[Albion] 2024 Summer Transfer Window

[chickens]

I would like our medical team to be strengthened with more focus on prevention. I would like the position of set piece coach to be reviewed and strengthened. I would like a beer with my dinner tonight.

I’m fairly confident about the beer.

 

[Weststander]

I would like our medical team to be strengthened with more focus on prevention.

With no Thursday evening football and travel, the squad will have the huge luxury Spurs/Wolves/Chelsea/Bmuff had this season of a week’s conditioning and tactics for most PL games.

 

[chickens]

With no Thursday evening football and travel, the squad will have the huge luxury Spurs/Wolves/Chelsea/Bmuff had this season of a week’s conditioning and tactics for most PL games.

I agree, but I like to think we have the ambition to want future Wed/Thu evening football, so would like our medical team to be fully capable and primed to keep the squad fit should we do well enough to finish in the European places again. I’m not convinced that was the case this season, it felt like we had to push our players past their realistic limits at times.

Some of our players will be at the Euros over the summer, so another year without a full summer break awaits. I’m hoping we’ve learnt from this season.

 

[Weststander]

I agree, but I like to think we have the ambition to want future Wed/Thu evening football, so would like our medical team to be fully capable and primed to keep the squad fit should we do well enough to finish in the European places again. I’m not convinced that was the case this season, it felt like we had to push our players past their realistic limits at times.

Some of our players will be at the Euros over the summer, so another year without a full summer break awaits. I’m hoping we’ve learnt from this season.

Imho our fate was sealed by 1 Sept. No quality DM’ers, no quality cover for Velts or Estupinan. The first few weeks of PL football were the calm before the storm.

The squad was inadequate to fight on several fronts in terms of experience but still with pace and true quality.

Should be a far easier fix this summer with just regular football next season. Subject to; we wouldn’t want Pedro or Mitoma demanding to move on.

 

[dazzer6666]

Imho our fate was sealed by 1 Sept. No quality DM’ers, no quality cover for Velts or Estupinan. The first few weeks of PL football were the calm before the storm.

The squad was inadequate to fight on several fronts in terms of experience but still with pace and true quality.

Should be a far easier fix this summer with just regular football next season. Subject to; we wouldn’t want Pedro or Mitoma demanding to move on.

This. The one thing we do know is that TB/PB learn very quickly………there will be some significant strengthening of the squad this summer.

 

[Withdean11]

I would like our medical team to be strengthened with more focus on prevention.

Probably the key area for us going into next season. Things have got worse since Adam Brett left.

Haven't we just signed someone from Arsenal?

 

[Machiavelli]

Probably the key area for us going into next season. Things have got worse since Adam Brett left.

Haven't we just signed someone from Arsenal?

We have and, given Arteta's ability to play pretty much the same players despite far more fixtures than us, hopefully this appointment augurs well.

 

[Marshy]

A lot of people have said this about Hinsh.
Makes no sense to me. He's a central midfielder. Surely, in the long term, we want him to become a lynchpin in the centre of the pitch rather than effectively retraining him?!

Sure but hes simply not going to get game time centrally at the moment, we will be shopping in that area.

Hes a very young man, playing numerous positions is great for him and us.

 

[um bongo molongo]

I’ve looked and can’t find a thread on this but please merge if I’ve missed it.

I know there’s 7 games to go, but let’s face it, we’re fighting for the mid table places now, and, with a while to go till our next game, I think it’s fair to start considering our summer transfer activity as something to keep us occupied. Below is what I’d like to see us do (not necessarily what I think we’ll do). I’ve grouped players in to the roles I think we need in the squad - this is not necessarily a formation, as our balance of midfield vs attackers changes depending on the oppo.

GK
I’d like to see Rushworth return to compete (not rotate) with Bart. Steele would make a good #3 - he’s a good ‘club man’ and I doubt he’s on a huge wage. McGill out on loan (or sold).
IN: Rushworth (return from loan)
OUT: McGill

RB
This feels like a priority. Controversially, I would move Lamptey on - he’s lost some of his explosive pace which was his main weapon and I don’t see where he fits: his defending isn’t good enough for RB, and his end product isn’t good enough to be a winger. Veltman doesn’t offer enough going forward to be more than a back up, and Hinsh’s long term role is as a midfielder so I’ve listed him there, though he can obviously act as back up.
IN: New first team RB
OUT: Lamptey

LB
An interesting one as lots of questions. I’m going to assume we can turn Estupinan off and on again to reboot him to the level he was before the injury. I’m also going to assume Barco is ready to be the back up (he’s listed as a defender on the official site, though I suspect he will end up LW). I refuse to consider Milner as a FB as he’s absolutely bobbins there. Igor is also a square peg there which massively reduces our attacking threat, so if either of those assumptions is wrong, we need to bring someone in.
NO ACTIVITY (unless we loan out Barco, or consider him a LW)

CB:
I think it’s time to move on Webster. I like Adam but RDZ clearly doesn’t, and as we know he needs a run of games which makes him a poor back up option. I’d like to see Igor drop down the pecking list a bit - he’s OK, but replacing Colwill with him was like replacing a Ferrari with a Vauxhall Astra - they both kind of do the same thing but one can do a lot more (and a lot more gracefully) than the other. We need to upgrade to get back to the level of last season.
OUT: Webster
IN: New CB

DM (Athletic/Dynamic Bissouma/caicedo type):
I’m splitting the midfield roles as RDZ has said himself we’ve lacked this dynamic - he used the word impact - player. Baleba is obviously the heir apparent, but I’d like to see us have someone else as well, he can’t do a 50 game season and when he’s not there, we lack presence. I’m considering Milner here as I think it’s his best position, but if it was me in charge, I’d be thanking him and sending him on (though I don’t think we’ll do that). The unknown here is Hinsh, as I haven’t seen him play this role but feel like he could do.
OUT: Milner
IN: New athletic Bissouma/Caicedo type

DM/CM (Ball playing MacAllister type):
WBG has done well in this role. Gross is better further forward imo, and can’t get about the pitch enough to be in this role - part of the reason we look so pedestrian at the moment. He also looks knackered. Dahoud was a disaster and a significant upgrade is needed. Moder may (or may not) be able to do this role at the level required, but I’m not sure his passing is good enough - jury is out on that.
OUT: Dahoud
IN: New CM (Dewsbury Hall?)

ACM:
Lallana should be moved upstairs. This is Gross’ best position but he isn’t getting any younger. Another one where I’d like to see us strengthen.
OUT: Lallana
IN: New ACM

LW:
Mitoma back, Adingra as back up (he’s much better on the left), and Osman, Sarmiento and Barco as well if not loaned out. This is well stocked if we don’t sell Mitoma.
NO ACTIVITY

RW:
Obviously the key here is to get March back fit. But I think this is where we could strengthen. We wanted Kudus and the other options are either better on the left (Adingra), or not as effective out wide (eg Buonanotte). Kudus would have been ideal as we could do with more pace and power.
IN: Kudus-type RW

DEEP LYING CENTRAL ATTACKER:
Assuming Enciso is back fit, I think we’re Ok with him and Buonanotte, plus others who can drop off (eg Pedro or Welbeck). There’s also the option of Sarmiento.
NO ACTIVITY

UP TOP ATTACKER:
A fit Pedro, a rejuvenated Ferguson and Welbeck, plus the option of bringing back Undav if his personal circumstances allow.
NO ACTIVITY

Was checking back in on this as we near the end of the season and start to know more. Barco is looking good and we now know Milner is staying (rightly or wrongly). A resurgent Webster has me reappraising like the fickle fan I am. So my revised summary:

- one of Rushworth or Beadle in. Steele or McGill out.

- new RB in. Lamptey out.

- New athletic DM/athletic beast (Caicedo type) in. Dahoud out

- new passing CM in (Mac A type - KDH?). Lallana gone.

- new Kudus type winger needed to complement Mitoma, Adingra and March)

 

[brighton_tom]

Was checking back in on this as we near the end of the season and start to know more. Barco is looking good and we now know Milner is staying (rightly or wrongly). A resurgent Webster has me reappraising like the fickle fan I am. So my revised summary:

- one of Rushworth or Beadle in. Steele or McGill out.

- new RB in. Lamptey out.

- New athletic DM/athletic beast (Caicedo type) in. Dahoud out

- new passing CM in (Mac A type - KDH?). Lallana gone.

- new Kudus type winger needed to complement Mitoma, Adingra and March)

Is the new winger not going to be Osman? Or in addition to him you mean?

 

[um bongo molongo]

Is the new winger not going to be Osman? Or in addition to him you mean?

Well that’s a good question. In my head he’s going to go out on loan given the stage he seems to be at in his development. But I’ve no real reason to think that. Assuming Solly will return, if he does stay then yes that fills that slot.

 

[Forster's Armband]

Well that’s a good question. In my head he’s going to go out on loan given the stage he seems to be at in his development. But I’ve no real reason to think that. Assuming Solly will return, if he does stay then yes that fills that slot.

I think you're right, I suspect we will look to get another winger in. The position is so vital to how we play.

 

[um bongo molongo]

I think you're right, I suspect we will look to get another winger in. The position is so vital to how we play.

Sadly, it also depends on Solly’s ability to regain fitness.

 

[Gabbiano]

Is the new winger not going to be Osman? Or in addition to him you mean?

Osman is also predominantly left sided.

Like Mitoma...

and Adingra...

and Barco...

and Enciso (though he also plays centrally).

Basically our wings are lopsided, and so the seagulls will be flying in circles.

 

[sagaman]

Ross Barkley going to Villa. Astute signing

 

[um bongo molongo]

Ross Barkley going to Villa. Astute signing

It is. I’m not sure he’s what we need - we need some mobility, athleticism and physicality in there but he would complement Villa’s existing options well.

 

[GJN1]

Sadly, it also depends on Solly’s ability to regain fitness.

What is the latest on Solomon?

 

[BevBHA]

It is. I’m not sure he’s what we need - we need some mobility, athleticism and physicality in there but he would complement Villa’s existing options well.

He’s all of the above. He’d definitely improve us

 

[chickens]

Could we sign Manu Kone please?

Message ends.

 

[Affy]

My worry with this summer is that I feel we need a new manager in situ before signing people. Albeit, I suspect it will still be the clubs recruitment rather than any incoming manager but they will surely still like to be involved in the conversation.

With the Euro’s slap bang in the middle, any decent player will be busy for 4-6 weeks and unlikely to discuss any transfers.

Thus, we have a short window before the Euro’s start or a short window after with less pre-season time. Unless everyone is under 20 and not in the national team or European.

So let’s get the new manager in this week so we can crack on please…