Summer Transfer Speculation and Shit

[Maestro]

Can GW re-sign Cripps ...heck just for the fuck of it.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Stupid, signingless friday...

It's a joke we haven't signed anyone in almost 100 hours

[GP]

Can GW re-sign Cripps ...heck just for the fuck of it.

haha lol no

[Maestro]

haha lol no

oh come on, we can make it a season's loan on a pay as you wum basis

[The Emirates Gallactico]

oh come on, we can make it a season's loan on a pay as you wum basis

Don't think Cripps would be able to pass a medical.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

He'd be a fucking millionaire.

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

He'll definitely need a visa.

[Japan Shaking All Over]

Heard he is the force behind Ryan Shawcrosses PR machine

[Harland]

God, that's a tough one! I think we could possibly just about muddle through another year without a DM signing if we had to, but it wouldn't be ideal. Honestly, I do to know - the DM is more needed, and Reus would be more of a cherry-on-the-top signing... but he'd be an absolutely f**king amazing cherry, that could put our attack amongst the best in the world! Sanchez, Reus and Walcott - 3 strikers who can all play either wing - seriously, how would you mark them?And with Özil behind, who can also drift out to either wing, that's a pretty fluid system.

I know it won't happen, but it just feels like there's a real opportunity this summer to get some big deals done while the chance is there, evenif it means going a little out of our comfort zone with the spending - the players are available, we've been hording cash for years, we're getting an extra £60-70m a year from Puma and Emirates, and even the team that finished bottom last year made £60m because of this new TV deal, so I reckon our share must have been getting close to the £90-100m mark? We're probably making more than enough now to get both deals done without sweating it.

Here's a counter question for you though: instead of making this an either/or choice, would you accept making no signings (or minimal squad signings) next summer if we got a bunch of major deals done now?

I think your question is extremely interesting and I thought about it a fair bit.

My answer would be yes.

Assumption would be that the major signings now would take into consideration both factors of (a)quality and (b)an adequate squad depth to challenge on the fronts a club like AFC should be challenging on, mainly the PL and CL.

Every signing brings potential benefit and risk to the team. I think the biggest consideration of risk is essentially the 1) 'gelling in' period, inability to adapt (to both the PL and London) and 2) disruption to the existing squad that offsets the benefits of individual brilliances.

Bringing in players early with a long term plan would negate consideration (1), at least in the second season, whilst accentuating consideration (2) in the first season they are brought in. Essentially, consideration (1) can be negated with an early bedding in process but if we were to face a Reyes type of situation, in which adaptation is simply not possible, buying him one season early or later would not have any difference.

I am assuming that this scenario leverages on money that is expected but not realised materially (CL qualification for e.g being a variable) and for this reason, from a financial point of view, this situation will almost certainly never play out. However there is also an argument to be made that the transfer market inflates much more rapidly than the GBP does, but that is difficult to quantify and appreciating assets will always be accrued from a young player's potential rather than through forex dynamics anyway.

I just feel that hedging for success is our best bet to actually compete in that second season, because if we were to go toe to toe with spending with the oil clubs we would probably not be able to compete. We have to rely on footballing translations (in terms of squad synergy) that are not directly correlated with spending to be able to surpass these oil clubs on the pitch.

Of course, I do not have an in depth understanding of AFC's financial model in relation to our competitors' and therefore I am unable to substantiate my response with hard empirical evidence.

Your question is really intriguing and I would love to hear further responses from other posters indeed.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Lampard looks like he may well be joining Man City on a short term loan.

Football is just getting too stupid for its own good now. Fucking pointless.