Summer 2021 Transfer Window Rumours - Links - Discussion

[Conroy92]

The starting XI isn't way short though.
We need depth, certainly, and it'd be nice to upgrade our 1st XI, but our 100% fit first XI would finish midtable.

Deluded.
We didn't finish midtable last season and there were some very poor teams in the league. This season will be tougher again with teams like Norwich who have kept most of there squad together and bounced back, these teams will be less naive for the experience they have gained.
I'm expecting this to be the season the likes of Palace, Saints, Brighton and ourselves get properly sucked into the relegation battle, I think one or two established teams will drop out next season. We need to strengthen so its not us.

[Lancasterclaret]

Deluded.
We didn't finish midtable last season and there were some very poor teams in the league. This season will be tougher again with teams like Norwich who have kept most of there squad together and bounced back, these teams will be less naive for the experience they have gained.
I'm expecting this to be the season the likes of Palace, Saints, Brighton and ourselves get properly sucked into the relegation battle, I think one or two established teams will drop out next season. We need to strengthen so its not us.

This

Got away with it last year because of how crap the bottom three ended up being

No guarantee that it will be the same this season

On the plus side, very sure that SD and AP know this, but its all about availability of targets and getting them here

[kentonclaret]

Chris Wood was our main source of goals last season but, as things stand, could be missing for a large chunk of the campaign in January/February 2022 as New Zealand play a hectic schedule of "make or bust" matches seeking to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar later that same year. With the condensed schedule of matches and extra travelling involved there is always the chance of him picking up an injury while on NZ duty. As I understand things he will already miss a large chunk of pre-season on Olympics duty.

[Dark Cloud]

This

Got away with it last year because of how crap the bottom three ended up being

No guarantee that it will be the same this season

On the plus side, very sure that SD and AP know this, but its all about availability of targets and getting them here

Definitely and "got away with it" is the exact phrase I'd use too. We absolutely did and we can't sit on our bums and say we weren't warned. We JUST, managed to turn last season into a wake up call as opposed to a full on disaster, so to not heed that call would be tantamount to surrender imo. It's clear that we're far more active in the market this summer with decent links appearing all over the place, but we have to turn more of those links into good quality names on the match day team sheet before the season kicks off. It's also clear that getting them "over the line" still isn't easy, especially if we face any kind of PL competition and we all understand that. Collins is a good signing and a start, but we have issues in other areas of the pitch which desperately need addressing and anyone who suggests otherwise really is deluded.

[Vino blanco]

Burnley remind me of England under Southgate, good at the back, potentially very good in attack, but lacking in creativity in midfield. If we start the new season with the same midfield three as last season, I fear for the worst (another relegation battle). We need an upgrade in midfield urgently; last seaon we were overun in midfield by the likes of Brighton, Newcastle and even Sheffield.

[ClaretMov]

Must admit I am surprised from a business image point of view they have gone for Hennessy given he was caught doing Nazi salutes on camera.

No he wasn't, and isn't what you posted Libel when he wasn't charged, the charge was found not proven after two members of the three-man panel believed the photograph had been misinterpreted.

[Spijed]

Can we bust the myth that we got away with it - We didn't.

36 points is all you will EVER require to stop up these days and we got more than that. Even if the bottom three had been better we would have survived anyway as they would only have matched what relegated clubs had achieved in previous seasons.

[Newcastleclaret93]

No he wasn't, and isn't what you posted Libel when he wasn't charged, the charge was found not proven after two members of the three-man panel believed the photograph had been misinterpreted.

Did I say he was charged? I said he was caught doing the salute on camera.

[tiger76]

Can we bust the myth that we got away with it - We didn't.

36 points is all you will EVER require to stop up these days and we got more than that. Even if the bottom three had been better we would have survived anyway as they would only have matched what relegated clubs had achieved in previous seasons.

True! but we still desperately need to strengthen in key areas, as if we suffer injuries to key players we'll be staring down the barrel again.

Collins is a decent start, but ideally we need another 2/3 quality signings in this window, otherwise we're running the risk of putting our PL status in severe jeopardy, it's unlikely that the 3 promoted sides will fare as poorly as Fulham, WBA & Sheff Utd did last season, and when our key men such as Mee & Wood were absent last season we struggled big time, so hopefully lessons have been learnt, and the early signs are promising under the new regime thus far.

[ClaretMov]

Did I say he was charged? I said he was caught doing the salute on camera.

He wasn't caught doing the salute it was misinterpreted

[kentonclaret]

The undisputed fact is that we finished 4th from bottom and ended the season with a run of 3 defeats without scoring. We were also the 3rd lowest scoring team in the PL with the other 2 teams worse than us suffering relegation.

[ClaretMov]

Screenshot_20210714-120601_Google.jpg (25.41 KiB) Viewed 3550 times

Can we bust the myth that we got away with it - We didn't.

36 points is all you will EVER require to stop up these days and we got more than that. Even if the bottom three had been better we would have survived anyway as they would only have matched what relegated clubs had achieved in previous seasons.

West Ham fans won't agree, they went down with 42 points

[Silkyskills1]

Can we bust the myth that we got away with it - We didn't.

36 points is all you will EVER require to stop up these days and we got more than that. Even if the bottom three had been better we would have survived anyway as they would only have matched what relegated clubs had achieved in previous seasons.

Can't agree with that, unfortunately. The bottom three were constantly poor last season. I don't think there was a time that any of them had a run of games that might suggest there was hope of them.avoiding relegation and at the end they formed an isolated group of their own within the Premier league. We stumbled across the line after a very poor start but there wasn't anything I saw from us last season to suggest it won't be another struggle this time around unless the absolutely necessary signings are made to bolster both numbers and quality within the squad.

[warksclaret]

The undisputed fact is that we finished 4th from bottom and ended the season with a run of 3 defeats without scoring. We were also the 3rd lowest scoring team in the PL with the other 2 teams worse than us suffering relegation.

Its the biggest wake up call we could have had, and worrying how we lost so many points to sides in the bottom third of the table.

[ClaretAL]

To be fair we were on the beach at the end of the season once were safe, if we would have bagged further points we would have finished higher. I think the worst parts of the season for us was when 1 of either Tarky, Mee, and Pope were injured, and if Hennesey comes in, and the signing of Collins already, that has been addressed for me. However to improve on last year I do think we need more creativity from our midfield, and with Wood being otherwise engaged that is also a concern as I don't see Jay Rod or Barnes having the legs. But what do I know I'm sure Dyche has it in hand, more now than when he did previously with Garlick.

[randomclaret2]

To be fair we were on the beach at the end of the season once were safe, if we would have bagged further points we would have finished higher. I think the worst parts of the season for us was when 1 of either Tarky, Mee, and Pope were injured, and if Hennesey comes in, and the signing of Collins already, that has been addressed for me. However to improve on last year I do think we need more creativity from our midfield, and with Wood being otherwise engaged that is also a concern as I don't see Jay Rod or Barnes having the legs. But what do I know I'm sure Dyche has it in hand, more now than when he did previously with Garlick.

Why werent other teams " on the beach " when they reached 36 points ? Im ageeing with you by the way

[ClaretAL]

mmmm... I would normally phrase as clickbait, but as its quoting the Athletic, it probably has substance, which is a shame.


https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2021/07/14/r ... week-star/

[duncandisorderly]

Deluded.
We didn't finish midtable last season and there were some very poor teams in the league. This season will be tougher again with teams like Norwich who have kept most of there squad together and bounced back, these teams will be less naive for the experience they have gained.
I'm expecting this to be the season the likes of Palace, Saints, Brighton and ourselves get properly sucked into the relegation battle, I think one or two established teams will drop out next season. We need to strengthen so its not us.

I'm not sure I am deluded.
The first six games of last season were without Mee, Tarkowski or both and ended it without Pope, gaining only 1 point in those 9 games so extrapolating our points earned with our strongest XI gives us 50 points and a 12th placed finish.

I know it's not an exact science, and our squad is too thin and it's ageing and all of that, but all I'm saying is that our strongest XI is a very capable side.

[martin_p]

Screenshot_20210714-120601_Google.jpg

West Ham fans won't agree, they went down with 42 points

That was 19 years ago, hardly qualifies as ‘these days’. You have to go back 10 years to find a team relegated with 39 points, it only happens about once a decade.

[randomclaret2]

I'm not sure I am deluded.
The first six games of last season were without Mee, Tarkowski or both and ended it without Pope, gaining only 1 point in those 9 games so extrapolating our points earned with our strongest XI gives us 50 points and a 12th placed finish.

I know it's not an exact science, and our squad is too thin and it's ageing and all of that, but all I'm saying is that our strongest XI is a very capable side.

Surely every side in the League could say the same ? No club gets to play its strongest 11 every week.

[duncandisorderly]

Surely every side in the League could say the same ? No club gets to play its strongest 11 every week.

That's not the point I'm making though.
People seem to think the first XI is in need of a major overhaul, that we got lucky, that we're in dire straits and other such overreactions.
I'm trying to explain why I don't believe that to be the case.

[dsr]

So, we have three goalkeepers two of whom are seen as not good enough (and BPF was given an extended contract just last season)

Excellent job from Mr Mercer and the recruitment team

Hennessey would appear to be a cheap option as on a free but, yet again, just a short term fix - as would have been Young, as would be Albrighton and no doubt Townsend will now be on the same list

Wouldn't be surprised if McCarthur or McCarthy are also in the frame

When you consider that for the last 8 years, all but a handful of matches have seen one of Tom Heaton, Nick Pope, or Joe Hart in goal - don't you think that criticising the recruitment of goalkeepers is more than a touch overblown?

[Conroy92]

I'm not sure I am deluded.
The first six games of last season were without Mee, Tarkowski or both and ended it without Pope, gaining only 1 point in those 9 games so extrapolating our points earned with our strongest XI gives us 50 points and a 12th placed finish.

I know it's not an exact science, and our squad is too thin and it's ageing and all of that, but all I'm saying is that our strongest XI is a very capable side.

To say your not deluded and then suddenly guesstimate we would have ended with 50 points and a 12 finish place, it's hard to say otherwise. Incomings are a must! We were the fourth worst team in the league last season and goals scored is a worry. We didn't even manage to produce the results against the lower sides in the league as we have done in previous years. Can't see the big sides throwing away as many points next season either.
If we don't add creativity or goals to the side we will be scrapping it out at the bottom.

[leightonjameslegend]

Let's be honest if Pope is fit he plays every game. BPF looks like he needs a loan move to get much-needed first-team games and Norris looks every bit a Third Choice Keeper. So Hennessey is a good fit on a FREE. We need to spend the limited money elsewhere.
Collins is a great signing and it looks at the moment Tarks will stay as not much interest.
Don't think Albrighton will happen as they want to offer him a new contract unless he wants to have more regular game time. Cornet is an exciting talent and it would be a real coup if he signed, adding much-needed pace into the side. Add in a signing like Ryan Christie and don't lose anyone then I think it's a good window and positive start to AP and Co tenure.
The main thing is we actually look active and we are trying to add extra quality to the squad.

[Socrates]

Deluded.
This season will be tougher again with teams like Norwich who have kept most of there squad together

Ah ….. I see we’re back to romanticising how good Norwich are again without looking at the facts.

Kept most of their squad together ….. except for Buendia, their best player. And they’ve not got Oliver Skipp on loan again, who was also integral to them last year.

As it stands I’d argue that they are weaker than the team that got relegated by an absolute mile last time.

[Socrates]

Brentford are totally going down too by the way.

Some pundits will be suggesting they could make top half this year. And then they’ll play ….. and not win very much, and finish bottom.

I’m not saying it’s great …. Relying on three teams being poorer. But those two definitely will be.

[Conroy92]

That's not the point I'm making though.
People seem to think the first XI is in need of a major overhaul, that we got lucky, that we're in dire straits and other such overreactions.
I'm trying to explain why I don't believe that to be the case.

We were carried through by the goals from Wood. I'd argue 2 out of the 3 other strikers look to be on there last legs. At CM it's unlikely Cork has much more at this level which leaves Westwood and Brownhill. (I'm not even mentioning Stephens) We've then in reality got one fit winger in McNeil. It's hard to believe Gudders is suddenly going to turn his injury problems around.
There's no overreactions here. I'm being realistic. We need upgrades.

[Conroy92]

Ah ….. I see we’re back to romanticising how good Norwich are again without looking at the facts.

Kept most of their squad together ….. except for Buendia, their best player. And they’ve not got Oliver Skipp on loan again, who was also integral to them last year.

As it stands I’d argue that they are weaker than the team that got relegated by an absolute mile last time.

Ahh yes, Norwich are rubbish so we should be fine next season. Get a grip.
I'd rather not hope there are 3 worse sides than us next year and actually bring some additions in to strengthen our position.

[claretonthecoast1882]

Brentford are totally going down too by the way.

Some pundits will be suggesting they could make top half this year. And then they’ll play ….. and not win very much, and finish bottom.

I’m not saying it’s great …. Relying on three teams being poorer. But those two definitely will be.

I am looking forward to seeing which players they sign from League 1 & 2 this summer to lead their campaign in the Premier League. This is the recruitment team that some on here are in love with and wish we could be as good so it will be interesting to see who they bring in.

[claretonthecoast1882]

Ahh yes, Norwich are rubbish so we should be fine next season. Get a grip.

He has pointed out 2 players they relied on heavily last year are no longer there and the response is "ah yes Norwich are rubbish"

[Sproggy]

That was 19 years ago, hardly qualifies as ‘these days’. You have to go back 10 years to find a team relegated with 39 points, it only happens about once a decade.

So it will happen this season then?

[Conroy92]

He has pointed out 2 players they relied on heavily last year are no longer there and the response is "ah yes Norwich are rubbish"

Maybe the sarcasim went over your head!
I don't think Norwich are rubbish. You have also forgotten the vital experience of coming up and going down. They have more understanding how the league works.

Again, I don't want to sit and hope there are 3 worse sides than us. I want us to bring in additions to ensure that.

[claretonthecoast1882]

Maybe the sarcasim went over your head!
I don't think Norwich are rubbish. You have also forgotten the vital experience of coming up and going down. They have more understanding how the league works.

Again, I don't want to sit and hope there are 3 worse sides than us. I want us to bring in additions to ensure that.

Is that what the club have said they are planning on doing hoping there are 3 sides worse than us ?

How many players do we need to sign and what sort of cost to say guarantee 12th or above ?

[Conroy92]

Is that what the club have said they are planning on doing hoping there are 3 sides worse than us ?

How many players do we need to sign and what sort of cost to say guarantee 12th or above ?

posters like you make me laugh. There is no guarantees to finish above 12th, just as there are no guarantees that Norwich will go down bottom. Try showing some respect to the teams and league around us.

It's simple really. You either think we need additions or not. I do and I have stated why on varying comments above. All people seem to be able to say is, our squad is more than adequate compared to what's coming up.
If you want to rely on that fine, I don't.

Anyway, let's get back to the links please.

[minnieclaret]

So many bedwetters on this site. FFS it is the same as every season players will sign for us at the last minute hoping a better offer comes in. You can put as many bids in as you like if the player doesn’t want to sign HE WON’T.
As for complaining about our lack of goals, Barnes and JRod were rarely match fit and when they did get on they looked short of minutes. With a full pre-season under them we are back to 4 strikers that can rotate to keep fresh and they will score goals.

[claretonthecoast1882]

posters like you make me laugh. There is no guarantees to finish above 12th, just as there are no guarantees that Norwich will go down bottom. Try showing some respect to the teams and league around us.

It's simple really. You either think we need additions or not. I do and I have stated why on varying comments above. All people seem to be able to say is, our squad is more than adequate compared to what's coming up.
If you want to rely on that fine, I don't.

Anyway, let's get back to the links please.

Calm down, slow deep breaths might help.

I haven't seen anyone say they don't want or think we need signings if someone has they are wrong, just as those who say daft things like lets not go out with the "hope there are 3 teams worse than us"

There are some who are level headed as well as sensible and accept that there are quite a number of teams in the division that we can't compete with on a financial basis and accept we will more than likely spend our time in the bottom half of the division than the top half. Then there are those who are waiting for us to arrive at the next level.

[Conroy92]

Calm down, slow deep breaths might help.

I haven't seen anyone say they don't want or think we need signings if someone has they are wrong, just as those who say daft things like lets not go out with the "hope there are 3 teams worse than us"

There are some who are level headed as well as sensible and accept that there are quite a number of teams in the division that we can't compete with on a financial basis and accept we will more than likely spend our time in the bottom half of the division than the top half. Then there are those who are waiting for us to arrive at the next level.

It's like your having a conversation with someone else or have missed about 2 pages out prior to this. My original comments were aimed at someone who said we did not require additions as the squad was capable of finishing 12th. Something I disagree with and judging by your last comments it would seem you do too.
Can you go away now please?

[claretonthecoast1882]

Good lad, we got there

[Lancasterclaret]

Crikey, that got a bit out of hand

Our first eleven is comfortably lower to mid table

Problem is, you don't get to play your first eleven every game, and that is where we are a lot weaker than others

Pretty sure we had no assists or goals from subs in the league last year.

I think its safe to say that everyone agrees that we need more players, just that some have slightly more realistic expectations than others about who they might be

[NewClaret]

Do not accept the argument that next years competition will be stronger than last.

Watford are weaker than when they went down, in my opinion. They may strengthen with their ownership, but no guarentee's and lets face it - Fulham had some great loan signings and still went down.

Brentford have some good young players but will struggle at this level. And Norwich have lost their talisman and best player by a country mile. Otherwise they have lost one of their best defenders from their relegation seasons but are about the same elsewhere, with Pukki up front who is a great Championship player but will struggle again in the Prem imo.

Add to that we started very poorly due to injuries and I doubt we would have finished so weakly had we really needed the points. I think Pope would have been risked if relegation was still possible.

This season we look to be keeping the core group (fingers crossed) who are vastly experienced at this level now. Its reasonable to expect an improvement on last years performances, even if we didn't make significant additions.

All that said, I agree with another poster that I think SD/AP are acutely aware of the gamble they will be taking if they don't strengthen and intend to do so. We should go quality over quantity and prioritise RW.

[Tall Paul]

It's like your having a conversation with someone else or have missed about 2 pages out prior to this. My original comments were aimed at someone who said we did not require additions as the squad was capable of finishing 12th. Something I disagree with and judging by your last comments it would seem you do too.

That isn't what he said.

[mkmel]

Any Transfer Rumours guys?

[KRBFC]

The starting XI isn't way short though.
We need depth, certainly, and it'd be nice to upgrade our 1st XI, but our 100% fit first XI would finish midtable.

Have you been asleep for the last 12 months?

[Newcastleclaret93]

Crikey, that got a bit out of hand

Our first eleven is comfortably lower to mid table

Problem is, you don't get to play your first eleven every game, and that is where we are a lot weaker than others

Pretty sure we had no assists or goals from subs in the league last year.

I think its safe to say that everyone agrees that we need more players, just that some have slightly more realistic expectations than others about who they might be

I don’t really agree I think our starting eleven is currently just about good enough to just avoid relegation and that is basing it on the fact that I think at least 2 of the three that came up will go down and we could edge out one of Brighton, palace, Newcastle for the last spot. However with Our only goal scorer out for potentially 6 weeks in the middle of the season it becomes much tighter.

If we don’t add at least 3 signings I think this season will be a slog.

[Ric_C]

Add to this that I think certain clubs are in a bit more turmoil and upheaval than last season

Everton - will be interesting how Rafa does and the crowd react
Wolves - Seem to be cost cutting
Palace - A lot of comings and goings and an unproven manager
Southampton - might lose Ings
Villa - might lose Grealish
Newcastle - Takeover still ongoing, fans unhappy with Bruce
Three promoted teams will be down there as well.

If we can sign the right players, I will be pretty confident coming into this season.

Last year everyone around us seemed to be improving, plus we had Leeds come up and easily finish top ten, so it was more of a struggle in general due to our lack of signings and small squad.

[Vegas Claret]

Maybe the sarcasim went over your head!
I don't think Norwich are rubbish. You have also forgotten the vital experience of coming up and going down. They have more understanding how the league works.

Again, I don't want to sit and hope there are 3 worse sides than us. I want us to bring in additions to ensure that.

they've also sold their best player in Buendia

[Socrates]

Ahh yes, Norwich are rubbish so we should be fine next season. Get a grip.
I'd rather not hope there are 3 worse sides than us next year and actually bring some additions in to strengthen our position.

I mean ….. if you’d read the very next post you’d see that I said I realise that it’s not great relying on three teams worse than us ….. but, you know …. you obviously didn’t.

Norwich were rubbish last time they came up.

They got 21 points!!! Twenty one!!! They were 13 points adrift.

And from that team they’ve lost Ben Godfrey and Buendia. Two of their best players.

I’m not saying that means we’ll be alright. But I am saying that your statement that the season will be tougher because of teams like Norwich “who have kept most of there squad together” is, at best, questionable.

[Socrates]

You have also forgotten the vital experience of coming up and going down.

How’d that work out the four other times they got relegated.

You know Norwich have been promoted to the Premier League more than any other club, right? Seems they haven’t benefited from that experience this far, despite having experienced that experience more than anybody else.

[KRBFC]

People writing off newly promoted sides? I'm genuinely not sure what to expect with the 3. I do think last season was the weakest PL in a long time at the bottom, the 3 who went down did with a whimper which is very unusual, normally 2 put up some kind of a fight.

I don't know why we're discussing this on a thread about transfers though...

[warksclaret]

Fail to see how Brentford can be written off. Very progressive club, with good owners and manager, and brilliant at unearthing good talent. I think they will have a very good season