Transfer Realism

by Martin Reppion | 13/07/2015

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Four weeks to kick-off and we see the sporadic and usually moronic, transfer speculation in the media.

The best policy is for clubs to have their trading done well before the season starts. What is the point of pre-season if players are sold or brought in after the work is done? Unfortunately that is not the way of the word, but we can hope.

Good early business from the manager. Getting in Tom Cleverley, presumably as a long-term replacement for the ‘past sell-by date’ Barry and, sadly, never fit, Gibson, coupled with the deal for Deulofeu, was a good start. David Henen is one for the future. This leaves the holes that need filling, (attack, central defence and goalkeeper), to be dealt with.

Why we are still linked with every midfield player in Europe amazes me. Those mentioned plus Barkley, McCarthy, Osman, Besic, Mirallas etc must show the hacks something. But not being linked to countless strikers and experienced central defenders is worrying. I know Mr Martinez likes his passing game and would, therefore, be happy watching eleven midfielders playing keep-ball for 90 minutes. But that is never going to work. Even Barcelona have a striker or two on their books...

The good news appears to be that Aidan McGeady is attracting interest from elsewhere. I would like to see Bryan Oviedo given the chance to play some regular football elsewhere, not because I don’t rate him, but because he is now third left back on the rank and we can’t hold on to him and Luke Garbutt.

The bad news is that players like these and Arouna Kone won’t generate much (if any) spending power. We may have to cash in an asset to get the funds to strengthen where we need it. Does one of McCarthy, Barkley or Mirallas equal the three players we still need to have a competitive squad? If it does, and if we can guarantee only one of them goes, that might prove good business.

What we can’t afford to happen is a transfer deadline-day scramble disrupting the squad. The problems caused when Joleon Lescott wanted out are still in the memory.

It's up to the manager to control the comings and goings and not be led by them. A final-day merry-go-round usually results in paying too much for a replacement or a hole in the squad that can’t be filled until next year.

Whatever happens between now and the end of August, I just hope we aren’t picked off as a selling club and that any departures are for the best interest of this team rather than for the whims of agents and so-called bigger clubs.

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