As I sit each day and watch the transfer rumours swirl round and round I often find myself playing manager and looking at possible targets, writes blogger Jarrod Hill.
I have completed a list of players I would be happy to see us linked to this summer, football is all about opinion and when it has been yet another week with no news coming out of the Hawthorns I have decided to play a little fantasy football manager, see what you think of my choices and please feel free to add your own.
Goalkeepers
Andreas Isaksson
Jesper Christiansen
Defenders
Philipe Senderos
Alex Song (loan)
Armand Traore (loan)
Midfielders
Pedro Mendes
Steve Davis
Nobby Solano
Kris Boyd
Dave Kitson
Both keepers chosen have three things in common, both are Scandinavian, both are Internationals, and more importantly both keepers are excellent at commanding their boxes.
All three defenders chosen play for Arsenal, Senderos is still only 23 and with him not being guaranteed first team football may decide to move. It has been rumoured for a while that we are interested in Song and Traore on loan.
My midfield choices may surprise you, all three are available, and in Nobby Solano I believe would be a perfect replacement for Gera. All three have vast Premiership experience and would further support our strongest department.
Kris Boyd is a player I would love to see at the Hawthorns, I find it hard to believe Rangers are prepared to let him go. His goal scoring record is phenomenal, 70 goals in 76 starts for Rangers and 7 goals in 14 starts for Scotland.
Dave Kitson when fit has proved to be a good Premiership player, he links the play up well and both scores and creates goals and with Readings relegation may be tempted by an instant return to the top flight.
Agree or disagree?
Sorry but with nothing else to discuss we are all living in a bit of a fantasy!!!!
58 Comments
good choice of players for you guys mate, if you can pull it off. I still dont believe you will have any problem in staying up next year, i think you still have some quality players good enough for the prem and with Mr. M’s eye for quality, the players he brings in wont be slouches either! all the best
Hiya Jarrod,
I’m on early as I’m going away for the weekend soon so won’t be around later…
I think Steve Davis sounds interesting (lol). I think the loan deal for the two arsenal lads could be done soon - but we may have to guarantee them 1st team places which may be the stumbling block (not the first game though).
I said the other day that Boyd would be worth a look as he is only being linked to CCC teams. The other striker who may offer something is James Beattie. He scores goals everwhere he goes and may only cost 3 mill or so…
Not sure that lad from Swansea is good enough (Frodo Baggins ??)… but Thompson from Rangers would be good.
Actually, I think ANYONE would be good about now its so quiet.
Up until last night, I was dead set on us signing Arshavan, but I thought he was shocking last night don’t think he’d get a guarenteed place in our team, so i have now opted for Sergio Ramos.
You may laugh but Thierry Henry is having a bad time at Barca, maybe he would come if we went for him? You never know. Ramos would be a good addition to, or Puyol even, either way it depends how much the club want to stay up.
Like the idea of Senderos and Boyd but not so sure about the others.
Boing boing.
HB
Scooter Ralley???
For some reason i always feel that those two words together are a contradiction in terms!!!
Enjoy your weekend, you coming to Shrewsbury mate??
Morning jarrod. like you it seems a very quiet time at the moment,although i’m asssured that there’s plenty going on behind the scenes. For me Boyd is a screaming shout, as you say great scoring record, and along with Isaksson would be superb additions. Great barr baggie made a good call the other day with Dawson from Spurs, again not getting first team action and certainly an excellent defender. I think youll find next week will see a lot of action because as you rightly said a lot of contracts are up the last day of june and they wouldnt want to be without a wage would they, god forbid to be down to the last 10 mill !!!!!
4. Pld, was out drinking until the early hours or are you “sleep surfing”? Henry… not a chance!!!
good selections i think especially solano shout
4-yes i will laugh ;-p
I agree with most of your choices Jarrod, but i do not think that we will see many of them at the Hawthorns, mainly due to our wage structure. The 2 strikers are a good choice, i didn’t realise Boyd was so prolific. We prob have the best chance of signing quality players from some of the Scottish teams as their wage structure isn’t as ridiculous as the Prem.
Has anyone noticed that every piece of speculative journalism involving our beloved Baggies, is linking us with players in all positions BAR the ones we the fans see as the most critical to our survival, namely those of goalkeeper and defenders ?
Is this apparent lack of rearguard chit-chat causing me consternation……..NO,
if we know the areas most in need of strengthening, then rest assured a manager of TM`s nous certainly does.
I think an illusion is being created here, and i would not like to play poker with our manager or chairman, it appears that any player the media IS linking us with carries little or no substance.
Perhaps things on the Westbrom front, are not quite what they seem.
jesper christiansen and boyd,,,oooooooooooh yes would like to see these two join us,and then we need to sort our defence out abit..there doesnt seem to be to many names doing the rounds at the moment but im sure mow has it all in hand,,,,,,PLAYIN IN THE PREM THE MOWBRAY WAY,,IN STYLE OF COURSE,,OOOOOOOOOOOOOH YES.
I think we should just leave it to Mr Mowbray and have patience,it is a virtue you know!
wba forever……..
Poker with the manager and chairman, now theres a thought !!!!!!!!!!
wbaforever/shakespeare of the blog
I agree, but i would prefer to play poker with TM than hilltop baggie!! (Poker champion).
The shout for Dawson is an interesting one due to him being originally from the Midlands (i think). Senderos and Dawson wouldnt be a bad combo!!!
It wasnt that long ago Mobs was declaring he wanted the majority of new signings in before pre season training!! So hold onto your pants and get ready for a week of action, as they report back next week.
Best laid plans of mice and men, (see wbaforever im well read aswell).
A bit of good news - Baros isn’t going anywhere according to Lyon.
I’ve also just read that we might be buying Stephen Clemence (former blues) from Leicester?????
4 is a wolves fan being me, not good think i need to go shower… no where did i put the wire wool…. time to change names so any comments from that idiot ignore….
Hi Bomber, Steve Davis is an odd choice. He clearly has loads of experience and with his height he would be useful at set pieces but he always wears a bow tie and that would not go with your stripey shirts. It would shut us up though, no more jokes about empty seats, because there would always be cues at the Hawthorns.
wbaforever
and by well read i mean the beano,fourfourtwo, and John Steinbeck!!
Happy, have a good weekend. I hope all your critics who say that you do not have a life are reading this because you clearly do.
I’d like to think Isaakson could be a real possibility, but I’ve always said I’d like Sorenson or Hannemann in too.
2 Arsenal lads on loan also, but I’d consider looking at Roger Johnson from Cardiff, Pamarot from Pompey and Sonko from Reading.
Sean Davis from Pompey, Thompson from Rangers, Bowyer (yes, Lee Bowyer) or Solano from West Ham.
Up front, this is the trickiest one, I like the idea of Kitson from Reading, McFadden from Blues and the Brazilian / Polish centre forward who’s name I can’t think of…..let’s call him Ronaldski!!
There you go, none of this faffing about, it’s easy being a football manager.
BTW, this list would be completely different if any Multi Millionaires from Smethwick do decide to buy the club from Mr Peace….I’d go for Ebanks Blake and Aaron Mclean too!
younis kaboul also of spurs looks decent young defender and is also french under 21 captain.
i agree solano would be a good replacement for gera not so hot on senderos but alex song is an improving player and arsenal have just given him a new contract so they must think highly of him.
if villa go for paul robinson lets go for scott carson or ben foster of man utd on a season loan.
im sure we are going to see very soon t.m bringing players in
come on you baggies
Players i’d love to see would be Scott Carson in the sticks, two defenders would be Danny Simpson and Michael Dawson and Aaron Lennon to come in on one of the wings.. The one thing we really lack at times is pace and Simpson/Lennon combo would be scary.
How about Patrick Mueller ?
He was the Swiss Centrehalf who played alongside Senderos.
He was released from Lyon at the end of the season.He’s 31 and may do a job for us ?
whoever we sign jp made it clear no big signings would be made before 1st july,,so we can expect alot of activity in the next week or so..come on peace ship um in,,,PLAYIN IN THE PREM THE MOWBRAY WAY,,IN STYLE OF COURSE,,OOOOOOOOOH YES.
Lets face facts, players like Aaron Lennon are never going to drop into our wage structure. Maybe in a few years when we are an established Premiership team, competeting in Europe the Mowbray way!!!
albion1879,,,good shout there mate…..those would suit us if we could pay ther wages….PLAYIN IN THE PREM THE MOWBRAY WAY,,IN STYLE OF COURSE,,,OOOOOOOOOOOOOH YES.
I’m fed up with the same old stories of has-been old-uns being linked with us. I know its early but come on lets do some serious business Albion. Baros, Clemence, Ameobi - all nonesense. They are no better than what we have at the moment.
Like some of your suggestions Jarrod, especially the young, up and coming players.
My fantasy 11:
Joe Hart (loan)
Robbo
Danny Shittu (£4m)
Alex Song (loan)
Steve Finnan (?)
Jonno
Tex
Steve Sidwell (£6m/initial loan + opt to buy)
Brunts
Klass Jan Huntelaar (£11m/initial loan etc)
Super Kev
Personally I don’t think you need to worry if you don’t get anyone. I mean look at the facts, you won a desperately poor quality Championship with the lowest points total to win a title since it was only 2 points for a win. It’s like you totally blew that league away with your “breathtaking” football. Ha ha your delusions of grandeur are the only thing that’s breathtaking. Oh well, you might just win your mini-league with Hull and Stoke
Off the subject, has anyone heard anything else about when the new shirt’s going to be unveiled?!
I’m tired of walking around town with my shirt with Championship numbers and letters on my back and need a new one.
My Fantasy XI
1. Scott Carson
2. Carl Hoefkens
3. Paul Robinson
4. Leon Barnett
5. Sami Hyppia
6. Sean Davis
7. Giles Barnes
8. Jon Greening
9. Kevin Phillips
10. Ishmael Miller
11. Chris Brunt
28 Alex
You`re fantasy team includes SHITU !!!!!!!
I bet your nightmares make Wes Craven`s imagination for the gory, look bambiesque in comparison.
28. your team would not be allowed as you are only allowed 2 domestic loans and you hae 3.id like to see us linked with some very good techniqual players e.g from russia or croatia.
Personally i think we need a good defensive midfielder like papa diop.a new keeper would be perfect for our team and the person who i believe we should buy is oscar ustari who plays for getafe and will be avalible for 4.5m.
Any opinions??
its all about the money,top players wont go to a promoted championship team because of the clause in contracts lowering their salary if the team gets relegated,the established prem clubs obviously can pay better money.
I didn’t realise how difficult this was until going through each Premier League team’s squad!!
I’m concerned about us defensively, here’s a list of Premiership defenders (and Shittu) who are probably attainable BUT are they better than what we’ve already got?! OR mobile enough to play in a side who stretches the game out and will find themselves one-on-one with Premiership strikers?!!
Linvoy Primus, Dejan Stefanovic, Michael Dawson, Anthony Gardner, Daniel Gabbidon, Geroge McCartney, Jonathan Spector, Callum Davenport, Danny Shittu.
Personally, I think TM will be more inclined to look overseas. On a separate note, that Majewski looks superb on youtube although we have so many midfielders already.
Ben Foster, James Vaughan, Dean Sturridge and Adam Johnson might all be available to loan as well.
ladyboywilfruna,,,,who are ya,,aint you got some wolf cubs to look after,,you obviously aint got a clue about football have ya,,PLAYIN IN THE PREM THE MOWBRAY WAY,,IN STYLE OF COURSE,,OOOOOOOOOOH YES.
Senderos and Dawson - what a nightmare. Rather have McShane back … (Only kidding!)
I like Ramos. We do need QUALITY Centre Backs so no London donkeys, please.
warren albion
funny you should mention Linvoy primus, i was also going to include him until i found out he is almost 36, i kid you not!!
Lady wulfrunia
I love your analogy of “won a desperately poor quality championship”……err in which you finished SEVENTH !!!
Delusions of grandeur ?
one day you may have delusions of adequacy.
You forgot to mention Clement from Leicester……..oh dear.
Hey JH I like one player that has been released on a free from BOLTON W namely Stelios Giannakoplous a defensive midfield player a Greek International with European national honours for his country’s in 2004. This player has also 5 years experience in the Premier league, does not fit in with Megson’s long ball Tactics hence the free Transfer. Just feel Albion are lacking a number of Experienced squad player’s at the moment is my worry at the moment.
Bomber
Maybe not then!! I had him down as younger, although to be honest I think he falls closer to the Darren Moore end of the central-defensive spectrum than the Curtis Davies end and I think TM will be pursuing the latter type, as any big, old-fashioned, one-paced central defender will be left brutally exposed by our open style of play.
Your shout the other week of Josep Simunic wasn’t a bad one Bomber. Rumour has it today he’s considering a move to Fulham. I guess the only stumbling block with trying to gatecrash that (as seen with Gera) would be the money they could offer.
the team I want to see next year is:
GK: Scott Carson (Loan from Liverpool)
LB: Paul Robinson
CB: Traore (Loan from Arsenal)
CB: Albretchsten
RB: Finnan (altho cant fault Hoefkens)
LM: Brunt
CM: Kim
CM: Jonno (or Pendro Mendes)
RM: Texieria
FC: Moore
FC: Ameobi
you may be suprised with my front two choice but Amoebi I believe is a real talent thwarted with injury, and I may be of few people who hope we get him.
Secondly I think Moore will do well for us in the premiership
In addition I would like Senderos but i don’t think it will ever happen.
woffis keep saying how poor last seasons championship was i do not understand how they work this out when so many teams were so close that would show a more difficuilt season no one team run away with it as in other seasons which would mean only one good team having it easy also have they realised in such a poor season they did worse than year before so what does that say about there progression and has i attendted all home matches last two seasons and it was not any easy than year before
Going on the lines of young loanees, I like the look of Michael Mancienne, Michael Woods and Ben Sahar over at Chelski, in particular Mancienne who is a very decent prospect at CB, tho might be a risk as unproven at the top level.
Danny Welbeck at Man Utd is another who is highly rated within OT
Im having fun with this fantasy lark!
see ya next year in the prem
Chester Baggie - Stelios is an attacking midfielder. I personally don’t think that he would fit into our team and more importantly i don’t think that he is the type of player Mowbray wants to sign.
I think we will all have to accept that Mowbray will end up buying alot of young talent from abroad. We may buy the odd Prem experienced player (ie. Ameobi and loan signings) but not many.
I think it makes the season more exciting because if we don’t know what to expect from the new players, the other teams won’t know what to expect.
In Mowbray we trust!!!!!!
I would like CAMPO from bolton hee could just sit in midfield spraying the the ball about to our talented footballers.THE FUTURES BRIGHT ITS BLUE AND WHITE.
THE REAL POOR LITTLE DINGLES!!!!
And last post before change of name…
Fantasy team.. HOME GAMES.
1. Kuz - loan
2. Hoef
3. Robbo
4. barnett
5. Hudson - Palace
6. Greening
7. Koren
8. Brunt
9. Bednar
10.Phillips
11.Tex
Away
Same with Oli from dingles replacing either phillips / Bednar, tex in free role..
Bench Clemo, miller, morro, kiely, alby, moore and clemence - leicester.
As for fantasy signings.. Kitson would be great,solano yes, giles barnes, finnan but just won’t happen and BIG JAN KOLLER as squad player!!!! obviously with the three i’ve named.
Does anyone know when Tex will be back in the team?? Is he starting back pre-season training with the rest?
50 tex will be back in late november!
going down the mowbray way !! ay
Fantasy Side:
1. Ben Foster(loan)
2. Carl Hoefkins
3. Alexander Song(loan)
4. Bobbo Balde
5. Paul Robinson
6. Giles Barnes
7. Robert Koren
8. Gilberto Silva(loan)
9. Victor Anechebe
10.Ishmael Miller
11.Kevin Doyle
wolves have had a bid for steve davies turned down,he said he wants to stck to snooker where he can play in front of a full house every week aye boing boing up the MOWBURY WAY
its going to be a tough season for all our clubs
Just heard the Amoebi deal is off and possible Phillips is staying after all. Just trying to read the situation with TM that one of his players at his former club Hibs Garry O Conner now Birmingham C and former Lokomotive Moscow player is avaible for transfer from the Blues I wonder if he will go after this player and also Martyn Talyor the defender he had shown interest in some time back ?
Darijo Srna would be a good shout for a Gera replacement. Played brilliant for Croatia and still plays for a small croatian team (compared to the albion). Go get him Mogga
at the end of the day albion have not got the wage structure for most of these players.
wot we need most is sum1 2 buy us out so we have not got a tight chairman like peace (fair play 2 peace for all he has done for wba)
but i think 2 survive in the prem u need 2 break the bank and take a chance.
and peace is only a buisnessman so all he wants to do is make a profit if he sold the club for £30m he wud make £25m in 5 years.
all he wants is a pofit.
a the loan deals wer gud in the championship but in the prem loans will not do cuz if a player has a realy gud spell with us another team hu offer more money will have him.
so every1 plz open your eyes and c the fact that unless albion are sold we will not buy any1 better than wot we have got without breaking the bank which peace wow do! TM UR ACE MATE LUV THE EAY WE ACTULY PLAY FOOTBALL. UR DA 1 2 LEAD US INTO THE FUTURE.