Summer transfers

[Crimson Dynasty]

It's a fair point. At least we got was it 10m for Trent? If we picked up at least small fees for the others it would maybe help to buy a 50m player. The Salah one, I think they should have given him a one year and then review. Because they gave him the two year contract, they probably just want him off the books now.

If they gave him a one year contract with review, fans and the media would have been baying for blood.

It's easy to say with the benefit of hindsight now after having seen how his form fell of a cliff this season, but let's not forget that these contract extension negotiations last year were happening when we has on perhaps one of the best forms of his career and to suggest that they could have offered him a one year extension and not have the fans jumped down their throat is a bit delusional

I thnk they came to an agreement that was best for both parties given the circumanstances.
The club gets to get his 'club-highest' wages off the books, even though we miss out on a sell-on fee, but he gets to not have the contract hamper his ability to get another contract - possibly in the Middle East, even though he gets to miss out on the last year's wages on his contract (that we can all agree given his age and form, would have been a considerable over-pay, however it turned out).

Fans may not see it that way, but it's easy to say now with hindsight that club should have done this or the other, when none of us could have possible known what was going to happen.

On the others, I only partially agree.
Trent ran down this contract - despite the club's best efforts to resign him to ensure a transfer fee even if they knew he would leave.

That wasn't the club's fault.
They did everything they could and he effectively deceived everyone, and likely just led them on into believing there was a chance even though he knew a contract extension would kille his chance of a move to Madrid.

I don't know if a contract extension for Robbo (or Firmino when he left) at his age and to allow the club a fee, would have made much financial sense, and we have yet to see how VVD leaves himself (Whether he too cancels the last year of his contract ala Mo, to allow the club to save on wages, or we get a fee. Will anyone still be interested given his drop in form too?), or Alli for that matter given his persistent injury issues these past couple of seasons, if he too decides to go.
He's still one of the world's best when he's fit and should be Brazil's starter at the World Cup if he's healthy, so he is one I think the club should try very hard to get a fee from any departure.

[RedMagic]

Letting players go is often a gamble. On one hand sometimes things will go for you and you'll end up with a Coutinho like situation, then on the other hand you'll have situation such as Diaz's which currently looks like a massive f-up. Unfortunately that's part and parcel of football. The biggest issue however when it comes to deciding whether to let players go or not is what contingency plans you have in place to deal with any possible repercussions of keeping or selling a player.

'We' seem to have little to no forethought as to what we should do when making decisions over whether to keep players or let them go. We have repeatedly had no clear or coherent plan in place to deal with departures or any kind of succession planning when it comes to things such as players such as Salah coming towards the end of their careers. If players like Diaz are going to be sold you need to make sure you have a hopefully as good a player, if not a better player coming in to take their place.

We don't do those things. That negligence just ends up with us having more and more holes in the side to the point whereby we're always playing catch-up in terms of having a well round team and a strong squad. That's why we've not had any period of continual major success in recent times.

We needed and still need to fix loads of holes, and unfortunately if reports are to be believed not only are those holes not going to be fixed, but more holes are liable to appear.

[justme]

Tottenham's Sweden midfielder Lucas Bergvall, 20, is being monitored by several clubs, with Arsenal and Chelsea interested. (Caught Offside)

I must say, I was impressed with this lad when i've seen him Hes a man-united fan. so may not consider us though.

[jozza800]

There'll be one or two that will be picked off that Spurs squad should they go down. I'd take any of Pedro Porro, van de Ven, Bergvall and Paulinha.

[Steveo]

West Ham far more likely to take Spurs place imo.. Be quite hilarious if it happens tho

To think they were in the Champions League this season...quite the fall.. I know we shouldn't be gloating after our own fall but still. That's massive. From Europa Winners to Relegation in 12 months.... would be quite the story

[justme]

They did finish 17th last season, so its been 2 seasons of poor form.

[Steveo]

Yep - their league form was awful last season too..

But looking at the games West Ham have.. Palace, Newcastle and Brentford away then Arsenal at home with Leeds on the last day of the season. Spurs look to have the easier run in... only on paper tho.. Who knows

[Insidious]

There'll be one or two that will be picked off that Spurs squad should they go down. I'd take any of Pedro Porro, van de Ven, Bergvall and Paulinha.

Porro would be my first pick.

It feels awful to say but Bradley shows signs of being a luxury - so rarely available and Frimpong isn't always available himself.

Porro could be really useful for us and he could play instead of Frimpong/Bradley at times or we could have certain games where Frimpong could play further up ahead of Porro.

Van de Ben I'd happily take as well.

[faridtoxteth]

Porro is suspect at basic covering and defending. Good offensively. Like a poor man's Trent.
I'd take Van de Ven.
Don't like Bergval, snidey dirty fouls.
I'd take Harry Kane.

[justincredible]

Porro is suspect at basic covering and defending. Good offensively. Like a poor man's Trent.
I'd take Van de Ven.
Don't like Bergval, snidey dirty fouls.
I'd take Harry Kane.

Are Bayern being relegated too?

[justme]

Yep - their league form was awful last season too..

But looking at the games West Ham have.. Palace, Newcastle and Brentford away then Arsenal at home with Leeds on the last day of the season. Spurs look to have the easier run in... only on paper tho.. Who knows

I have west ham to go down as well. lets see what happens

[Daffydd]

North London's fortunes will depend very much on mentality

Arsenal, top of the league, but players looked beaten yesterday, and they carry the bottler tag.

Man City v Burnley will be another kick in the nuts if they see City win and go top over them.

Spurs too, gained a point at the weekend, only their second in weeks, but it "felt like a defeat".

They have a week to stew and then they go to Wolves, who may get relegated tonight. Yeah they are shit but relegated teams often play better once their fate is sealed and they'd love to drag Spurs down with them.

West Ham's last 6 games DLWDLW, buoyed by a 4-0 win last time out must be feeling good. They play Palace, the bookies say it could go either way. Who wants it more? If West Ham do win tonight that would be massive

[Ravo19]

Newcastle rumoured to have set fee of 75m for anthony gordon,that should be ok,sell gapko.
Konate signing would mean money spent on other areas.
Diamande,gordon in.
Gapko=gordon
Macalistair/jones=new midfielder
Gomez=new CB.
and thats slots sell to buy,fsg wont have to dig to deep.

[Insidious]

Newcastle rumoured to have set fee of 75m for anthony gordon,that should be ok,sell gapko.

I'd really be wanting more goals from Gordon if he came here.

He has 6 League goals this year and last - managed 11 the year before those two which I think got people excited about his ceiling - but he isn't quite pulling up the trees we'd hope for.

He'd be tenacious in the press which would be welcome and he's quick - but I'd really be hoping there's someone "better" available - though the Home-grown aspect would be good.

[jozza800]

Regrding the HG situation, it's going to be incredibly difficult next season. Especially if Jones and/or Jomez decide to move on. The youngsters dont count towards it so it's likely that we wont be able to fill out a full squad of senior players.

Will likely leave us with just Frimpong and Bradley as the only HG players we have, maybe with Woodman as a 3rd. This definitely needs looking at.