Serious summer of transfers at NCFC

[priceyrice 133]

So, the season finished and we were all happy celebrating not just staying up in the prem, but doing it convincingly while playing some great football against the top teams this year. I don''t think anyone could have expected what happened next - manger left, skipper wanting out, unrest behind the scenes, however Hughton has emerged as our new supreme leader and i am very confident he will re-motivate the players and get a squad of average prem/champ players performing the their best, but he has one hell of a job on his hands.I think we were all expecting the nucleus of our team to stay together giving us the chance to bring in 3/4 players to improve the starting 11 and the overall squad while any dead wood could be gotten rid off, however it''s starting to look like the squad is going to need much more work.GKWe are fine with this position, no need to throw millions away for Butland, Ruddy is quality and still young while we have two England youth internationals in the wings, however would like to see them both given a chance to gain some experience this season, perhaps half a year on loan each.0 new signings needed DefenceThe major concern for me, unfortunately we have seen our best CB leave. I don''t believe Ward or Barnett are up for it, leaving us with Bennet, Ayala (unproven and getting over a serious injury) and Martin (hopefully Hughton see''s CB is his best position). Now i would be happy with Ward being 5th choice but we are still in need for 1 quality CB and perhaps another depending on whether Barnett goes.The full backs are a major concern, we currently have 1/2 on our books who will start next season, that means we need another 2.4 new signings neededMidfieldThis is an interesting one, we have some quality players here but lacking some quality backup or a midfield destroyer. I think its safe to say Crofts has played his last game for us and Wes looks like he is heading out while Smith is probably not ready for the prem yet and lappin is never going to challange for a starting place. We are then left with Pilky, Howson, Johnson, Bennett and Fox. That means we need perhaps 2 more wingers/attacking players and a midfield enforcer.3 new signings neededAttackWe all know the debate on Holt and we can expect Martin to leave, which means Morrison, Vaughan and Jackson will be our strike-force. That could possible be the worse strike-force any team in the prem has ever had, for scoring goals and staying fit. If Holt goes we will defiantly need two real quality strikers to come in, if he stays then one could well be enough.2 new signings neededTotal - 9 signings neededWow, sorry for the long post but just writing this made me realise that our team is going to need a serious overhaul this summer, i think we could expect the busiest one in a while. Have to say i am concerned about some of our old guard leaving, more so Holt than Wes (he is replaceable and with better quality) and whether we will have the same team ethos next season. I expect Hughton will bring in some good players, but it needs to be done quick allowing them to settle and hopefully get on well with the longer serving players. People like Martin and Ruddy have a big job this summer inside that dressing room, we are potentially losing two of the most vocal players in Holt and Wes.I am still positive for the next season but i never expected this summer to bring so much drama and work within the squad,

[Nexus_Canary 1,206]

Lionel Messi and Memhet Ozil apparently on thier way to Carrow Road.I read it on Twitter then saw Ozil''s mum''s neighbour in Waitrose who said that Messi was over at Asda.

[chicken 0]

What a load of tosh!!

Where have you seen Hoolahan is on his way out appart from the dork that has suggested he isn''t going to buy a certain house? Even if that is believed it doesn''t mean he is not staying - there are so many reasons of pulling out of buying a house for starters let alone the fact it might not be for him to live in.

I also wish people would give up hounding Ward. Our defence in general was poor last season and for me highlighted one area Lambert struggled with. At the start of last season we had Ward, Ayala and Whitbread out injured leaving De Laet and Barnett and due to their poor form and displays Martin came in to show how it is done.

Ward played with almost every single other centre back and at the tail end of the season. I remember the games where he came straight back in alongside an inexperienced Bennett and it looked shakey - but more to do with having to cover Bennett''s errors - which I am sure he will start to learn from quickly.

If Barnett goes we will need a replacement.

[jed exodous 0]

[quote user="Nexus_Canary"]Lionel Messi and Memhet Ozil apparently on thier way to Carrow Road.

I read it on Twitter then saw Ozil''s mum''s neighbour in Waitrose who said that Messi was over at Asda.
[/quote]

I dunno about Memhet Ozil, but MESUT Ozil has looked pretty handy the last couple of years [:D]

[jed exodous 0]

Oh, and we won''t make 9 signings, i''d say 6, maybe 7 if we''re lucky and right players are there...

[pete 371]

Stop dreaming can probably only afford 4 signings with 2 loans, 2 full backs, a centre back, a midfielder, a striker/forward and one other.  Gunter, Davies, AN other, Pacheco would be nice, bloke from Bgham (midfielder can''t remember name) another ano striker and LB.

Might we see some foreigners?

Some movement on transfer front would also be appreciated. 

 

 

[CanaryOne 0]

Not sure Gunter will leave Forest now that they are to become the Man City of the Championship , serious backing from Kuwait

[SplatCat 18]

Absolutely agree! We NEED to sign 5 or 6 quality players IMO. Last season we overachieved with our squad, this year we will need a freshening of the squad and then to have a good season anyway to stay up. Worried that Reading and Southampton are spending big, while West Ham won''t go down with Big Sam. But we will be ok so long as we bring in some fresh blood.

[kick it off 2,062]

[quote user="Ncfc"]Not sure Gunter will leave Forest now that they are to become the Man City of the Championship , serious backing from Kuwait [/quote]

Guthrie to join Reading

[York Canary 29]

That is some prime time BULL! 9 players?! You want to get off football manager and get real. Ward has extended his contract, Smith has and Hoolahoop is apparently opening contract talks with us. Lol NINE players.. Seriously.. Come on now

[Mahogany 0]

No need to destabilized the squad more than it has been already. Barring anyone leaving and needing to be replaced 3-4 high quality signing should do us.

Reading, West Ham and Southampton might be spending big but they are starting from lower quality squads than us, Swansea and QPR were when we came up. Throwing cash around is no guarantee of success.

[JC 0]

Defence is the key and is the area that I believe Hughton will focus on. Looking back at the job he did at Birmingham, he shored up the defence and built from there

I don''t think we will sign more than 5 players but that is just speculation

[priceyrice 133]

9 players is a stupid amount of signings and it''s why i am worried, if Holt and Wes leave though 9 is what we will be looking at, our squad would be:Goal:RuddyRuddSteerDefence:WardMartinAyalaBennettTierneyanother full backanother full backanother CBMidfield:LappinPilkyBennettFoxHowsonJohnsonAnother midfielderanother wingerperhaps another wingerStriker:VaughanMorroJacksonanother strikeranother strikerIf that was the squad (excludes holt and wes) we would have 25 people, allowing for the likes of Francomb, Smith and Adeyami to go out on loan.Before someone else says 9 is a stupid number please tell me what positions out of those listed are less vital. We need wingers because that''s hughton''s style and we only have two, and neither are out and out wingers, we need goals because with out Holt and Vaughan''s poor injury record i am not sure where they will come from and without a shadow of a doubt we need defenders. Now i am not a pessimist and am hopeful for the new season, but i still can''t see how any less than 8-9 signings will do now- if Holt and Wes do leave.Perhaps nothing will come of the Wes rumour but i have heard it''s pretty certain he is leaving, and if cash comes in for him i would bite another teams hand off, getting older and not in the starting 11, time to cash in- well done board!

[JC 0]

Have I missed something here?? Why is Hoolahan leaving becoming major discussion? Is there any credence to this?

If our whole squad leave we will need to sign 25 players.

I think silly season has started and it is a mass panic on this board

Hoolahan isn''t going anywhere, he will sign a new contract before the end of next week...Ruddy was a major area of discussion a week ago and he signed a 4 + 1 year deal - I''m pretty sure we are offering very good competitive contracts to be tying some of our top performers down to long contracts

[priceyrice 133]

1 squad filler in, 7/8 more signings to come! Lets hope we see some quality mixed in with another couple of cheap/free signings

[Salopian 1]

Priceyrice I agree with your analysis. I would only add that while we have one or two young professional with talent, none of them seem likely to make an impact in the Premiership this season

As far as defenders are concerned, I think that the "versatile" Whittaker may not command a regular particular place, but could be a vital part of our limited defending resources. I think it possible that Eliot Bennett, like Korey before him, could fill in at RB, in an emergency. Left back is more of a concern. There are not many of them available, so if Tierney fails medically we could have a real problem here. In the centre Ryan Bennett seems to have cemented his place, and the question is who plays with him. I hope that CH can persuade Brum and Davies to come to us, and then get the best out of him. Ayala is also a possibility, if he overcomes his injury. In his few appearances he looked to have something about him. Then there is the reliable Martin. As between Barnett and Ward, it''s difficult - the former is quick, and if he could maintain concentration he could be good, and the latter has good games but also howlers.

 

In the midfield, if we play four then the centre combination would be a choice between Howson, Hooly, Surman, Bradley and Fox, with the wide men Pikington and Bennett. I agree that Crofts has not made the step-up and Korey is unknown at this level. If Hooly departs we shall need another player capable to dribbling well and with good distribution.

 

The attack is also a problem area- we were too reliant on Holt to score and to create goals. Jackson works very hard for the side, but short of tap-ins and short range headers it is difficult to see him notching many goals. Morison is an enigma. How many could he have scored without his injury and if he was not the lone striker? Vaughan could be vital if he has finally overcome his injuries. I think, however, that we need two strikers at least, and three if Holt departs.

 

My reckoning is that w do not need another keeper. We need two fullbacks, one centre back, one midfielder and two or three strikers, that is a further six if Holt remains and seven if he goes. So far we have Whittaker.

[priceyrice 133]

Thanks for the thought out response Salopian, i think your analysis is pretty much spot on, perhaps just missing that combative midfielder. I have to say Johnson impressed me again at the end of the season, started to find his start of season form again IMO, if he can maintain that for a season he would be one hell of a player, but he needs some competition and, like you, i don''t see Smith or Crofts doing that.I agree about Davies, if we sign him i think a fair few of my nerves may calm down a little, i would be happy seeing Matt Mills come as well. I am struggling to think of any LB to bring in, Whittaker can cover apparantly, but i would much prefer a natural left footer to compete with Tierney.I think your spot on about the forwards as well and with it looking more and more likely that Holt is going to leave, we do need a natural finisher who can head and use his feet, i am a fan of Rhodes and believe he could do the job, but still young and a big step up straight away. I hope we look abroad for striker, much better value for their money and a natural finisher should settle fairly easily.Are you worried about the number of signings needed? I honestly didn''t expect so much drama this summer or rebuilding, but we could lose 3 of our best/longest serving players by the time the transfer window is wound up (Holt, Whitbread and Wes) and that is something which should never happen toa  club who have done so well in their first season back in the prem.I was hoping next year we would build on our 12th finish, but with the work needed this summer i have to say just staying up will be a good achievement.

[Lavanche 0]

Hmm did I miss something as Barnett isnt there. . Also as said earlier I doubt Hoolahan is leaving. Crofts is still in a team am I right?

Anyway easier way to put it:

---------------------Ruddy--------------------

----- ? ----- Ayala -- Bennet --- Tierney

Bennet - Howson - Johnson- Surman

----------Morison -------Jackson------------

----------------------Rudd-------------------------

Whittaker -- Martin -- Ward ----Lappin

---- ? ----- Hoolahan -- Fox -- Pilkington

------------- Vaughan -- ? ---------------

that makes 19 - 20 players depending Holt''s departure.

Then we have extra players for some positions:

Steer - GK

Barnett - CB

Crofts - CM

C.Martin - ST

That makes it 23 without Holt

Also Whittaker is signing. So we have at least 22 players without our 3 "youth players" before signings.

So what I see there is 2 signings + Whittaker and we have full squad, if no-one else leaves than Holt. If Crofts leaves there is that Butterfield fellow to fill one place. (as someone stated this is already done deal)

Chris Martin and Holt might be both leaving so 1 striker more is what we need at least. I''m quite sure rest of squad stays. Ofc you never know.

Holt, Martin and Crofts leaving would drop our players to 19

That would mean:

Whittaker (RB/LB) ( Free)

Butterfield (CM) (Compensation)

RB for first eleven.

Winger

Striker

? - For any position we need to reinforce

Dont know how much Butterfields compensation is, if we truly get him. ( Mayby Purple knows how this works? ) , but we have almost full budget left to spend and two signings are already done. I would say 7 is closer than 9 players. Around twenty million if I have collected it right from speculation in media about our budget, to use for 5 players should bring us some quality :)