Decent Free Transfers

[St. Andrews White]

I know there's a feed for transfer targets, but the same names keep appearing again and again.
So, I thought I'd look at a few free transfers we could aim for:

Sammy Ameobi: 22 (Newcastle) - Pacey left winger who's young, but could definitely do a job for us and rated highly by Geordies.

Tabare Viudez: 25 (Kasımpaşaspor) - Mainly a right winger but can also play on the left or up-front. Got 11 goals and 19 assists in 68 Super Lig (Turkish top league) appearances. Not bad for a winger.

Chris Baird:33 (West Brom) - Not much to say really. Provides cover at CB, RB and defensive mid. Would be a good signing if we can get him on cheap wages.

Mauricio: 26 (Terek Grozny) - Brazilian defensive midfielder whose value has been steadily rising. Potentially the solution to our CDM problem?

Chris Herd: 26 (Aston Villa) - Highly-rated defensive midfielder who can also play across the back four, but currently injured.

Those are just a few suggestions which I think are genuinely realistic, any others more than welcome!

[FPT]

Chris Herd is appalling. I'd take Chris Baird back but with Scott Parker still here and just a year older with Ryan Tunnicliffe in the wings, I'd leave it and rather look at Tunny as being Parker's successor in the water carrier role.

I'm not aware of the two foreign lads you mention, so I can't comment. As for Sammy Ameobi, I've always thought he's looked like Bambi on Ice, and I can't recall him doing anything of any note when you consider we still have Alexander Kacaniklic and George Williams contracted to the football club. On a free, Ameobi could be a good deal, but I'd rather some proven quality in the wings.

In theory, anything is possible, it just depends how ambitious we want to be.

[f321ffc]

With the amount of players that will be released or not have contracts renewed a good manager with the right connectiions and backing from above would not need to exceed the ffp rules to put together a team good enough to challenge for promotion . 049:gif

[Craven Mad]

I'd add: Adam Bogdan, William Kvist, Stephen Quinn, Marcus Olsson, Alex Bruce and Lewis Dunk as other frees that'd improve our squad.

Brede Hangeland is also a free from July??

Quinn, Dunk and Olsson in particular are players I'd love to see starting for us.

[FPT]

Lewis Dunk is a really interesting one - Brighton have been great defensively this season (believe it or not), and although a similar stature to Dan Burn, I think they'd be a good centre back partnership with a bit of defensively quality in the full back positions/two James Husband's. Players like Stephen Quinn are what you need at times in this division, he's not blessed with quality but will fight for every inch and scrap for 90 minutes if need be. I'd be more than happy to see Quinn join us on a free.

Adam Bogdan would be good competition for Marcus Bettinelli, but I'd probably prefer someone that would be more of a mentor - unless Gabor Kiraly stays then we've got the best of both in two goalkeepers.

Tommy Oar is available which would be an excellent move for us. What about someone like Rudy Austin?

[Jims Dentist]

I like Turner.

But if we could get Harry Maguire that would be an upgrade and a major statement of serious intention for next season.

Well it's sometimes good to fantasise !!

[@jolslover]

Anthony Knockeart and Alejandro Pozuelo are probably the best players (talent wise) Fulham can realistically get on frees this summer

[Bronaldinho]

Anthony Knockeart and Alejandro Pozuelo are probably the best players (talent wise) Fulham can realistically get on frees this summer

Yes to both of those and No to the ones suggesting in the opening post.

Add Guthrie to that list.

[Huxley]

Was impressed with Guthrie on Saturday. Did well. Looked a donkey the previous home game he played.

[snarks]

I seem to recall the comments were that Guthrie plays well at a new club to get a contract then drops off.

I hope that's not the case, as he looked useful. Still there is a reason why Reading (currently below Fulham) don't want him.

[eloc]

My XI of free transfers.

GK:Neto(fiorentina) or Bogdan(bolton). Neto is a couple years younger than bogdan, so imo he has more upside than bogdan, but bogs has the experience of English football.

Lb Marcell Jansesn(HSV) or Christian Fuchs(Schalke). neither are particularly young, but fuchs has the set piece specialty that pushes him to the top of my list. FFC has been lacking danger from dead balls, and fuchs would bring that back. Jansen has the speed and tirelessness to succeed, and with HSV potentially dropping he might be more inclined to refuse to resign and look to ply his trade elsewhere. If getting stafylidis is not a possibility, i think having one of these two would be a very good compromise.

CB- although there are some good players with expiring contracts, most of them are too good imo to drop down a division and play for the club. I'd like to see Andrea Ranocchia who is only 27 sign, but I just cannot see him going from Inter to fulham. Zambrano is even younger and has done decently well, i could see him getting picked up by a prem club. best bet here is looking for a player to purchase or continue to develop the ones we've got.

Rb- we need more pace at this position. not having someone to explode down the wing has been killing our offense. Ignazio abate (ac milan 28) has been out of his depth for a long while. having the speed of a track star and not much else i think he would work well in the championship. his defensive abilities are no where near prem level, but his counter-attacking potential leaves him ripe for the championship. alternatively, Andoni Iraola (32) has none of the pace we need, but all of the defense we desire. having done very well this season at bilbao, it could cost a big pile of money to bring him over and down, but he could lock down the right half of the field.

LM/LW-a plethora of options here, each one bringing a unique quality. Urby emanuelson (28) He was one of my favorite players of 2013, with legs that didnt quit, he could stretch the field and open up attacking channels. Balázs Dzsudzsák (28) another set piece specialist, balazs has the big left leg we need. I'd also put ameobi on here as well. he's young, he has prem expereience, and he looks like the kind of guy who could be sold later on for big bucks.

CDM/CM/CAM- We need another player to split time with parker, or replace him completely. The guy has the zeal, but his body is slowing down. Enter stefan reinartz. at 26 he's hitting his prime just in time to dominate. a defensive rock, he has the ability to plug the gaps we have had in front on defense for years to come. a good defensive plug needs a creative outlet to spark the attack. Yoann Gorcuff has the technique to spread the field with passes afar and the ball skills to get around defenders.

RM/RW- personally i think starting roberts is our best option. the kid has a ton of potential and our fortunes could be tied to his success. a couple other options are Issac Cuenca- a la masia product who could use a change of scenery. the kids has the skills, but needs better coaching that being loaned out all the time. Zakira Bakkali- a highly rated product out of the netherlands, he could give patrick some needed competition. has a very high upside, although maybe not all the skills yet.

Strikers-Gignac was linked a couple years ago to FFC, he is still good enough to warrant a jersey. if we can get him on a free i see no reason why he shouldnt be added. I dont see the point in adding more than one striker, we have had a lot of turn over at this position in the last 12 months, we could do with some stability.

[HV71]

Do you work for World Soccer?

[St. Andrews White]

That's not a bad team there. Love the RMs but seem a little out of our reach. Apparently Leeds are after Emmanuelson, but I'd love him back in the LM or CM role. Hangelands a tricky one; he's clearly a great defender (one of the best we've been luck to see) but he struggled last season and he'll have even less pace than then. Personally I'd like to see him remain as part of our glorious past, rather than ruin the image we've been left with.
It's so obvious we need to sign Guthrie; 1 year deals so he's constantly working for the next one, but a must sign.

Knockeart I would take in an instant.

[Mince n Tatties]

 Joey Barton... :031:

[Mac]

My XI of free transfers.

GK:Neto(fiorentina) or Bogdan(bolton). Neto is a couple years younger than bogdan, so imo he has more upside than bogdan, but bogs has the experience of English football.

Lb Marcell Jansesn(HSV) or Christian Fuchs(Schalke). neither are particularly young, but fuchs has the set piece specialty that pushes him to the top of my list. FFC has been lacking danger from dead balls, and fuchs would bring that back. Jansen has the speed and tirelessness to succeed, and with HSV potentially dropping he might be more inclined to refuse to resign and look to ply his trade elsewhere. If getting stafylidis is not a possibility, i think having one of these two would be a very good compromise.

CB- although there are some good players with expiring contracts, most of them are too good imo to drop down a division and play for the club. I'd like to see Andrea Ranocchia who is only 27 sign, but I just cannot see him going from Inter to fulham. Zambrano is even younger and has done decently well, i could see him getting picked up by a prem club. best bet here is looking for a player to purchase or continue to develop the ones we've got.

Rb- we need more pace at this position. not having someone to explode down the wing has been killing our offense. Ignazio abate (ac milan 28) has been out of his depth for a long while. having the speed of a track star and not much else i think he would work well in the championship. his defensive abilities are no where near prem level, but his counter-attacking potential leaves him ripe for the championship. alternatively, Andoni Iraola (32) has none of the pace we need, but all of the defense we desire. having done very well this season at bilbao, it could cost a big pile of money to bring him over and down, but he could lock down the right half of the field.

LM/LW-a plethora of options here, each one bringing a unique quality. Urby emanuelson (28) He was one of my favorite players of 2013, with legs that didnt quit, he could stretch the field and open up attacking channels. Balázs Dzsudzsák (28) another set piece specialist, balazs has the big left leg we need. I'd also put ameobi on here as well. he's young, he has prem expereience, and he looks like the kind of guy who could be sold later on for big bucks.

CDM/CM/CAM- We need another player to split time with parker, or replace him completely. The guy has the zeal, but his body is slowing down. Enter stefan reinartz. at 26 he's hitting his prime just in time to dominate. a defensive rock, he has the ability to plug the gaps we have had in front on defense for years to come. a good defensive plug needs a creative outlet to spark the attack. Yoann Gorcuff has the technique to spread the field with passes afar and the ball skills to get around defenders.

RM/RW- personally i think starting roberts is our best option. the kid has a ton of potential and our fortunes could be tied to his success. a couple other options are Issac Cuenca- a la masia product who could use a change of scenery. the kids has the skills, but needs better coaching that being loaned out all the time. Zakira Bakkali- a highly rated product out of the netherlands, he could give patrick some needed competition. has a very high upside, although maybe not all the skills yet.

Strikers-Gignac was linked a couple years ago to FFC, he is still good enough to warrant a jersey. if we can get him on a free i see no reason why he shouldnt be added. I dont see the point in adding more than one striker, we have had a lot of turn over at this position in the last 12 months, we could do with some stability.

I admire the ambition but we have not got a snowball's chance in hell of getting players like this. Gignac, Abate and Gorcuff particularly have all played at the top level in top European leagues. We have nothing to offer them. Our sights will necessarily be set much much lower than that. I'd take a couple of full backs, a couple of midfielders and a decent striker with championship experience thanks.

[Mince n Tatties]

I'd add: Adam Bogdan, William Kvist, Stephen Quinn, Marcus Olsson, Alex Bruce and Lewis Dunk as other frees that'd improve our squad.

Brede Hangeland is also a free from July??

Quinn, Dunk and Olsson in particular are players I'd love to see starting for us.

Are you trying to get us relegated? ....