have quite ready team structure and signing developing players who are at the brink of breaking it might be risky tactic for straight promotion, but also might be very fruitful for our future and as long as they are players outside of radar they are also much cheaper than signing well ready 25 year olds as certain starters.

-----------Jerome--------------

Jarvis---Hoolahan-----------?

-------Tettey - Howson-------

? -- Klose - Bennett - Pinto

------------Ruddy----------------

That really is not a bad starting line up for Championship. I think we see different Jerome again this season when we are more free to attack and the support is closer to him. Rumours also say that Klose is to stay so it would be a big relief for us, if we wouldn't need to find starting CB for this season. Bennett, Martin and Bassong all are alright at this level althought I hope we also try to find a bit younger option behind them. 

 

[morty]

I have to admit to knowing virtually nothing about the players linked!

Sounds like we are looking for a new coach too, Gary Holt left the club today.

 

[Number 9]

Who do we need as a new first team coach then?

Someone who has been successful in the Chumps and the Prem.

Gary Neville anyone?

 

[morty]

Who do we need as a new first team coach then?

Someone who has been successful in the Chumps and the Prem.

Gary Neville anyone?

Considering he was part of the England set up that was responsible for last nights defensive performance, perhaps not 

Crooky?

 

[Number 9]

My word, would take something to prise him away from Stoke.

 

[GJP]

Hard to see beyond Martin being first choice. The Whittaker deal makes you think him and Pinto are the RBs and therefore Martin at CB.

 

[Lavanche]

Yeah Martin probably is CB, but hopefuly Bennett can push for starting place during pre-season. This way or that quality difference is very small as Martin is quite decent in areas where Bennett struggles and vice versa. If we can't offload one or two of our 5 CB's (Turner included) we probably already have defence ready apart from LB.

Main difference this season compared to our previous Championship season is Bradley Johnson. We had quite solid unit on left with him as he gave that ball winning element and gave us goals. Hard thing to repeat with our current options if Brady leaves. Jarvis and Murphy twins don't give much cover for defence. Interesting season ahead of us.

 

[ZLF]

have seen several mentions of us looking to move bennett on and links for Turner to charlton too.   If we can revitalise the CB area as a result that looks good,  may also need to replace olsson too if he does move on together with the inevitable Brady departure.

Priority for me remains first choice striker and CB options  

 

[RhythmicTheory]

I would be delighted with Clough, I dont know anything about the other two, Clough good technical ability and eye for goal.

Tbh, 1.5 is daylight robbery for him, even with no guarantees he will make it, I would imagine heavy sell on clauses ala maddison. 

This is great, all the players I usually sign at the start of my chompy game will already be playing for us at this point, more transfer budget to play with \o/

 

[Din]

From what I've seen of Clough he seems a really good young talent, and £1.5m is a steal. But doesn't he play in behind the striker, like Naismith and Hoolahan do? If so can't see him being first choice. That said for that price there's no harm in it, and if he's not playing come January time we could always loan him out.

We need one, maybe two new centre backs, a right winger, a centre midfielder and two new strikers. And that's not including if we need to replace anyone who leaves.

If I had to choose some ins:

Jonathan Kodjia (Bristol City) - £5m(?)
Patrick Bamford (Chelsea) - Loan
Aaron Tshibola (Reading) - £3m
Alex Pritchard (Spurs) - Loan/James Forrest (Celtic) - £5m
Daniel Bentley (Southend) - £2m
Zach Clough (Bolton) - £1.5m
New centre half (dunno who)

Don't know who I would bring in as centre back options to be honest. The main priority though should be keeping hold of Timm Klose.

Out: Bassong, Lafferty, Andreu, Turner, Van Wolfswinkel. Those are the ones we should be looking to sell anyway, as well as send a few youngsters, such as the Murphy's, Toffolo, Maddison out on loan. Bennett, Rudd, Mulumbu and Odjidja may leave as well.

As for our 25 man squad:

GK: Ruddy, Bentley, Kean
DF: Klose, R.Bennett, Martin, New CB, Pinto, Whittaker, Olsson
MF: Howson, Tettey, Dorrans, Mulumbu, Tshibola
WG: Pritchard/Forrest, Jarvis, Brady
CAM: Naismith, Hoolahan, Clough
ST: Kodjia, Jerome, Bamford

Team:

Ruddy
Pinto Klose New CB Olsson
Howson Tettey
Pritchard Naismith Brady
Kodjia

Subs: Bentley, Martin, Mulumbu, Dorrans, Hoolahan, Jarvis, Jerome/Bamford.

I'd be over the moon with that, maybe slightly optimistic saying that we'll keep Klose, Brady and Olsson, but if we did that would be excellent. I also agree that with the Whittaker contract it's hard to look past Martin being at centre back unfortunately. However as long as we were to keep hold of Klose I don't even think that would be too much of an issue.​

 

[eatonparkboy]

I remember Clough bursting onto the scene and the two games I saw him in he looked a real talent. But Redmond, RVW, Power. Jarvis are just some that did the same so it takes a bit more than 30+ games to establish that talent. But I would be happy to see him, fitness providing, sign on for that low fee. He looks an attack minded midfielder, just what we need.

I would assume Canos has been coached well at Liverpool and has played a season in the Championship. Again a low signing fee seems a good investment provided we can beat off Bristol City for his signature. But he looks to be a replacement for Redmond.

Tshibola is the puzzle to me. For a 21 year old he hasn't played much league football and didn't manage to get on the score sheet for Hartlepool despite a good run in the team. And I believe we have to be looking for scorers from all positions if we want to sustain a challenge next season.

I don't believe the search for defenders is as important as attack minded players with an eye for goal or ability to provide for others.

 

[Number 9]

Surely the defense is key, if we are not conceding many goals then our strikers have more chance of being match winners.

We have been shipping 2 per game, what chance have the strikers got? Have to score 3 every game to get a win, that's totally demoralizing for them.

 

[eatonparkboy]

Personally, after watching two seasons of Hughton and three quarters of AN, pinning their hopes of defending their way to safety, obviously their only ambition in the top flight, yet remembering AN quickly realising in his Championship season that scoring goals was the key to winning, then I believe the old "P's" adage of pace, power, passing and possession is likely to be the most successful tactic next season.

It won't work every game but keeping the ball and playing in the opponents half is my recipe for defending. Should we be promoted, of course we will have to try and strengthen the defence as a first priority, but after witnessing the Euros, I would like to know where good defenders are to be found.

 

[morty]

Signing(s) this week, surely?

 

[Number 9]

Morty you bad boy, don't leave us hanging, name some names!

 

[morty]

Morty you bad boy, don't leave us hanging, name some names!

Ha, I have no insider knowledge or sources I'm afraid.

Nothing more than wishful thinking.

 

[KeiranShikari]

My guess would be 3 weeks.

Or maybe we'll sign some literally who kid that will never play for the team before then.

 

[Number 9]

Rashford never played for the first team before, wishful thinking, he only got a chance by accident almost.

 

[Din]

We've apparently had a £2.5m bid for Sergi Canos at Liverpool accepted.

Liverpool fan who I'm mates with said that he's more of a wide forward than a natural winger, but he's undoubtedly talented and should comfortably get double figures goal-wise if he starts regularly. Said that he also has a great work rate, is technically very good and he's disappointed he's leaving.

Sounds promising. My mate also said though that it's likely Liverpool will insert some kind of buy-back clause. At £2.5m though this seems like a good deal.

 

[ZLF]

very positive feedback from brentford fans anger from bizzle ones that we have highjacked their deal.    Apparently technically very good and as importnatly for AN is a real hard worker and suited to the english game.    

He only has a year left on his contract hence £2.5m,  and his demands that he is worth over £10k pw suggests he isnt lacking in confidence.   Will see if he makes it here.