Fantasy football manager for Albion
Thursday 30th June 2011, 9:10AM BST.
Albion blogger Jarrod Hill plays fantasy football manager and dreams up the players he would bring to the Hawthorns this summer – what about you?
We may not have had a flood of new signings yet, or even a pre-season friendly, but we still have a few things to discuss, my blogging faithful.
This seasons matchday ticket prices have been released, we have a new sponsor in Bodog and our new home and away shirts have been unveiled.
I was pleased to see that the club have been sensible in the way they have priced the match day tickets.
Nine games out of the 19 home games will be priced at under £29, with the majority being priced at £25.
We are all aware of the economic times we live in and, having looked at the pricing structure, I think the club have got it spot on, but my only query is why the Wolves game isn’t in the top category.
I accept that going to watch football these days is not cheap but, in comparison and taking all things into account, I think the club have tried to be as cost effective as possible.
The new sponsor has provided the club with extra revenue and I am sure there will be more than just a few fans happy to see the little red house disappear from our new shirts.
That said, opinions seem to be divided on the new shirts. Personally I quite like them, but my other half doesn’t, to which my reply was ‘you don’t have to have one if you don’t like them and it will save me a few quid in the process.’
The fact we spent a good three quarters of an hour discussing the new shirts just highlights the lack of anything else to talk about, when it comes to the current goings-on at the Hawthorns.
Rumours are a plenty, but even the rumours seem to be the same old stories. Some of them seem to have more substance than others, with the possible return of Zoltan Gera and Scott Carson heading off to Turkey perfect examples.
Not wanting to go over old ground, but I am still unsure whether I will be glad to see young Scott leave at this stage of his fledgling career.
I still see him as a goalkeeper that is improving season on season, but I also see him as player who divides fans opinion like a pot of marmite.
Maybe the move is good for him and, if we get a suitable replacement, it could be good for us, but I not convinced and I watch with interest.
I am sure many of you have played fantasy football manager during this period of inactivity and I am no different. In fact, every Albion fan I speak to asks me the same question, ‘who do you reckon we should be after?’
I may not be sporting director Dan Ashworth or a part of the scouting system, but I still cannot help myself giving my opinion.
I know it means nothing and has no value, but the discussions have proved to be sometimes very interesting, often amusing, but always opinionated.
So, I put it to you, ‘who should we be looking at?’
Here is your platform to put your views forward on players you think could improve us for the impending season.
Just to get us rolling, I will throw a few in of who I personally rate and, more importantly, think we could feasibly be able to sign.
We have been linked to goalkeepers across the globe on a daily basis, but I see one closer to home as an ideal replacement if Carson does move on.
Lee Camp at Nottingham Forest, in my opinion, is the best No 1 outside the top flight. His form over the past two seasons has been superb and, having been a bright prospect during his younger years, he now seems to be fulfilling his potential.
For defenders, I like the young lad at West Ham, James Tomkins. Maybe a tough ask to get him, but now would be the time with the Hammers being relegated to the Championship. Others include Stephen Warnock, Matt Mills, John Pantsil and Matthew Upson.
In midfield, I would like Tamir Cohen and Nigel Reo-Coker, surprisingly both available on free transfers.
And Strikers, now this is where the debate usually heats up. I like Carlton Cole, I think he would offer us something a bit different to what we already have. I am guessing we would face a fight to get him, but I think that goes for most signings these days.
Lastly, I am going to throw in something of a curve ball. A friend of mine who is a big fan of French football keeps telling me about a young player who he has seen who is going to be a star in his opinion.
Sloan Privat is 21-years-old and currently at Sochaux, but I know nothing of him other than what I have read on Wikipedia.
My mate keeps telling me to remember the name, one for the future and looks like Cyril Regis, my mate said, and how we could do with unearthing another Regis!
But, if he is any good, I am sure Mr Ashworth will have him on the club’s radar!
Hopefully, soon we will be talking about real transfers, but it is still early days with many players still away on holiday.
Next week, when many players return to their clubs for pre-season training ,will help get the transfer market moving.
But, before then, let’s hear your thoughts.
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This is my fantasy team for next season with what i consider realistic targets:
GK – Allan McGregor
RB – Madjid Bougherra
CB – Carlos Cuellar
CB – Jonas Olsson
LB – Nicky Shorey
RM – Jerome Thomas
CM – Graham Dorrans
CM – Youssouf Mulumbu
CM – Nigel Reo Coker
LM – Chris Brunt / Gera
ST – Peter Odemwingie
Subs:
GK – Myhill
CB – McCauley
RB/MF- Reid
MF – Gera / Brunt
MF – Vaughan
ST – Webo
ST – Yakubu
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I think the club have already done well with the 2 free signings we have made to replace Meite & Zuivi. I think the zolly deal is about done and this will replace Barnes, and maybe we will get Vaughn in (good player but how will he get a game ??).
Having seen pictures of carson in Turkey you gotta think thats a deal so have we got someone lined up… I agree with you about Camp, but would like to see us go for Ben Foster.
Up front is the most urgent area for improvement imo – and cole is top of my “obvious” list – but will we keep Miller, MAF and Bednar too… ???
We are maybe 2 players short of being ready (keeper and forward) – + Zolly returning – and thats without including the young lads doing so well for England at the moment…. Crikey, is this really Albion – sounds more like Chelsea.
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Also with the prices being banded about now – £8 million plus add ons for connor wickham – madness – Blues turning down £16 million for Dann & Jerome…… £20 million for henderson who was useless for half of last year – we really need Dan Ashworth & co to be pulling some diamonds in again, so I expect at least one player not on anyones radar !!
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I’d like to see us go for Given, Dann or Johnson, a competitive left-back to challenge Shorey and Sturridge or A.N.Other striker in the PO mould of which I don’t think there are many in the PL other than the likes of Fuller and Kamara who bring baggage with them in terms of application, attitude and discipline.
Taking into consideration what’s happened thus far re: the above, I’d speculate that Given, Dann, Johnson and Sturridge are out of our reach!! So perhaps it’ll more likely be some more Dan Ashworth specials!!
Other than that, perhaps Jonathan Woodgate on a pay-as-you-play deal?
Ant Lowe
I think Yakubu’s on about £60-80k a week at Leicester, so much that Everton can’t afford him. Other than that, he’s a Nigerian 28. Draw your own conclusions but Kanu’s a Nigerian 34!!
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Bomber
My big wish would be for Shay Given, but i am realistic enough to know that this will not happen.
On the current playing side, Villa are no more of an attraction than we are. However, on the financial side, they are light years ahead, and are one of only a few clubs that could meet Given`s, probably very high wage demands.
Therefore, i would like us to try and secure the services of Mark Schwarzer, he has the ability, experience and presence that we need.
Centre Back is the position that intrigues me most.
It is now obvious that the re-introduction of Meite was only a stop gap emergency decision by Roy.
And the fact that he is now gone, seems to validate that theory.
I wonder if Roy views, the clearly talented Ibanez as his long term answer, but needed time (that he didn`t have when he arrived) to work with him.
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I dont know if this will get posted, but here goes…
I have heard from a very reliable source that Albion are planning a swoop for Matt Mills for £2.5M with Ishmael Miller going the other way.
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Jarrod
I’m just happy being a Baggie, knowing our backroom team are working away getting it right once again. All will be sorted in it’s own time!
The added good news in all this of course is that I now have loads of time to fantasize about other things!
Ain’t life great.
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Ant (1)
I notice there is no Paul Scharner, even among your subs.
Is this an oversight, or do you not rate him ?
If it`s the latter, personally, i would rather have Scharner than Reo-Coker.
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Wbaforever
well spotted, Scharner is not on there. I do like Scharner but could not fit him in, same as Tchoyi. I would rotate Vaughan and Gera with those 2, as well as cox and Webo.
I think from seeing Reo Cokers form at West Ham he looked a class act, cant comment on his time at Villa didnt really see any of him there, but i know a lot of villa fans were sad to see him go. I think Scharner is great to have as a hard man in there, but think Reo Coker would offer that little bit more quality.
As for Yakubu, I realise he would be a high earner and probably wouldnt take a pay cut, but, stranger things have happened..
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Rob Green
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Giovanni Dos Santos, very very skillful, incredibly fast, and would be class just sitting off Odemwingie
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As an aside, I see Meite has gone to Dijon.
Let’s he cuts the mustard over there.
(I’ll get my coat!)
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@ wbaforever comment number 5,
how can the villa be light years ahead of us re money? they are over 100 million in debt due to paying far to high wages compared to income, and next season they along with liverpool arse man utd chelski etc etc will not be able to buy new players due to new rules coming in, I would say light years more stupid than albion`s well run policy of spend what you can afford, not what you think you can based on 30 years ago history of winning something, think big, think albion, we will still be able to buy players next year when most will not, boing boing peace is a god
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Ant, Wot, no Tchoyi or Scharner? I don’t get Reo-Coker, and surely expensive, not enough pace? Shorey should have a useful view of his personality/clash with O’Neill.
ref Cuellar – I remember seeing him live on the box playing for Rangers in a European game against v good team, Rangers were entirely under the cosh, and no exaggeration to say he must have made 20 clearances, awesome. But didn’t get into Villa first time with Collins and Dunne, why?
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Bomber
Not really into this Fantasy football lark, whatever ‘appens,’appens but the bloke I really want back is Max, since he misunderstood your knuckle draggers post after which Cantello and myself couldn’t help having a little fun he’s disappeared,nobody can find that much to do down Sandwell Valley!
Adéu
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Big question marks over fitness and whether he will retire and wages may be an issue but a fit Owen Hargreaves would be perfect to help out Scharner and Mulumbu.
Rob Green would be my choice as GK as I think he is the best we have been linked with. Given and the PIG havent done anything for a long time and their drive is my concern.
With Cox’s and Tchoyi’s late success last season, I do not believe we are that far off what we need attacking wise if we line up 4-5-1 again but Danny Welbeck would be my choice if he doesnt break into the MU squad.
Another young gun in Gael Kakuta could give us extra options off the bench, if he doesnt go back on loan to Fulham.
Whatever happens though, I will trust the judgement of Ashworth, Hodgson et al as for me they have got more right than they have wrong.
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Daz
I don`t think i got over my point in a very articulate way.
I appreciate Villa are one of numerous clubs living beyond their means, and it will be for the good of the game when these clubs are not allowed to flex their percieved financial muscle.
What i was trying to say, is Villa are one of only a few clubs that would and apparently at the moment could, pay someone £80k pw.
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i do not think we really need any more midfielders, although gera coming back would be awesome, if his form is as good as it was in his last spell with us, in goal i would like to see kuzsack come back, good gk and with a run of games i think he will be immense for us, and is still pretty young, whereas someone like schwarzer is nearing the end of his career, being over 40, up front i think we need to sell bednar and MAF i think when miller is fully match fit he will be a good option from the bench, and i think we should bring in cole from west ham, will be a good foil for P.O and maybe set up a fair few goals aswell as getting the odd 1 here and there.
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I know the ‘fantasy football’ thing is a bit of fun to break up the boredom,but I’ve never really been into it.
I think there’d be a lot more interest ‘on the dark side’,because some of their posters live in a fantasy football world 12 months a year.
What really interests me is what’s happening abroad,because there must be some real gems in other countries that still haven’t been unearthed,and I would love to be a scout digging out these guys.
The problem here is that most good young British players have probably already been ‘approached’ by the ‘big clubs’,and the more mature British players available have been released because they just don’t reach the standard anymore,but they still want massive salaries.
Hopefully,the REAL activity will start in the next week or two.
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15 Kev-
Max is a guy who’s very passionate about the Baggies,and has got strong,straight talking opinions about his football.
I’m guessing that after finishing the season bang on form,by picking a fight with everybody (including an empty broom cupboard),he’s now just p***** off that nothing’s going on,so he’s thinking-
‘If nothing’s happening,there’s nothing to talk about’.
Although I did here that someone thought they saw him roaming the Shropshire countryside with a chainsaw,asking where he could find Farmer Ted.
Hope you’re well,
Adeu.
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Is it just me or do any others feel the same ?
I haven’t got a real clue about other teams and their players because I only bother about them when they play us. If we buy them, then I take a big interest. If we don’t, tough. I can’t explain it either. I think I’ve always been like it. I loved watching Stan Matthews, Billy Wright, Johnny Hancox, Bert Williams, Tom Finney, etc., but once THAT game was over, it was over. If we’d won, I was on cloud 9. If not, “they’d had one good game”.
Nice to read what you lot have picked though. I just can’t join in cuz Ah bay bothered.
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Some interesting ideas. I recently had a of a moan about the lack of activity so far, after a couple of responses I realize it may be a bit impatient of me. But like you said Jarrod, its the same old stories that keep repeating and the general lack of movement or any exciting rumours.
The only thing we get is players heading out the door rather than players coming in. And I am wondering just how long it takes to sign a new contract, whats happening with Odemwingie?? His agent said it will be sorted within a few days…. that was about 3 weeks ago!
Anyway this is a list of all realistic preferred targets that I can think of:
Gera – Would love to see him back and really hope this deal goes through. Might not quite be the player he was, but is more experienced now and as someone said (he is a replacement to Barnes) and who would u rather be coming off the bench?? Thats unless he starts.
Andy Johnson – Cant stand the guy and his habbit of scoring against us. But u have to admitt he has a habbit of scoring against a lot of teams! Proven striker is what we need.
Sturridge
Webo
Carlton Cole
Vaughan
Menseguez (yes the player we loaned before)
Dann
Mills
Upson (although wages may be a bit too high)
Ridgewell
Kuszczak
Cuellar
Foster
Schwarzer
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Schwarzer for me.
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GK:FOSTER(6 MIL)
RB:JONES/KYLE WALKER(LOAN)
LB:SHOREY/BERTRAND(LOAN)
CB:OLSSON
CB:CUELLAR(2.5 MIL)/PABLO
RM:BRUNT/GERA(FREE)
CM:MULUMBU/REO COKER
CM:SCHARNER/AXEL WITSEL(4 MIL)
LM:THOMAS
AM:DORRANS/COX/STURRIDGE(LOAN)
ST:ODEMWINGIE/CARLTON COLE(4 MIL)
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I think we need at least one keeper with Carson off and Kiely retiring, a LB seeing as Cech looks likely to leave, another CB if Tamas goes, a pacy winger and possibly another option up front due to the ACN.
GK – Sorensen, Cudicini (one or two year deal), Camp, Ruffier (relegated with Monaco, just broke into France squad)
LB – Warnock if he still wants to leave Villa, Bertrand on loan
CB – Mills, Cuellar, Ridgewell, Bassong, Kaboul
Winger – Bentley, Kranjcar, Rose, Cleverley
CF – Sturridge (loan), Macheda (loan), Webo, Cole
Being a realist you’re probably looking at only Camp and Cudicini for the GK, Bertrand for LB, Mills or Ridegewell CB, Rose or Cleverley for the winger and Webo as the CF so my team would be:
GK Camp / Cudicini
LB Shorey / Bertrand
RB Jones / Reid
CB Olsson
CB Mills / Ridgewell
DM Mulumbu
DM Scharner
LW Thomas / Rose / Cleverley
RW Brunt
AM Dorrans
CF Odemwingie
Not much change form last year then!
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Cyrill and Cantello
I usually 100% agree with you wise old Throstle heads, but the need to dream of our possible transfers keeps me occupied in the summer. Makes me chuckle a tad that you’ve commented that you don’t want to comment to be honest.
In reality Foster, Cuellar, Ridgewell and Carew. Vaughan and Gera being welcome additions also. That would be a consolidating Premiership squad ready to seriously build for the future, as long as we keep our heads (Wulfies).
An audatious loan bid for Sturridge probably won’t work out because he’s already got connections with Bolton and knows he’s going to play up there.
Of all the rumours I hope we are not in for Steve Harper. This would be a backwards move. The man only has experience of watching Shay Given and then Tim Krul from the bench. He’d be a good squad player behind Myhill though.
Others I wouldn’t want: Carlton Cole (overated/attitude), Upson (overated/slow), Kuszczak (can’t live up to the Kuszczak we sold to Man U) and Green (for his own good).
My wildcard, Lewis McGugan. But we don’t have any room for him and Forest would want a pretty penny for his services. He will be worth a few bob in the future though.
I would let Bednar, MAF and Miller go on loan or release them. They have all been fantastic servents to the club and we should all be gratefull to them, but we’re at a transitional period and the limitations on squad numbers etc. has meant we no longer have room to keep hold of these kind of players. It’s horrible to say but I think it’s an honest assesment.
Boing Boing
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26 Baggieinmanc-
I did say I appreciate that a lot of people enjoy the ‘fantasy’ thing,and it does help to fill in the time when nothing much else is happening.
I just thought I’d join in the discussion by giving my opinion,and saying that while many are speculating on who we may,or may not,sign from the English leagues,we often bring in good players from other countries that we knew nothing about,and it takes us completely by surprise.
I’m from a different generation than Cyril,but he,myself,and Mallorca Kev (who’s also said he’s not that interested in the fantasy thing),probably grew up in a different football enviroment.
Years ago,many players would come ‘through the ranks’,and stay with a club for much or all of their career.Even signings from other clubs would often stay for several years.
These days,players are often very self-centred,chasing fame and fortune,and switching every year or two from club to club.
And there’s great pressure for clubs to WIN and be successful,otherwise managers ,players,etc.,get kicked out very quickly.
I think we just like to see who actually SIGNS a contract for the Baggies,and then we take an interest in them much like we would with an addition to the family,or a new member at our local social club,because they then becomes ‘one of us’.
But by all means,if you and others enjoy speculating on what might happen,and who could join us,keep doing it,and have some fun!
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Fair points there CR78. I don’t agree with the present fickle nature of the game but it does keep us entertained over the outside drinking months.
Boing Boing
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I was thinking about what I’d typed and would not change it. I would add though what Cantello has said. Once they join us, they become ‘family’ however temporary. I would describe my reactions as a hyperbolic function. Steady and maximum whilst they are in our fold, plummeting in a steep curve when they leave to an almost zero and the other way round when they sign for us. Probably why I tried hard to be protective towards Carson.
Now he’s gone, I shall quickly turn my attention to his replacement. It isn’t hardness or indifference. Overall I’m interested in only MY team. ‘Carry On Posting’
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