Summer Transfer Window 2025 Thread


Toffeepot said:
They are saying 'next generation' though, so they aren't comparing them to Rooney.
Rooney imo was one of the best ever players in the world so Foden and Bellingham not being at his level doesn't mean they aren't great players in their own right
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It’s just my opinion but I think Bellingham is massively overrated and was hugely propped up by essentially allowing to be a false 9 for Real Madrid with Modric and Kroos behind him doing the actual midfield work. When he was asked to play killed this season Madrid weren’t as good. I think he’ll be a problem for England and will end up being sidelined at Madrid eventually or pushed back up front.

That’s not to say he’s not a very good player he obviously is but there’s nothing in his game that Lampard or Gerrard weren’t doing (probably better) at the same age. I just don’t see him in the very top bracket of midfield players.
 
Kevsleftpeg said:
Longstaff is a much better player than Garner.
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Totally agree, Garner has played well a couple of times, think Leicester at home was one, never going to be good enough.

I know a lot of Geordies and they think Longstaff is a solid but uninspiring player who always does a reasonable job when called upon

We need to bulk out the squad, and for 7 million plus mid range wages he fits the bill.

Not inspiring but will do a good job, our midfield is so poor at the moment especially if Gana doesn’t sign
 
Neiler said:
Its a 16 man match day game now mate. Id say its more then normal, its vital.

Something we really need to look at without stating the obvious in our ability to change a game through our bench - the advent of 5 subs has changed the dynamic of games and teams have overtaken us and won games against us because they have had quality bench options to impact as opposed to us having 11 -13 warm competent bodies in the squad the last three years.

I think Moyes recognizes this, which is why i think he held McNeill back on the bench toward the need of the seasons - to impact - Charly to at times.

If we need to be pragmatic in profile with that - with a Noorgard, Ndidi profile etc - so be it.

Squad depth and improving our options of the bench would be one of my objectives of the summer. Vitally important.
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Totally agree.

Our issue for some time has not been the strength of our starting XI (let's be real, not great, but not terrible) but has been the gulf in quality between the starting XI and the second XI. Has meant that any injuries result in a massive step down in matchday quality, lack of competition for places, inability to affect games off the bench, I could go on.

In some instances we should be looking to strengthen the starting XI with signings than can come straight in, but in most instances I think we should be gradually improving the squad such that our worst player is still an option. Only way we will ever wrest ourselves away from the bottom half of the table imo
 

ElGato said:
Totally agree.

Our issue for some time has not been the strength of our starting XI (let's be real, not great, but not terrible) but has been the gulf in quality between the starting XI and the second XI. Has meant that any injuries result in a massive step down in matchday quality, lack of competition for places, inability to affect games off the bench, I could go on.

In some instances we should be looking to strengthen the starting XI with signings than can come straight in, but in most instances I think we should be gradually improving the squad such that our worst player is still an option. Only way we will ever wrest ourselves away from the bottom half of the table imo
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Exactly, create competition for places and not this notion of ‘we need bodies or square players’.
 
Neiler said:
Its a 16 man match day game now mate. Id say its more then normal, its vital.

Something we really need to look at without stating the obvious in our ability to change a game through our bench - the advent of 5 subs has changed the dynamic of games and teams have overtaken us and won games against us because they have had quality bench options to impact as opposed to us having 11 -13 warm competent bodies in the squad the last three years.

I think Moyes recognizes this, which is why i think he held McNeill back on the bench toward the need of the seasons - to impact - Charly to at times.

If we need to be pragmatic in profile with that - with a Noorgard, Ndidi profile etc - so be it.

Squad depth and improving our options of the bench would be one of my objectives of the summer. Vitally important.
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I think realistically we'd be looking at a bit lower in level for that type of thing. Norgaard isn't going to swap being a guaranteed starter and captain for Brentford to come here and be a squad option, but playing that role for Arsenal is obviously a lot more appealing. The players we can attract to add squad depth are going to be of a lesser standard, but the principle of needing to add players like that is the same.
 
Lanolin said:
I think realistically we'd be looking at a bit lower in level for that type of thing. Norgaard isn't going to swap being a guaranteed starter and captain for Brentford to come here and be a squad option, but playing that role for Arsenal is obviously a lot more appealing. The players we can attract to add squad depth are going to be of a lesser standard, but the principle of needing to add players like that is the same.
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Agreed mate, i wasn't being prescriptive really - just a general point really on squad depth its importance and profile.

If it were me id be looking to build on our better players, creating competition and creating options on the bench to change a game.

For example, McNeill came on and impacted games toward then end of the season - if we bring in a right winger and a player in the hybrid 10 role, he's competing and perhaps struggling for game time - so that immediately creates a live option from the bench to impact a game. Similarly with Charly. If we bring a midfielder, then maybe Idrissa comes out, or Garner and they become live options - you can go through the team, Beto, Myko....etc

If it were me id be building on/over our previous best as a strategy, creating competition and thus bench options as opposed to brining people in just for the bench - though we may do a few free and a loans to supplement.

But overall if we can bring in players who can push/compete with lads guaranteed a start the last few years to the bench wel have recruited well.
 
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Saint Domingo said:
It’s just my opinion but I think Bellingham is massively overrated and was hugely propped up by essentially allowing to be a false 9 for Real Madrid with Modric and Kroos behind him doing the actual midfield work. When he was asked to play killed this season Madrid weren’t as good. I think he’ll be a problem for England and will end up being sidelined at Madrid eventually or pushed back up front.

That’s not to say he’s not a very good player he obviously is but there’s nothing in his game that Lampard or Gerrard weren’t doing (probably better) at the same age. I just don’t see him in the very top bracket of midfield players.
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I think you put the nail on the head with this one.

Those 2 were the best at doing what they did, so its no slight to not be put up to the level those 2 were. They couldn't just score goals though, they could run games. I don't feel Bellingham can do that yet, but at 21, that could still happen, although i don't think Bellingham has the drive Gerrard and Lampard had to run games.
 


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