Teddy Eagle
Member
- Country
Scotland
I'll hold my hand up and admit I didn't. In his brief spells between injuries I thought Wickham showed more.
Summer Transfers 2025 (rumours and incomings)
- Topic starter DANGERCLOSE
- Start date
Eagleman13
Member
- Location
- On The Road To Hell & Alicante
- Country
Bermuda
Couldn't be bothered to start a new thread for this, Andros Townsend aka Starman has a new club . . .
www.nationalworld.com
Ex-Tottenham and Crystal Palace journeyman joins 16th club of his career
A former England international who dazzled for the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace has taken a bizarre career turn.
www.nationalworld.com
doombear
Member
- Location
- Too far from Selhurst Park
- Country
England
I wouldn't go so far as to say that I thought there was a player in Sorloth but I did think (as with Mateta in the first two seasons or so) that he wasn't given a fair crack of the whip so-to-speak. Strikers need a good run of games to show what they can do.
It didn't help his cause that he had to play the sole striker role under Hodgson. When he plays for Norway, he has a certain Erling Haaland as a strike partner.
Just watched the ssn interview with OG. I refuse to discuss the Europe thing because it makes my blood boil.
On the transfer side, he seemed chilled. Said he made his feelings clear about wanting players in early but at every turn the agents hold everything up gambling that a bigger fish will come in which is why everything happens at the end of the window. He doesn’t like it but says not worth worrying about as it is what it is.
On the transfer side, he seemed chilled. Said he made his feelings clear about wanting players in early but at every turn the agents hold everything up gambling that a bigger fish will come in which is why everything happens at the end of the window. He doesn’t like it but says not worth worrying about as it is what it is.
I think its a bit like it was with Wickham, if he not fit by now he never will be, but of course he will still get payed and continue to cost the club money that is needed to strengthen the EPL team!
It doesnt work out for all players at Palace for various reason. Players that failed at Palace, but went on to better things include Bamford and Collymore
Willo
Member
- Location
- West Sussex - On the coast
- Country
-
England
Collymore, signed from Stafford Rangers, was at the club at the same time as Wright & Bright.
His career was in the ascendancy when we sold him to Southend, he scored on a regular basis and his goals helped to keep the club in the division.
Sportyteacher
Member
- Location
- London
- Country
-
England
Key is that we haven't lost our most prized players to other Clubs yet that demonstrates real loyalty to both club and fans.
RubinsCube
Member
- Location
- Wimbledon
- Country
-
England
Agreed and I think back to the football being played at the time: he was feeding off scraps and was maybe not mature enough to lead the line in that sort of line up. Cameron Jerome under Pulis - but a version who put away more chances - was much more the sort of number nine we needed. Annoyingly we let Glenn Murray go way too soon.
I had misgivings about Sorloth the minute he did his unveiling - the social media shots and the interview were a giveaway. The guy messed around with his hair too much. He looked nervious and overwhelmed. I know it sounds stupid but I felt he wouldn't fit in even then.
Phil’s Barber
Member
- Location
- Horley
- Country
-
England
You can’t afford to just ‘stand still’ in the Premier League.
Every transfer window needs to see business done and the squad strengthened. You need players in before first choice players leave, otherwise you pay a premium to replace and you need new signings and new contracts otherwise existing squad members contracts are running down without the resilience at the other end of the chain.
Genuine question, didn't Liverpool just lift the title with minimal additions and a stable squad?
Not saying we will, but stability and building a squad togetherness over time can also be powerful with the right tweaks of a few additions here and there.
Stirlingsays
Member
- Country
-
England
Four then.
Phil’s Barber
Member
- Location
- Horley
- Country
-
England
It’s a valid observation however I don’t think it quite tells the full story.
Liverpool did win the title and ‘only’ spent €42M that season however, they had significantly outspent us the previous season (23/24 €172M) and the season before that (22/23 €145.8M) They have also just gone huge and spent €308M this window and are still trying to sign Isak for another €130M! That would not be consistent with minimal additions or a stable squad.
They also have had a more productive pathway from their U21’s and Academy players with Jarell Quansah, Conor Bradley, Harvey Elliott and Ben Doak just four names in a long list of players who have been added to Liverpool's first team squad over that same period of time.
(Figures obtained from Transfermarket)
This reflects my thoughts too.
Henderson (Benitez)
Munoz - Richards - Lacroix - Guehi - Mitchell (Lerma, Clyne, Sosa, Riad.)
Hughes - Wharton (Lerma, Kamada, Doucoure, Devenny)
Sarr - Eze (Esse, Franca? Rak-Saki)
Mateta (Nkethia)
That's a super good starting 11...with good cover in CM. So really we probably need another decent option at CB and another attacking player and we're good. And possible cover at RB in an ideal world.
This is a good way to visualize it. Does put things in perspective but also highlights some really key areas
1. A CB. With Riad injured and still very inexperienced within the squad and league, we can't be using Lerma or Clyne as a makeshift CB if there's an injury or on rotation for Europe.
2. Winger. Backups are very inexperienced and/or injured a lot.
3. Nketiah injured now and hasn't been firing. We needed that rotation
4. Wing back. Sosa is a great addition but Clyne can't play the wingback role so we essentially have 3.
There's no way we get 4 players in but I genuinely think this is what we need and the return of Riad and Doucoure will be welcomed additions.
My gut says we will get 2 more on perm and our obligatory loan signing of a Chelsea kid
Doucoure, Franca and Riad haven’t had proper pre-seasons, having all been injured for most of last season.
Riad is supposed to be out until at least the end of this calendar year, and then there’s the issue of getting match fit which will take some time.
In the absence of a pre season it must be difficult to assess return dates for Doucoure and Franca too, particularly with their injury records.
This isn’t being negative, but statements of facts.
It would be risky to assume that Doucoure or Franca will return to the first team in the early months of the season.
All this is known, but then you have the sudden unknown - the hamstring injury to Nketiah (possibly 2 months) and the squad looks thin.
I’m wondering if we’ll have to start the season with Edouard and JRS in the squad, two players we are trying to offload.
At the moment we can still field probably our best team, but we will be stretched with more injuries as the current bench alternatives don’t look great.
Riad is supposed to be out until at least the end of this calendar year, and then there’s the issue of getting match fit which will take some time.
In the absence of a pre season it must be difficult to assess return dates for Doucoure and Franca too, particularly with their injury records.
This isn’t being negative, but statements of facts.
It would be risky to assume that Doucoure or Franca will return to the first team in the early months of the season.
All this is known, but then you have the sudden unknown - the hamstring injury to Nketiah (possibly 2 months) and the squad looks thin.
I’m wondering if we’ll have to start the season with Edouard and JRS in the squad, two players we are trying to offload.
At the moment we can still field probably our best team, but we will be stretched with more injuries as the current bench alternatives don’t look great.
Willo
Member
- Location
- West Sussex - On the coast
- Country
-
England
Hear Hear
May I commend you for adding substantive and experiential thinking to the debate.
Hopefully gloom will give way to sunshine.
park the bus
Member
- Country
-
England
Without wishing to sound too harsh, these 3 can be ruled out of future plans, I can't envisage them getting fit, staying fit, and then making a claim for a first team place anytime soon. A great pity about Doucoure, as he was decent.
I wouldn't necessarily disagree, but many on here happily include them in the first team squad.
For me it only accentuates the need to strengthen, particularly with the news of Nketiah's injury too.
You don't want to start the season with a patched up squad when you should be fit and raring to go.