Summer signings to take us to the next level


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He will had two year's experience in the PL come the end of this season, having already proved that he's more than capable. Don't think he needs another year of experience in a lesser league like.

I'm sure a newly promoted or a low Prem team would want him.

With his age I think he'd be best suited playing week in week out at a low Prem or high Championship side instead of being on our bench as I think Gordon is a better keeper.

I'm not saying I don't want Mignolet or I think he is shite but that Gordon is better and he is on par with Westwood.
If a decent offer came in for Westwood I'd sell him and keep Mignolet but I think a year playing regular football would benefit him more than being on our bench.
 
Mig and Gordon are about same to be honest. Gordon is a better kicker but that's the least important attribute. Keep all three and let them fight for the place. Gordon could go for 6m if he can regain form fitness and a contract.
 
I'm sure a newly promoted or a low Prem team would want him.

With his age I think he'd be best suited playing week in week out at a low Prem or high Championship side instead of being on our bench as I think Gordon is a better keeper.

I'm not saying I don't want Mignolet or I think he is shite but that Gordon is better and he is on par with Westwood.
If a decent offer came in for Westwood I'd sell him and keep Mignolet but I think a year playing regular football would benefit him more than being on our bench.

Neebody can know that anymore, he's been out for nearly a year and a half
 
Some good suggestions on this post. I'm hopeful that sess will stay but after bent and gyan I wouldn't be surprised if he went back to Paris (big money)
 
What you'll see this summer will be SAFC bringing in experienced prem players on low cost deals, hard workers, young talent from lower leagues, tarnished reputations and no massive money purchases. Personally I'm looking forward to it.

Fletcher will be too rich for SAFC (plus I'm not convinced by his workrate). I'd expect MON to be more interested in Doyle for a quarter of the price - no more than £2.5m. We need experience and hard work up front. Doyle will provide that for a very reasonable price.

I too am fairly sure that Sess will go, unfortunately. I'd expect that SAFC will join the bunfight for Victor Moses as replacement. It would be a deal that has more than a little of the Ashley Youngs about it. Add in the suggestion that he'll be available at a knock down price and I think we'll be chasing that one hard.

Similarly, Matt Phillips. He's a big strong lad who will work the line hard with a fair bit of pace. He also looks to have a goal in him. Expect him to add options to a new look front three.

Back to Wigan, I can see us having a long look at Maynor Figueroa on a bosman. Again he's got good experience and, despite a fairly torrid 2010 and 2011, he has regained some form in recent months. He will provide options in the only position where we currently lack numbers.

Over and above that I can't see too much. Perhaps a cut price deal for Petrov to add experience to a young midfield. Probably another experienced defender to replace Bramble. Any other additions may well come from the youth team (Laing, Adams, Egan, Noble, Knott, Cook etc.).

2012 Squad

GK: Mignolet; Westwood; Wilson

Def: Bardsley; Richardson; O'Shea; Brown; Turner; Kilgallon; Figueroa;

Mid: Catts; Colback; Vaughan; Meyler; Gardner; Larsson; Petrov

Att: Moses; Phillips; Doyle; McClean; Campbell; Wickham; Ji

Twenty four in the first team squad will be more than enough for MON. He doesn't really rotate so any more than that and we'll have too many pissed off pro's kicking their heels in the stands. Perhaps Ji might get a loan in the first half of the season - along with other promising young players.

You suggest that "... We need experience and hard work up front. Doyle will provide that for a very reasonable price ..."

We actually need goals up front, not just endeavour. In his last four seasons in the Premier League, Doyle, who will be 29 years of age in September and who is 5'9" tall, has achieved the following :-
07/08 - 36 games/ 6 goals
09/10 - 34 games/ 9 goals
10/11 - 28 games/ 5 goals
11/12 - 26 games/ 4 goals (to date)

As you state he may be cheaper than Fletcher, but there is an obvious reason for that.

I'm afraid we have had more than our fair share of jouneymen/'plodders' who have all worked very hard but achieved very little. We now need players with a little more end-product to 'take us to the next level' as the OP suggested.

As has been mentioned elsewhere by other posters, last season SAFC made speculative investments with a large part of the transfer budget by bringing in young, inexperienced players (Wickham and Ji) and that investment is yet to pay off. I do not think that the club can afford to gamble again in the next transfer window on the likes of Moses or Phillips or (as has been suggested elsewhere) Zaha. We need to be sure that there is a realistic chance of getting some immediate return, in terms of games played, performance, etc., from the players we bring in this time.

As for your suggestion of Figueroa, its only virtue is that he will be available on a Bosman. In terms of quality, I suspect that, even in the vexed position of left-back, he would be a step backwards from the already low benchmark set by Richardson, notwithstanding your perception that his recent form has improved from the generally dreadful preceding two years.

In midfield you also suggest Petrov would add experience. The midfield players currently available include Cattermole, who is 24 and has 165 Premier League games; Larsson, 26 years and 133 PL games; Gardner, 25 years and 124 PL games; Vaughan, 29 years and 53 PL games. Even Colback has had 39 PL games.
 
I think we need to go for quality rather than quantity. We have reasonable depth at the moment and with some real quality in a few areas we can push on again next season. The areas I'd look to improve would be both fullback positions, right wing and upfront. We may have to look at the centre of defence if Bramble goes but I think Brown, o'shea and turner are pretty solid I just worry about Browns injury record.
 
You suggest that "... We need experience and hard work up front. Doyle will provide that for a very reasonable price ..."

We actually need goals up front, not just endeavour. In his last four seasons in the Premier League, Doyle, who will be 29 years of age in September and who is 5'9" tall, has achieved the following :-
07/08 - 36 games/ 6 goals
09/10 - 34 games/ 9 goals
10/11 - 28 games/ 5 goals
11/12 - 26 games/ 4 goals (to date)

As you state he may be cheaper than Fletcher, but there is an obvious reason for that.

I'm afraid we have had more than our fair share of jouneymen/'plodders' who have all worked very hard but achieved very little. We now need players with a little more end-product to 'take us to the next level' as the OP suggested.

As has been mentioned elsewhere by other posters, last season SAFC made speculative investments with a large part of the transfer budget by bringing in young, inexperienced players (Wickham and Ji) and that investment is yet to pay off. I do not think that the club can afford to gamble again in the next transfer window on the likes of Moses or Phillips or (as has been suggested elsewhere) Zaha. We need to be sure that there is a realistic chance of getting some immediate return, in terms of games played, performance, etc., from the players we bring in this time.

As for your suggestion of Figueroa, its only virtue is that he will be available on a Bosman. In terms of quality, I suspect that, even in the vexed position of left-back, he would be a step backwards from the already low benchmark set by Richardson, notwithstanding your perception that his recent form has improved from the generally dreadful preceding two years.

In midfield you also suggest Petrov would add experience. The midfield players currently available include Cattermole, who is 24 and has 165 Premier League games; Larsson, 26 years and 133 PL games; Gardner, 25 years and 124 PL games; Vaughan, 29 years and 53 PL games. Even Colback has had 39 PL games.

Excellent arbitrary choice of four prem seasons. Just eliminates the thirteen goals he scored in the 06/07 from your argument. Also, good to note that you've lopped 2.5 inches off his height. Additionally, the fact that he is 29 is exactly the point. We need experience to bridge the gap to when Wickham, Ji and Noble are ready to take on more first team duties. Worth noting that Doyle is a provider of goals also. Include assists and he has a direct hand in over 10 goals a season in his prem career. Not stellar, but certainly not to be sniffed at.

On the wider point of how many goals we need, it is not wholly true to say that we need them specifically up front. What we need is goals from the team. Where they come from is irrelevant. This season we are just about on track for 50 league goals. That is the target that will virtually ensure top half footy (so long as the defence holds up). Who scored them is neither here nor there.

Once again, mate, your withering analysis does not seem to be grounded in the reality that SAFC currently occupy. Our finances will not allow too many big names. That is before we consider that all the evidence of MONs career - indeed all the talk he has given since being in the job - shows that expensive foreign gambles are not at the forefront of his agenda. Toivonen looks a good player, but can SAFC really afford to plough £8-10m into a player who may well not work out in this league? High profile transfers from Holland seem to fail at least as often as they succeed. All of that is before I come to the fact that Victor Moses is an inexperienced gamble where Junior Hoilett has significant premier league experience - despite the Wigan lad having made more prem appearances. Then there is Martin Kelly.
 
Mig and Gordon are about same to be honest. Gordon is a better kicker but that's the least important attribute. Keep all three and let them fight for the place. Gordon could go for 6m if he can regain form fitness and a contract.

He'll go for nowt unless he gets a new one of them, of course.
 
Phil Jagielka or Jonny Evans
Joe Bennett
Nathaniel Clyne
Jermaine Jenas
Gylfi Sigurdsson
Wilfred Zahar
Matt Phillips
Pavel Pogrebnyak
Jordan Rhodes

these (bennet only if bridge doesnt stay)
 
People just dont get it, we cant afford to get to the next level, this is our level now. Looking at pushing for 7th place maybe 6th at a very push. After that you have Man Utd, Chelsea, Man City, Spurs and Arsenal who are all working on a different planet to us when it comes to money

People just need to accept that we going to be a decent midtable outfit who could maybe push for 7th place and have a good cup run now and again

All this talk about next level is delusional and is only going to leave you disappointed
 
People just dont get it, we cant afford to get to the next level, this is our level now. Looking at pushing for 7th place maybe 6th at a very push. After that you have Man Utd, Chelsea, Man City, Spurs and Arsenal who are all working on a different planet to us when it comes to money

People just need to accept that we going to be a decent midtable outfit who could maybe push for 7th place and have a good cup run now and again

All this talk about next level is delusional and is only going to leave you disappointed

This is very true, added to the fact that this area is not as desirable as many other places in the country, as Keano found out to his obvious frustration.
 
People just dont get it, we cant afford to get to the next level, this is our level now. Looking at pushing for 7th place maybe 6th at a very push. After that you have Man Utd, Chelsea, Man City, Spurs and Arsenal who are all working on a different planet to us when it comes to money

People just need to accept that we going to be a decent midtable outfit who could maybe push for 7th place and have a good cup run now and again

All this talk about next level is delusional and is only going to leave you disappointed

This x100. We will be happy to sit at this level and can't afford to have a push any higher.
 
People just dont get it, we cant afford to get to the next level, this is our level now. Looking at pushing for 7th place maybe 6th at a very push. After that you have Man Utd, Chelsea, Man City, Spurs and Arsenal who are all working on a different planet to us when it comes to money

People just need to accept that we going to be a decent midtable outfit who could maybe push for 7th place and have a good cup run now and again

All this talk about next level is delusional and is only going to leave you disappointed

I think you're right in as much as the players we buy this summer will not exude 'next level'. However, even then I'd back the ragtag bunch of lower league youngsters and journeyman Prem fodder that MON will eventually buy to improve us next season.
 
We need some quality even more so if sess does go.

I'd be looking at the likes of in no particular order:
N'zogbia
Jarvis
Johnson
Moses
Hoilett

With possibly one of:
Phillips
Zaha
Redmond

As a youngster for cover and to bring on all dependent on price and wages of course.

We are going to need at least one striker 2 if sess goes. Struggling to think of many that fit the bill from this country.

I'd also like a quality central midfield player who can dominate games and a couple of full backs but that's half a team and can't see us signing that many.
 
Excellent arbitrary choice of four prem seasons. Just eliminates the thirteen goals he scored in the 06/07 from your argument. Also, good to note that you've lopped 2.5 inches off his height. Additionally, the fact that he is 29 is exactly the point. We need experience to bridge the gap to when Wickham, Ji and Noble are ready to take on more first team duties. Worth noting that Doyle is a provider of goals also. Include assists and he has a direct hand in over 10 goals a season in his prem career. Not stellar, but certainly not to be sniffed at.

On the wider point of how many goals we need, it is not wholly true to say that we need them specifically up front. What we need is goals from the team. Where they come from is irrelevant. This season we are just about on track for 50 league goals. That is the target that will virtually ensure top half footy (so long as the defence holds up). Who scored them is neither here nor there.

Once again, mate, your withering analysis does not seem to be grounded in the reality that SAFC currently occupy. Our finances will not allow too many big names. That is before we consider that all the evidence of MONs career - indeed all the talk he has given since being in the job - shows that expensive foreign gambles are not at the forefront of his agenda. Toivonen looks a good player, but can SAFC really afford to plough £8-10m into a player who may well not work out in this league? High profile transfers from Holland seem to fail at least as often as they succeed. All of that is before I come to the fact that Victor Moses is an inexperienced gamble where Junior Hoilett has significant premier league experience - despite the Wigan lad having made more prem appearances. Then there is Martin Kelly.

The selections were not arbitary, they were the four most recent and, by your own admission, going further back to include the magnificent haul of 13 goals he scored in 06/07 hardly changes the conclusion that Doyle has always struggled for goals in the Premiership. I didn't actually measure him you understand, but, rather, took the info from Soccerbase. I am happy to concede your own greater knowledge of Kevin Doyle's size. My point was that he is not likely to be devastating in the air.

At 29 years of age, a four year contract (NB his existing contract with Wolves runs until 2015, according to Wikipedia (I haven't actually asked for verification)) would potentialy see him at the club until he is 33 years. That really would be some stop-gap measure to cover the period while Wickham, Ji and/or Noble force their way passed a player whose bench-mark is 37 goals in 5 seasons. You don't think that in order to get the best out of them, the challenge should be, well, a bit more challenging ?

Logically, your suggestion that it doesn't matter who scores the goals, would seem to have some merit. Except having one player who has as his primary focus scoring goals does seem to matter and I would suggest that you look at the close (although not exact) correllation between the top of the Premier League tables and the tables for top goal scorers season after season.

On Tuesday, an article in The Guardian stated "... 49% of all Sunderland's goals have come from outside the box this season which is a slightly troubling statistic in that it is probably unsustainable ..." I would respectfully suggest that we need someone to score the ones that bobble in off the shin, or the tap in from half a yard out. I would further suggest that we need someone who can score those goals at better than an average of 7 goals per season.

You question whether SAFC can afford to "... plough £8-10m into a player who may well not work out in this league". I could point out that we spent £8m (possibly rising to £12m (again, relying on Wikipedia - I didn't actually take the cheque down to Portman Road)) on buying Wickham. I would suggest that it would be less of a gamble to bring in an experienced 26 years old Swedish international, particularly as Scandanavian players have a very good record of success in the Premier League.

For the sake of accuracy, Moses has made 65 Premier League appearances for Wigan and has scored 5 goals. Hoilett has played 73 Premier League games for Blackburn and has scored 11 goals. The difference would seem to be marginal, except that Moses' contract runs until 2014 and Hoilett is a free agent at the end of the season.

I accept that Martin Kelly is inexperienced, but he is highly rated by many and is at a club where he may not be the first choice right-back when Glen Johnson is fit and who may need to sell some players.
 
For me we need a quality centre half, quality striker and a back up striker, different option wide right and left back cover.

Hoilett
N'zogbia
Pogrebnyak
Agbonlahor
Fletcher
Zaha
Vertonghen ;)
Bridge

They would be my list of targets, obviously not sign them all like.

Sell :-

Carson
Angeleri
McCartney
Bramble
Riveros
Gardner
Cook
Tounkara
Gyan
Ji (LOAN)
Egan (LOAN)
Knott (LOAN)

In :-

Clyne
Bridge
Sigurdsson
Toivonen
Agbonlahor
Kuyt

Mignolet
Clyne - Brown - O'Shea - Richardson
Kuyt - Sigurdsson - Colback - McClean
Sessegnon
Toivonen​



Would be over the moon with this like. Forgot about kuyt when i gave my suggestions, don't think sigurdsson will leave hoffenheim though only joined last summer.
 
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