Topic: Farewell day, sponsored by Sterling

[BUSHMILLS]

Or Johnson. He deserves a farewell.

He deserved one about two seasons ago.

[L666KOP]

He's not a money grabbin' 20-yo mate, it's all about the ambition to win things. It's not about the houses and the cars he's going to buy.

Indeed.

The more he says it's not about the money, then it kinda' is.

The Sterling camp needs to know when to put the shovel down. Sometimes it's maybe best to say nothing, and we think he's a moneygrabber, rather than start talking, and confirm it.

[rickardinho1]

Here's what I don't get: just about every paper ran a story a few days ago stating that a major remit of Brendan's post-season review with Gordon was to analyze our transfer strategy and its shortcomings. I struggle to see how we can possibly have a fully-formed list of top targets prior to that all important meeting unless the agenda of that meeting has altered significantly in the past 72 hours.

Having said that, I'm gonna go ahead and respond to the list of targets anyway. Not best pleased (although I do like Milner). I think the aspect which annoys me most is that we seem to have the strategy I'd prefer, but not the targets. By that I mean, I think we definitely need two strikers this summer and I think our most sensible course of action is to spend big on one and look for value on the other. And that seems to be what we're doing. So that's great. The problem is we're just plain targeting the wrong players. And it has nothing to do with where they play. Yes, PL players are largely overvalued, but you can still find a gem or two if you look in the right spots. Ayoze, for instance, is someone I'd love to see us look at and I doubt he'd cost a wedge. We can do much better than Benteke and Ings, though. I'm going to hold out hope that my initial skepticism over the list is correct and that next week will have a much bigger impact on matters moving forward than today's rumours indicate.

Ayoze would be Aspas 2.0

[SamAteTheRedAcid]

Ayoze would be Aspas 2.0

No, everyone on here knows better. They'd never pick a dud like Iago.

[karl740]

I don't get it either. They're physically built for this league, athletic, good on the ball and wouldn't command ridiculous wages  and yet we have no interest in any of them.

 We need to bring a German manager in who knows the league and bring some of those talented players over. Bit like Benitez did with alonso, Garcia, Reina etc

[The Playmaker]

We need to bring a German manager in who knows the league and bring some of those talented players over. Bit like Benitez did with alonso, Garcia, Reina etc

Felix Magath it is then.

[karl740]

Felix Magath it is then.

Where is penfold now?

[keyo]

Just because he says it doesn't mean it's true

It is better information than anyone else is using to discuss the the transfer committee

[rickardinho1]

If we got Benteke for £30m plus Vietto/Lacazette for whatever amount I think Benteke would be a very good signing despite what most here are saying.

Imagine having a striker group of Sturridge-Vietto-Benteke-Origi... Pretty damn good imo.

It's not unfathomable that we could cover Benteke's cost with sales, and still have space for another big signing given the increased tv revenue, wage savings (gerrard, Enrique, Johnson...), and the strong £ to € rate...

[Redman0151]

If we got Benteke for £30m plus Vietto/Lacazette for whatever amount I think Benteke would be a very good signing despite what most here are saying.

Imagine having a striker group of Sturridge-Vietto-Benteke-Origi... Pretty damn good imo.

It's not unfathomable that we could cover Benteke's cost with sales, and still have space for another big signing given the increased tv revenue, wage savings (gerrard, Enrique, Johnson...), and the strong £ to € rate...

You're just bargaining with yourself, no matter how you spin it £30m is awful business for Benteke compared to what you could get, and the other striker we are getting is Ings

[plura]

Here, educate yourself :

http://tomkinstimes.com/2014/06/tomkins-law-only-40-of-transfers-succeed/

And then you have to take into consideration the type of players you buy, 40% of what! 40% of decent quality ain't gonna bring us the title is it now!?