Transfer Rumours Thread - NO FINANCIAL DISCUSSION

[Dark Cloud]

Despite reservations about the amount of experience in the squad (or lack of), plus the amount of new players to try to "gel" rig in a short space of time, I'd be absolutely made up if by this time next week we've added all of Muric, Maatsen and O'Hare. That really would be something.

[boyyanno]

How mature someone disagrees or provides a valid criticism of half the people on heres argument. "OH MY GOD HES RIGHT TIME FOR THE PERSONAL INSULTS". You need to grow up mate

The biggest own goal of the season goes to "Tick Tock". The poster I responded too was the one who told me to "get a grip". Please actually read the board if you're going to comment.

[RVclaret]

There's a reason that even the best sides have a good balance of youth and experience in their teams.

Good job we will do then, perfect.

[Mattster]

There's a reason that even the best sides have a good balance of youth and experience in their teams.

As things stand we still do -

Cork, Brownhill, Taylor, Roberts, Lowton, Jay and Barnes are all very experienced at this level and above. Then Cullen has 1 and half seasons in the Championship and plenty of experience internationally and on the continent, THB has two loans at this level. McNeil has 3 seasons at the level above.

[claretonthecoast1882]

Good job we will do then, perfect.

It is like Lowton, Cork, Westwood, Brownhill, Jay and Barnes are no longer involved with them club

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

Despite reservations about the amount of experience in the squad (or lack of), plus the amount of new players to try to "gel" rig in a short space of time, I'd be absolutely made up if by this time next week we've added all of Muric, Maatsen and O'Hare. That really would be something.

And Delap hopefully!

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

There's a reason that even the best sides have a good balance of youth and experience in their teams.

We still have experience in the squad,

[jedi_master]

No lets write them off before they even kick a ball for us, makes far more sense.

I am still struggling to see, having done a quick perusal, who has written anyone off? Bizarre set of posts!

We have no idea how good this lad is, he might be unreal (and he bloody should be when we're spending £4.25m-£6m according to the website I posted - in fact, how many teenage goalkeepers have cost more historically?) but none of us know. Verbruggen could come in and be absolutely faultless, be tied to a 5 year contract and be worth £30m by the end of this season - the opposite is also true. We have to all just wait and see - that does not, though, preclude ANYONE from saying "That's interesting, swapping all of that experience for young lads, that's a gamble". That's just an observation, not a dismissive level of criticism. I am getting a bit sick of the insinuation that it is.

I doubt anyone is going to not give these players a chance - I have said many times, people need to be very patient here with this squad. I always laughed at the mantra of "Trust in the Process" that idiotic Arsenal fans used to console themselves with as Arteta continued to flounder, but we now need to do the same and put our faith in Kompany and these players. If we capitulate early doors and the fans get on their back, we're in for a very rough season. If we back them, who knows what will happen?

We're in deep here with what Kompany wants with this project, and we all need to buy into it, give them time and see how it goes.

[boyyanno]

I am still struggling to see, having done a quick perusal, who has written anyone off? Bizarre set of posts!

We have no idea how good this lad is, he might be unreal (and he bloody should be when we're spending £4.25m-£6m according to the website I posted - in fact, how many teenage goalkeepers have cost more historically?) but none of us know. Verbruggen could come in and be absolutely faultless, be tied to a 5 year contract and be worth £30m by the end of this season - the opposite is also true. We have to all just wait and see - that does not, though, preclude ANYONE from saying "That's interesting, swapping all of that experience for young lads, that's a gamble". That's just an observation, not a dismissive level of criticism. I am getting a bit sick of the insinuation that it is.

I doubt anyone is going to not give these players a chance - I have said many times, people need to be very patient here with this squad. I always laughed at the mantra of "Trust in the Process" that idiotic Arsenal fans used to console themselves with as Arteta continued to flounder, but we now need to do the same and put our faith in Kompany and these players. If we capitulate early doors and the fans get on their back, we're in for a very rough season. If we back them, who knows what will happen?

We're in deep here with what Kompany wants with this project, and we all need to buy into it, give them time and see how it goes.

The best post on here in days imo.

[Spijed]

We still have experience in the squad,

The one area that you need to have more experience than anywhere else is defence, especially with at least one centre half. We seem to be moving away from that.

Who'll organise the defence at corners and freekicks, for example, if we no longer have the experience of a Ben Mee type figure?

[claretonthecoast1882]

I am still struggling to see, having done a quick perusal, who has written anyone off? Bizarre set of posts!

We have no idea how good this lad is, he might be unreal (and he bloody should be when we're spending £4.25m-£6m according to the website I posted - in fact, how many teenage goalkeepers have cost more historically?) but none of us know. Verbruggen could come in and be absolutely faultless, be tied to a 5 year contract and be worth £30m by the end of this season - the opposite is also true. We have to all just wait and see - that does not, though, preclude ANYONE from saying "That's interesting, swapping all of that experience for young lads, that's a gamble". That's just an observation, not a dismissive level of criticism. I am getting a bit sick of the insinuation that it is.

I doubt anyone is going to not give these players a chance - I have said many times, people need to be very patient here with this squad. I always laughed at the mantra of "Trust in the Process" that idiotic Arsenal fans used to console themselves with as Arteta continued to flounder, but we now need to do the same and put our faith in Kompany and these players. If we capitulate early doors and the fans get on their back, we're in for a very rough season. If we back them, who knows what will happen?

We're in deep here with what Kompany wants with this project, and we all need to buy into it, give them time and see how it goes.

I am not even including the goalkeeper in my thinking, more along the lines of those who spent the last few seasons whinging most games and complaining about anything from the manager, the style of football and age of players suddenly now seem concerned we are moving on the experienced players under a new manager with a fresh approach to the game.

I know nothing about the Keeper, never even heard of him, but if we are going to get behind the manager in the way we have under previous ones I am more than happy to trust his judgement if indeed that is a keeper he wants and for the fee mentioned on a website. I tend to take things reported like that with a pinch of salt, a bit like the Brownhill is available on a free due to being out of contract report.

[TickTock]

The one area that you need to have more experience than anywhere else is defence, especially with at least one centre half. We seem to be moving away from that.

Who'll organise the defence at corners and freekicks, for example, if we no longer have the experience of a Ben Mee type figure?

Maybe the England Under 21 Captain who marshalls their defence in international tournaments against some of the best wonderkids in the world, just a thought like.

[Lancasterclaret]

I'm wondering what sort of universe you have to live in to think that bringing a load of kids with very limited experience of what we all know is a tough division when experience really counts is somehow not a gamble?

You do get that people going "hang on a sec, this looks like a gamble" are just as keen as you are for us to win don't you?

[AGENT_CLARET]

Any rumours ????

[boyyanno]

Maybe the England Under 21 Captain who marshalls their defence in international tournaments against some of the best wonderkids in the world, just a thought like.

Just interested to know which of the best wonder kids in the world are playing for Andora, Albania, Kosovo, Slovenia and the Czech republic U21's squads?

[FeedTheArf]

Bart Verbruggen incoming

That's exactly the type of singing we should be making had we had an experienced number 1 like Hennessey to transition.

[Burnley1989]

I'm wondering what sort of universe you have to live in to think that bringing a load of kids with very limited experience of what we all know is a tough division when experience really counts is somehow not a gamble?

You do get that people going "hang on a sec, this looks like a gamble" are just as keen as you are for us to win don't you?

You’ll never win anything with kids

[claretbob]

The normal problem for a new manager is that he is lumbered with players he doesn’t want on fat contracts. The fact VK has been able to make these radical changes must have been a big reason why he fancied the challenge. Dean Smith at Norwich has the more usual situation of being stuck with the old guard’s players who were clearly good enough two years ago to walk the division but may now be lacking motivation and not be too keen on him as a coach and person. It’ll be fascinating to see who has the better season.

[Big Vinny K]

Maybe the England Under 21 Captain who marshalls their defence in international tournaments against some of the best wonderkids in the world, just a thought like.

Really ?
When’s he done that exactly ?
Have they beat anyone decent recently ? Have they won anything whilst he has been captain.
Looked like he was far from marshalling the defence in a recent game I was watching.

Hope he is good and he can develop too under VK but let’s not pretend we’ve signed a young Rio Ferdinand on loan. Given the injuries City had last year in the centre back positions if he was that good they would have kept him at City for cover.

[agreenwood]

Any rumours ????

Tried to post one on the previous page - O’Hare.

O’Hare, like Maatsen, Cullen & THB, has seasons under his belt at this level, but folk would rather talk about the player we’re linked with who has no experience at this level.

******* tedious thread.

[Culmclaret]

I respect those who are concerned because we are undoubtedly trying something different, but I must admit I am excited that we are bringing in so many players with so much potential. It may not work out for all of them and next season may be a transitional one but I suspect that we are going to be entertained! The reality is that consistency is likely to be an issue but we may get a few runs like the one in 1968 to help us enjoy the ride whilst the new approach beds in. We may even win the odd cup match!

[Spijed]

You’ll never win anything with kids

You don't. Unless you have plenty of experience in your side. That's the point.

[AwayClaret]

Facking nora

[Stalbansclaret]

Anderlecht had a plan with Bart Verbruggen. The Dutchman would be the regular goalkeeper of the U23 in 1B, but also the first stand-in of Hendrik van Crombrugge in the first team.

I want us to sign Hendrik Van Crombrugge . Crazy name, crazy guy !

[D8BFC]

Think we are all forgetting we have Craig Bellamy in the management team. Someone who has played at the level we are at and who is extremely knowledgable of the game and what’s required.

Let’s just enjoy the ride eh?

[warksclaret]

Can't believe the negativity on here after two years of staleness, one dimension hoof ball football, when all 11 players on the field were expected to defend.And since the departure of Defour we never had a player that could challenge a keeper with a direct free kick

In SD's first full season I thought we had a bunch of also rans at the time like Arfield, Jones, and Heaton. None of us had any idea they would go on to make big contributions. Then we had some hopefuls like Ings from Bournemouth reserves, Vokes who was a proper journeyman and Kightly who many thought was past it. They surprised us all and we went on to get auto promotion.

At 5.00pm the day we got relegated in May the media were telling us we were only going in one place-Division 1.In a short period we have brought in a great manager and back room team (can they really be worse than Stone & Woan), and some fantastically talented prospects and what do we get -the team and these players being questioned before they have worn the shirt. All 6 so far are only going to get better, and harnessing their talents will be a modern coach .Other names being muted are very exciting prospects. Our previous manager in 10 years never ever played other than 442, and never happy, not even in pre season, to experiment with three at the back. Yes we did try it twice and once got spanked , simply because we had not played it enough times.The new manager already has a plan and recruited accordingly-that shows great planning and vision

Its very sad to see Collins , Hennessy and Tarks go. All 3 are very much PL quality but it looks like we have replacements in hand or already on board. I am just not used to these sort of windows

[RVclaret]

With the O’Hare rumour, seems he’s still training etc with Cov as they’ve been posting his pics on socials, so it can’t be ‘that’ close - though perhaps there’s a feeling the fee isn’t too far away from being agreed, hence the reporter suggesting next week we could land him?

[Vegas Claret]

For Anyone who says we dont have a leader at the back I raise you THB, Captain of Englands Under - 21's all he does is lead he's also well experienced with championship football. Age != Experience.

he's played more games than Collins too

[martin_p]

I'm wondering what sort of universe you have to live in to think that bringing a load of kids with very limited experience of what we all know is a tough division when experience really counts is somehow not a gamble?

You do get that people going "hang on a sec, this looks like a gamble" are just as keen as you are for us to win don't you?

It’s definitely a gamble, guess how you see our signings depend on how you react to a gamble. Is it a mixture of nervousness and excitement that it could bring something new and wonderful or is it just worry about it all going horribly wrong?

[Lancasterclaret]

It’s definitely a gamble, guess how you see our signings depend on how you react to a gamble. Is it a mixture of nervousness and excitement that it could bring something new and wonderful or is it just worry about it all going horribly wrong?

At the moment, all of the above!

[RVclaret]

It’s definitely a gamble, guess how you see our signings depend on how you react to a gamble. Is it a mixture of nervousness and excitement that it could bring something new and wonderful or is it just worry about it all going horribly wrong?

Interestingly a Sky Bet survey of Championship club fans done just recently indicates we are second favourites to win the title this season. Maybe all other clubs fans are over optimistic for us.

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

The one area that you need to have more experience than anywhere else is defence, especially with at least one centre half. We seem to be moving away from that.

Who'll organise the defence at corners and freekicks, for example, if we no longer have the experience of a Ben Mee type figure?

They are paid professionals who will be playing not some random blokes picked from the crowd!

[Belgianclaret]

I’m assuming that’s as a backup

Little concerning if he’s coming in as a number 1. He’s 19 and only played 7 senior games

Indeed, was only supposed to play in Anderlecht’s second string in second division this season

[Belgianclaret]

Let’s hope we get O’Hare

[Vegas Claret]

Let’s hope we get O’Hare

personally, I'd rather use the cash and try and sign Delap full time

[RVclaret]

personally, I'd rather use the cash and try and sign Delap full time

If City want to sell him then he’ll go to Southampton. Our main chance is it they decide not to sell and just loan.

[Belgianclaret]

personally, I'd rather use the cash and try and sign Delap full time

I could also live with that

[spt_claret]

Can't believe the negativity on here after two years of staleness, one dimension hoof ball football, when all 11 players on the field were expected to defend.And since the departure of Defour we never had a player that could challenge a keeper with a direct free kick

In SD's first full season I thought we had a bunch of also rans at the time like Arfield, Jones, and Heaton. None of us had any idea they would go on to make big contributions. Then we had some hopefuls like Ings from Bournemouth reserves, Vokes who was a proper journeyman and Kightly who many thought was past it. They surprised us all and we went on to get auto promotion.

At 5.00pm the day we got relegated in May the media were telling us we were only going in one place-Division 1.In a short period we have brought in a great manager and back room team (can they really be worse than Stone & Woan), and some fantastically talented prospects and what do we get -the team and these players being questioned before they have worn the shirt. All 6 so far are only going to get better, and harnessing their talents will be a modern coach .Other names being muted are very exciting prospects. Our previous manager in 10 years never ever played other than 442, and never happy, not even in pre season, to experiment with three at the back. Yes we did try it twice and once got spanked , simply because we had not played it enough times.The new manager already has a plan and recruited accordingly-that shows great planning and vision

Its very sad to see Collins , Hennessy and Tarks go. All 3 are very much PL quality but it looks like we have replacements in hand or already on board. I am just not used to these sort of windows

Yet more efforts to rubbish & downplay the previous regime for reasons I'm unclear of. I suspect the negativity is because we're in the Championship, laden with debt, losing large numbers of proven PL key players sometimes at cut prices, facing an overhaul reliant largely on gambles, after years of Premier League stability.

Arfield and Heaton I'll grant you were largely unknowns (although I rated Arfield from what I'd seen of him). Vokes & Ings were 2 young forwards who stepped up to the plate tremendously but Vokes was rather experienced for a 22 year old (age when he signed permanently).
Jones had played multiple PL seasons for multiple teams. Kightly had been in the PL the season before and played a fair bit at that level. Both had good pedigree. And expectation matters too- nobody expected us to get promotion, whereas the financial situation of the club now coupled with the fact we had 6 consecutive seasons in the PL, 2 top half finishes, 1 European qualification, 7/9 of the past years in the PL, and were relegated as a narrow 18th place, means that rightly or wrongly- people will expect us to bounce back at the first time of asking. That tends to result in different expectations regarding recruitment.

I didn't see anyone in the media saying we were headed for League One upon relegation, in fact we were often being tipped to bounce back quickly- as most people here were predicting and expecting right up until the last few weeks- when suddenly expectations have changed from bouncing back (or even as champions as many were expecting) to a rebuilding season. For what it's worth, one of the reasons I was so worried about relegation is I never felt that we would rebound immediately on relegation. I still don't.

You contradict yourself in the same paragraph on our old tactics- we apparently never ever played anything but 442, but then also played 3 at the back, but the only reason this didn't work is we didn't play it enough. For what it's worth we did change formations under Dyche- not very often certainly, and I thought the successful 433 switch at Chelsea last season should have been stuck with for a couple of games to see if it kept working, but we did change, for a time played 4411 with Hendrick in the hole, and our actual tctical setup under 442 changed several times over the years. You're correct that the last 2 years were defensive and dour, but we had a pittance to work with after summer 2019- summer 2021 still had less gross spend than 2019. Regardless, people obsess far too much with formations as if there's some magic formula for success and it's very hard for a club with a small budget to play like a City or Liverpool and actually have consistent success. There's other routes to successful results and no one approach is perfect. It's odd to be supportive of Kompany for having a dedicated plan and vision, then bash Dyche for sticking to his own plan/vision- not saying not to support Kompany quite the opposite- I just don't understand this repeat effort to retroactively talk down our most successful spell for 50 years.

Kompany may well go on to be a great manager and I am backing and supporting him but to call him a great manager already when he has 2 rebuilding seasons at Anderlecht under his belt, where he left by mutual consent, is premature. He's already been shown more blind faith and support in his transfers than Dyche got even after years of success- "If the manager thinks he's good enough that's good enough for me" is a sentiment I rarely saw the last six years in the PL. It's good to back him, but blind faith can turn to blind hate quickly and can also create tension and unrealistic expectation in the fanbase. He has an approach and plan I'm sure. I'm optimistic about Twine, Bastien and Cullen. I think a young, raw defence is a huge gamble and I cannot believe people are treating that idea as controversial or unreasonable. I'm backing Kompany but I can't deny I'd be more reassurred if we had slightly more seasoned heads in our defence and in goal- regardless of how promising these prospects might be.

[KRBFC]

Why do people jump on the defensive so quick? I've not seen anyone slag off the new signings? It's almost like some of you work for the club, it's not your role to get angry over opinions and go on unwarranted defensive rants. People should be free to discuss the transfer window without their words being twisted and jumped on by the same tiring brigade.

A valid concern is a lack of experience with a 19 year old keeper it is not slagging off the entire transfer window, it's wildly different to saying it's a poor signing.

[BigGaz]

Forgive the OT question, but does anyone with a bit of Belgian knowledge understand what Anderlecht’s No1 name means?

Hendrik van Crombrugge

I feel like it would be “From Brugge” in our language but the “Crom” is throwing me.

Mildly interested in stuff like this, as boring as it is

[Vegas Claret]

If City want to sell him then he’ll go to Southampton. Our main chance is it they decide not to sell and just loan.

not necessarily, we've got a few City lads in and Kompany, he would walk into our team and may not at Saints - I know, I'm clutching at straws

[claretonthecoast1882]

Forgive the OT question, but does anyone with a bit of Belgian knowledge understand what Anderlecht’s No1 name means?

Hendrik van Crombrugge

I feel like it would be “From Brugge” in our language but the “Crom” is throwing me.

Mildly interested in stuff like this, as boring as it is

van Crombrugge translated to English becomes Jeff

Basically we are in talks with Hendrik Jeff to play in goal for us

[BigGaz]

van Crombrugge translated to English becomes Jeff

Basically we are in talks with Hendrik Jeff to play in goal for us

I’m not too fussed about the experience part.

One of them has played plenty at this level already, both CB’s will be flanked by two former Premier League footballers who have experience of relegation and challenging at the top end of the championship. One or more of Cullen/Brownhill/Cork/Westwood sitting in front of them and arguably one of the best PL CB’s ever coaching them

GK/CB unit may take a while to gel but believe that’s more just a case of building up familiarity rather than inexperience.

[Tricky Trevor]

Just interested to know which of the best wonder kids in the world are playing for Andora, Albania, Kosovo, Slovenia and the Czech republic U21's squads?

Iva Bollocic. Barca are tracking him.

[Tricky Trevor]

It’s like going back to the good old days. Peter Mellor at the start of the 69/70 season was 21 with no league experience with Colin Waldron(21), Sammy Todd(23) and mick Docherty(18) amongst others in front of him. Makes a change from having the oldest team in the league!

They got relegated.

[KRBFC]

Just interested to know which of the best wonder kids in the world are playing for Andora, Albania, Kosovo, Slovenia and the Czech republic U21's squads?

Benjamin Sesko is Slovenian, he's got 13 caps at full international level and he's just turned 19. Tbf he's never played U21 football, 1 cap for U19s straight into main squad. Haaland 2.0, he'll be incredible.

[Nori1958]

They got relegated.

.... And promoted

[TheFamilyCat]

Forgive the OT question, but does anyone with a bit of Belgian knowledge understand what Anderlecht’s No1 name means?

Hendrik van Crombrugge

I feel like it would be “From Brugge” in our language but the “Crom” is throwing me.

Mildly interested in stuff like this, as boring as it is

Hendrik buggers Croms

[Juan Tanamera]

Facking nora

[Ightenclaret]

Iva Bollocic. Barca are tracking him.

I’d buy his shirt.