What is going on this summer?

[gerbin11]

As with most fans, my summers are generally spent trawling through the daily papers and strategically hopping internet sites and forums at intervals throughout each and every day. Due to this habit I feel I have become used to the usual way these summers work out. Except of course last summer when the unbelievable happened when the pie in the sky signing actually happened. As you can probably see from my post count I do more reading than posting.

This summer seems different to me. The usual start was the signing of a free transfer which had promise but no guaranteed quality. Last year we had Voronin this year Degen (I am not making any comment regarding their each respective qualities). Now after this normally comes the full gamut of players yearning for a move having their agents hark on about being contacted by every major team, normally including Liverpool. Now I am not saying this hasn’t happened. The difference this year is that players who seem to have been settled are being linked with us and the surprise is the number and in different positions.

We have Dossena, one of those signings ( or is it still possible signing) few had heard of LEFT BACK, Barry CENTER MID, Downing LEFT MID, Milner RIGHT MID, Bentley RIGHT MID/CENTER MID. Now except for Bentley who has suddenly stated he wants a move, mainly after Hughes has moved none of these players seemed to want a move before we were linked. What I am saying is that it would appear that these enquiries would appear to be true; they have mainly been released by their respective clubs.

I have seldom seen so many targets in one summer and there is very little doubling up which would suggest none of them are #’options’ or ‘smoke screens’. I am not going to suggest the reason for this but I feel something has changed this summer, are we really that cash strapped.

The latest strong and widespread rumours are relating to Villa, David not Aston, which are running a parallel to what happened with Torres last summer, with regards to Villa the owners could be thinking of the profile raising impact that Torres last season which could explain them maybe going out on a leg with that one.

What are your feelings, is it just me or does it feel slightly different?

[Tatterdemalion]

What bothers me is the number of mediocre English players we are being linked with, which is the reason I think the links are true, in view of the potential ruling to have a minimum number of English players in the side for Euro competitions.

However, it bothers me because I think the ruling is a non-starter. I'm sure the EU would regard it as a restraint of trade.

So we're looking to buy a load of crap on a premise which is unlikely anyway.

[pezzzer]

What bothers me is the number of mediocre English players we are being linked with, which is the reason I think the links are true, in view of the potential ruling to have a minimum number of English players in the side for Euro competitions.

However, it bothers me because I think the ruling is a non-starter. I'm sure the EU would regard it as a restraint of trade.

So we're looking to buy a load of crap on a premise which is unlikely anyway.

agreed mate, european legislation would never alow it.

[Kenneth]

What bothers me is the number of mediocre English players we are being linked with, which is the reason I think the links are true, in view of the potential ruling to have a minimum number of English players in the side for Euro competitions.

However, it bothers me because I think the ruling is a non-starter. I'm sure the EU would regard it as a restraint of trade.

So we're looking to buy a load of crap on a premise which is unlikely anyway.

Whatever the reason for being linked with average english players, it's not good to hear. Barry, Milner, Bentley (rough figures being talked about are 15, 7 and 15 million respectively). All poor options in my opinion. I can't get my head around any of those options. Bentley and Barry are reasonable as squad purchases but neither should involve an outlay of more than 9 or 10 million each. Milner is not progression at all. Rafa needs this summer to result in a title push or he will be under a lot of pressure next year.

[BFG]

Nice title Op.

[Kenneth]

Nice title Op.

Hadn't noticed.

[Van Halen]

As with most fans, my summers are generally spent trawling through the daily papers and strategically hopping internet sites and forums at intervals throughout each and every day. Due to this habit I feel I have become used to the usual way these summers work out. Except of course last summer when the unbelievable happened when the pie in the sky signing actually happened. As you can probably see from my post count I do more reading than posting.

This summer seems different to me. The usual start was the signing of a free transfer which had promise but no guaranteed quality. Last year we had Voronin this year Degen (I am not making any comment regarding their each respective qualities). Now after this normally comes the full gamut of players yearning for a move having their agents hark on about being contacted by every major team, normally including Liverpool. Now I am not saying this hasn’t happened. The difference this year is that players who seem to have been settled are being linked with us and the surprise is the number and in different positions.

We have Dossena, one of those signings ( or is it still possible signing) few had heard of LEFT BACK, Barry CENTER MID, Downing LEFT MID, Milner RIGHT MID, Bentley RIGHT MID/CENTER MID. Now except for Bentley who has suddenly stated he wants a move, mainly after Hughes has moved none of these players seemed to want a move before we were linked. What I am saying is that it would appear that these enquiries would appear to be true; they have mainly been released by their respective clubs.

I have seldom seen so many targets in one summer and there is very little doubling up which would suggest none of them are #’options’ or ‘smoke screens’. I am not going to suggest the reason for this but I feel something has changed this summer, are we really that cash strapped.

The latest strong and widespread rumours are relating to Villa, David not Aston, which are running a parallel to what happened with Torres last summer, with regards to Villa the owners could be thinking of the profile raising impact that Torres last season which could explain them maybe going out on a leg with that one.

What are your feelings, is it just me or does it feel slightly different?

There's a chap on RAWK who is adamant that Downing has signed for us as a friend of his is a player at Boro. Also Balague seems to think that he has RAFA's confidence and is intimating that there's a big surprise heading our way. This is why we have been linked with so many players - rumour - conjecture except this time we are having a bigger clearout which could recoup £30m. Last year we did not recoup too much apart from the Bellamy sale and we got decent money for Sissoko. Also if Pezzer is right (and I have no reason to doubt him or his sources) DIC may already own us so if the conspiracy theorists are right, more "LFC are skint" rumours = having to sell players rumours = deflated prices = we get more value for money before the DIC announcement. The only fly in the oitment is that we are having to pay more for average players like Barry and having to settle for less for the likes of Crouch. We might actually be going about this in a clever manner, however if Rick Parry is involved, may be not!

[Imy]

There's a chap on RAWK who is adamant that Downing has signed for us as a friend of his is a player at Boro.

Wtf?? this had better be BS

Also if Pezzer is right (and I have no reason to doubt him or his sources) DIC may already own us so if the conspiracy theorists are right, more "LFC are skint" rumours = having to sell players rumours = deflated prices = we get more value for money before the DIC announcement.

Where has Pezzer said that?

[Van Halen]

Wtf?? this had better be BS




Where has Pezzer said that?

Just to clarify:
Go on the RAWK site and read the Downing forum and you will see the details there. Pezzer is not involved in the Downing rumour, he is confident however that his source is right about DIC take over.

[Shaggy]

Downing has his own forum on RAWK?

[Nic83]

It will all start after the Euros...

[Imy]

It will all start after the Euros...

what? the influx of 2nd rate English players

[DannyMan2006]

I think it's about time we bought in some quality English players. Barry, Bentley and Downing would fit into that category for me. There are players better than them, but few players get stuck in like the British players and when the chips are down on a wet wednesday up at Hull they are the players who will get you a result.

Also helps with team building and changing room atmosphere if you can bring in some people who live by the british culture. So whilst I will not be delighted with some of the possible signings I think positives could be drawn should they sign instead of the likes of Quaresma and Joaquin.

[Imy]

I think it's about time we bought in some quality English players. Barry, Bentley and Downing would fit into that category for me. There are players better than them, but few players get stuck in like the British players and when the chips are down on a wet wednesday up at Hull they are the players who will get you a result.

Also helps with team building and changing room atmosphere if you can bring in some people who live by the british culture. So whilst I will not be delighted with some of the possible signings I think positives could be drawn should they sign instead of the likes of Quaresma and Joaquin.

When the chips are down and you need inspiration a spark of genius are the likes of Barry, Milner or Downing going to provide it?

[DannyMan2006]

what? the influx of 2nd rate English players

Downing and Bentley are hardly second rate. They are regulars in the England squad. And whilst the quality of England as a team can be argued over, what is not in doubt is that England have some hugely talented players, and to get in the squad you have to have something to you as a player.