Summer pain

I_Dan_Talisman · May 1, 2012

Only a couple of games to go before season end, transfers in will be zebra carcass we circle like hungry vultures. But how those transfers in will be paid for and then put onto the wage bill is of equal importance.
I sincerely hope we don't have to cash in on anyone, although we haven't been great shakes for all of the season we have turned it on since January - a transfer window we did great business in. The wave of optimism we have enjoyed since then (bar the semi final) has been inspired in no small part by the goals of a certain Nikica Jelavic.
I would like Moyes to be able to consolidate his squad and prepare us for a real push in the league next term - Newcastle (easily the surprise package) of this current campaign have pushed for a top four spot all season, and might get it.
So reasonably who in the current squad is expendable?
Drenthe is gone. And good riddance.
Hahnemann and Mucha we don't see, so realistically we could let them go and promote a youth keeper.
With the brilliance of the a for mentioned croat striker, we have seen less of Straq, Vellios, and Anichebe.
I'm not convinced Gueye will make the grade long term, and McFadden is a risk I would only throw a 12 month contract at.

I suppose the problem with having such a small squad is that come the transfer windows there isn't a lot of dead wood that can easily be cleared away. Making room on the wage bill is important, and as painful as it will be for those cut from the squad if we want to give next season our best we don't have room for passengers.

Brennan · May 1, 2012

OUT: Anichebe, Rodwell, Mucha
IN: Dempsey, Pienaar

Jamo Martinez · May 1, 2012

We have to assume (hope) that Barkley and to a lesser extent Duffy will get more game time next year. Some of the other youngsters may be in the position those two have found themselves this season. Now we can't rely totally on potential being fulfilled by players from the youth system. We do however have to see this as a valid way of strengthening the squad given our financial situation. I know we can't guarantee that promising players will make the grade but it's no more in the air than the possibility of signing Lewis Holtby or Adam Johnson.

sexualchocolate · May 1, 2012

Jamo Martinez said:
We have to assume (hope) that Barkley and to a lesser extent Duffy will get more game time next year. Some of the other youngsters may be in the position those two have found themselves this season. Now we can't rely totally on potential being fulfilled by players from the youth system. We do however have to see this as a valid way of strengthening the squad given our financial situation. I know we can't guarantee that promising players will make the grade but it's no more in the air than the possibility of signing Lewis Holtby or Adam Johnson.

Johnson on a season long loan might not be that far fetched, u can expect city to strenghthen even more and he's not exactly first choice there at the moment, if he has any sense he'd jump at a season away playing week in week out, if they want they can throw in Dzeko as well, that'll do us nicely

kev101 · May 1, 2012

Driftin like wiiine, blowin through the jizzman in my miiind.

Jamo Martinez · May 1, 2012

sexualchocolate said:
Johnson on a season long loan might not be that far fetched, u can expect city to strenghthen even more and he's not exactly first choice there at the moment, if he has any sense he'd jump at a season away playing week in week out, if they want they can throw in Dzeko as well, that'll do us nicely

Isn't Dzeko Bosnian? won't he fight with Jelavic?

jsweeney17 · May 1, 2012

Jamo Martinez said:
Isn't Dzeko Bosnian? won't he fight with Jelavic?

Can we get him in on a bozmian?

ijjysmith · May 1, 2012

Another thread?!

pbeyer · May 1, 2012

Jamo Martinez said:
Isn't Dzeko Bosnian? won't he fight with Jelavic?

Yes, but the Bosnians don't have as much problems with the Croats as they do the Serbs, so it could work out

*Source: Bosnian roommate.

I_Dan_Talisman · May 1, 2012

I made the thread with the intention of prompting some discussion about who we could feasibly let go to free up Wage room.
Transfer speculation is exactly that, we'll be liked with all and sundry. What we can agree on is those in the squad right now.

Here's a far fetched shout, if a big enough bid came in for Heitinga from say Spurs or Arsenal, would you be prepared to let him go?
Can you see Spurs helping us out with Pienaar? If I was in their shoes I'd see Everton as direct competition and I'd do my damnedest to hinder any strengthening they/we might try for.
Two senior keepers in reserve is too much.
I honestly don't think Dempsey or a player like him is what we need, I feel that Moyes has a decision to make about the direction he wants us to go in terms of approaching games, are we going to be a side that can pass and create through the middle, or are we going to be a side that can hold the middle and work the ball wide and then create from the flanks.

It appears to me that Moyes is trying for the latter, by which I mean bringing Drenthe in was a sign that wide play will be our focus, it also explains why letting Arteta go wasn't any great shakes for him.

Going 4-5-1 with Fellaini supporting Jelavic makes sense. It will mean getting a long term CM to go with Gibson. Keeping Pienaar, and either finding an attacking RB or getting an out & out right winger.
I cant see us having mega money to throw around, so a free like Diame to shore up midfield, letting Spurs double their money on us for Pienaar, and then either getting Donovan in or McGeady or Moses or someone similar.
It means transition again, but losing Drenthe, Mucha, Hahnemman, Straq, Vellios, and McFadden is 6 names off the wage bill, hopefully that could mean 3 senior places on the budget to recruit with.