Thoughts on our transfer dealings so far

[calvoboy]

Back in June I posted:

If Alonso goes, Lucas will step up. I don't know why, but for some reason I'm less terrified by that than I probably should be. Possibly because it would give us the money to buy Silva or someone similar on the left.

So long as we don't lose both Mascher AND Alonso, I think we'll be OK. The money would have to be right for the deal to happen, and that should allow us to bring in the necessary replacements.

I'm hoping we'll keep both though. Then I'd see the squad being:

GK - Reina/Cavalieri
RB - Johnson/Darby?
CB - Carra/Agger/Skrtel/ A N Other
LB - Insua/Aurelio
LW - Riera/AN Other
CM - Mascher/Alonso/Lucas/Gerrard
RM - Kuyt/Yossi
CF - Torres/AN Other

So you can see from that I reckon we're signing a left-winger a striker/forward and a centre back. Rafa has the money for one more decent signing (according to recent comments). Selling Dossena and Arbeloa should make up the money for another. And the CB will only be a cheap squad player in case of emergencies. Distin at £2m would do. If not, he'll probably pick someone up on a free?

Seeing as no new left winger or striker has arrived it just shows what my powers of prediction are like

But, forgetting the size of the budget for a minute, what's everyone's thoughts on our transfer dealings so far?

Personally I think we are still an attacking player light, but am otherwise pretty happy. Johnson and Aquilani should improve our attacking play compared to Alonso and Arbeloa, though I worry that we might lose our trademark control of some games without Alonso in there. My thoughts on likely transfers back in June probably reflected my own thoughts on our weaknesses, and I still think we are weak on the left-side of midfield and in cover for Torres. I hope that Rafa is bluffing and we pick up Silva for £20m before the deadline (still over a fortnight away), otherwise I'm left hoping that either Babel starts to show better consistency and decision making, or Riera learns how to play in cold weather.

Overall though, and assuming we sign some centre back cover, I reckon we we still be at least as strong as we were last year. If we can keep Gerrard and Torres fit we'll have a great chance.

Anyone else?

[Marky]

Bit ****ed off we don't seem to be in the market for a striker.

[The_weatherman]

A striker is not the top priority though, we need back up in defence at right back and a centre back. Kuyt, Voronin and Babel can all play upfront if needed and with Gerrard behind them we don't need Torres for every game.

[Roboklopp]

Please with Johnson, altho sad to see Arbs leave.

Gutted to see Sami & Alonso go. Reassured that Aquilani has the talent by Rafa, but very worried about his injury record.

Think we need at least one more CB, plus a utility FB.

Utterly irate that Rafa apparently hasnt been given enough money for 1 ot 2 top attacking players given what we've had back for Keane, Alonso & Arbeloa. Still think we are some way short of where we need to be as a consequence.

[Blind Melon]

People always seem to count Dirk as a winger now, but looking at most of his goals last season (cant remember the exact stat, but sky did a review on him) and it showed most of these came from him playing centally at the end of a game, or from coming into the middle. I think Rafa woudl be able to play him as a striker and have yossi wide right, so I definately believe that we dont need another 20 mil striker when he can play there if stevie or torres are out.

[Rafael Benítez Maudes]

blind melon you are happy with dirk kuyt as a striker?when torres is out.

[Guest]

blind melon you are happy with dirk kuyt as a striker?when torres is out.

We're signing Shannon Hoon.

[Craig_H]

It's impossible to make any conclusive judgement until we've seen Aquilani in action for us.

If he adapts and plays as well as he can, then i'll be content with what we've done in the market. Very much a case of 'wait and see' though.

[DannyMan2006]

If the window closed today we'd have had an abysmal summers dealing. We all know where we needed strengthining yet have only addressed one position. Plus in losing Sami we are a man light at the back.

But as the window remains open I'll not get too critical just yet.

One point I'd like to make though. Why sell Jack Hobbs? We only got 500k for him. He is better than San Jose, Ayala and Kelly, and would have been okay as a 4th choice CB. Could have saved us a serious amount of cash.

[cream]

So all the stories about having to sell to buy were actually true then.

[kingfunk]

A cheeky bid for Jonh carew as back up to Torres??

[DannyMan2006]

A cheeky bid for Jonh carew as back up to Torres??

Why would Villa sell and why would Carew want to sit on our bench? Not going to happen in a million years.

[Craig_H]

Never mind that, this is the internet.

Would you take him???

[DannyMan2006]

Never mind that, this is the internet.

Would you take him???

But since you asked, for the right price, yes.

[Jack D Rips]

If the window closed today we'd have had an abysmal summers dealing. We all know where we needed strengthining yet have only addressed one position. Plus in losing Sami we are a man light at the back.

But as the window remains open I'll not get too critical just yet.

One point I'd like to make though. Why sell Jack Hobbs? We only got 500k for him. He is better than San Jose, Ayala and Kelly, and would have been okay as a 4th choice CB. Could have saved us a serious amount of cash.

Agree with all of that except the bit about Hobbs being better than Kelly