Dear Mr Hypia

[DarrenFreemansPerm]

I find it hard to believe that will happen. Despite what people say about FFP, Bloom has backed the manager in the last three years. We had limited transfer activity last summer but then we had most of the team who had come fourth the previous year, only losing Bridge (who we replaced), Hammond and Vicente of the key players.

This year, we've lost Kuszczak, Upson, Ward (for now), Orlandi, Lopez and Lingard plus a few more fringe players. I have faith that we will replace them.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not hoping that my prediction is accurate, I'm just not getting my hopes up for a large influx of quality. Last summer wasn't a roaring success in the transfer market and in January we shipped Bridcutt, Barnes and El Abd and only brought in Stephens. I'm sure the club want the best players, but I feel we are looking in the bargain bin and hoping to find the next hidden gem.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not hoping that my prediction is accurate, I'm just not getting my hopes up for a large influx of quality. Last summer wasn't a roaring success in the transfer market and in January we shipped Bridcutt, Barnes and El Abd and only brought in Stephens. I'm sure the club want the best players, but I feel we are looking in the bargain bin and hoping to find the next hidden gem.

We only brought in Stephens because we lost out on Grabban & Conway. I'm not bothered about the whys & wherefores of losing them, but it does indicate that we're not looking in the bargain bin.

 

[Javeaseagull]

Transfer window opens in 9 days time. The time to panic is NOW, obviously.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

We only brought in Stephens because we lost out on Grabban & Conway. I'm not bothered about the whys & wherefores of losing them, but it does indicate that we're not looking in the bargain bin.

We also bid over £1m for Adam Clayton.

 

[papajaff]

Why do some people insist on referring to their other half as Mr or Mrs (insert NSC username).

Or is it just me that thinks it's daft and I should be given an NSC slap down?

 

[DarrenFreemansPerm]

We also bid over £1m for Adam Clayton.

Which wasn't enough.

 

[perseus]

I am going away for a few days with Mrs Twowheels to recover from the disappointment of the abject failure of our national soccer team.
By the time I return on July 7th, could you please have in place:
1. A reliable assistant - that nice señor Calderon could fit the bill. Check his credentials first though
2. A Goalkeeper with a pair of safe hands
3. A decent left back, prepared to run the wing and keep Kaz supplied with scoring opportunities.
4. A solid dependable Central defender - preferably with experience playing at the highest level
5. A non injury prone striker, guaranteed to score a minimum 23 goals per season.

On my return we will discuss other areas of need, but I think that should keep you occupied for the next two weeks,

Kind Regards
Twowheels

So who are we going to get.

I want a playmaker/defensive midfielder as we missed Liam Bridcutt more than I expected. I have no idea right now who we could expect to get.

Centre half to replace Upson. Jop van der Linden (Go Ahead Eagles) might be too ambitious?

Striker: Souleymane Coulibaly (Tottenham) loan with view to a permanent signing.

Left back: Stephen Ward (if possible)

Keeper: Luke Steele (Barnsley)

Otherwise we might have to suffer what we have got. Forster-Caskey seems like Wellbeck for England. Not quite forceful enough.

I would not mind Vicente as an attacking coach. Failing that a Danish coach.

If Macca did not keep falling over and missing goals he might be quite good.

Dale Stephens might have to be the box-to-box midfielder. We still have Andrew Crofts.

I am not sure what role Rohan Ince will play next season. He might fit into the back four? He is not really a playmaker.

If the opponents played open football like we are seeing in the World Cup I think we ought to do better as we still have pace in Lualua and Will Buckley.

We need tall full backs for the deep crosses to the far post which we saw last year anyway.

Thorne of West Bromwich but not really the playmaker I would like. I thought with total football we could adapt but Bruno in midfield was a disaster. Agustien was better and I quite like his style.

I think defensive midfielder might be hard to fill

Orlandi was never a match winner or his own but he made good runs. I think Forster-Caskey should take over this role from now on.
Macca ought to be able to play the Lingard role as second striker. I would prefer Zaha but he is out of the equation.

In would not mind Sagbo from Hull but that would require a prohibitive fee beyond his value. And Hull have lost Fryatt.

I think Gordon Greer is under-rated and I reckon he could make do as a right back if Bruno got injured or we make the Premier.

 

[brightonmark1234]

So who are we going to get.

I want a playmaker/defensive midfielder as we missed Liam Bridcutt more than I expected. I have no idea right now who we could expect to get.

Centre half to replace Upson. Jop van der Linden (Go Ahead Eagles) might be too ambitious?

Striker: Souleymane Coulibaly (Tottenham) loan with view to a permanent signing.

Left back: Stephen Ward (if possible)

Keeper: Luke Steele (Barnsley)

Otherwise we might have to suffer what we have got. Forster-Caskey seems like Wellbeck for England. Not quite forceful enough.

I would not mind Vicente as an attacking coach. Failing that a Danish coach.

If Macca did not keep falling over and missing goals he might be quite good.

Dale Stephens might have to be the box-to-box midfielder. We still have Andrew Crofts.

I am not sure what role Rohan Ince will play next season. He might fit into the back four? He is not really a playmaker.

If the opponents played open football like we are seeing in the World Cup I think we ought to do better as we still have pace in Lualua and Will Buckley.

We need tall full backs for the deep crosses to the far post which we saw last year anyway.

Thorne of West Bromwich but not really the playmaker I would like. I thought with total football we could adapt but Bruno in midfield was a disaster. Agustien was better and I quite like his style.

I think defensive midfielder might be hard to fill

Orlandi was never a match winner or his own but he made good runs. I think Forster-Caskey should take over this role from now on.
Macca ought to be able to play the Lingard role as second striker. I would prefer Zaha but he is out of the equation.

In would not mind Sagbo from Hull but that would require a prohibitive fee beyond his value. And Hull have lost Fryatt.

I think Gordon Greer is under-rated and I reckon he could make do as a right back if Bruno got injured or we make the Premier.

Souleymane Coulibaly not really goalscorer only scored 2 goals

 

[perseus]

Souleymane Coulibaly not really goalscorer only scored 2 goals

'Soli' scored for the Tottenham Hotspur XI on his debut against Brighton and Hove Albion in Algarve.

 

[Finchley Seagull]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not hoping that my prediction is accurate, I'm just not getting my hopes up for a large influx of quality. Last summer wasn't a roaring success in the transfer market and in January we shipped Bridcutt, Barnes and El Abd and only brought in Stephens. I'm sure the club want the best players, but I feel we are looking in the bargain bin and hoping to find the next hidden gem.

But that's my point. We didn't need lots of signings last summer. Ward was a fantastic replacement for Bridge and that sorted out the one real problem area. January is different as prices go up unless a player is out of contract. I'm sure we are looking to find the next hidden gem, all clubs are, but I'm confident we'll also be able to compete with other Championship clubs in terms of attracting players (except for clubs with parachute payments probably).

 

[Lifelong Supporter]

All new players will be a gamble. Some will work out and others will not. Compared to much of last season we have Crofts and CMS back. We need to invest significantly in a central defender, goalkeeper and left back who are likely to make 'the first team'. The balance of monies can be used to strengthen other areas, depending on who is available and at what price.

 

[sparkie]

All new players will be a gamble. Some will work out and others will not. Compared to much of last season we have Crofts and CMS back. We need to invest significantly in a central defender, goalkeeper and left back who are likely to make 'the first team'. The balance of monies can be used to strengthen other areas, depending on who is available and at what price.

That gives us just 17 first team players ( including Walton, excluding Bruno, Calderon and Ankergren who haven't re-signed yet ).

I think we need 23-24 in the first team squad.

 

[withdeanwombat]

Why do some people insist on referring to their other half as Mr or Mrs (insert NSC username).

Or is it just me that thinks it's daft and I should be given an NSC slap down?

I've spoken to mrswithdeanwombat; she's sure it's just you.

 

[Albumen]

Perseus, you're having a mare.

Dale Stephens might have to be the box-to-box midfielder.

Hope so! That's what we bought him for!

I am not sure what role Rohan Ince will play next season. He might fit into the back four? He is not really a playmaker.

Defensive midfielder with . . .

I think defensive midfielder might be hard to fill

. . . Toko!

Orlandi was never a match winner

Yes he was, not last season but the season before he was terrific.

I think Gordon Greer is under-rated and I reckon he could make do as a right back if Bruno got injured or we make the Premier.

Oh sweet Jesus. I could run past GG. The slowest in the team does not a right back make.

 

[DarrenFreemansPerm]

But that's my point. We didn't need lots of signings last summer. Ward was a fantastic replacement for Bridge and that sorted out the one real problem area. January is different as prices go up unless a player is out of contract. I'm sure we are looking to find the next hidden gem, all clubs are, but I'm confident we'll also be able to compete with other Championship clubs in terms of attracting players (except for clubs with parachute payments probably).

I'm sure we were desperate for another striker last summer too being that we only had 2.
As you say, we can't compete with teams with parachute payments, which means Cardiff, Wigan, Reading, Blackburn, Norwich and Fulham already have an advantage, then we have the teams that seem to have the financial backing/clout like Forest, Bournemouth, Wolves that already leaves us in a fairly tricky market. I'm forever hopeful that we'll sign some quality players but I won't be expecting us to do so.

 

[sparkie]

With 21,000+ STs sold, and only 14 players contracted from July onwards ( although CMS, Buckley, Ulloa, and Agustien will be on big wages ) , we must have a somewhat bulging treasure chest to make some decent signings this summer, surely.

 

[Bra]

With 21,000+ STs sold, and only 14 players contracted from July onwards ( although CMS, Buckley, Ulloa, and Agustien will be on big wages ) , we must have a somewhat bulging treasure chest to make some decent signings this summer, surely.

Looking at the website we have 18 players listed but that includes Bruno, Calderon and Ankergren but not Walton or Toko. Still way short of where we need to be if those 3 re sign since that also includes Dickenson and Maskimenko. Hope for news of signings soon.

 

[desprateseagull]

I am going away for a few days with Mrs Twowheels to recover from the disappointment of the abject failure of our national soccer team.
By the time I return on July 7th, could you please have in place:
1. A reliable assistant - that nice señor Calderon could fit the bill. Check his credentials first though
2. A Goalkeeper with a pair of safe hands
3. A decent left back, prepared to run the wing and keep Kaz supplied with scoring opportunities.
4. A solid dependable Central defender - preferably with experience playing at the highest level
5. A non injury prone striker, guaranteed to score a minimum 23 goals per season.

On my return we will discuss other areas of need, but I think that should keep you occupied for the next two weeks,

Kind Regards
Twowheels

Calderon has a PhD, I believe. A jolly nice chap.

 

[Danny-Boy]

You can also discuss what pies we should have for each game maybe jellied ells for the Millwall Fans.

And reindeer for the home fans now? Pies instead of paella?

 

[narly101]

If we're struggling for first team players, I can play left wing. Not sure I'll be able to cope for 90 mins though - anyone up for a job share?