Jas10

I suppose this is crazy talk really but (even far fetched) transfer speculation is quite fun. How about a season long loan for Hart and agree a fee for if we somehow manage to get promoted? It's very unlikely but his future is still up in the air and he went to play for Torino... In reality, I don't think we have that kind of ambition (yet). We should try and entice higher calibre players if possible, "sell" the project to them. if we do get promoted, I would hope we would drastically strengthen the squad. Even promotion seems like a bit of a dream tbh but I'm hoping for the best (letting my heart rule over my mind for now) Btw, no way do I want Young here, can't stand him and I kind of wish these links to past players would go away.

That s a great shout, definitely worth a try. I just think we're going to be stuck with Johnstone unless we are priced out of a permanent move due to competition. Bruce seems determined to get him.

We should definitely be keeping an eye on situations like that, which we could take advantage of... really want to see some ambition from our club and signs that we are going all out for promotion.

Good call mate, there are some decent keepers out there who could make the difference for us. I think Bruce has his heart set on Johnstone, I just wonder what the alternatives are in his mind... We could do with a proper keeper who the youngsters could look to as an example and learn from too, an inspirational type. Newcastle have a few keepers on their books, I wonder what the situation there is.

Definitely experienced, prone to the odd lapse or mistake? Maybe too old?

Don't think he'd want to come here and teams in bigger/higher leagues would want him too. Not a bad shout though, I feel that's the kind of ambition we should have in terms of transfer targets at least so we actually enhance the team. Whether they come off or not, at least we have tried and might pull of a quality signing or two. I wouldn't be averse to loans either, for genuine quality.

We desperately need a first choice keeper that can be a big part of our promotion push. I don't think I've seen many realistic suggestions or links to any such players tbh, any ideas? If we went with Johnstone (again) I would be a little sceptical but I suppose he's not a bad young keeper that can only improve, he would definitely be a good 2nd choice to a more experienced and commanding GK but why would he want to come here on that case? What about Steer in that position instead though? He's our player and, if he can overcome injuries, should get a chance to develop and improve himself with us... I think we should let Bunn go too. I can't think of too many keepers we could get or who would want to come/drop down a level but it's an important position for us to fill. Pantilimon? Jakupovic? Marshall? Westwood? McCregor? Nothing stands out as a clearly doable deal, would welcome some (better) suggestions

I haven't or am not saying that, I'm just giving my thoughts on the most recent speculation. I didn't have a problem with the signings you have mentioned, in fact I was very encouraged by them. I don't want us to make any big mistakes now by making the wrong signings. As for criticism, I have laid it all at Bruce and his "coaching team's" feet but we kind of just have to get over that and hope for he best this coming season as the board have been quite emphatic about backing him. I just hope the right changes (in playing and hopefully coaching areas) are made to give us the best shot at automatic promotion. I'm looking forward to the outgoings more than anything tbh, just want the deadwood and overpaid crap out of our club.

I really hope you're right! More signings of at least the standard of Chester & Taylor would be good, in terms of coming from the PL at least. Would like us to go for a few decent foreign signings but I understand that could be seen as a risk (time to settle, adapting to the league etc.), particularly as regards our present situation and eagerness to get promoted.

My thoughts precisely, very underwhelmed by this link/speculation. I hope, in reality, we have a better transfer strategy - first team improvements of a good age that can form part of a decent side going forward. No more oldies or "past it" players who we will struggle to then eventually shift or lose big money on. Younger, dynamic players are more than welcome.

Ok, let's try to reaaaaaally simplify this if possible. We are stuck with Bruce (for now) and just have to hope that somehow things will drastically change and we will get promoted, it's best to have some hope and try to be positive where possible. There is no point in repeated calls for Bruce to be sacked or replaced because it is not going to happen, not yet at least. But What I, for one, get tired of reading/hearing is the excuses (and, tbf, the odd, reasonable point) made in defence of Bruce time and again that seemingly disregard or let him off for the poor season and miserable displays and performances of last season. Very tired of comments regarding his "experience" and "track record" too, it's no real guarantee of success and it hasn't, as yet, counted for anything during his time with our club. He hasn't shown anything, so far, that suggests that he can make us into a promotion winning side. I hope that can happen this season, whether it's under him or another manager, I don't really care I just want us back in the PL. I can only speak for myself, but I was absolutely livid, distressed and ashamed of our Jan/Feb run of utterly despicable performances and embarassment at the hands of smaller clubs, in particular. I felt that it was inexcusable at the time and that has been the main source of, at least my, anger and negativity toward Bruce. He inherited a revamped AVFC imo and had good resources - I don't think he took full advantage of that or was unable to and has definitely made many poor decisions and even looked lost or inept at times which was very worrying. We got some results later but performances were never that good (appalling in the main really) and there were no signs of any significant improvement and, especially, no signs of encouragement or real reasons for genuine optimism & enthusiasm for the coming season. There has been nothing tangible or practical to suggest that we will be able to challenge for promotion and I cannot understand anyone's confidence in that - but I kind of applaud those who somehow hold hope and optimism too. Now, changes that will be made and action, mainly behind the scenes, that is taken (which we are not privy to) may well change our whole outlook, as fans we can only hope that is the case and try to support the team and really want them to achieve success. I just don't think there's anything wrong with criticising Bruce, and the/some players, for the shit show we witnessed last season. This thread has become very repetitive, for both sides of the "argument", but maybe that's understandable at times. It is hard to have any genuine optimism, Hope is the main thing to cling to for now but if we see and hear of some exciting changes in the playing and coaching areas then that should help. I just hope we can rise again and progress, we need to achieve our ambitions asap and our immediate one should be automatic promotion...

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11740/10897622/david-wagner-huddersfield-players-have-become-legends-after-securing-promotion Wagner became the first ever foreign boss to win the second-tier play-offs in England, and said he was delighted to prove that experience is not the be all and end all in football. "I'm so happy we've proven that experience is not everything," he said. "I've always been confronted with questions of my experience in English football, the league, no winter break and the play-offs. "Experience is important, but if you have passion, desires and ideas you can match it. We've shown it's possible and brought this fairy tale to a happy ending."

An audacious loan move for Iheanacho would be very exciting...convince City not to sell (to PL e.g. West Ham) as part of the negotiation and state we will give him game time to develop and progress... Not sure he'd be keen but worth a shot at least, looks very talented. Not very enthused by links to Championship/Barnsley players tbh, I'd personally like us to set our sights higher (without being unrealistic or ripped off) but I've no complaints as long as they are better players than what we have (in those positions) and as long as we shift enough of the unwanted.... We need genuine quality in key positions that will only improve, signing average players to fill gaps would be a mistake, not that I'm saying that is happening but it's just a minor concern after recent transfer speculation.

I'm resigned to the fact that Bruce is going to be given more time and just hope it will be a very positive season (somehow) but when I look over the squad it doesn't exactly fill me with confidence. So much work yet to be done and plenty of wheeling & dealing to be sorted. (apologies for any errors, half asleep when typing this up) When I look over the team that we have (and could/would be starting the season, minus any incoming transfers), it just looks weak tbh and desperately in need of strengthening, if it is going to be a title/promotion contender: Johnstone Bree Chester Baker Taylor Jedinak/Bjarnason? Hourihane Lansbury Adomah Grealish/Green Hogan Reserves/Bench: Steer? De Laet Hutton Elphick/Richards Samba/Bedeau? Gardner Bacuna Tshibola? Lyden Gabby (how do we get rid?) RHM (should be involved) McCormack? Injured: Kodjia Presumed outgoings: All foreign, loaned players (Cissokho, Gil, Gollini, Sanchez, Veretout) Amavi Bunn Elphick/Richards? Tshibola? McCormack? Could get over £20m if all are shifted??? Plenty of fund for strengthening if they are generated in good time... Need to strengthen CB, DM, LW, RW ST? GK? AM? Ideal outgoings (imo): Bunn Cissokho Elphick Richards (how?) Hutton Bacuna (unlikely) Gardner (unlikely) Gabby (unlikely) McCormack

I don't have any problem with another loan deal so long as we release Bunn and get an experienced, first choice keeper in. Johnstone as a 2nd option is not bad but I would certainly not be confident with him as first choice throughout the season, particularly as regards a genuine promotion push. Again, I don't like us developing other clubs' young players unless they are going to be sticking around here or at least make a massive contribution (get us promoted)... What are people's thoughts on Ruddy? Available on a free but not sure what kind of form he has been in. Would have been fine as a back up or rotation option but not if we're signing Johnstone again. Would he be a good enough first choice? He did have a good reputation but that was a while ago... I think Steer should get a chance to develop with us if he can overcome his injuries. So 3 keepers in the squad would be enough.

Tbh, I find the most enjoyable or interesting part of these threads to be speculating on potential transfers. It's always been quite fun to suggest and link players to the club that could be attainable and could enhance the team. Unfortunately, those that come off tend to perform quite miserably here but, given time, hopefully that will change. If the team improves then that will no longer be such a problem. There must be so much work and improvement to be done behind the scenes yet. It sounds quite simple really but, for anyone, the kind of environment and atmosphere you're entering makes such a difference. A good player coming into a shit side, poisonous atmosphere etc. is going to be adversely affected and unable to fulfil his potential or perform well. Even just a decent player, coming into a quality side with character, identity and unity, should thrive...I hope we can become such a team...

If true (need to sell before buying) it doesn't seem like a big deal really. We shouldn't be buying more than 4/5 players now really, hopefully we have the basis of a decent side that may challenge for promotion and it just needs a few key enhancements. We can make a few quality loan signings too, I just hope they're of a high enough standard and can make a significant impact - e.g. Abraham, PL players/subs. For me, priority number 1 this summer (in terms of transfers) is getting rid of the deadwood/underperformers/unwantedplayers at our club that have been lingering for too long and just stinking up the place! We need a proper clearout and need to complete the forming of a new side or squad, that process begun in January imo and needs to be completed. If ever a side needed uprooting and refreshing, it was ours, but we didn't manage to get all the weeds out or make the right adjustments/enhancements in time. Unfortunately, I'm quite sure that some of them will still remain, even after this window, but if we can shift the majority then that will only be a good thing. Seems like those on loan don't want to be here so they can go too. That should provide some decent funds, from which some quality, and actually useful, additions can be made. We shouldn't have an overly large squad imo, a close knit and "tight" team would be way more preferable. I've had my thoughts on Bruce (not been happy at all, angry, frustrated, disappointed, not my kind of manager etc. etc.) but constantly repeating the same thoughts (which goes for everyone really, those who adamantly defend him too) is really quite pointless. We know the board are backing him and will allow him to continue (I suppose they've been quite emphatic about that, openly stated) so what choice do we have other than to wait and see how things go after preseason? I'm just hoping that with a better side and more team unity and spirit, as well as more/better coaching (some changes there wouldn't go amiss either, must be more attacking in our play), it will make enough of a difference and we will start seeing a team we can be proud of and able to get excited about. We just need to get promoted, it's as simple as that. I don't have much confidence tbh but we'll see what the transfer activity is like and what kind of start we will make to the season...

Ahem!...(your profile pic)

It's as simple as that really. It would be great to have a team, even squad, with no sign of the worst players during our decline. Since January, I hope we have started to build a "new" side that will be enhanced during the summer. I think we need more outs than ins really and give the Jan signings the chance to prove themselves. I just hope we can build and form a new identity for AVFC with a team that can genuinely excite us fans and provide some optimism moving forwards. We simply have to be challenging, not just for promotion, but for the title next season.

I wouldn't be against it mate, it's just my opinion that we should be looking elsewhere and have a different transfer strategy. Ultimately, the club will act as it wants and we will just have to judge whether they are doing the right things or not. I'm sure there are better options than Barry out there but it all depends on whether they would want to come here and how good our scouting is. I'd personally prefer a younger, more exciting/skilful midfielder who can stick with us and develop into a key member of the side for years to come. Again, I don't think the Barry signing is going to happen and it just seems like speculation from fans so it doesn't really matter much what our thoughts are on that. In in our current squad, no I don't think we've got anyone better than him in that position but we could sign someone who may well be. Barry is older than Jedinak (and we haven't been able to rely on him for the most of the season) and I wouldn't be comfortable with both of them, two aging MFs, in the side. We only need 1 DM in the starting 11 imo so what would happen to Jedinak?

I hope we mainly move players out during the summer and get 3-4 signings in of genuine quality, that can go straight into and improve the first 11. Beyond that, some intelligent loan deals would be very welcome. I believe we have the basis of a decent side it just needs improving in some key areas. I have to be honest though - I am not at all optimistic in terms of gaining promotion next season but that's mainly due to our management and coaching staff (and obviously our miserable excuse for performances over this waste of a season). There's no point in continuing to say Bruce out etc. because we already know that the board are sticking with him. We'll just have to hope that it works out and he gets the job done, there can be no more excuses. I don't really care as long as we start being successful and challenge for the top two positions. For that to happen, a lot of work and changes still need to be carried out and I just hope that will be done. We've got to be right up there, forget the playoffs - there's no guarantee we would get through them. That should be the last resort. If we don't show early signs looking like title contenders, the management will have to be changed again - he will have had more than enough time.