Rumours Rumours - Summer 2021 edition (Deadline Day from p814)

Braziliance said:

I was certainly in the squad not good enough camp but from what I saw of Smyth he is good enough for a promotion side as a bench player, stop gap option for a year.

I don't see how we are gonna sign 10 promotion quality players, where are they coming from? Grafters like Smyth, Washington are important to make the space for Chuks and Stockley (assuming they sign)

This window is gonna be good for me, cause either I'm gonna be whelmed like expected when we don't sign anywhere near what people are expecting or I've got 10+ league1 upper/championship quality players to watch next season, win win for me 

I also wonder the future of Ronnie, he looked fantastic against Rochdale with Chuks, I wonder if Adkins can save us a fee with him 

Ferryman said:

killerandflash said:

Ferryman said:

AddicksAddict said:

RonnieMoore said:

Been told we are interested in Daniel Ballard (Arsenal, centre-back)... most likey a loan 

https://tenor.com/view/bananarama-iheard-arumour-gossip-rumors-chisme-gif-16201452

No nonsense stopper in the Pearce mould, currently playing right side of a 3 with Blackpool. Northern Ireland International. I don't expect Gunter to continue with Wales after the Euros so Ballard would help get to 3 call ups. 

It's hard to imagine a no nonsense stopper ever playing in the Arsenal first team! They've not had "proper" defenders since the days of Adams, Bould and Keown

Arsenal mate insists they could do with an old fashioned row Z merchant!

Cafc43v3r said:

Scoham said:

Cafc43v3r said:

Callumcafc said:

You can have all the money in the world but if you're spending it on Jordan Rhodes... 

Scored 52 goals in his last 2 seasons at this level, let's wank ourselves silly over a Exeter winger who 90% of people have never seen play and has never played above league 2. 

Makes sense. 

Randell Williams? Many of us have seen him play, he scored against us in 18/19 when playing for Wycombe in League 1.

I don’t know enough about Williams but I know I don’t want us bringing in too many older players who are on the way down. One or two is fine but that strategy didn’t work last season and we’re in a much better position to go and build a proper squad with 2/3 seasons in mind rather than 1.

I never suggested that we should sign or Rhodes, or that we will.  He has either already signed for Huddersfield or will in the next few days.

I was making a general observation that some players are seen as the "right type" and others are quickly dismissed as a joke or a "no thanks".  Quite often with general agreement based on very little or nothing at all.  We saw the same thing we Eisa and Akpom the other day.  It almost as if some posters think it's actually relevant what we/they think. 

We won't sign Rhodes, I very much doubt we would even consider it but if he did sign for Ipswich I would have a couple of quid on him being league 1 top goal scorer. 

Scoham said:

cabbles said:

Braziliance said:

Interesting how negative people are towards Smyth, I thought bar a couple and the right wing back performance he looked decent for us, ran the channels and moved well. His main issue was he sometimes also overran the ball off of the pitch haha

I think it's a bit unrealistic to expect better than Smyth as a bit part player, there's no way we are gonna get in as many 'quality' players as people think. I'm with Curbs, we will re-sign most out of contract and add about 4-5 new bodies and then 3-4 loans. 

I also certainly was not happy with our squad this season, I was one of what felt like the few saying it was not even close to be strong enough for promotion, only a handful of players

And just a handful at best imo.  We missed a lot of the season with Inniss and Famewo at CB. I think they are capable enough to be the CB pairing to achieve promotion, based on what I’ve seen.  We need 4 new full backs imo.  Never gonna happen as Purrington and Gunter are on 2 year deals, so we’re only likely to bring in 2 new full backs, or one if we keep Matthews.  A full back quota of Gunter, Purrington, Matthews and one other isn’t really inspiring me with confidence.  

Fair enough, we’re probably looking at Pearce as cover, but that leaves us likely to pick up just one other CB.  I’d say it needs to be a bloody good CB.

Midfield isn’t strong imo.  I’ve got no idea what Jayisemi can bring to the table.  I think he will be good with a full close and pre season under his belt, but we just don’t know.  JFC is likely to be back in Dec/Jan.  I rate this boy’s professionalism and I guarantee he does everything right in rehabilitation etc, but I still believe he shone last year on account of the dross around him.  

I’m not a fan of Gilbey.  Yes, there was definitely an upturn under Adkins, but I’ve watched a lot of football over the years, and he just doesn’t strike me as a player that can go any higher than league one, or drive us to promotion.  That’s just my opinion, I could well be wrong.  

Watson is Watson.  If he’s here then we just have to accept it.  He should definitely be used as a bit part player.  I like Morgan, I think he can definitely play a role, but that leaves another wide player, and an absolute unit in the middle to break up play.  I would say the midfield is 4 short, maybe 5

Finally, up top.  This is actually the area I think we may be okay, if we get Stockley, plus 1 other if we keep Aneke.  I think Washington is decent.  Works hard, got a decent(ish) return, and can add something.  Stockley would be great.  The only thing I would say, is find him a strike partner.  I felt the 4-3-3 fell away a bit toward the end.  He cut quite a lone figure in some of the final games.  I would like him to form a partnership with someone 

for me, we’re probably only looking at 1 full back :-(

1 CB

We’re probably looking at 4 midfielders and maybe 1 other forward after getting Stockley and Aneke secured on deals 

That’s 7 players 

Actually 8 maybe, depending on the Amos situation 

We need at least 2 CBs with Oshilaja and Famewo gone.

Not convinced Aneke will stay and we haven’t secured Stockley yet.

I think it’ll be closer to 11/12 than 7/8.

Wheresmeticket? said:

Cafc43v3r said:

Cafc43v3r said:

Scoham said:

Cafc43v3r said:

Callumcafc said:

You can have all the money in the world but if you're spending it on Jordan Rhodes... 

Scored 52 goals in his last 2 seasons at this level, let's wank ourselves silly over a Exeter winger who 90% of people have never seen play and has never played above league 2. 

Makes sense. 

Randell Williams? Many of us have seen him play, he scored against us in 18/19 when playing for Wycombe in League 1.

I don’t know enough about Williams but I know I don’t want us bringing in too many older players who are on the way down. One or two is fine but that strategy didn’t work last season and we’re in a much better position to go and build a proper squad with 2/3 seasons in mind rather than 1.

I never suggested that we should sign or Rhodes, or that we will.  He has either already signed for Huddersfield or will in the next few days.

I was making a general observation that some players are seen as the "right type" and others are quickly dismissed as a joke or a "no thanks".  Quite often with general agreement based on very little or nothing at all.  We saw the same thing we Eisa and Akpom the other day.  It almost as if some posters think it's actually relevant what we/they think. 

We won't sign Rhodes, I very much doubt we would even consider it but if he did sign for Ipswich I would have a couple of quid on him being league 1 top goal scorer. 

Does that count as an ITK? @Dazzler21

20 goals in 105 appearances, less than 1 in 5, over the last four seasons.  5 goals per season.  They are welcome to him.

Southbank said:

Scoham said:

Braziliance said:

I was certainly in the squad not good enough camp but from what I saw of Smyth he is good enough for a promotion side as a bench player, stop gap option for a year.

I don't see how we are gonna sign 10 promotion quality players, where are they coming from? Grafters like Smyth, Washington are important to make the space for Chuks and Stockley (assuming they sign)

This window is gonna be good for me, cause either I'm gonna be whelmed like expected when we don't sign anywhere near what people are expecting or I've got 10+ league1 upper/championship quality players to watch next season, win win for me 

I also wonder the future of Ronnie, he looked fantastic against Rochdale with Chuks, I wonder if Adkins can save us a fee with him 

In the summer of 2011 we signed...

Hamer
Wiggins
Morrison
Taylor
Cort
Green
Stephens
Hollands
Hughes
Pritchard
Kermorgant
Hayes

That’s 12 who played a key part, plus the likes of Evina as cover, loan signings during the season and Haynes in January.

Some signings will work out better than others but we’ve got to set our sights higher than players like Smyth.

We have no idea what the budget is, even if it’s not the biggest in L1 there will be plenty of good free agents and loans available plus clubs struggling due to Covid who will sell players more cheaply than normal.

4 of them went on to play in the Premier League. If we approach that level of class we will be doing very well.

SoundAsa£ said:

addick1956 said:

RonnieMoore said:

Scoham said:

cabbles said:

Braziliance said:

Interesting how negative people are towards Smyth, I thought bar a couple and the right wing back performance he looked decent for us, ran the channels and moved well. His main issue was he sometimes also overran the ball off of the pitch haha

I think it's a bit unrealistic to expect better than Smyth as a bit part player, there's no way we are gonna get in as many 'quality' players as people think. I'm with Curbs, we will re-sign most out of contract and add about 4-5 new bodies and then 3-4 loans. 

I also certainly was not happy with our squad this season, I was one of what felt like the few saying it was not even close to be strong enough for promotion, only a handful of players

And just a handful at best imo.  We missed a lot of the season with Inniss and Famewo at CB. I think they are capable enough to be the CB pairing to achieve promotion, based on what I’ve seen.  We need 4 new full backs imo.  Never gonna happen as Purrington and Gunter are on 2 year deals, so we’re only likely to bring in 2 new full backs, or one if we keep Matthews.  A full back quota of Gunter, Purrington, Matthews and one other isn’t really inspiring me with confidence.  

Fair enough, we’re probably looking at Pearce as cover, but that leaves us likely to pick up just one other CB.  I’d say it needs to be a bloody good CB.

Midfield isn’t strong imo.  I’ve got no idea what Jayisemi can bring to the table.  I think he will be good with a full close and pre season under his belt, but we just don’t know.  JFC is likely to be back in Dec/Jan.  I rate this boy’s professionalism and I guarantee he does everything right in rehabilitation etc, but I still believe he shone last year on account of the dross around him.  

I’m not a fan of Gilbey.  Yes, there was definitely an upturn under Adkins, but I’ve watched a lot of football over the years, and he just doesn’t strike me as a player that can go any higher than league one, or drive us to promotion.  That’s just my opinion, I could well be wrong.  

Watson is Watson.  If he’s here then we just have to accept it.  He should definitely be used as a bit part player.  I like Morgan, I think he can definitely play a role, but that leaves another wide player, and an absolute unit in the middle to break up play.  I would say the midfield is 4 short, maybe 5

Finally, up top.  This is actually the area I think we may be okay, if we get Stockley, plus 1 other if we keep Aneke.  I think Washington is decent.  Works hard, got a decent(ish) return, and can add something.  Stockley would be great.  The only thing I would say, is find him a strike partner.  I felt the 4-3-3 fell away a bit toward the end.  He cut quite a lone figure in some of the final games.  I would like him to form a partnership with someone 

for me, we’re probably only looking at 1 full back :-(

1 CB

We’re probably looking at 4 midfielders and maybe 1 other forward after getting Stockley and Aneke secured on deals 

That’s 7 players 

Actually 8 maybe, depending on the Amos situation 

We need at least 2 CBs with Oshilaja and Famewo gone.

Not convinced Aneke will stay and we haven’t secured Stockley yet.

I think it’ll be closer to 11/12 than 7/8.

And how do you know we haven’t ?? 

Stockley been openly  seen looking at houses in the Bexley area ... PNE want to recoup most of their 750,000 but he not worth that .. the player wants to join it’s just down to the clubs to come to a deal 

 I haven't  seen him in the area. Usually  they live in Chislehurst. 

Two things here.......why would you think because you have never seen him in Bexley that he wouldn’t be looking to buy a house there?
Secondly, when we were in The Prem and Championship yes ‘some’ players lived in Chislehurst and one or two still do.
However, to say they usually live there is simply not true and never has been.

Cafc43v3r said:

Wheresmeticket? said:

Cafc43v3r said:

Cafc43v3r said:

Scoham said:

Cafc43v3r said:

Callumcafc said:

You can have all the money in the world but if you're spending it on Jordan Rhodes... 

Scored 52 goals in his last 2 seasons at this level, let's wank ourselves silly over a Exeter winger who 90% of people have never seen play and has never played above league 2. 

Makes sense. 

Randell Williams? Many of us have seen him play, he scored against us in 18/19 when playing for Wycombe in League 1.

I don’t know enough about Williams but I know I don’t want us bringing in too many older players who are on the way down. One or two is fine but that strategy didn’t work last season and we’re in a much better position to go and build a proper squad with 2/3 seasons in mind rather than 1.

I never suggested that we should sign or Rhodes, or that we will.  He has either already signed for Huddersfield or will in the next few days.

I was making a general observation that some players are seen as the "right type" and others are quickly dismissed as a joke or a "no thanks".  Quite often with general agreement based on very little or nothing at all.  We saw the same thing we Eisa and Akpom the other day.  It almost as if some posters think it's actually relevant what we/they think. 

We won't sign Rhodes, I very much doubt we would even consider it but if he did sign for Ipswich I would have a couple of quid on him being league 1 top goal scorer. 

Does that count as an ITK? @Dazzler21

20 goals in 105 appearances, less than 1 in 5, over the last four seasons.  5 goals per season.  They are welcome to him.

He has been very good everywhere he has been, for any length of time, bar Wednesday.  He isn't the only player that's suffered from chopping and changing of managers.  The 2 Wednesday games I watched this season I though he was very good.



He is only six goals shy of being the "championship all time" (I must admit I have no idea when that started) top goal scorer.

If Jordan Rhodes is shit, Ipswich are mad to want him and Huddersfield are welcome to him, there are going to be some seriously underwhelmed people come August.

Not that I think we should have been intrested in him or had a realistic chance of signing him. 

ForeverAddickted said:

SoundAsa£ said:

golfaddick said:

Braziliance said:

Interesting how negative people are towards Smyth, I thought bar a couple and the right wing back performance he looked decent for us, ran the channels and moved well. His main issue was he sometimes also overran the ball off of the pitch haha

I think it's a bit unrealistic to expect better than Smyth as a bit part player, there's no way we are gonna get in as many 'quality' players as people think. I'm with Curbs, we will re-sign most out of contract and add about 4-5 new bodies and then 3-4 loans. 

I also certainly was not happy with our squad this season, I was one of what felt like the few saying it was not even close to be strong enough for promotion, only a handful of players

Have you seen the actual number of players we currently have under contract...?  I think you'll find its 10 !!  We've offered contracts to another 5 but I doubt Aneke will sign & JFC is crocked until at least xmas. Adding 4 or 5 plus a few loans ain't going to cut it my son - it wont even make up a matchday squad of 18. We need to bring in at least 8 new signings plus another 4 or 5 on loan. 

JFC crocked until at least Christmas.....where have you got that from?

JFC mentioned it when he was on CharltonLive (last game of the season)

Said he hoped to be back around December | January time.

Braziliance said:

A few of those signings were a bit flukey though and we didn't expect them to do as well as they did.

4 prem players? Who, Yann never even got a real chance up there, Hamer was a bench warmer, Stephens a regular though of course. Who's the 4th? 

I would say only Stephens counts as a proper prem player from that list

Scoham said:

Braziliance said:

A few of those signings were a bit flukey though and we didn't expect them to do as well as they did.

4 prem players? Who, Yann never even got a real chance up there, Hamer was a bench warmer, Stephens a regular though of course. Who's the 4th? 

I would say only Stephens counts as a proper prem player from that list

Which signings were flukey? Pritchard was the only one with no expectations, and Hughes came in to be a squad player, but the rest were expected to make a big contribution.


There will be future Champ/Prem players out there, whether they'd be stepping up from a smaller club (like Stephens and Wiggins) or needing to get their career going again by dropping down a level (like Yann and Morrison).

I don't think anyone is expecting 10 top quality signings, We do though need 4/5 stand out players for this level and others who give us a strong balanced squad. That doesn't feel that unrealistic, not every club is in a position to ask for a big fee and some might be out of contract as they know they have interest from bigger clubs.

On the Prem players I assume Wiggins was the fourth. He went back to Bournemouth, but I'm not sure he actually played in the Prem.

Braziliance said:

A few of those signings were a bit flukey though and we didn't expect them to do as well as they did.

4 prem players? Who, Yann never even got a real chance up there, Hamer was a bench warmer, Stephens a regular though of course. Who's the 4th? 

I would say only Stephens counts as a proper prem player from that list

You forget Yann went to play in the PL for Bournemouth.