Was b& when you made the post about him it seems. Can't say I know anything about the guy but his goal record speaks for itself. Also if he can score in the second tier in Spain I'm sure he can here. Is there any substance to the rumours that Boro are going after Jelle Vossen? If that's true then I'd expect your lot will be unstoppable on FM15.
McCormack's fee was crazy, I know Fulham have a loaded owner and they've got parachute payments but still, £11m for a 27 year old with no experience higher than the Champs. For hat sort of fee I'm sure they could have signed Jordan Rhodes, whilst he isn't as versatile he's just as proven at this level and he's 3 years younger.
Whilst I don't hate Fulham I'd certainly rather they were a league below my lot. We rarely play well against them and when we do we still lose. Have been cursed ever since that 6 - 0 game which saw us go down and WBA pull off their 'great escape'.
Of the relegated teams it seems Cardiff have had the most eventful summer. It's like OGS and Tan are playing Football Manager. Guido Burgstaller, Juan Cala, Kagisho Dikgacoi, Adam Le Fondre, Javi Guerra and Federico Macheda. Probably a few decent players there but I'm pretty sure this is not how you build a successful team.
I haven't seen much of Grabban but he seems to have hit form last season. 22 goals in 44 games is pretty fantastic. Of course he's only had 1 season like that at this level but in our current financial state the £3m fee is not going to kill us even if it goes tits up.
I'm pretty happy with our squad as it stand but we could do with a bit of defensive over. I think Seb Bassong will be sold meaning we only have 3 first team central defenders and 1 right back (Adams likes captain Russell Martin at CB). Also think we could do with another left sided midfielder because Pilks is made out of glass and Josh Murphy is still untested at this level. A double swoop of Dundee United's John Souttar and Gary Mackay-Steven would cover 2 of those positions.
Wow that's surprising that you were banned, I did notice you didn't post as much around the end of the World Cup.
Anyway with Vossen, I'm always very sceptical about these 'pursuits' because some of them in the past have just been clear bs such as Danny Graham for £5m in Jan 2013 or Pizzi/Eduardo Vargas last summer. So in my mind we aren't signing him until he actually does sign, but from a less sceptical person's point of view it seems a bit less likely now too because Feyenoord supposedly want him now. We're apparently signing Bamford on loan from Chelsea so that would close any need for a striker I guess.
I had the exact same thought about Rhodes when Fulham signed McCormack, surely it would have made a lot more sense to sign him instead.
I can see pretty much all of those Cardiff signings flopping and it will be very fun to see happen. I just wish there was a way for it to happen without it affecting OGS negatively.
I thought Grabban played great when he visited the Riverside last season. He didn't score, but I remember he looked dangerous every time they came forward. I'm sure he'll do at least a good job at Norwich. I can't really see any reason why you wouldn't go straight back up unless Neil Adams turns out to be inept.
I just read last night about Norwich's 13-0 mix up. Quite a funny story for a club like that to misunderstand who their opponents were. Either way I'm sure it was a nice confidence booster.
Apparently we're closing in on that deal for around £5million I believe, I hope so because we've been lacking up front for a good while. Kike has scored 3 in 4 for us which is pretty decent, although it's pre-season he seems a good player!
Another person from Middlesbrough? It's a small world. Welcome to the forum and the football thread, fellow smoggie.
Saw this on my twitter timeline and I burst out laughing:
Wonder who's gonna have less players by the start of the season, Southampton or Blackpool...?
Oh dear, please tell me the Carrick image isn't an official thing. Hopefully this will be his last proper season for United.
I couldn't believe it when I read Arsenal wanted Chambers for £16m and now it's completed. If they also sign Schneiderlin and Liverpool sign Jay Rodriguez then they must set some sort of record for transfer income in one window. They still have Osvaldo to get rid of yet as well. If they use this money right and they get another generation of talent (looks reasonably positive with Sam Gallagher and of course they still have Ward-Prowse) then they should have a great team for years to come soon. Obviously this season could backfire horribly though.
I wouldn't be too surprised if Blackpool signed a plethora of foreign players who desperately want to play in England who might take the awful wages for a chance to show their ability in the league. I can imagine that's the only reason Zenjov joined them. They will be the ultimate FM challenge next season.
Now to play FM because this has randomly got me in the mood for it...
