£20m to spend...

[Rich]

HYPOTHETICALLY

If we get promoted, and if we have £20m to spend who would you buy and why?

(I've just made up the £20m figure, it could be more or less)

For the purposes of this let's ignore wages, unless said player is available on a bosman, then their first years wages would make up the transfer fee, if that makes sense.

So, who would you sign?

 

[king_congo_red]

So, who would you sign?

Very good question Rich.

£20m certainly wouldn't go very far in terms of attracting 'Premiership Ready' players. I think we'd have to be very frugal and rule out anyone for whom their current club asks for anything over the odds.

That said, our best tactic would probably be to focus on the areas where we KNOW we are low on numbers as well as quality - (well documented need for a Left-Back being the prime example) whilst hoping (beyond hope) that our younger players could make the step-up. If they don't it wouldn't matter who we sign, as there'll be too many gaps to fill with £20m.

 

[Darth Pierre]

jenas
shorey
van nistelrooy (loan?)
reo coker

 

[Rich]

Shorey would be interesting. Will Fulham still want him if they win the Europa League?

Could we get him for a decent price?

 

[Rich]

What about Thierry Henry? Rumoured to be going to the MLS. Could he be tempted by one more season in the Premiership?

 

[king_congo_red]

Could we get him for a decent price?

It's a sellers market...quality left-backs really are a premium and, as such, are in danger of becoming the next position to see over-inflated prices - something which has previously happened with strikers and creative midfielders...

 

[Darth Pierre]

shorey will definately leave villa this summer

if we go up he will be our first choice where he will be sitting on the bench for fulham.

 

[Rich]

Perhaps look at talent from relegated sides?

Jimmy Bullard perhaps? Injury records could be a problem, but he can certainly do a job.

Maybe Jamie O'Hara? Spurs don't seem to want him and he won't stay at Portsmouth. Maybe a good season long loan.

 

[Jonathan]

I'd start with...

Nicky Shorey - £3m
Jermaine Jenas - £4m
Jamie O'Hara - £3m

And I'd add a centre-back and two strikers I think.

 

[The Maniacal Megatron]

I'd start with...

Nicky Shorey - £3m
Jermaine Jenas - £4m
Jamie O'Hara - £3m

And I'd add a centre-back and two strikers I think.

Sounds just about spot on there. Maybe offer £3m for JJ though?

Hayden Mullins would also be a decent signing.

 

[earthworm]

jenas
shorey
van nistelrooy (loan?)
reo coker

Now that would be amazing :cheers:

 

[Rich]

Would we need Jenas? I'd say Raddy, Cohen and Anderson could certainly make the step up.

O'Hara would provide some additional mettle, and also a few goals.

What about Chris Eagles?

 

[Rich]

Now that would be amazing :cheers:

Would certainly shift a few season tickets and shirts.

 

[Tutts]

Reo-Coker (Villa) £5 Mil
Gudjohnson (Reading) £2.5 Mil
Shorey (Villa) £2.5 Mil
De Laet (Man Utd - Season Long Loan)
Lambert (Soton) £3 Million
Boyd (PBoro) £2 Million
Kilbane (Hull) £1.5 Million
Onhora (Man City) £5 Million

The rest on wages.

 

[The Maniacal Megatron]

Chris Eagles is a quality shout.

 

[Darth Pierre]

Would we need Jenas? I'd say Raddy, Cohen and Anderson could certainly make the step up.

O'Hara would provide some additional mettle, and also a few goals.

What about Chris Eagles?

mcleary is better than eagles

 

[DanR]

We should be looking at continuing to buy players who can increase in value. I'd also be looking at one or two season long loans from bigger clubs.

First of all, Raddy Majewski would take £1.6 million (or thereabouts)
In terms of positions:
A decent experienced left back - I've instantly broken my rule about players increasin in value, but Shorey would fit the bill here. Wages may be a problem, in so far as he may upset the current wage structure.
A centre forward, who can play both the role of lone striker, but who also isn't too shabby in front of goal, so could fit into a 4-4-2 system.
Cover for McKenna - I'm hoping that Moussi can develop into this role, and Cohen too, but if those players suffer with injuries or the need to play elsewhere then this position becomes vital.

Overall, I'm happy with most areas of the side, although any opportunities to improve quality should be taken with a hard head, but we'd need to be more ruthless at taking any scoring chances, and less error prone at the back. I certainly don't want to bring in too many high wage earners which may have the effect of upsetting the squad or creating unrest.

 

[Darth Pierre]

midfield of

anderson
o hara
jenas
raddy
cohen

title winners

 

[Special Agent Dale Cooper]

expect to see a few face out of the door too. Lynch moving on will free up his wages to pay for Van Nistleroys hair gel

 

[king_congo_red]

Would we need Jenas? I'd say Raddy, Cohen and Anderson could certainly make the step up.

Potentially yes. However, the biggest issue for me is the lack of Premiership experience in our squad. It would be very difficult for the team to adapt to playing Premiership football in the early stages and by the time they have, their confidence could be completelty shot.

At the moment, I see our prospects similar to that of Peterborough's at the end of last season. A squad of players who've proven they are good enough to win Promotion from one division to the next, but almost none of whom have any significant time playing at the next level up. We all know how that ended.

 

[Darth Pierre]

how about.......

emile heskey?

 

[DanR]

Potentially yes. However, the biggest issue for me is the lack of Premiership experience in our squad. It would be very difficult for the team to adapt to playing Premiership football in the early stages and by the time they have, their confidence could be completelty shot.

At the moment, I see our prospects similar to that of Peterborough's at the end of last season. A squad of players who've proven they are good enough to win Promotion from one division to the next, but almost none of whom have any significant time playing at the next level up. We all know how that ended.

This is the big question for me - how do you bring in this experience without
a. signing a load of uninterested money chasing journeymen
b. having to offer the whole squad increased wages so they don't feel inferior to the new signings?

 

[king_congo_red]

how about.......

emile heskey?

Definelty wouldn't say 'no'. He's the very definition of a 'team' player in an age where, particularly strikers, are only out for themselves.

 

[king_congo_red]

This is the big question for me - how do you bring in this experience without
a. signing a load of uninterested money chasing journeymen
b. having to offer the whole squad increased wages so they don't feel inferior to the new signings?

Completely agree. One way of doing this could be through loans...as these players can pass on their experience in the short term, making us a better, but still young, team in the longer term, but alas not many clubs are prepared to let experienced players go out on loan...

 

[Darth Pierre]

how about.......

emile sinclair?