How many new signings will arrive before the deadline? Not including U23 squad. I'm going for just the one. An emergency loan of a winger on deadline day. Maybe Gino's 7th or 8th choice. Also new bumper contracts for Troy, Mapps and Drey.
Not sure whether it’s a coincidence but every time I read one of your posts Nath I find myself reaching for the knife board.
Just Sarr I think. But gaining Sarr and losing Doucoure would make it an appalling summer, a far weaker team and the end of Watford as an "ambitious club".
We won’t sign anyone but Doucouré will go to Everton for £35m. Wish I had the optimism of those who think we’ll sign multiple first-teamers!
Think we will keep Doucoure unless the bid is in excess of £50mil+ but don’t think we will sign anyone else. I’ve already prepped myself for the ready made excuses that will come out of Dux’s mouth.
Gazumped for Sarr,by palace. incoming some unheard of youngster immediately loaned out. No offers for prodl or okaka .. loaned to Udinese
By the time the transfer window is shut we shall have three new signings in the form of a winger, another centre back and a striker. Sarr, a capped Englishman and one more will join up with our first team squad.
Maybe 1 at most and possibly a loan .... IMO Sarr won’t happen ... if we really wanted him it would of been done by now. We say we don’t want to get into an auction for a player but that is what we are courting by dragging our heels ... we then have a perfect excuse not to sign him. I think Doucouré will stay As it stands I think we are really going to have a tough season I would love to be proved wrong and would welcome Gino flicking me the metaphorical V when the signings come in next week
Sarr goes to Palace, Doucoure goes to Everton and we get a couple of unpronounceables from Udinese's broom cupboard who warm the bench so much it melts.
I don’t know why there is so much negativity about our transfer strategy. We’re not backed by a billionaire, nation state or corporation and considering this we are doing brilliantly and punching well above our weight. I think the strategy in investing in youngsters and players to loan out makes excellent sense and will reap rewards to make us more sustainable going forward for years to come. Call me a happy clapper but we might also yet sign Sarr for £30m and keep Doucoure.
If we don't sign anyone and sell Doucoure at this late stage in the window, then I think people will have a right to question what is going on and will almost laugh at SD when he mentions ambition. But...….the window has not shut yet. We can only really pass judgement once the window is closed. I agree with you though. We cannot go and make big investments on finished products. We do have a problem with quality going forward and the defence is poor overall. If everyone is fit and on their game, we can just about get away with it, but I always feel we're at full stretch in order to get a positive result. A bit more quality in the right areas will go a long way to improving our chances of being a solid Premier League side. I'd personally be disappointed if we don't address the issues we had last season in this window.
I'm not negative about our transfer strategy. I'm negative about the fact that nearly all the other clubs have billionaire/nation state/corporation backing. It maybe unfair, but we are outgunned.
I’ve no idea how many but this (IMO) is the rankings ahead of what happens... In 0 - out Doucouré - awful (although I still think we could be ok with no major injuries) In Sarr (or similar standard in same position) - out Doucouré - not ideal, but we’d cope In Sarr - out no one from main 16 players - actually pretty good with one eye on some of the promising youngsters on our books coming through by end of or ready for next season. In Sarr plus another attacking player OR CB and no one out - decent and could challenge to same level as last season. In Sarr, plus another attacking player AND CB and no one out - let’s give Europe qualification another shot!
What I want: Sarr, Pavon, another CB and Doucoure to stay. And some real moves made to get rid of some of the players who won’t play (Okaka, Prodl, Zeegelaar...but not really fussed between Okaka and Success - keep one, sell one) What I expect: Sarr. And then some links to emerge towards Wednesday/Thursday over a new CM coming in which will lead to rumours over Doucoure increasing. Think it’s 50/50 he stays/goes as I don’t think Everton woukd bid without some knowledge that he’d accept the move. No moves for the fringe squad players as they may go elsewhere in Europe later on. No further defensive recruits and Pavon story to come to nothing. I would hope the club come out with a statement saying they rejected a bid from Everton and Doucoure is not for sale. I suspect they won’t though as they will have a price they will sell at.
It would be madness to sell Doucoure at this late stage. I think we will reject unless we have a high quality replacement lined up. We can’t rely on Chalobah that must is clear. I don’t see any business happening between now and Thursday apart from Sarr which is 50:50
At least two - Sarr and one other. Dead wood will obviously be shifted if they don’t fit squad maximum number. Gino doing his best - keep the faith
We haven’t really looked like a team planning for life beyond Doucoure, so I’d be surprised if he went without a replacement lined up.
Would be disappointed if we sold Doucoure, especially for less than £60m! If we did sell him, would anyone be surprised if we went in for Lemina from Southampton? Clearly a player that Gino likes and we came fairly close last time. Would rather keep Doucs. Hopeful we will bring in Sarr. I think the fact it’s gone fairly quiet on that front isn’t a bad thing, deals usually get done when the speculation dies off slightly. Wouldn’t surprise me if we’ve agreed a deal with Rennes and the player comes in tomorrow or Tuesday for medical. Would be a good window if we can keep Doucoure and bring in Sarr. If we sell Doucoure and we don’t replace him adequately then I think it will have been a very poor window!
Chill! Moan on friday if Gino ****s up - but for now just chill My bet is 3 in and one out that we don't want to leave + a couple we don't much care if they stay or go No point getting an ulcer chaps - it will be what it is!
How about Billy Sharp to go with Nugent? Or tempt Kevin Phillips out of retirement for a last hurrah.
Considering he's kicking up a stink over Southampton being too small a club and basically decided not to bother playing for them for the past six months, I can't really envisage swapping them for us to be an acceptable solution for him.
Palace are gonna go in big for Sarr if Everton get Zaha - Gino's waiting game may have back fired big ******* time unless we get this wrapped up in the next 24 hours.