2013 Summer Transfer Window Thread....Continued.....CONTINUED

[Crimey]

First topic message reminder :

Want a couple more big deals before it closes.

Rooney
Lewandowski
Bale
Suarez

May all still be leaving.

[Crimey]

Popov + Vydra, who's the third?

I thought Lugano was on loan, but just looking and see it's not the case.

[Guest]

Tada! Instead, Albion were suckers and gave him a two year deal

I wanted neither Popov or Vydra. Really gutted we have them.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Surprised you took Popov back on loan again, I didn't think he was very good last year, and with the whole spitting incident, thought it'd be nailed on you didn't loan him again

[GSC]

I worry for WBA this season, I think they'll be right in the scrap at the bottom

[The Special Juan]

Downing signs for West Ham

The i?

[Dolphin Ziggler]

We'll be back next year for Glen.

[Guest]

And Joe Allen?

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Jarvis/Downing crossing for Carroll, Nolan finishing anything in the box, Noble/Diame's engine and creativity, West Ham's midfield/attack is shaping up nicely on paper

[Fernando]

i expect that this will now mean Liverpool will go after Ben Arfa as expected.

[Guest]

After becoming frustrated with the Gomis deal, Newcastle are now linked with Belgium striker Jelle Vossen for £7m & Uche Nwofor of VVV-Venlo. It is rumoured that there is problems determining the age of Nwofor, who looks considerably older, than his stated age of 21. Deja vu?

HBA for £12-£15m and Ashley will be listening. Would love him to stay because he's a fantastic player, similar to Coutinho. Dowside though is he's very inconsistent, injury prone and infuriating at times. More of a lone ranger than a team player. Have Liverpool bought Guilherme Siqueira yet? We'd have Enrique back in a heartbeat.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

And Joe Allen?

We've got far better.

[Crimey]

I really hope we don't go for Ben Arfa, would honestly rather have Downing. Ben Arfa just isn't reliable enough.

[The Special Juan]

You've just missed out on Gervinho I'm afraid.

[Guest]

And Joe Allen?

We've got far better.

Didn't stop you signing Stewart Downing

[Dolphin Ziggler]

I know what teams business i'd rather have done today and its not near Birmingham... 

A couple years ago we had a front three of Barrera, Piquonne, Sears.

(Arguably, people of the north will claim London is near Birmingham, the midlands is a concept too much)

[Guest]

Matej Vydra, Championship Player of the Season, 21 goals last season, 1 in 1 for Udinese this season.

Or Downing, who the season before last contributed zero goals, zero assists, even less than Everton's goalkeeper. Hmm.....

I'll take the guy who creates goals and scores them too, thanks

[Guest]

And that's not even taking into account the cost of the deals + wages

[Crimey]

At least they have Downing for a period of time, if Vydra is successful it's unlikely West Brom will keep hold of him and two years in a row they'll finish two years in a row with their star striker leaving.

[GSC]

they have Downing for a period of time

Favours WBA more

[GSC]

Scott Parker is on his way to QPR for 3.5m

Sunderland closing in on Aly Cissokho

[Guest]

At least they have Downing for a period of time, if Vydra is successful it's unlikely West Brom will keep hold of him and two years in a row they'll finish two years in a row with their star striker leaving.

I've said this before, Vydra is our 4th choice striker. Anelka first, then Rosenberg, then Long (who'll play out wide until needed up top), then Vydra. He is not waltzing into a team that's been working really well together in pre-season.

£50k a week for Downing is daylight robbery. I want his agent.

[Fernando]

I want Julien Faubert's Agent no idea how he got him a move to Real Madrid  

[Crimey]

You'd be mad to have Rosenberg and Anelka ahead of Vydra. Rosenberg who scored no goals for West Brom last year despite playing nearly 30 games, Anelka who is 34 and hasn't played particularly well for at least three years (this coming from somebody who thinks the signing is good.)

Downing is a good signing for West Ham, before his move to Liverpool he was rated very highly and even last year he managed to force his way back into the Liverpool side despite Rodgers being public in his dislike for him.

[GSC]

I agree with Crimey. Vydras the most talented player at this point, they didn't loan him if he was going to sit on the bench all season

[Guest]

Anelka scored 7 in 6 in pre-season, and looks really sharp. He's a changed player, he now comes deep and attacks the defence rather than sulking around the box.

As for Rosenberg, he had some personal issues last season, and Lukaku's form kept him out of the line-up. Towards the end of the season he made some sub appearances and looked good. This pre-season he's scored 3 in 4 games, setting up Anelka, and looking a completely different player to last season.

Only time will tell, but based on previous pre-seasons from Albion's squad, those two are in better nick than any Albion striker in the last 10+ years.

Hence why Vydra will be riding the pine come the start of the season.

Downing is not worth £5m + £50k a week, not for any club. Free + £50k a week maybe, £5m + £20k a week maybe, but £5m + £10.4m in salary + Employers NIC + pension + other benefits? Terrible signing.

Not to mention, he's not very good.

[sodhat]

At least they have Downing for a period of time, if Vydra is successful it's unlikely West Brom will keep hold of him and two years in a row they'll finish two years in a row with their star striker leaving.

I've said this before, Vydra is our 4th choice striker. Anelka first, then Rosenberg, then Long (who'll play out wide until needed up top), then Vydra. He is not waltzing into a team that's been working really well together in pre-season.

£50k a week for Downing is daylight robbery. I want his agent.

It's not as bad as the time we were paying Kieron Dyer 70k a week to be injured.

I'm optimistic on the Downing deal. Good player, left footed, and with the way we play I think he fits well. I expect he'll be asked to simply get the ball in for Carroll and he's got a good cross on him. Considering the wages of some players and the transfer fees of others, I don't think it's a bad deal at all.

[Guest]

Liverpool bought Downing to cross to Carroll, it didn't work. Downing needs 15mins on the ball to deliver a good cross, you don't get that at PL level.

[sodhat]

Carroll was persistently injured for Liverpool (as he may be for us).

He doesn't need 15 minutes to get a cross in either, that's nonsense. I remember him on one wing at Villa and Young on the other. Both were tasked with supplying crosses and both did it. That's going to be the same for us (just we have Jarvis on the other side).

[Guest]

He might have been appalling at Liverpool but this move could do him wonders. We've seen it before, players going to a big club, struggling and then moving back to a club with less demand and pressure and finding their old form and confidence. Write him off, as most people have, but I can see him doing pretty well at WH. One thing's for sure, with Downing on one side and Jarvis on the other, this could be the year Andy Carroll really showcases his ability and puts forward his case for England. I'm interested to see how WH do this year.

I also think that Long is hugely under-rated, not sure why Long would be behind Rosenberg & a 34 year old, who was finished and playing in China not long ago. I don't care how many goals you score in pre-season, competitive games are where it counts.

[Guest]

Carroll was persistently injured for Liverpool (as he may be for us).

He doesn't need 15 minutes to get a cross in either, that's nonsense. I remember him on one wing at Villa and Young on the other. Both were tasked with supplying crosses and both did it. That's going to be the same for us (just we have Jarvis on the other side).

If you can remember Ashley Young crossing a football, you need to unplug yourself from the Matrix and come back to planet Earth

[Guest]

I also think that Long is hugely under-rated, not sure why Long would be behind Rosenberg & a 34 year old, who was finished and playing in China not long ago. I don't care how many goals you score in pre-season, competitive games are where it counts.

This is our team, almost certainly, for the weekend:

------------- Foster
Jones - McAuley - Olsson - Popov
------- Mulumbu - Yacob
Rosenberg -- Morrison ------ Long
------------- Anelka

More of a 4-3-3 tbh. But if Anelka comes off, Long would move up top, so Vydra would have to play LW. He'd better get used to it too, because those three are our top three for the season and he's only getting game time if one gets injured.

Not to mention, if Scott Sinclair signs for us, he's further down the pecking order.

[Guest]

Carroll was persistently injured for Liverpool (as he may be for us).

He doesn't need 15 minutes to get a cross in either, that's nonsense. I remember him on one wing at Villa and Young on the other. Both were tasked with supplying crosses and both did it. That's going to be the same for us (just we have Jarvis on the other side).

If you can remember Ashley Young crossing a football, you need to unplug yourself from the Matrix and come back to planet Earth

I think your being incredibly harsh on Young, as is everyone these days it seems, after the Euro's and what Hodgson restricted him to do. Pure jumpinh on the bandwagon. Ashley Young at Villa was immense and his crossing was superb, he had like the most assists for Villa, not sure if he led the EPL that year, however he was superb and it resulted in him moving to United.......that you can't deny. He's played well for United at times, scoring and assisting many goals, unfortunately he's become injury prone in the last year and more inconsistant due to him not being match fit, which has led to people just slating him. Madness. He'll regain the form, I have no worries and i'm not even a United fan.

As for WBA, you'll miss Lukaku. I just see a mid-table season for you, too good at home and then picking up a few wins away. I just don' think the loans or signing Anelka has seen you progess anywhere from last season. Just my opinion.

[Guest]

8 assists in 34 games John. Mainly setting up Bent if I remember? And most along the ground too. Hew as great that season, but he's a beat-your-man winger rather than a Downing type. I just see him like Lennon and Walcott, unable to cross a football. He's better than either of those two though, when fit.

Tbh as well, I'm not massively fussed about Albion this season. We've made the signings we need to stay top 12, that's fine by me. Without a Sheikh we'll never crack top 6, so what's the point in worrying about it

[Crimey]

Pre-season means nothing, Borini looked really good in pre-season. It would be odd to have Anelka up top with Long and Rosenberg on the wings when it's Anelka who has played on the wings as an inside forward in the past and is arguably better there than he is as an out an out forward.

Rosenberg had plenty of chances to impress last year and failed to, he was about to be let go wasn't he at the end of the last season but managed to stay. You can't mock Downing for going a campaign without scoring and then praise Rosenberg as one of your top options.

The only person I'd probably have over Vydra is Long, and even that is at a push. I can't see Vydra not being your main striker going into the season.

I also think you're being very harsh on Downing, while I agree he was bought to put crosses in for Carroll, Liverpool simply didn't play that kind of game and that's what hindered both of them. They were bought for a system that Liverpool never bothered playing, West Ham are much likely to be playing a system in which the wingers are used to much greater effect. Downing also created a lot of chances and was unfortunate that he started in the year that Liverpool converted 9% of chances and hit the woodwork 20-odd times.

I think you're looking far too much into pre-season.

[Crimey]

I think Ashley Young is fine at crossing, it's just far too often he over-complicates things. When he does put the ball into the box his crosses are usually quite good, gets plenty of bend on them.

I'm not sure Albion have made the signings to consolidate a top 12 position, the Premier League is very hard to predict these days and I'm not sure that West Brom look a stronger outfit this year than they did last. If as you seem to believe they're relying on Rosenberg and Anelka I'd really worry.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Can't see Vydra playing as the out and out striker at WBA, because he isn't that anyways. More of a guy to play off a front man as a second striker, or off the wing

[Guest]

im devastated we have signed Downing today! He is awful!!

[Guest]

Rosenberg actually had very few chances to impress, 5 PL starts, 3 cup starts. The rest was 5mins here, 8mins there. He had no pre-season last year due to injury, then had some personal problems. You can write last season off as a fluke. He's proven in other top flight leagues.

Downing however hasn't had a good season since he was at Villa, and even then, Villa fans were glad to see him leave.

And there's no relying on two players, our entire team chips in, McAuley from set pieces, Mulumbu from deep, Morrison from AM, Long, Odemwingie is still there...we have plenty of goals in the side, plus two rejuvenated forwards desperate to score goals. We will surprise you, as we always do

[Dolphin Ziggler]

That Villa side outstripped you for a long time Azzy, the one where Milner Young and Downing ran the show.

Downing is a better player than Vydra, offers more to our side and is more proven. With a dirt cheap fee (£1.5m up front) and wages we can afford quite comfortably, I know who I wanted.

Even though his Liverpool spell was appalling, got to give him credit for working his way back into the side and playing over 40 games. 

Its not some overwhelming marquee signing, we broke our record transfer for Carroll, but this is a proven player who has garnered quite a decent amount of fees and looked very good for Villa and Boro, as well as being quite regular in the England squad.

[Colan (niner)]

Rosenberg actually had very few chances to impress, 5 PL starts, 3 cup starts. The rest was 5mins here, 8mins there. He had no pre-season last year due to injury, then had some personal problems. You can write last season off as a fluke. He's proven in other top flight leagues.

Downing however hasn't had a good season since he was at Villa, and even then, Villa fans were glad to see him leave.

And there's no relying on two players, our entire team chips in, McAuley from set pieces, Mulumbu from deep, Morrison from AM, Long, Odemwingie is still there...we have plenty of goals in the side, plus two rejuvenated forwards desperate to score goals. We will surprise you, as we always do

How much do you rate Morrison? From what I know Albion fans rave about him but based on Scotland games (seen all of his home caps) I always feel he isn't up to same level of some of the other boys in midfield

[Guest]

I'm happy with a goal-scoring striker, you're happy with a not-contributing-anything winger. I get that

Morrison is a very clever player Colan, but he doesn't replicate his Albion form for Scotland. He thrives with Yacob and Mulumbu behind him, allowing him to be the one bringing the ball forward and making the through balls to the forwards / joining in play at the edge of the box. For Scotland, he can't play the same system, and so doesn't look at effective.

He's one of my favourite players though, I'd rather have him than any of our other midfielders.

[Colan (niner)]

I'm happy with a goal-scoring striker, you're happy with a not-contributing-anything winger. I get that

Morrison is a very clever player Colan, but he doesn't replicate his Albion form for Scotland. He thrives with Yacob and Mulumbu behind him, allowing him to be the one bringing the ball forward and making the through balls to the forwards / joining in play at the edge of the box. For Scotland, he can't play the same system, and so doesn't look at effective.

He's one of my favourite players though, I'd rather have him than any of our other midfielders.

I can tell he's a talented guy, just gives the ball away far too much for my liking. But it says something that he is always a fixture in Scotland midfield when we are pretty strong there, even when Darren Fletcher was okay too

[Guest]

Is Rosenberg's record 80 goals in like 300+ games. Not great, if true.

No evidence to suggest Vydra will be successful in the EPL. Downing can turn his game around, he's got the ability, just needs to be shown love, play in a team which suits his game and the confidence and performances will come back. Think he'll do well at WH this season. Agree with Crimey, nothing wrong with Ashley Young's crossing, some of the most dangerous, in-swinging balls you can create. His problem is being too predictable with his cutting inside and dilly-dallying doing more step-overs. If he eradicated that out of his game, he would be better.

I've always liked Morrison at WBA, good technical player but you do fear that's his level. If he moved to a bigger club it would not work out.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Tada! Instead, Albion were suckers and gave him a two year deal

I wanted neither Popov or Vydra. Really gutted we have them.

You sound chuffed.

This is why I take your opinion with a pinch of salt. Theres nothing but bias now its questioned. I would also laugh at anyone who thinks Downing will offer nothing this season. You are what I have called hipstercrites,

[Guest]

Agree with Morrison - this is as high as he can go, talent-wise. He wouldn't hack it even at Liverpool.

Chris - Popov is a dirty LB who spits at people. He's filth. Our other LB wipes his backside with £20s, so I guess he is an improvement

Vydra has talent, but we will go with the more experienced strikers first, then turn to him if they can't produce. He has done nothing to warrant automatic selection, no pre-season with us, no time to train with the squad. He'll settle for a place on the bench and have to work hard in training to get a place in Steve Clarke's starting line-up, much the same as Rosenberg did last summer after his injury.

For me, the Vydra signing is a waste of valuable resources. We needed a winger and a RB, not another striker. We have Odemwingie still, our all-time top PL goalscorer - if it wasn't for his theatrics last season, he'd be our first-choice striker this season, not Anelka. In fact we'd probably never have signed Anelka.

Downing has done nothing these last three seasons to suggest he will be anything other than an occasional contributor to West Ham.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Well, hes played 90 times for Liverpool, created quite a good amount of chances last year and fought back into a side where the manager completely wrote him off (quite incorrectly). Think he got something like 9 assists and 5 goals in a time of his career that was nowhere near his best. 

The last season at Villa he played 38 league games, scored 7 and got 9 assists. Villa fans wanted him gone because he made it clear he wanted to leave, not because he wasnt a good player. 

He'll be playing in a side that encourages width and wing play, something that didnt happen at Liverpool. He'll be encouraged to go on the outside and on the inside, to get into the box and to take shots.

[Guest]

zig- im a hammers fan and im sorry but the downing signing is awful IMO

[Dolphin Ziggler]

I know but I think you're talking from a position of nonsense. I've said, its not overwhelming or anything, but a spell at Liverpool that wasnt productive is being used to tarnish a good player. Hes not a top four footballer, but hes a very good mid table one.

[NickisBHAFC]

Vydra is a cracking signing for West Brom, he was rightfully named Player of the season in the Championship last season, playing in a better league with better pitches and players etc, will only improve his game. Great signing.

[The Special Juan]

How many Ballon D'or votes does he have?

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