I'm sure you are all as bored as I am - so I thought i'd try and start something else to occupy our minds. You have a £10m transfer budget (fees) - Realistically which players would you buy to improve the starting 11 for the season ahead ....
Give it to Duxbury as a bonus for his sterling work in keeping Watford from going into administration.
I’d buy coffees and pastries for the next meeting with the podcasters, and give them all a goody bag for being such good boys.
To replace Sarr, I'd certainly be looking at Onel Hernandez at Norwich. Very versatile player - although principally a left winger, he can also play as a right winger or backup striker. Although he's age 30 now, he's got plenty of championship experience and according to transfer market we could get him for around £1million. Next I'd be looking to strengthen defensive midfield and there's a very good young (21) player coming through called Davide Incerti. Developed through Genoa's academy and currently a key part of the Olbia Calcio team in the Italian leagues. According to transfer market - a bargain at 75k. Has a European passport too. Finally I have no confidence in old Billy Bachman in goal. Seen enough of him. And Hamer isn't good enough for anything more than backup. There's a 29 year old named Sandy Sanchez who plays for Atletico Pandoja in the Dominican Republic. A proper safe pair of hands and I reckon we could probably get him on a free.
Saw most of the Lillestrom game yesterday and he scored another two goals. He seems to be in the right place at the right time. Hold up was ok but his passing was erratic. Can't knock his figures this season but it will be north of 3m.
I think I saw @LF24 suggest £3m a month or so ago but he’s been prolific since then so maybe increased his valuation since then?
Hmm, I don't know how realistic these are but: Callum Styles (£2m) Alex Mowatt (£2m) Perry Ng (£1.5m) Ben Whiteman (£2m) Chris Willock (£2.5m) Plenty of Champ experience and HG.
I think Mowatt (£1m) and Willock (£1m) cost less and Whiteman (£4m) costs more. But it basically evens out.
Alexander Aravena (£2m) - 20 year old in Chile. Mostly plays on the wing but can also play striker, scores goals for fun - averaging a goal every 195 mins this season and 170 mins last season. Contract up in 5 months so shouldn't cost much to get him now. Leopold Querfeld (£5m) - 19 year old CB in Austria. Good all rounder CB, would likely be our best CB instantly Johan Torres (£3m) - 19 year old CM in Colombia. Pressing monster and good defensively. On the ball skills have developed very well over the last year or so as well, could be a savvy pickup. Lacks Championship experience but all are high potential and immediately ready for a tougher challenge and should do well in the Championship.
Don’t know how realistic it is but Jose Cifuentes at LAFC is supposedly available for cheap. Has been very close to joining Rangers for £1.5m or so but is probably worth £10m. Tenacious midfielder.
Good list, I might also swap one out for Chair from QPR? Decent player and could do a job for us. For me, £10M easily pay for a team psychologist - something this squad has needed for a long time. Whatever is left would go into building the front line and paying off Bachmann's contract.
Have you got anything on Akor Adams at Lillestrom? It's something like 16 goal contributions in 14 games this season. Watched their game Sunday and he always seems to get in decent scoring positions. His passing at some stages was woeful, but decent touch and pace.
Looks similar to the other profiles we've been targeting over the summer - gets himself in good shooting positions and takes a lot of shots (and subsequently creates a lot of xG) but doesn't contribute much elsewhere.
Those I've suggested are in last year of contract according to transfermarkt so may work out cheaper. Get a young striker on loan from PL.
That's sort of what I picked up. Sunday's match had possibly some of the most comical defending I've witnessed ever.