Rob182

I agree that Keane and Bellamy are the most realistic options (also Carlton Cole - as he seems like a MON signing) and I'd prefer Bellamy but Keane would probably be with us for longer and isn't as injury prone

So.. you're either hoping that we sell one of our best players or that MON starts sh*tting money? Van Der Vaart/ Forlan/ Bent... I think it's a bit optimistic to this we could fork out £20m on a striker. It's not likely that we'll be able to do that as well as replacing the players that leave this summer. Also - Are you assuming that the people mentioning Fletcher/ O'Hara/ KP Boateng are saying that we buy them and them only? Because I'd like us to sign a decent striker & midfielder AS WELL as some of these cheaper players to fill up our squad.

James Milner made up the rumour that the moon is made of cheese

Youth is good in moderation - we have gabby and fonz up front so experience is essential. Also the youth has to be impressive and Cattermole aint better than what we already have sitting on the bench I'm not too bothered about Cattermole myself - I don't think he really shines in a Sunderland side so I wouldn't be too hopeful of him being great for us. But how about O'Hara? I'd much prefer to have O'Hara on the bench than Sidwell. Same as KP Boateng. He is a really fiery player and would be a decent impact sub for the last half an hour of a game (much better than the impact that Sidwell or NRC have on games IMO). Fletcher looks like he has potential and could be a replacement if Heskey was to leave. (If Heskey/ Carew don't leave then we probably wouldn't need him because Fonz will take Harewoods place in the first team. - but still.. it's just a suggestion).

V111A - you have something against signing youth? What's wrong with replacing ageing squad players (Bouma/ Shorey/ Sidwell/ Harewood etc) with younger, possibly cheaper, versions that are as good (if not better)? Sidwell for Boateng/ O'Hara Harewood for Fletcher Shorey/Bouma for Richards/ Onouha (all rough examples - obviously..)

I'd add O'Hara and Kevin Prince Boateng to that list. If we are going to lose a few squad players this summer, it's better that we replace them with better squad players.

I think Rooney will be our best player (*fingers crossed* he avoids injury) as he is, imo, the best player in our team - by far! Other than Rooney - I think that Ashley Cole will have a good WC.

I'd be happy wirh that tbh. Although I think that the Scott Parker price might be optimistic and also the fact that MON will let Heskey go (We can all see that he's not needed, but it seems that MON has some strange attachment to him). If the price was too much for Parker then maybe replace him for a cheaper, foreign option. Also - Parker will lose his value because of his age. (Maybe that chap linked at the top of this page? .. Although I know nothing about him :winkold: )

The same guy on bluemoon (who posted the above quote) also said something about a City player coming our way in part of the deal.. Someone mentioned Onouha.. Another mentioned Ireland.. and then they continued to discuss having Ribery & Milner in a formation... lol I swear it's like a game of monopoly for those idiots. You're not getting Milner.. He's not the type to run around in tight, baby blue tops! Maybe you should buy Julian Clary?

do people still consider Walcott a striker? when was the last time he played up front. Never at Arsenal in my recollection. Hes a winger now and we have better. I do. He has that clinical finish which we miss a lot of the time. The problem with him playing on the wing is that he's too prone to use his pace. He wears himself out and doesn't have the same effect for the last 30/40 minutes. Upfront he could conserve his energy and make shorter runs into dangerous positions (Although the fitness part could be temporary and due to his injuries)

Milner to City would be a similar move to Bentley to Spurs. I don't mind all these links to our players because they happen, they always have and always will. We had all the links last year about Young (suprisingly after he won Young Player of the Year as well!) but he's still here. If City come with a £30m bid and Milner really thinks that he will continue to improve up in Manchester then he'll probably be sold (but both instances are unlikely imo).

Walcott & Gabby upfront would be one of those signings that could work or could flop. It could be devastating with the pace between them - but only if O'Neill could drill it into them that they have to concentrate on their positioning and movement. On the other hand - if it flopped then Walcott could drop to the right wing, Ash can stay on the left and Downing could be used for rotation to keep them both fresh (But then we'd be back to square one - needing a new striker).

I hadn't considered Walcott but, all things considered, I like the idea of him playing upfront with Gabby! Is it realistic to think we could buy him (or afford to buy him) from arsenal? Gabby & Walcott upfront would kind of remind me of some of the striking partnerships you see in European teams (or in the Europa League). Two small-ish players with pace, linking up to pass the ball into the net. The other plus with Walcott is that he is very effective on the wing. So if we were to drop to 4-5-1 / 4-3-3 then he'd be a much better option to push out to the wing (instead of Gabby, who is wasted out wide).

Now that ^^^ is something for someone to keep in their signature!

So the transfer speculation on this thread today is that we'll sign... .. no.. we'll offer a contract.. to Delfouneso? come on chaps! lets get the rumours started!!!! Enough of this nonsense about Ronald Rooney and Derek Delfouneso! I know my football, and I can assure you that neither of them are good enough to play for Villa.

Carrick? Won the premiership 3 times, champions league and the world club cup. Lets hope Milner is using him as one of the examples. I hope he isn't..

Sky Sports Nelson Valdez: Borussia Dortmund Striker, 26, can also play in midfield. His agent is thought to be eyeing up a move for him before the World Cup with England a possible destination. Barry McIntosh (his agent) says: "I have moved a number of South American players in recent years to England, but he would be amongst the best".. Does anyone know anything about this guy/ seen him play/ or who his agent has represented previously? (If he hasn't moved by the WC then I think I'll keep an eye on Paraguay's games.. just in case!)

If I was MON then I'd resist any offers below £30m. Yes, £25m would be a good lump sum and would be a great return for what we paid. But I do think that Milner has a massive future and will be cemented into the England Team until he's 33/34. If we got £30m for him then it'd be more than enough to revamp our squad.

Not really no.. I can't say I've ever heard baggies sing to the tune of "the animals went in 2 by 2" It's just that whenever I picture the baggies doing their "boing boing" I just laugh.. If it caught on and VP was "bouncing" then I'd be more than happy to join in! Tismyk, what's the tune for the Rioch song?

bounce? lol.. Are we West Brom now? We need a song for Milner. Carew has millions!

I posted this on the Hugo Rogellega thread... it has more relevence here. Boyd FREE Fletcher £2m/£3m Piquionne £3m/£4m Doyle £8m/£9m Kalinic £8m/£9m Keane £8m/£9m Cole £8m/£9m Jones £9m/£10m Bellamy £9m/£10m Rodellaga £10m/£12m Santa Cruz £15m Pavlyuchenko £15m Bent £20m + They're my guesses. They're all realistic signings apart from Bent. I'd personally prefer Santa Cruz, Rodellaga or Bellamy as a new striker and then one of Piquionne/ Fletcher as a backup. If we buy from Spurs or Man City then I can see the values increasing slightly because they wont want to improve their rivals for cheap.

So he's like a creative Petrov?.... Just what we need!

user66 - I think the "OUT's" in that post were from the rumours and articles stating that we'll listen to offers for Luke Young, Sidwell, NRC, Davies, Beye and Shorey. Clyne, Parker and KP Boateng would all improve our squads if the above-mentioned article proves correct. Edit: But the Carew thing I agree with, we shouldn't sell him.

Liverpool chasing Ever Banega.. I buy this chap on FM ! Holding midfielder.. he has a lot of 19's and 20's.. lets buy him :winkold:

Onouha? He only played 16 games this season, 6 of those as a sub. I like him, good player, young, English. Could be right up MONs street. I knew it! I could be one of MON's scouts for sure.. I don't think Onouha would cost much and I reckon he'd be happy to leave City (and like you said, he is a MON type of signing). Ok.. my (newest) wish list: Nedem Onouha Stephen Ireland Jimmy Bullard Stephen Fletcher Kevin-Prince Boateng "New Striker" I'd like to think that'd be funded by the sales of fringe players and a small input from Randy.