Summer Transfer Window 2017

[rochdaleblue]

I'm not saying those results wouldn't change.

What I'm saying is that if you turn 3 losses in to draws through having better defenders you get 3 points. If you turn 3 draws in to wins by getting better attacking players you get 6 points.

Most teams that win leagues don't have to defend much because they normally have the best midfielders and attackers so they control posession, create more chances and don't get attacked often.

People assume that the teams that have the best defensive record must have the best defenders. That's often true but it's often the midfield shielding the defence from attacks and not giving away posession that makes the defensive record so good. If you don't lose the ball cheaply, you minimize the ability of the other team to attack you.

We struggle to beat the top 6 teams because we rarely look like scoring against them because our attacking players aren't on the same level as a unit.

If we want to beat the top 6 teams we have to beat them, not draw with them. We can spend as much money as we want on great defenders but it won't help us as much as it will if we increase our attacking threat and ability to score goals.

I get what your saying, but in the 10 games this season played against the current top 6, we only failed to score in two of those games (RS home and Chelsea away). However we only managed to win 2 of the 8 games in which we scored (City and arsenal home). A better defence would maybe have turned some of those draws into wins and narrow losses into draws. The difference between Europa league and champions league qualification.

 

[whiteshadow]

Are you Bobby Martinez?!

When people stop trying to argue the points you've made and just take cheap shots, it's normally because they haven't got a good answer.

 

[MasonLeeEFC]

Even if he comes back as good as old your talking 2018 before he even gets back on the pitch and then he'll take a few months to get back to full speed. Personally I don't want us going a full season which includes EL games with just Holgate playing at RB and some carp freebie like Martina.

I can see a deal like Martina happening tbf. I think where Koeman wants to make big signings in other key areas, he won't focus too much on FB's this summer and spend his money elsewhere. He could bring in Martina to help out whilst Coleman is out and have the likes of Holgate, Kenny and even both of Browning or Pennington help out/cover at RB, even young Connolly?!

 

[rochdaleblue]

I think I'll trust Koeman, Walsh etc to spend what ever money they deem fit on what ever position they chose to.

It's a completely pointless debate saying we shouldn't blow loads of money on a CB etc. As I've said, the best defences win leagues, it's as simple as that.

Yes you need a contribution throughout squad, but the key positions are the spine. Currently on that basis GK, CB are areas needing serious attention. Couldn't care less if VVD costs 50 million, it's not my money

Put simply replacing stones (50m) with VVD (50m) is smart business if you ask me. VVD is probably the best centre half and proven in this league.

 

[ToffeeTim]

Where's the Snivelley, Niasse, Gibson, Deleuofeu, Oviedo, McGeady, and Mcaleny money Bill?

 

[chopper6]

When people stop trying to argue the points you've made and just take cheap shots, it's normally because they haven't got a good answer.

We've just had 3 seasons of that clown thinking he can outplay & outscore opposition to win games.

How did that work out?! Defence was a shambles. To say we only need to win '4 more games' to be in CL contention is a ridiculous comment to make.

Had we of conceded as many goals this season as last 2, we'd need many more wins then 4 to be anywhere near it this season! Hence saying Attack is more important then defence, being a ridiculous argument!

 

[whiteshadow]

I get what your saying, but in the 10 games this season played against the current top 6, we only failed to score in two of those games (RS home and Chelsea away). However we only managed to win 2 of the 8 games in which we scored (City and arsenal home). A better defence would maybe have turned some of those draws into wins and narrow losses into draws. The difference between Europa league and champions league qualification.

That's possible.

I'm not disagreeing with anyone that our defence needs improving. Just, imo, and that's all it is, I wouldn't want to spend £55 million on a defender unless it's someone world class if it's going to be at the cost of improving our attacking options.

I really can't see us getting champs league with Valencia as our best option if Lukaku gets injured. We're strong in central midfield but we need better wingers and cover up front.

Imo, if you want to win you need to play like you believe you can win. Just like with the Man Utd game, Koeman did a Moyes, brought on a defender and let the other team come on to us.

To be fair, it might have worked and if it had we'd all be saying what a genius he was but imo, on average, the best teams have the balls to take on the opposition.

If we want to get a winning mentality we need to play without fear. You play without fear by having good enough attacking players to know that if you play well you'll score. It takes pressure off the defenders, knowing there's a good chance you'll score.

To me, if you play to not lose, you often do. We need the quality on the ball and in attacking areas to give that belief to the rest of the team, imo.

It's as much about psychology as anything. If we have limited funds I'd want the big signings to be in attacking areas.

 

[MasonLeeEFC]

Agreed. Simple really. A top class defence/goalkeeper enables you to win games. A porous defence means you often have to score 2 or 3 goals a game to win games. That isn't going to happen against top class opposition. Everyone goes on about Spurs' attack (rightly so) but their defence and lloris is the difference why they are challenging for the league.

Totally agree. Sign a quality GK and CB in the summer and those 2 will make a massive difference to us, be just as bigger pluses than the quality we bring in further up the pitch imo...

 

[whiteshadow]

We've just had 3 seasons of that clown thinking he can outplay & outscore opposition to win games.

How did that work out?! Defence was a shambles. To say we only need to win '4 more games' to be in CL contention is a ridiculous comment to make.

Had we of conceded as many goals this season as last 2, we'd need many more wins then 4 to be anywhere near it this season! Hence saying Attack is more important then defence, being a ridiculous argument!

Teams in champions league places have won 4 more games than us, and you're saying it's a ridiculous comment to make, despite it being true?

Making out that anyone who believes in positive football, attacking football is foolish is a ridiculous comment.

Didn't Ferguson play attacking football? Don't Barcelona?

I could just as easily say you believe in defensive, Moyesesque football. That you'd go to the big teams and bottle it because you believe in defensive football, but I wouldn't because that would be as stupid as your comment.

Chelsea won leagues playing great defensive football. Man Utd won them playing great attacking football.

The argument isn't which ones better, it's more a case of which one would help us attain a champions league place, bearing in mind the squad we have currently.

My only point is, unless we have tons of money we're better served by improving our attack more than our defence, imo.

£55m on a defender, unless we're loaded would be foolish to me.

 

[Charles Hawtrey]

Can't see Mr potato head splashing out on fullbacks - he has Baines for a year or two, Coleman will return at some point and we have a number of young defenders out on loan or coming back who could do a solid job for a while. We will need to play more games in EL and so as Barry begins to disintegrate, Besic will come back to help CDM. He's looking at DCL and Lookman as the future and don't forget Bolasie to come back as the winger/second striker. I can only justify him signing Siggurdson if Ross is off. However I think both Ross and Rom will stay especially if we finish top5 and sign some decent earner who lets them put their weekly up to a higher level. Some big names in would also help the push for CL next season. Its certainly time to let some players go who are loaned out or not even making the bench now during an injury crisis. Hard to see where a big name signing fits in. Pickford should be the first choice, though he's not a huge name so I could see Rooney, to fix the wage issues of Ross and Rom and help shirt sales - and the Siggurdson as creative alternate to Ross

 

[meagher94]

I can only justify him signing Siggurdson if Ross is off.

At the end of the day you need a squad. Anyway Sigurdsson would instantly be our most creative player and would be a starter for me. He's versatile too, played as a striker often this season. Currently he could start on the left for us with a front three of Ross, Lukaku and Sigurdsson... there's no guarantee Bolasie will come back the same player either.

 

[hetion]

Moshiri bid £60m for Koulibaly last summer. £55m for a CB isn't the issue itself, the issue would be if Koeman/Walsh decide the money needs to be allocated elsewhere.

Edit:

Out:

Cleverley: £8m
Niasse: £10m
Deulofeu: £12m
McCarthy: £20m
Funes Mori: £15m
Total: £65m

In:

VVD: £55m
Siggurdsson: £25m
Pickford: £20m
Keane: £25m
Jose: £20m
Total: £145m

Net spend: £80m

It's kind of mental but if all the banging on about £100m warchests is true then the dream summer is doable. This is almost certainly not how any of this works though.

 

[Aar_the_Toffees]

Moshiri bid £60m for Koulibaly last summer. £55m for a CB isn't the issue itself, the issue would be if Koeman/Walsh decide the money needs to be allocated elsewhere.

Edit:

Out:

Cleverley: £8m
Niasse: £10m
Deulofeu: £12m
McCarthy: £20m
Funes Mori: £15m
Total: £65m

In:

VVD: £55m
Siggurdsson: £25m
Pickford: £20m
Keane: £25m
Jose: £20m
Total: £145m

Net spend: £80m

It's kind of mental but if all the banging on about £100m warchests is true then the dream summer is doable. This is almost certainly not how any of this works though.

I don't agree with the bold. VVD is too expensive. Much better to look abroad and find a foreign centre-half. And would rather buy Gibson and Keane instead.

Pickford, same as VVD. Overrated. This one for certain we need to look to Germany. There are so many brilliant GK available for half the price.

I don't know too much about Jose. If Rom leaves, we need to buy two strikers, and if he is the 2nd then great. And if we're purchasing him as a back-up, I'm sure he's more than capable of doing the job.

 

[hetion]

I don't agree with the bold. VVD is too expensive. Much better to look abroad and find a foreign centre-half. And would rather buy Gibson and Keane instead.

Pickford, same as VVD. Overrated. This one for certain we need to look to Germany. There are so many brilliant GK available for half the price.

I don't know too much about Jose. If Rom leaves, we need to buy two strikers, and if he is the 2nd then great. And if we're purchasing him as a back-up, I'm sure he's more than capable of doing the job.

Eh, yeah, I'm not too invested in the players themselves because these things are impossible to pick. I was just picking the ones with the most press traction for an exercise in spending levels.

However I would spend that on VVD. The level of reliability you get for a player from the same league who has worked extensively with this manager is huge and worth inflating the fee for me.

 

[Niapper]

Manolas and lemos is cheaper than VVD, but VVD would be a big statement signing