As we are nearing the end of the current year, the first thing that springs to mind in the world of football in January is the opening of the transfer window. There has been talk of Watford's squad being too large and full of the wrong type of players so I'm expecting a few people to leave, but not so many new face coming in. There is also talk of Watford being flexible with funds for players so who should Watford be looking to sign? Where does our side need strengthening? Who needs to be moved on?
I think we should look to sell Josh Walker, Mingoia and Bryan (if they were going to make it at Watford they would have made some sort of impact by now), Craig Beattie can have his loan terminated as I don't think we need him. Rene Gilmartin can go as well, never confident with him in goal.
You are making a key point - which loans will be extended. it is the general consensus as far as I've read that Kightly when on form will p!ss on most teams. A player of that quality can make the difference between a good and a bad season. Nosworthy isn't as badly needed if Tiny recovers soon. As we will get McGinn back soon (I hope) we will get a little bit of creativity back in the side. I agree that Beattie is a luxury we cannot afford, but we are in a situation where we have plenty of forwards but no scorers. As these are at a premium I doubt we'll bring in anyone ready for first team duties just yet, but a new attempt for Wieman would be nice. In general I think it's more a question of slimming the side than of adding to it. I think the suggestion of selling Bryan, Walker and Mingoia is a bit far fetched as none of the three will command any price what so ever. If they go it will be as released players at the end of the window. We have a decent enough side I believe. All it needs is a little confidence and a little creativity - and the idea of a Hogg/McGinn midfield makes me a hopeful Hornet.
I can't see it is a matter of "selling" as these players have no monetary value. It may well be that we would have to pay off part of their contracts to offload them to Second Division or Conference clubs. I would add Garner and Emu to the outgoing players, assuming we could sign a more natural goalscorer on loan or permanantly.
Before anything we need to give the squad a trim - I think Walker will leave, hopefully a couple of others too - can see Jenkins leaving as Mcginn returns. I'd like to see Mingoia and Bryan leave, but Mingoia in particular is actually help in very regard by the club. From the best possible source i've been told that the club know that losing Mariappa means relegation, so he won't be leaving unless its stupid money, equally Sordell is unlikely to leave until the summer, where it will be 4 million plus. From what I know, money is there to spend and we'll be looking at signing exciting youngsters that we can bed into our squad, with the aim of being ready to push on next season for the top 6. However at the same time, our budget is more extensive than usual, and should any ready made products become available for the right price then we'll be in for him. Up front is position in particular we've been looking at.
Need a left back, a goalscoring striker, a winger to replace Kightly, a creative midfielder, a competent goalie and a central midfielder to replace Hogg when he goes back to Villa.
Still think our main issue is out wide.... I get the feeling Kightly will stay as I would argue he's been hit and miss during most games thus far but as LBH says, we need a back up plan in case he does go back My main issue with the current first 11 is Yeates in that I am STILL totally unconvinced that he's the right man for the job. Superb dead ball expert perhaps but his wing play and final ball at times leaves a hell of a lot to be desired.. would even consider McNamee over Yeates at the moment To go (ideally) Beattie (no point) Iwelumo (wages too high, offers little) would accept 300k Sordell (cash in while we can) would accept £3mil + add ons Bryan (cant even make the bench at Bradford) Free Forsyth (wont cut it in Champ) Free To come in (ideally) LW RW CAM ATT x 2 What will most probably happen........... Lose both nosworthy and Kightly back to parent clubs Sign inferior replacements Lose one of either Mapps or Sordell for cut price Sign another lower league untried Will Hoskins MK7 from lower league club to replace Sordell
I would like to make Nosworthy a permanent signing, we could also do with a decent wide man or two, a decent striker and perhaps another creative attacking MF player, though McGinn could be the answer in that position if he fully recovers to the player he was before injury. I would definitely send back Beattie, and offload Iwellumo, and probably 2 or 3 other fringe players, but I'm not sure which ones at present.
Why would he be held in such high regard by the club though? It's not like he's made an impression whenever he's played. Does he produce magic in training but not in matches? Have to say I'm slightly dubious about Mingoia being highly thought of. Also, I don't want to keep youth players at the club just so we can say 'we have more youth players in our squad than any other'. There is no way that they are all good enough. If they're not good enough, then we need to ship them out, for our sake and theirs.
Can Hogg play at Pompey or does he go back to Villa on 1st January? Also, we should recall Hoskins from Brighton
He's played like 5 games, how can you possibly judge if he's good enough? Hopefully he'll go out on loan for the second half of the season.
I'd like to keep hold of Nosworthy on a permanent deal as I think he'll provide competition for the CB position. Would also like to see us try for Rory Donnelly, the 19 year old Cliftonville striker Liverpool, Everton and Swansea are chasing. Decent striker prospect who could do a job this year but more as a replacement for Sordell when he leaves
Look, if he was as good a talent as these people supposedly say he is, why hasn't he played a part in more games? I can't judge, you just simply have to look at the facts. He's 20 now, you would think that he would have made an impact by now.
No point wasting our time going for Donnelly. I highly doubt we would beat 3 premier league teams to him. Our efforts would be better spent elsewhere IMO.
Would be a bit annoyed if Jenkins left, going to be a fantastic player and perfect replacement for Eusty who only has a year or maybe 2 left in him
What do you mean? McNamee was a very good player when he got the chance at Watford, he had some great skills + his crossing was excellent, he also scored a cracking goal at the weekend. The only downside was his defending...
That's what worries me, but maybe if they get Reo-Coker fit they'll let him come back in March Either way, he certainly won't be available for Pompey (See Hairy? Slowly, slowly catchy monkey)
Spot on. The coaching staff see players for 3 or 4 hours a day every day they know who is going to make it and who isn't. If they aren't going to make it then move them on and bring up the next one from the youth team Just Like Liam Henderson ? Magic in training, 20 odd goals in 15 games for the ressies but come first team football just couldn't hack it Rumor is that Houllier is on his way out and that O'Neil is going to replace him with Ron Saunders as his assistant. Hogg isn't a fan of O'Neils passing style of football. O'neil see's him much more of a center back which Hogg doesn't think will suit his attacking game. I reckon we will keep him till the end of the season , with the usual 24hr call back from BT. We can then sign him and that feller from Forest in the summer.
The feller from forest must be Christmas Tree, I heard he tends to fall apart after christmas, so surely he wouldn't be a very good signing.
We need to try and keep Nosworthy and Kightly for as long as possible (loan or permanent) then if there's money left look for players like McGinn and Buckley were when we signed them, from lower leagues but with potential to kick in next season.
I can see another Mutch situation, with us becoming over reliant on him, then crumbling as soon as he goes back. I'd much rather see us giving Ross Jenkins, or one of our own players the chance to get experience. With our academy system, why are we developing players for Villa anyway?
I'm pretty sure that we paid £300,000 for Hogg, he is our player. On the loan side of things, Chelsea have announced that Josh McEachran is available to go out on loan in January. With successful loan spells such as Cleverley, Watford have a very good chance of getting him, unless he opts for premier League football. Worth a shot though, he's a fantastic player. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/dec/20/aston-villa-chelsea-josh-mceachran
:boo:if hoggy goes back to villa i be like noooooooo fml :rant: reckon we should try and get robbo back from bolton coz he iin only sub and might get him on lone or permnent
