[Archived] £15 M To Spend - What Are You Strengthening And Who Are You Buying?

[Gally]

As far as a striker goes, I'd like a player who's at a decent age (mid 20s) with Premier league pedigree, with perhaps a point to prove.

I realise these are in a short supply, but I would be delighted with Bent, Crouch or Pavlyuchenko (agent has said he's looking for a new club).

That said, even if these players wanted to join, financially I'm not sure it would be wise.

[Bobby G]

Would that be the same Mbia who's in talks with Everton over a 7million pound move? The same Emana who joined Betis barely a year ago for 5 and a half million?

I was under the impression Mbia was available on a free for some reason.

About Emana, they have just been relegated. Id think about 3 million Euros could be enough, or maybe even a loan move.

[Guest benmaxwell]

I was under the impression Mbia was available on a free for some reason.

Ah, your getting confused with M'bami. Easy mistake to make...

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

I don't like Cisse. All he'd bring is pace. He seems to have a bad attitude . We need players who'll give it a go not more prima donnas.

Chimbonda I rate as player, he could be anything he wants to be footballwise. He's got all the tools. Trouble is, his head's up his own arse ! Could Sam sort him out ? Could be, but it's a gamble.

Sidwell is a good shout, we're in desperate need of a midfielder who can support the attack and get beyond the front two. I can't remember the last player we had that could do that on a regular basis. He could be got I think, it would cost but it wouldn't break the bank.

Papa Diop would have been handy two seasons ago, I think he's on the way down now. We'd have to get Grella off the wage bill first before another defensive midfielder can come in I think.

As far as attacking players are concerned a lot depends on the style of play Sam will go with. If he stays true to his days at Bolton we could get the Smith/Nolan type of one dimensional up and at 'em grafters. We'll see. I'd like a bit more football please. Anybody up for rescuing Andy Reid at Sunderland? Not a Sam type midfielder, but I like him. Good left foot and the brains to go with it.

[jny]

Right Back- Civelli, Chretien or just keep emo there

Right Mid (something we desperately need if di santo is coming, because of the crosses they provide) -

Ahmed Al Mohamaddi (looks quality),

Adam Johnson (quick, young and powerful and could easily be trained to cross well)

Defensive Centre mid-

Steven Nzonzi- possible new Vieira at a cheap price

Tom Huddlestone- great passer and unfulfilled at Spurs

Maniche- A freebie portuguese international could be well worth getting

Attacking midfielder-

Shikabala - can also play as a Forward and has bags of pace and flair

Nuri Sahin - Usually a defensive mid but has an eye for goal and a great passer of the ball -the next Tugay

Forward

Mohamed Zidan - Class player who has a huge array of tricks and is also inteligent, remeber Roque's scoring record

Marc Janko - Has a great touch and skill for someone of his size, could prove to be more of a Roque than an Afonso Alves?

Tuncay-Another player in the Zidan mould, an automatic fans favourite but will probably move to a big club

Franco Di Santo - My chelsea supporting mate is always bangin' on about this guy, with the right right winger he could be a great goalscorer, if he does well I hope we bid on him

[patrickvalery]

Pirlo ( Milan want to offload him )

[Balwer]

A lot of players being named would want huge wages. Realistically we're not going to go for anyone on more than 45-50K a week I wouldn't have thought. It's all very well to want to cover the RB/CM/Striker but collectively whoever we bring in won't be able to get more than 100K a week I wouldn't have thought. JW came out and said we had to reduce the wage bill, and so far we've probably reduced 80-100K of that.

Therefore unless we are able to further clear some deadwood (Rigters/Gallagher/Brown) then people like Owen, Crouch and co are just unrealistic, even if we can now match the fee they're wanting. 15m is great, but it's only half of the problem.

[Amo]

I'll happily have Owen if he is happy to accept a 80k pay cut.

I wouldn't. Sam doesn't rate him.

[Brfcrule1]

hello all,

I thought I would give my 2 pence worth

Right Midfielder: Spiderman-Jonas Guitierrez-(NUFC), Ahmed Al Muhammadi-(Egypt)-quality player,

Attacking Midfielder: Shikabala- lots of pace exactly what we need,

Strikers: Janko-quality forward in the same mould of RSC, Zidan-quality Egyptian forward scoring some good goals, Di Santo- scores some great goals

I would like to see Crouch/Tuncay but both bigger clubs than us are after them and wages could be a big problem with both of these esp Crouch I know I said Spiderman at the beginning would raise a few eyebrows a right sided midfielder of all the rubbish we have been linked to from that club of all the rubbish he I feel was one of the stand-out performers and feel with the right coaching can only improve with age and as he is only 25 would definitely be bringing the age of the squad down.

[Anti-Dingle-Brigade]

Going off what we know so far I'd say these positions are likely to be targeted:

2 new strikers (Derbs): Di Santo, Bent.

1 New targetman (Cruz): Janko is the obvious one. Zidan, perhaps. Crouch?

Right Back: Civelli or Chretien

2 Centre Midfielders: M'Bami, Shikabala, Huddlestone,

Right Midfielder: Al hahbsfiabfiabfasf. Number 3 for Egypt.

If we get 1 targetman, two cheaper, quick players, a good RM (Al mummy would be good) a cheap but experienced right back, 1 playmaker and one powerful running midfielder, we'll be looking at Europe.

Over to you, Sam.

[patrickvalery]

hello all,

I thought I would give my 2 pence worth

Right Midfielder: Spiderman-Jonas Guitierrez-(NUFC),

I'm sure someone came up with a statistic about him. Didn't he fail to make any assists or something daft? I'm probably getting that wrong. Either way, i don't see us putting a right sided winger/midfielder high on the list of priorities. Diouf did a good job last season plus this Van Heerden can play there i believe.

I'd like to buy into this £15m transfer kitty business. But i'm afraid i've supported Rovers for too long and its made me a cynical old sod. I'd be suprised if we re-invested anything over £10m. To my mind we'll see two strikers come in. One quite established, probably around the £5m mark, and probably this lad from Chelsea, Di Santo. If not him then another loan job from somewhere.

The rest of the cash will probably go on a centre midfielder. I'd like to offer up some names but it would be pretty pointless and complete guess work. One thing i will say is i don't expect it to be someone with craft and guile. More a physical presence, capable of scoring goals from midfield. For instance a Tim Cahill not a Niko Kranjčar. I say this because i'm certain we won't change our direct approach next year. Get the ball out wide and pepper the box with crosses. I think Sam will opt for a real driving force through the middle who will get on the end of crosses and assist the front man with the goal quota.

Lastly i think a right back should come in. Probably on the cheap as the bulk of our funds will go on the above.

To my mind that gives us very good balance. Emerton + ? (RB), Warnock + Givet (LB), Nelsen, Samba + Givet (CB), Diouf, Emerton + Van Heereden (RM), Grella, Dunn, Van Heerden, Reid, +? )CM), Pedersen, Van Heeden + Diuof (LM), Roberts, McCarthy + ? (CF)

[tuzla]

I would sign following players

RB Gonzalo Castro

CM AM Toni Kroos loan

CM AM Marko Marin

ST Franco Di Santo

ST Bent

[MeanGreenMachine]

Please people explain why you want Janko, he has been around the scene for a good time now, had a bad injury and has never been prolific till this season where he hit goals in a mickey mouse league. 6million? Joke...

Striker - Crouch or Bent

Centre midfield - Reo-Coker and Huddlestone

Right back - Justin Hoyte

Oh and with Downing being out for a while stick in a season long loan. He will get chance to impress and we get someone to kick gamst up the arse.

--------------Bent------------

Downing---------------Diouf

------Dunn--Reo-Coker----

-------Huddlestone--------

Warnock-Givet-Samba-Hoyte

-------------Robbo-------------

A side with over half being english will be a novelty.

[patrickvalery]

A side with over half being english will be a novelty.

And extremely unlikely.

[Guest benmaxwell]

--------------Bent------------

Downing---------------Diouf

------Dunn--Reo-Coker----

-------Huddlestone--------

Warnock-Givet-Samba-Hoyte

-------------Robbo-------------

A side with over half being english will be a novelty.

Where does the 35 million pounds come from to buy those players?

[andyroversmad]

Not sure on a right back but i would like to see come in.

MIDFIELD - Achille Emana

ATTACKING MIDFIELD - Matías Fernández

STRIKERS - Zidan and Di Santo on loan

[tonygreenbank]

Jack Hobbs from Liverppol Defender

Jonathan Greening WBA Midfielder

Frazier Campbell Man Utd Striker

[Guest benmaxwell]

Jonathan Greening WBA Midfielder - Not good enough

Frazier Campbell Man Utd Striker - Too expensive!

[MeanGreenMachine]

Where does the 35 million pounds come from to buy those players?

Bent about 8-10

Huddlestone and Reo-Coker 5 a piece

Hoyte 2 or 3

It was suggestions.... id rather us spend money on players who are proven in this league with a point to prove and potential to show.

[Kelbo]

I honestly feel we do not have the type of midfielder we require playing in English football, we need a player who can put his foot on the ball, pick a pass and support the attacking players, if someone knows of a British player who can do that, let the club know.

The closest one I have seen in Britain is Pedro Mendes, but we wont get him now Rangers are in the champs league!!

I do mean gettable ones, not Gerrard, Rooney, alonso etc!!

[RibbleValleyRover]

If Sam wants to bring in a tall target man striker (if we bring in Di Santo on loan i don't see the point of bringing in another big striker) i think he should make a serious move for Pogrebnyak. The guy is quality and his contract is running out. I remember when Spurs bought Pavlyuchenko, i thought they bought the wrong Russian.

[Guest benmaxwell]

--------------Bent------------

Downing---------------Diouf

------Dunn--Reo-Coker----

-------Huddlestone--------

Warnock-Givet-Samba-Hoyte

-------------Robbo-------------

Bent about 8-10

Huddlestone and Reo-Coker 5 a piece

Hoyte 2 or 3

Bent - £7m-£8m

Downing - £10m (English / Wanted by Spurs)

Reo Coker - £6m (bearing in mind he's English)

Huddlestone - £6m (valuation by Spurs)

Hoyte - £5m (English)

= £35 million

[ffan]

Striker - Zigic and if you have enough money left over, Kevin Doyle.

Right Back - Philip Degen (Liverpool, solid player and would get him on the cheap)

Centre Midfield - Jamie O'Hara (4 million although the fee could be reduced to about 3.2 million upfront + add ons)

[1864roverite]

In relation to Cisse, he could be quality if he played a substnatial number of games alongside a tall forward.

At Sunderland he was good alongside Jones but they too often went 1 up front .

He has pace and can score as well as create. I am certain a di Santo/Cisse combination or even a McCarthy/Cisse cpmbo would be effective.

We are so desperate for a central midfield general, that is where we need to strengthen.

[philipl]

We won't spend £15m.