If the new owners spend 100 million on players

[New York Red]

When I heard this (and I don't think they'll spend that much honestly), I thought, great. But, thinking about it, how on earth can they spend it? It's not easy to do.

 

Reina and Carson cover us for a decade at goalkeeper.

 

Full backs we could use I suppose. Riise out with someone like Lahm replacing him, and Alves on the other side.

 

Centrebacks, well Agger is great, Carra may be sliding a bit, so we could invest well here.

 

Centre Midfield. My God, it looks perfect to me with no money spend. I wouldn't swap our four for anyone.

 

Right midfield. We could need help here. But, let's face it, we're not terrible. Ribery would be nice I suppose.

 

Left midfield. I thought we'd be in great shape here at the start of the season with Kewell and Gonzalez. But, maybe we could use help here but again, who to get?

 

Strikers. Now here I could see us spending. Kuyt and Bellamy will stay, but we could reasonably get rid of Fowler, Crouch, Cisse and Pongolle. That lot would bring a nice sum alone. So, maybe we could buy two strikers.

 

I wonder where we'll spend the money. Maybe it's tough realizing where we need to cut players loose.

[Guest SpiritualWarrier]

Buying players would be easy, whether or not they would want to come is another matter.

 

Manchester United does have the same allure as us, but both Arsenal and Chelsea have the fact that they are London based and therefore attract players as a result.

 

Many players look at their earning potential rather than their medal potential, a salary cap of some sort would soon tell supporters if a player wants to come.

 

It would be interesting to know which English clubs the likes of Kaka, Ronaldinho, E'too and other top players would choose.

[Guest Scot]

bIg nAmEz

[RafaShanks]

Another CM thread?

[alias75]

Andriy Voronin?

[Romario]

Well in a perfect world there is plenty to do.

 

A world class left Back.

Back up for Finnan plus a replacement in a couple of years time.

Another quality CB.

A quality right midfielder.

A quality left midfielder.

An out an out forward. (what we have is excellent but none are that out and out class regarding goals)

 

That's 6 players in my book. Where they come from feck knows. We've been waiting for wide players since Barnes and still we havn't got one.

Kewell could have been the man but I don't think we can depend on him.

[alias75]

Torres and Alves, thats close to 50 million for 2 players.

[Martian]

Sam Eto'o to replace Fowler.

A left midfielder to replace Kewell

Alves to replace Pennant/back up Finnan

A left back

[richt71]

Buying players would be easy, whether or not they would want to come is another matter.

 

Manchester United does have the same allure as us, but both Arsenal and Chelsea have the fact that they are London based and therefore attract players as a result.

 

Many players look at their earning potential rather than their medal potential, a salary cap of some sort would soon tell supporters if a player wants to come.

 

It would be interesting to know which English clubs the likes of Kaka, Ronaldinho, E'too and other top players would choose.

 

Eto stated he would like to join us a few years ago but his agent had already agreed the deal with Barca. There was a big interview with him about it at the time. Maybe he doesn't feel the same way anymore but I guess we'd have a chance as he knows Rafa from Rafa's time as coach of Real's B team when Eto played for them.

[Conor]

"Carra may be sliding a bit"

 

 

Brave comment. And to be honest. A little unfounded.

[New York Red]

Lahm/Abidal

Alves

Chivu

Malouda

Ribery

Klose

Villa/Torres

 

Seriously, we could afford that lot. Don't forget, we have a lot to sell too. I think we could get a load of money for Riise, Pennant, Cisse, Le Tallec, Pongolle, Crouch, Cisse.

 

Would that win us the league? What would it really take?

[Dominus Maximus]

When I heard this (and I don't think they'll spend that much honestly), I thought, great. But, thinking about it, how on earth can they spend it? It's not easy to do.

 

Reina and Carson cover us for a decade at goalkeeper.

 

Full backs we could use I suppose. Riise out with someone like Lahm replacing him, and Alves on the other side.

 

Centrebacks, well Agger is great, Carra may be sliding a bit, so we could invest well here.

 

Centre Midfield. My God, it looks perfect to me with no money spend. I wouldn't swap our four for anyone.

 

Right midfield. We could need help here. But, let's face it, we're not terrible. Ribery would be nice I suppose.

 

Left midfield. I thought we'd be in great shape here at the start of the season with Kewell and Gonzalez. But, maybe we could use help here but again, who to get?

 

Strikers. Now here I could see us spending. Kuyt and Bellamy will stay, but we could reasonably get rid of Fowler, Crouch, Cisse and Pongolle. That lot would bring a nice sum alone. So, maybe we could buy two strikers.

 

I wonder where we'll spend the money. Maybe it's tough realizing where we need to cut players loose.

 

 

Interesting topic, again, again and... again. Yet I am still largely opposed to the players that you have mentioned as potential upgrade.

There is no way that we will be able to sign Alves. And I really doubt that Lahm is worth the large sum his club will demand for him. And I do feel that he is way to attack oriented to Rafa's liking.

We need an "older" CB for cover, someone with experience willing to play third-fiddle. Maybe a scandinavian or something. We need a Scotsman is this squad.

Centre mid is not perfect. I miss the attacking midfielder. Gerrard is too busy a player to focus on one thing only. I miss the Aimar in Valencia, or the Xavi or Deco in Barca. But that depends on the strenght of our wingers. Honestly we are not good enough there yet. Gonzalez is not the new Ronaldo. And Pennant is still to inconsistent to appear in a PL winning start eleven. But I wouldn't want Ribery. He is one of them I doubt ever making it in the Prem.

Strikers, agree with the big signing. But I'm not certain that we should lose Cissé. All depends on his attitude and his willing to play for us.

 

Defence

 

Alves is unavailable, and I think we should, as mentioned earlier here look at Baines. Right back, find a younger Finnan. Maybe break the bank for Richards. He could be our "Rooney" type of signing, Use him at right back/center back cover for starters, until Carra gets too old, or until he wins the battle with Finnan. That's the defence sorted out. I think Riise would be the type of player who would stick around even though he knew he was second choice.

 

Finnan ---------- Carra ------ Agger------Baines

Richards ------- Hyppia ----- Paletta-----Riise

 

Midfield

 

Gerrard ----------Alonso-------Sissoko------Garcia

 

Pennant---------Att Mid------ Mascherano---Gonzalez

 

Try and sign an interesting young attacking midfielder use him at home, or against the smaller teams. Keep the price down. And settle for the wingers or break the bank, and let Garcia take the bench.

 

Attack

 

I rate Bellamy above Kuyt. There is something about the Kop and hardworking low scoring ratio strikers. Riedle, Meijer, and Kuyt. He is a good player, but we should break the bank, and let the new either Torres/Villa play with either Crouch/Bellamy and Kuyt in that picking order.

 

Total:

 

Richards 25 m

Baines 9m

Att Mid 12m or Winger 25m

Striker Villa / Torres 25m

 

Thats 84 m with the winger or 53 m with the attacking midfielder.

 

Simple maths...

 

 

 

And the dream players would be Alves, Pernia, Krøldrup, Kaka, Vicente Villa and or Torres.

[alias75]

I really hope we dont go down the route of signing another 5 or 6 players this season, i think thats been a huge reason for our slow start this year. It was needed to improve the squad but now we're in a much stronger position.

 

Id like us to sign a right sided player (Alves) a real top quality striker (Torres or Eto would be nice) and a left sided player

 

Central midfield is fine as is central defence assuming the new guy settles in we have 4 good CBs we have 3 very good strikers but we do need that 1 blue chip striker. The developments with Eto over the last week are interesting id love to see someone like that here.

 

Left side is still a problem but i still think Gonzalez will come good and the early signs of Insua are promising too, maybe we could sign 1 left sided player but not too many names spring to mind at the moment.

[JonShar]

Carra may be sliding a bit, so we could invest well here.

 

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

Cherno Samba

[fyds]

Interesting topic, again, again and... again. Yet I am still largely opposed to the players that you have mentioned as potential upgrade.

There is no way that we will be able to sign Alves. And I really doubt that Lahm is worth the large sum his club will demand for him. And I do feel that he is way to attack oriented to Rafa's liking.

We need an "older" CB for cover, someone with experience willing to play third-fiddle. Maybe a scandinavian or something. We need a Scotsman is this squad.

Centre mid is not perfect. I miss the attacking midfielder. Gerrard is too busy a player to focus on one thing only. I miss the Aimar in Valencia, or the Xavi or Deco in Barca. But that depends on the strenght of our wingers. Honestly we are not good enough there yet. Gonzalez is not the new Ronaldo. And Pennant is still to inconsistent to appear in a PL winning start eleven. But I wouldn't want Ribery. He is one of them I doubt ever making it in the Prem.

Strikers, agree with the big signing. But I'm not certain that we should lose Cissé. All depends on his attitude and his willing to play for us.

 

Defence

 

Alves is unavailable, and I think we should, as mentioned earlier here look at Baines. Right back, find a younger Finnan. Maybe break the bank for Richards. He could be our "Rooney" type of signing, Use him at right back/center back cover for starters, until Carra gets too old, or until he wins the battle with Finnan. That's the defence sorted out. I think Riise would be the type of player who would stick around even though he knew he was second choice.

 

Finnan ---------- Carra ------ Agger------Baines

Richards ------- Hyppia ----- Paletta-----Riise

 

Midfield

 

Gerrard ----------Alonso-------Sissoko------Garcia

 

Pennant---------Att Mid------ Mascherano---Gonzalez

 

Try and sign an interesting young attacking midfielder use him at home, or against the smaller teams. Keep the price down. And settle for the wingers or break the bank, and let Garcia take the bench.

 

Attack

 

I rate Bellamy above Kuyt. There is something about the Kop and hardworking low scoring ratio strikers. Riedle, Meijer, and Kuyt. He is a good player, but we should break the bank, and let the new either Torres/Villa play with either Crouch/Bellamy and Kuyt in that picking order.

 

Total:

 

Richards 25 m

Baines 9m

Att Mid 12m or Winger 25m

Striker Villa / Torres 25m

 

Thats 84 m with the winger or 53 m with the attacking midfielder.

 

Simple maths...

And the dream players would be Alves, Pernia, Krøldrup, Kaka, Vicente Villa and or Torres.

 

£25m for Richard??? He's a good prospect FFS! and 'Att Mid £12m or Winger £25m' who are these players? And if you don't know/suggest any, how can you suggest such prices?

 

Insane stuff.

[Dominus Maximus]

£25m for Richard??? He's a good prospect FFS! and 'Att Mid £12m or Winger £25m' who are these players? And if you don't know/suggest any, how can you suggest such prices?

 

Insane stuff.

 

Yeah you are right. Around as insane as the new owners giving us 100 millions to spend.

[Dule]

I think like most that our spine of the team is of a great standard, however we really need another 4-5 top top players to really challenge for the title.

 

Quality players of high calibre that will not be MAYBE GREAT but are ACTUALLY GREAT. a Right Winger, Striker, Left Winger and LEFT Back, thats it!!

[fyds]

Yeah you are right. Around as insane as the new owners giving us 100 millions to spend.

I don't understand why you would say £25m for Richards - if City asked for that anyone with half a brain would tell them to feck off! The attacking midfielder - you have no idea who, but know he'll cost at least £12m anyway - and that an anonymous winger would cost £25m? I can't think of a winger available of not who I'd pay £25m for...Wright Phillips? Robben? Ribery? Not one of them in the £25m category.

 

The new owners said that they would listen to what rafa wanted and back him - no fixed amount, so plucking £100m from the air is as meaningless as £50m or £200m.

[Guest molby49]

I don't understand why you would say £25m for Richards - if City asked for that anyone with half a brain would tell them to feck off! The attacking midfielder - you have no idea who, but know he'll cost at least £12m anyway - and that an anonymous winger would cost £25m? I can't think of a winger available of not who I'd pay £25m for...Wright Phillips? Robben? Ribery? Not one of them in the £25m category.

 

The new owners said that they would listen to what rafa wanted and back him - no fixed amount, so plucking £100m from the air is as meaningless as £50m or £200m.

 

 

surely the 100 million quoted wont all be spent in 1 pre season, my thinking is it would be over 3 or 4 seasons, personally i think we'll let a few go,dudek kewell pongo djibs sami robbie and maybe even riise in the summer and so replacements will be required, but looking at those only riise is a regular and so i think rafa will plump for a left sided player, a right back and a foward.

[Stevie H]

Well in a perfect world there is plenty to do.

 

there isn't. that's why it's perfect.

[Murphman]

there isn't. that's why it's perfect.

 

 

That's a bit profound for 8.30 a.m. on a saturday mornuing. You obviously weren't out on the piss last night then?

[Jacko]

surely the 100 million quoted wont all be spent in 1 pre season, my thinking is it would be over 3 or 4 seasons, personally i think we'll let a few go,dudek kewell pongo djibs sami robbie and maybe even riise in the summer and so replacements will be required, but looking at those only riise is a regular and so i think rafa will plump for a left sided player, a right back and a foward.

 

 

Then that wouldn't represent any benefit as that's our normal spending level ie £25-30m per season?

 

Unless you mean in addition to our normal spending....

 

FWIW I think his budget will be flexible and could easily be upwards of £65m depending on the availability of players.

 

I'd buy

 

Huntelaar £18m

VDV £11m

Alves/Richards £14m

Bale £10m

With the balance going on youth.

 

Also bear in mind that we'll raise £15m+ fro the sales of Cisse, FSP and maybe the likes of Riise or Garcia.

[Stevie H]

That's a bit profound for 8.30 a.m. on a saturday mornuing. You obviously weren't out on the piss last night then?

i was as it goes. had a few pints with militant matty up in town then went out in the clapham 'hood.

[Guest molby49]

Then that wouldn't represent any benefit as that's our normal spending level ie £25-30m per season?

 

Unless you mean in addition to our normal spending....

 

FWIW I think his budget will be flexible and could easily be upwards of £65m depending on the availability of players.

 

I'd buy

 

Huntelaar £18m

VDV £11m

Alves/Richards £14m

Bale £10m

With the balance going on youth.

 

Also bear in mind that we'll raise £15m+ fro the sales of Cisse, FSP and maybe the likes of Riise or Garcia.

 

I'm not sure i do mean as well as our normal budget, the new owners will have a clear business plan with tight budgets, remember they have wiped the debt have a new stadium to finance as well as giving rafa cash to make us stronger, they wont just say here's a 100 million quid go and do what u want, Rafa is an asstute bloke and not 1 for throwing big money at transfer targets, what i will expect him to do is target a striker at the top end of the market and bring him in.