The Mail Bag
Some Good News
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Sky Sports has just confirmed that Mikel Arteta is back in full training following his knock against Forest. He damaged a nerve which made his foot go numb apparently. Leon Osman is likely to play some part in both games in the USA to gain valuable fitness and Timmy Cahill is running way ahead of schedule. I know our squad is smaller than a supermodels waist size, but at least some senior pros are starting their preparation for the season.
I hope the seniors do get some minutes under their belts in the USA, as, although i have been impressed with Rodwell and Baxter, i don't think they are ready for the starting 11, but could prove valuable squad members.
All we need know is the 5 or 6 players Moyes says he needs ;)
Tony Bell, Posted 28/07/2008 at 15:46:23
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Funny that Mark, I make that half a team ;)
I agree with your sentiments in respect of adding more quality ...but what you are saying is that we are still only 50% there ... and with the other teams around us strengthening this surely indicates we are going backwards. Mark suggests that we need half a side - 5 players ... a quality player in each of the positions he mentions will set you back 10m plus .. so where oh where is the money coming from to do this...? Don’t get me wrong, I am optimistic that if we sign someone of Moutinho’s calibre then this would be an amazing coup (I can’t see it happening but happy to eat my words), even with such a player I just get the feeling that we will still fall short in both strength of numbers and quality to really trouble the big boys (again) ...
Mourtinho will not be signed, this is another big Bullshit lie. We will get the lad from Turkey and possibly Fernandes will come back last minute, he is not here now to keep the wage bill down. I would like to see Darren Bent signed but doubt that it will happen. Amazing that we tried and failed to sign Keane 3 years ago, hope he turns out to be another Kewell.
The big question for me is if as Billy Liar stated the Moyes new contract was a "done deal" three weeks ago, why hasn?t he signed? I don?t think he will, I think he will be gone by January and we will be fighting relegation, with Yak, Lescot and Cahill having been sold to fund the move to Kirkby.
re:Cahill;
I posted on here a week or so ago that someone told me he should be fit for the start of the season.
Apparently we are not rushing things with him though so definitely need someone else brought in.
Very good news that Arteta is fine--next season we should see him back to his best.
I posted on here a week or so ago that someone told me he should be fit for the start of the season.
Apparently we are not rushing things with him though so definitely need someone else brought in.
Very good news that Arteta is fine--next season we should see him back to his best.
Matt, I understand exactly what you mean, but if we manage to sign say 3 of the 5 we need for between £4M and £6M it starts to look a bit more achievable. We?ve done it before, signed players for no more than that who have gone on to become class signings, so hopefully we can do it again. No one ever said it was gonna be easy!!
To be honest, just getting rid of AJ is a plus in my book. I would?ve taken £9M... then you add an astronomical fee of £10½-12 million onto that and we have a steal (Moyes really is prudent in selling his assets!). Seeing that baldly go flying in the corner and ending on his ass by the advertisements is getting a little tired for me.
The whole transfer issue has been that we?re going for players that our "above our weight" with less money than the big 4. Therein lies the problem. We could easily pluck some shit (Koumas, Bullard etc.) "The best of the bottom" but we are above that now. Even those diamonds in the rough from The Championship are going to be harder to find for us -- we?re a better team now! Give Moyes time.
Bottom line however - the team is going nowhere substantial with "Red Bill" (the color of his balance sheets) in charge. Show us the money, honey.
The whole transfer issue has been that we?re going for players that our "above our weight" with less money than the big 4. Therein lies the problem. We could easily pluck some shit (Koumas, Bullard etc.) "The best of the bottom" but we are above that now. Even those diamonds in the rough from The Championship are going to be harder to find for us -- we?re a better team now! Give Moyes time.
Bottom line however - the team is going nowhere substantial with "Red Bill" (the color of his balance sheets) in charge. Show us the money, honey.
£20 mil is being bandied about for decent but fairly run of the mill players eg; Keane and Barry...I think if we can get Moutinho for as much or less than those two, then we will have pulled off a coup. The boy is young and could well be another Fabregas. If we can hold on to Arteta as well we will have a fantastic ball playing midfield as we did many years ago. We definitely need an anchor man in midfield but maybe Yobo could be groomed for that position..he is fast and a good defender..I would love to see him taking more command and become a second Viera. We already have decent defenders in Lescott, Jagielka, Baines and Neville. If we get Moutinho I can see a lot more chances being created for the Yak..How about; Howard, Neville, Jagielka, Lescott and Baines. Moutinho, Yobo, Arteta and Pienar with Cahill and Yakubu...subs; Valente, Turner, Osman, Hibbert and Vaughn..?
I?m not too impressed we?ve not signed anyone, but Matt Wiley?s comment that each required player would cost £10M+ is wide of the mark. Check out the prices of Arteta, Cahill and Pienaar. I think you?ll find that we got change from £10 million for the lot.
Moutinho would be great - hopefully halfway 20 million euros will do it. I?d like another two midfielders and a striker as well as a squad player or two for defence/ goalkeeping. So certainly five players should arrive. It?s gonna be a busy few weeks and at least two will be loans or v cheap - let?s face it! and Trevor, we?re not going five defenders in a game, but yes we?ve got a good squad, just thin.
Moutinho would be great - hopefully halfway 20 million euros will do it. I?d like another two midfielders and a striker as well as a squad player or two for defence/ goalkeeping. So certainly five players should arrive. It?s gonna be a busy few weeks and at least two will be loans or v cheap - let?s face it! and Trevor, we?re not going five defenders in a game, but yes we?ve got a good squad, just thin.
It's not thin, it's practically anorexic!
Steve Sweeney you sound a bit down there mate!
I do wish DM would sign that contract, but I?m confident he will, and this Moutinho is for real mate, you better believe it but I don't remember us ever going for Keane. There was a few rumours and a few postings on the net and that but no bid was ever lodged was it, but it would be cracker if he turned out to be another Kewell, Diouf, Cisse etc!!
I do wish DM would sign that contract, but I?m confident he will, and this Moutinho is for real mate, you better believe it but I don't remember us ever going for Keane. There was a few rumours and a few postings on the net and that but no bid was ever lodged was it, but it would be cracker if he turned out to be another Kewell, Diouf, Cisse etc!!
Trevor Lynes: Great spot regarding Yobo (or Lescott for that matter) playing a more advanced role for us.
These are strong, fast & skilful guys. Either if them can, in my view, be a midfield protector/enforcer.
Good positive point Trevor, in what?s been a miserable series of postings.
These are strong, fast & skilful guys. Either if them can, in my view, be a midfield protector/enforcer.
Good positive point Trevor, in what?s been a miserable series of postings.
Yobo or Lescott for a midfield protector/enforcer. What are you on ?
They are both centre backs for pities sake and very good ones at that.
They are both centre backs for pities sake and very good ones at that.
It looks like Rangers move for Steve Davis might fall through. We could do a lot worse than make a move for him at £3-4million. He can tackle, he puts himself about, is a fine passer and is a 100% team man. I?ve seen him a lot at international level and he has done well against top sides. He?d be, at the very least, a great squad player, and DM might just get even more from him.
DM tried Yobo in midfield before and he had a shocker, leave the lad where he belongs - centre half, also Lescott centre half first, left back second then NOTHING ELSE again leave where him where he belongs. DM needs players who play comfortably in set positions not make do and mends.
What Gavin said.
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1 Posted 28/07/2008 at 16:14:26
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