Subject to budget limitations of course.
My top three would be:
1. Moussa Dembele (the younger) - could work very well with Mitro
2. Mousa Dembele (the elder) - not young, but I imagine could be a good CM signing for 1 season
3. Ryan Fredericks - solve the RB spot and mend by broken heart
Also rans:
1. Kostas Mitroglou - past his best and obviously notorious but could he make it all better again?
2. Ryan Babel - worth a punt but could we do better?
3. Jesse Joronen - shown his quality in Serie A, good competition for Rodak but do we need him?
Chris Smalling would be great but probably too expensive in both transfer fee and wages.
Karagounis
Gera
Quote from: sunburywhite on August 17, 2020, 01:26:07 PM
Karagounis
Gera
Not sure they would be much use now!
Both Dembeles, Fred and Smalling would be good but I don't think any our realistic
Etheridge.
Fredericks.
Smalling.
Norwood.
Babel
Dembele junior.
Quote from: @jolslover on August 17, 2020, 01:26:52 PM
Quote from: sunburywhite on August 17, 2020, 01:26:07 PM
Karagounis
Gera
Not sure they would be much use now!
Both Dembeles, Fred and Smalling would be good but I don't think any our realistic
Misleading title, didnt say they would have to be current players
Quote from: sunburywhite on August 17, 2020, 02:22:23 PM
Quote from: @jolslover on August 17, 2020, 01:26:52 PM
Quote from: sunburywhite on August 17, 2020, 01:26:07 PM
Karagounis
Gera
Not sure they would be much use now!
Both Dembeles, Fred and Smalling would be good but I don't think any our realistic
Misleading title, didnt say they would have to be current players
Point taken, but I thought it was fairly self-explanatory. Otherwise I'd be all over Haynes, George Cohen etc...
I found it interesting that there were not too many ex-players from our previous proper PL stint still playing (evidence of how aged our squad was) or from before the last promotion that would actually be any kind of upgrade (evidence of how poor we were in those pre-Joka days, MKII the only real exception).
Mousa Dembele (II) but think we would stand very little chance. Ryan Fredericks would be good.
Quote from: sunburywhite on August 17, 2020, 02:22:23 PM
Quote from: @jolslover on August 17, 2020, 01:26:52 PM
Quote from: sunburywhite on August 17, 2020, 01:26:07 PM
Karagounis
Gera
Not sure they would be much use now!
Both Dembeles, Fred and Smalling would be good but I don't think any our realistic
Misleading title, didnt say they would have to be current players
If it had been past players, I would have gone for this quartet, Best, Marsh, Moore and Mullery, all who played together. Best would probably be worth more then Messi, just my opinion.
I'd bring back Bryan Ruiz, we never saw the best of him.
Quote from: bencher on August 17, 2020, 02:27:06 PM
Quote from: sunburywhite on August 17, 2020, 02:22:23 PM
Quote from: @jolslover on August 17, 2020, 01:26:52 PM
Quote from: sunburywhite on August 17, 2020, 01:26:07 PM
Karagounis
Gera
Not sure they would be much use now!
Both Dembeles, Fred and Smalling would be good but I don't think any our realistic
Misleading title, didnt say they would have to be current players
Point taken, but I thought it was fairly self-explanatory. Otherwise I'd be all over Haynes, George Cohen etc...
I found it interesting that there were not too many ex-players from our previous proper PL stint still playing (evidence of how aged our squad was) or from before the last promotion that would actually be any kind of upgrade (evidence of how poor we were in those pre-Joka days, MKII the only real exception).
I cant remember Cohen being that fast, I think he might struggle in todays game
Quote from: sunburywhite link=topic=76985.msg1155104#msg1155104 uld
/quote]
I cant remember Cohen being that fast, I think he might struggle in todays game
I'd like to politely comment on this point. (There's actually quite a lot I'd like to comment on in this thread but I'm not sure how seriously most of it is intended).
George Cohen might well struggle in today's game.
However, when he first came on the scene, his speed was one of his most outstanding attributes.
He was very fast for a 1960s full back and it was a big contributory factor in him reaching the heights he did in the game.
Not so sure about Fredricks, who was integral to our style of play when we got promoted before and has never truly been replaced - but his defensive frailties were cruelly posed in the premier league in a poor West Ham side and Zabeleta has even been preferred to him. So I would look elsewhere
Quote from: cmg on August 17, 2020, 04:13:30 PM
Quote from: sunburywhite link=topic=76985.msg1155104#msg1155104 uld
/quote]
I cant remember Cohen being that fast, I think he might struggle in todays game
I'd like to politely comment on this point. (There's actually quite a lot I'd like to comment on in this thread but I'm not sure how seriously most of it is intended).
George Cohen might well struggle in today's game.
However, when he first came on the scene, his speed was one of his most outstanding attributes.
He was very fast for a 1960s full back and it was a big contributory factor in him reaching the heights he did in the game.
I wasnt intending to decry his undoubted talents, I just seem to remeber his strength and positional awareness being his biggest attributes
Babel
Dembele senior
Norwood
Smalling
Personally I would like to see Ryan Sess come back to link with Joe on the left, probably won't happen though.
Quote from: cmg on August 17, 2020, 04:13:30 PM
Quote from: sunburywhite link=topic=76985.msg1155104#msg1155104 uld
/quote]
I cant remember Cohen being that fast, I think he might struggle in todays game
I'd like to politely comment on this point. (There's actually quite a lot I'd like to comment on in this thread but I'm not sure how seriously most of it is intended).
George Cohen might well struggle in today's game.
However, when he first came on the scene, his speed was one of his most outstanding attributes.
He was very fast for a 1960s full back and it was a big contributory factor in him reaching the heights he did in the game.
I once clocked a time of 25 minutes for 100 metres, I was about 1 1/2 at the time. Impressive.
Quote from: Art Vandelay on August 17, 2020, 04:42:57 PM
Personally I would like to see Ryan Sess come back to link with Joe on the left, probably won't happen though.
I hope not. Ryan fell short, his game was hit and miss.
Not aware of any player faster than George Cohen when I was watching. He went on tremendous runs along the by line that arced into the penalty area. A player with bags of class that would not be out of place today.
His number ten was a bit on the slow side but had other attributes to compensate. He would do alright as well.
Quote from: mancwhite on August 17, 2020, 04:23:56 PM
Not so sure about Fredricks, who was integral to our style of play when we got promoted before and has never truly been replaced - but his defensive frailties were cruelly posed in the premier league in a poor West Ham side and Zabeleta has even been preferred to him. So I would look elsewhere
Fredericks started 24 league games for West Ham with another 2 substitute appearances. Of the 12 games in which he didn't play he was confirmed injured in 3 and suspended in 1. Sounds like he was at least more of a starter than anyone else at the position, so he has done reasonably well I would say. HIs first season Zabaleta was indeed preferred most of the time, but not sure that is such a strange thing since Zabaleta has been an absolute class player (even if he is getting on).
Within budget, as per the OP, I believe that a player such as Moussa Dembele is a no go. He will go to a much bigger club and earn more money I am fairly certain.
I would go for experience, and try for Smalling and/or Mousa Dembele. This is however just me pretending they were up for the fight, which may be unlikely and they are also probably still too expensive.
Don't really see anyone else, maybe Babel then on a short not too expensive contract. We haven't really lost many of our better players for a few years now so not too many out there still playing that would be of interest.
Assumìng we dont have to pay for them:
Starting 11:
Fredericks
Smalling
Dembele
Babel
Targett
Subs:
Burn (ahead of Ream)
Sess (ahead of one of the wingers...)
Norwood (ahead of johansen)
Chambers (ahead of KMac)
Rico (ahead of Betts)
Fosu-mensah (ahead of christie)
Kalas (ahead of Mawson, just about)
Floyd Ayite, Matt Targett, Dan Burn. (And possibly, depending on whether Betts stays or not, Neil Etheridge as a No 2)
Smalling would certainly be an asset alongside Hector. I'm another who would like to see Sess back, he'd add more goal threat as well as better supply for Mitro. Dembele because he's quality. Fred perhaps.
None
Onwards & Upwards
Second thoughts
maybe an inform Deejagah
Dan Burn
Ryan Babel
Chris Smalling
Lazar Markovic
Maarten Stekelenburg (if Bettinelli or Fabri leave)
Ryan Sessegnon
Ryan Fredericks
Mousa Dembele
Moussa Dembele
Matt Targett
Obviously some more available than others.
Quote from: rebel on August 17, 2020, 04:52:51 PM
Quote from: Art Vandelay on August 17, 2020, 04:42:57 PM
Personally I would like to see Ryan Sess come back to link with Joe on the left, probably won't happen though.
I hope not. Ryan fell short, his game was hit and miss.
Agree, he was Championship quality, best left at Tottenham where he can learn from their popular manager how to sit on the sidelines.
Hangeland and Hughes, Saha and Boa.
Quote from: We Are Premier League on August 17, 2020, 07:12:02 PM
Assumìng we dont have to pay for them:
Starting 11:
Fredericks
Smalling
Dembele
Babel
Targett
Subs:
Burn (ahead of Ream)
Sess (ahead of one of the wingers...)
Norwood (ahead of johansen)
Chambers (ahead of KMac)
Rico (ahead of Betts)
Fosu-mensah (ahead of christie)
Kalas (ahead of Mawson, just about)
Fosu-Mensah ahead of Christie?? I don't agree with that. Would not want TFM back under any circumstances thanks