02 Feb 2014 14:19:32
A little disappointed and confused by transfer policy over last 2 weeks. But some suggestions for the summer that could have us set up sensibly for years to come.
1. Sign Barry. On a free.
2. Sign Jack Colback. On a free. Been at Sunderland since schoolboy. 25. In some ways Barry like, left footed, defensive midfield player, can play left back. But quicker, smoother passer, just coming into his own, almost like a left sided James McCarthy. Contract runs out at end of season.
Then we would have McCarthy, Barry, Gibson and Colback - a central defensive midfield that could cope with Europe League.
3. Sign Tom Ince. On a free. 20. He has played several different positions at Blackpool. Have RM coach him into Pienaar replacement, attacking midfield, coming in from left, but with motor that can cover and link. Alternatively sign Nick Powell Manchester United attacking, linking midefielder, at Wigan on loan. 21. Could be expensive to sign, maybe able to loan.
4. Work out if Alcaraz can cope for a season as back up to Distin. RM knows him best. If not sign Bruno Martins-Indy. Big strong, athletic, already full Dutch international, only 22. May cost 4 or 5mio. Long term replacement for Sly.
5. Should leave enough money to buy expensive striker. We surely should have 15 to 18mio left. Choice a) Lukaku, b) a revived Benteke under RM, c) Remy (Newcastle already signed a replacement, and QPR will sell), d) Batshuayi. I still prefer Lukaku, as he appears a learner, willing to adapt and change and could really prosper in time. Also if he does poorly, at his age, he is probably easiest to on sell. May have to go to 20mio for him, but maybe 15-18mio with 20% on sell clause for Chelsea.

Then we have experience and team spirit covered. A very young and developing core, and a stong group of teenagers pushing hard for the future.
eg.
Experienced team.
Howard, Hibbert, Jags, Distin, Baines.
Gibson, Barry.
McGeady, Osman, Pienaar
Kone.
The future, developing, improving.
Robles, Coleman, Stones, Martins-Indy, Oviedo.
McCarthy, Colback.
Mirallas, Barclay, Ince/Powell.
Lukaku
with the next generation already strong.
Stanek,
Duffy, Browning, Garbutt
Lundstram, Green
Kennedy
Mcaleny, Long, Hope.

Then we would be in RM's hands, can he improve those young players enough that we can make Champions League. maybe, just maybe. and we would be first team to do it on such a budget.

1.) 02 Feb 2014
02 Feb 2014 14:37:18
Remy has 2 seasons max before he loses a yard of pace and newcastle haven't signed a replacement they loaned in the crap that is luuk de jong, don't want either benteke or lukaku, both would cost over 20m, utd would not sell powell to us, ince is a right winger cutting in, how is he pienaars replacement, don't want him anyway, colback would be good, all in all I disagree with the majority of that post

2.) 02 Feb 2014
Don't forget the possibility of Delofeou on another season loan, we have first option I think

3.) 02 Feb 2014
Chealse will let lukaku go for 20 swan and how strange you don't agree with his post I don't think you agree with anyones posts haha if I said the sky was blue you most prob say no its gold.
Me personally would take lukaku for 20 mill he has dropped of the pace a little but he is great and is only going to get better under rm

4.) 02 Feb 2014
02 Feb 2014 16:53:03
I'd go for begovic to replace Howard first

5.) 02 Feb 2014
Not a bad post, I don't agree with everything but unlike the first response I don't claim to know it all especially when a player will lose his pace, the days of players being finished at 30 are well gone.
I would not take Ince as the rumours of his bad attitude are to strong and something we don't need. Barry is a no brainer Alcatraz is to slow and is ok filling in for jags but we need a CH with pace to cover Distan am also not convinced by Lakaku especially for £20 mill but it might just be leading the line on his own all season is catching up with him but do agree we have got some really promising young players about to challenge for places in the first team

6.) 02 Feb 2014
I think all the people saying lukaku is not worth 20 mill are on something he was awesome at westbrom an scored a bunch of goals he hs been top notch for us an he is only a kid really he has been upfront all season on his own he is going to fall of the pace for a while just watch when he returns all you doubters will be sayin bill bill please give us the 20 mill to sign him

7.) 02 Feb 2014
I'll be honest. If these transfers occur in the summer window, and maybe another 2 strikers rather than 1 lukaku, and we keep all our stars, then I'll be pretty chuffed to say the least.

8.) 03 Feb 2014
Cb is a must martins Indy a good choice Cm I like colback but maybe we can do a little better Rather keep deulofeu for another than ince St for me I would go for finnbogasson and batshauyi both young with a lot of potential could also get both these for less than we would pay for lukaku