Football: WORLD CUP 06 and close season/transfer discussion.

Sickboy · Post by **Sickboy** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 9:37 pm 0

Tetra Elemental wrote:Crouch looked exactly like that but with a shitload more in the way of elbows and knees. He went into the area like a headless chicken and the ball just seem to bobble along with him. To say he laid it off for Garcia is a pisstake.
Crouch beat the first defender fair and square though. Good skill.

Just watched it again, and fair enough, he got lucky with the bounce back to Garcia. But he beats *TWO* defenders - the second with a stepover.

Dio · Post by **Dio** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 2:48 pm 0

Vassell going to City for 2.5m?

If he's that cheap, why haven't Newcastle got a bid in on him? Handy little striker I think, would supply the pace up front, and stands a good chance of taking the physio's room key off Dyer and Bramble.

And how is Peter Crouch worth three times more?

KevG · Post by **KevG** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 3:05 pm 0

Dio wrote:
And how is Peter Crouch worth three times more?

*...and bookmarks this page, too*

Ahem

I've got a hunch that Vassell is being sold to raise cash for a Villa raid for Baros. LFC have put a Â£7 mil price on Meeelan after Villa allegedly made a Â£5 mil bid last week so I think something will happen soon.

Munky · Post by **Munky** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 3:30 pm 0

Dio wrote:Vassell going to City for 2.5m?

If he's that cheap, why haven't Newcastle got a bid in on him? Handy little striker I think, would supply the pace up front, and stands a good chance of taking the physio's room key off Dyer and Bramble.

And how is Peter Crouch worth three times more?

Vassell just never lived up to his potential, and he's been a bit injury prone recently. He's got a lot of pace but has never been a prolific scorer at senior level.

Still 2.5m is a bit of a bargain. But Baros will make a good replacement when he arrives.

We've now recouped our massive 2.5m summer spending spree, so I'm hoping we'll see another forward come to Villa Park before the end of the transfer window.

PaulEMoz · Post by **PaulEMoz** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 3:52 pm 0

Dio wrote:Vassell going to City for 2.5m?

If he's that cheap, why haven't Newcastle got a bid in on him? Handy little striker I think, would supply the pace up front, and stands a good chance of taking the physio's room key off Dyer and Bramble.

Ugh, you like Vassell? Can't say I ever have, to be honest. Even when he played for England and did alright, I still wouldn't have fancied having him in my team. I'd like to think, despite our constant underachievement, we should be aiming higher.

Dio · Post by **Dio** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 3:58 pm 0

If players were lining up to sign I'd agree with you, but right now Â£3m for a striker with proven England credentials seems a bit of a bargain given there's nobody else of any quality appearing to be available...

Given his age I'd be surprised if we can't keep him two years and move him on for the same kind of money unless he proves to be a crock.

PaulEMoz · Post by **PaulEMoz** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 4:14 pm 0

Dio wrote:If players were lining up to sign I'd agree with you, but right now Â£3m for a striker with proven England credentials seems a bit of a bargain given there's nobody else of any quality appearing to be available...

Given his age I'd be surprised if we can't keep him two years and move him on for the same kind of money unless he proves to be a crock.

There are two kinds of crock. He's currently one, and could easily end up being the other.

To be honest, I don't know who we could or should get. Normally I'd probably be quite happy to have Vassell as a squad player, but I think we're getting desperate now, because we really need two strikers, and fast. And one of them really needs to be a big-money, top-of-the-range job to replace Shearer full-time.

KevG · Post by **KevG** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 4:18 pm 0

So, what's left in the NUFC budget, Paul? You're either aiming at the likes of Owen or a cheaper but potentially great young striker.

PaulEMoz · Post by **PaulEMoz** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 4:21 pm 0

KevG wrote:So, what's left in the NUFC budget, Paul? You're either aiming at the likes of Owen or a cheaper but potentially great young striker.

Well, that's a good question. It's not like they haven't thrown enough cash at players lately. Rumour has it there's around 15 million left, more than half of which would go on Anelka, if we get him (an idea which I'm still not entirely convinced about).

I'd love to see Owen here. If Real keep pushing his buttons, he might fuck off in a huff, but I still don't think he'd come here, unless nobody else wanted him, but I can't see that happening.

I dunno. I'm somewhat concerned at the moment. Usually I'm dead optimistic at least up until about game three of the season, but unless we sign a cracking striker, I'm a bit gloomy.

KevG · Post by **KevG** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 4:29 pm 0

15 mil How's yer debt??

Not sure if Owen would go which would be a problem. Rumour is he wants to go back to Merseyside. I believe we have first option but I'm not convinced Rafa is keen.

Know what you mean re 'gloom' when you're waiting on a weak spot to be strengthened. Shearer will do a job for you yet but ... there's still January I suppose if nothing happens in the next few days. Trouble is , I can't think of many more disaffected and/or up and coming strikers.

Dio · Post by **Dio** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 4:32 pm 0

Yeah, without someone good coming in I think we're going to struggle this season.

I don't think we've spent too much of the kitty given that we've moved six players on, it might be as much as Â£20m, although we've now got four really hard games to go to get into Europe and no UEFA money would probably take a serious chunk out of that as well as making it hard to compete for decent talent.

Dio · Post by **Dio** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 4:33 pm 0

KevG wrote:15 mil How's yer debt??

Reasonably high from the stadium redevelopments but supposedly very well managed, with the business plan not having European football factored in.

Ticket sales on 52,000 seats plus the Premiership's most fanatical shirt-buyers gives us very strong positive cashflow.

PaulEMoz · Post by **PaulEMoz** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 4:34 pm 0

KevG wrote: 15 mil How's yer debt??

Manageable, unless you read any Sunderland message boards.

As for Shearer, I reckon he'll do part of a job. We need someone of good quality alongside him at this advanced stage of his career, because he can't chase lost causes by himself any more. It does seem like Anelka is the top priority, but I just want to see someone good brought in and soon. If it has to be Anelka, so be it, I suppose.

KevG · Post by **KevG** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 4:38 pm 0

PaulEMoz wrote:If it has to be Anelka, so be it, I suppose.

Folks here were worried about Anelka but raved abut his all round contribution. Can't doubt his class. Many LFC fans would have taken him on board last January. He could definitely do a job for a season or too, given the circumstances, as you say.

PaulEMoz · Post by **PaulEMoz** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 4:47 pm 0

KevG wrote:
PaulEMoz wrote:If it has to be Anelka, so be it, I suppose.
Folks here were worried about Anelka but raved abut his all round contribution. Can't doubt his class. Many LFC fans would have taken him on board last January. He could definitely do a job for a season or too, given the circumstances, as you say.

Yeah, he's a perfect replacement for Bellamy. He's as fast as Bellamy, he scores as many goals as Bellamy, he's liable to cause as much trouble as Bellamy!