The January Transfer Window 2020

[Ozza]

The point is we are now in desperation mode, this could have so easily been avoided if that short arsed twat at the top had given funds to sort out this squad window after window.

What will we do? Sign two championship players looking for one last pay day, it’s like ****ing ground hog day, short arsed short term methods.

I truly hate you Sullivan you piece of ****

[goa127]

Randolph finished his time here in poor form but has since rebuilt his reputation. I remember when fab was at arsenal he was quite poor. Keepers do improve with age often. Foster is still brilliant at watford

[wormley]

The fact that people are accepting Joe Allen as a decent signing is not only a sad sign of the times, but testament to the boards complete lack of ambition. Much better options out there, trouble is they're going to cost.

[bonzosbeard]

The fact that people are accepting Joe Allen as a decent signing is not only a sad sign of the times, but testament to the boards complete lack of ambition. Much better options out there, trouble is they're going to cost.

He may well do enough to help save us from the drop but it's all so dull. Just trying to keep up with the Watfords and Burnleys. Like people have saithis stadium move promised us next level.

Ex premier has beens is not next level. I'm losing interest.

[duncanio]

The fact that people are accepting Joe Allen as a decent signing is not only a sad sign of the times, but testament to the boards complete lack of ambition. Much better options out there, trouble is they're going to cost.

Nothing will change until the next Burney-style pitch invasion and revolt.

[-DL-]

Our problems now are staring us right in the face. We're one of probably 4 teams who are likely to go down. We're now caught between a rock and a hard place. Do we splash the cash and pay over the odds and hope for survival (our luck would be we'd splash the cash and they'd all be injured within a couple of weeks, despite having unblemished injury records prior) but risk being stuck with hefty wages on top of other hefty wages down in The Championship, or do we try and play it safe with dependable players with PL experience?

Unless we pay big wages, no player is going to want to come to a relegation battle - and if wages are the overriding factor as to why they will sign in the first place, are they really going to be up for the long slog to survival?

Unfortunately, at this moment in time, we DO need to be looking at the Joe Allen's of this world, and other players from down there - because we need players who will still see us as a step up, and their reward for playing well and keeping us up will be a season in PL next year, not some fancy-dans from abroad who have a bout as much fight as a fart in a force 9 gale, and who easily get a move elsewhere if we drop.

We need to roll our sleeves up and get stuck in, and find the J O'B's, Matty Taylors and Gary O'Neils - 6 out of 10 players week in, week out, who are prepared to roll their sleeves up and graft. What used to be known as good, honest pros, who alongside the Anderson, Rice, Haller, Fornals et al would probably get us out of it - and if not, they've experience of a division lower for next season. Then see where we are in the summer.

[kenthammer1984]

Unfortunately we will have to go much lower than Allen,because we cannot afford him.
My guess is that, unless we sell someone, we will be getting club info about how clise to full fitness Wilshere is and Moyes is more than happy with the squad!!

Who says we can’t afford him?

[kenthammer1984]

Reina to Villa on loan - should have been all over that, or not?

[Cellar-door]

Reina to Villa on loan - should have been all over that, or not?

Probably not? He's a solid keeper still, but I wouldn't be so sure he'd be interested in coming here where Fabianski could be back in a month and take the starting role back from him. At Villa he has no competition to be the #1 for the rest of the season.

Also wonder if they'd rather leave loan slots open for midfield since keepers who could do a good job for us are cheaper top buy outright than midfielders.

Edit- especially if Etheridge rumors are true. He'd be a good solid 2nd keeper going forward and count towards our HG numbers.

[duncanio]

Our problems now are staring us right in the face. We're one of probably 4 teams who are likely to go down. We're now caught between a rock and a hard place. Do we splash the cash and pay over the odds and hope for survival (our luck would be we'd splash the cash and they'd all be injured within a couple of weeks, despite having unblemished injury records prior) but risk being stuck with hefty wages on top of other hefty wages down in The Championship, or do we try and play it safe with dependable players with PL experience?

Unless we pay big wages, no player is going to want to come to a relegation battle - and if wages are the overriding factor as to why they will sign in the first place, are they really going to be up for the long slog to survival?

Unfortunately, at this moment in time, we DO need to be looking at the Joe Allen's of this world, and other players from down there - because we need players who will still see us as a step up, and their reward for playing well and keeping us up will be a season in PL next year, not some fancy-dans from abroad who have a bout as much fight as a fart in a force 9 gale, and who easily get a move elsewhere if we drop.

We need to roll our sleeves up and get stuck in, and find the J O'B's, Matty Taylors and Gary O'Neils - 6 out of 10 players week in, week out, who are prepared to roll their sleeves up and graft. What used to be known as good, honest pros, who alongside the Anderson, Rice, Haller, Fornals et al would probably get us out of it - and if not, they've experience of a division lower for next season. Then see where we are in the summer.

Really good post that.

[SpongeBob's Pants]

Unless we pay big wages, no player is going to want to come to a relegation battle - and if wages are the overriding factor as to why they will sign in the first place, are they really going to be up for the long slog to survival

Good post and mostly agree with what you're saying DL.

The only point i want to make is about the above. Even our lot would be sensible enough that if they were signing someone now on big wages, with the threat of relegation looming over us, they'd put in a clause that if we were to go down, those wages would be seriously slashed.

So even if we do sign someone now on big wages, they'd be an incentive for them to do the hard yards and slog, cos they'd wanna maintain those high wages beyond May.

[Crouchend_Hammer]

Reina to Villa on loan - should have been all over that, or not?

I think the problem is that Heaton got injured before Fab and is out for the season so Villa had the march on us with that one
Although i don't know why Villa need Reina, they have a decent set of keepers even with Heaton out for the season

Heaton
Nyland [norwegian international]
Jed Steer who did alright back end of last season
KAlinic [Croatian international]

[Crouchend_Hammer]

Good post and mostly agree with what you're saying DL.

The only point i want to make is about the above. Even our lot would be sensible enough that if they were signing someone now on big wages, with the threat of relegation looming over us, they'd put in a clause that if we were to go down, those wages would be seriously slashed.

So even if we do sign someone now on big wages, they'd be an incentive for them to do the hard yards and slog, cos they'd wanna maintain those high wages beyond May.

Problem is that limits the pool of players who would be interested in signing for us in the first place!

We are in a bit of a bind at the moment!

[keithwright1977]

Good post and mostly agree with what you're saying DL.

The only point i want to make is about the above. Even our lot would be sensible enough that if they were signing someone now on big wages, with the threat of relegation looming over us, they'd put in a clause that if we were to go down, those wages would be seriously slashed.

So even if we do sign someone now on big wages, they'd be an incentive for them to do the hard yards and slog, cos they'd wanna maintain those high wages beyond May.

The problem I have with this post is what player in their right mind would sign for a team that could get relegated and see their salary slashed, can’t see many signing with that in mind

[SpongeBob's Pants]

Problem is that limits the pool of players who would be interested in signing for us in the first place!

We are in a bit of a bind at the moment!

To be honest, i think our pool of available talent is already rather limited, regardless! We really aren't an attractive proposition right now.

[e17]

Our problems now are staring us right in the face. We're one of probably 4 teams who are likely to go down. We're now caught between a rock and a hard place. Do we splash the cash and pay over the odds and hope for survival (our luck would be we'd splash the cash and they'd all be injured within a couple of weeks, despite having unblemished injury records prior) but risk being stuck with hefty wages on top of other hefty wages down in The Championship, or do we try and play it safe with dependable players with PL experience?

Unless we pay big wages, no player is going to want to come to a relegation battle - and if wages are the overriding factor as to why they will sign in the first place, are they really going to be up for the long slog to survival?

Unfortunately, at this moment in time, we DO need to be looking at the Joe Allen's of this world, and other players from down there - because we need players who will still see us as a step up, and their reward for playing well and keeping us up will be a season in PL next year, not some fancy-dans from abroad who have a bout as much fight as a fart in a force 9 gale, and who easily get a move elsewhere if we drop.

We need to roll our sleeves up and get stuck in, and find the J O'B's, Matty Taylors and Gary O'Neils - 6 out of 10 players week in, week out, who are prepared to roll their sleeves up and graft. What used to be known as good, honest pros, who alongside the Anderson, Rice, Haller, Fornals et al would probably get us out of it - and if not, they've experience of a division lower for next season. Then see where we are in the summer.

Great post

[-DL-]

Good post and mostly agree with what you're saying DL.

The only point i want to make is about the above. Even our lot would be sensible enough that if they were signing someone now on big wages, with the threat of relegation looming over us, they'd put in a clause that if we were to go down, those wages would be seriously slashed.

So even if we do sign someone now on big wages, they'd be an incentive for them to do the hard yards and slog, cos they'd wanna maintain those high wages beyond May.

It's not about our board being sensible though. Players hold the cards nowadays, it wouldn't be a relegation clause like reduced wages. It would be a Demba Ba type relegation clause where they could bugger off if we went down - so at the end of the day it wouldn't matter if we stayed up or went down to the player, and as such, again, I ask would they really have the motivation for a relegation fight? Probably not. Granted Ba did well for us, but even then his goals were not enough.

Week in week out 6 out of 10 players, that can chuck in the odd 7 or 8 performance. That's where we should be looking right now in my humble opinion. Grafters. A Snodgrass that can run fast.

[Georgee Paris]

Anyone get that feeling the board aren’t that bothered if we go down yet?

[Cellar-door]

Anyone get that feeling the board aren’t that bothered if we go down yet?

I think they'd be very bothered if we go down.

Question for them is how likely do they see going down to be, and how much do they feel they can spend and feel safe. I expect like many they looked at the side and said... "well with Fabianski back we probably stay up" and accordingly chased Fernandes,with a few backup options and Randolph to be the bench GK.

Now that Fab's out, we suddenly hear the more expensive Etheridge link, as well as links to players like Gagliardini and talk that we could sell Yarmolenko if it means getting improvements elsewhere.

[Cellar-door]

Good post and mostly agree with what you're saying DL.

The only point i want to make is about the above. Even our lot would be sensible enough that if they were signing someone now on big wages, with the threat of relegation looming over us, they'd put in a clause that if we were to go down, those wages would be seriously slashed.

So even if we do sign someone now on big wages, they'd be an incentive for them to do the hard yards and slog, cos they'd wanna maintain those high wages beyond May.

No agent worth his salt is letting his player sign a new deal on big wages with a reduction for relegation. If anything they would demand a low release clause on relegation. Players know their worth, if a PL team is buying them now, a top-flight club will buy them in the summer.