Interesting, but first question: where’s this £30 million coming from?

Alan Hutton and Aiden McGeady? Hutton left Rangers because Spurs were doubling his salary – after long protracted negotiations, and even then he was told by Rangers that he was going whether he liked it or not. He would angle for a move to a bigger club than us, back to Rangers (though there is no way they can afford him at present), or worst case, Birmingham. McGeady is possibly the biggest talent in Scottish football – we have absolutely no chance of getting him. A lot of clubs are interested in him.

As for your valuation of Kirkland, it is way too high. He plays constantly on a knife’s edge. I’ll not harp on about how and why I know, but there is one big Scottish club and two Premiership clubs I know of where their opinion of him is that he’s a very good keeper on his day, but he is far too much of a risk to shell out on a transfer fee plus a substantial salary.[/quote]

Huton’s circumstances have changed now though, I don’t think he would get a bigger club and i don’t think McGeady would care which Premiership club he moved to. He is always in and out of the squad with his Scharner style attitude and i would take the gamble, People have been talking about him for a few years but he is still up there so maybe now is the time to move.

I think Whelan needs to speculate to accumulate, It’s about time and after all he has promised many millions on transfer funds which no manager has ever recieved. If we are just going to mess about trying to finish 17th every season then we might as well just do what West Brom do. That would kill it for me. I don’t really want Whelan to go but we need fresh ideas from somewhere.

Oh i know, im expecting that Williamson fella from Swansea and probably a couple of Faroe Island type players who cost about £50,000 each and probably try and tempt Dean Windas out of retirement for a swansong but those names i mentioned are all realistic i reckon.

The media have built Kirkland up to be this sleeping England giant in the waiting, Someone like Burnley or maybe Sunderland would shell out 3m no hesitation.

Okay off the top of my head with 30m i will have a go. I don’t scout players for months on end obviously because im not a football manager, However i consider myself to have a lot of knowledge when it comes to football and i think i could build up a half decent squad with 30m so here we go.

Goalkeeper – Carlos Kameni – Espanyol – Available for free in the summer i believe so get in there for him now, Very good at shot stopping and very athletic.

Goalkeeper No.2 – Alex Smithies – Huddersfield – around 500k/1m probably – 19 years old and has burst onto the scene in the last couple of seasons, Seen a lot of him and every time i do im impressed. Commands his area and Defenders superbly for a young lad.

Left Back – Would like to say Gareth Bale but will be too pricey so…
Nicky Shorey – Aston Villa – around 2m – Out of favour and an England international, Must admit i wasn’t too keen in Reading’s first season but won me over.

Right Back – Alan Hutton – Tottenham 3/4m – Signed from Rangers a couple of seasons back for 9m, Isn’t going to get in for Corluka and they would most likely sell. Excellent at both going forward and supporting the Defence.

Centre Back – First one i would have a go for would be Michael Dawson – Tottenham – 4/5m. Good experience for a 26 year old lad, Been in and out of the side for a couple of seasons and needs regular football week in week out.

Centre Back – Fabricio Coloccini – Newcastle – 5m, Vast experience in Europe and International foorball, Musty be itching to get back in the big league and i dont think Mike Ashley would turn down 5m.

Right Winger – Aiden McGeady – Celtic – 6m – Hightly rated and highly skillful and quick. Has the attributes to take the Premiership by the scruff of the neck and is desperate to play in the big league with murmours of a rift at Celtic and their debt it could be a can go situation.

Attacking Midfielder/Striker – The Problem Position, We arent really sure whether Martinez wants a striker or a very attacking midfielder so i will add my own interpretation.
Bojan – Barcelona – Loan, Apparently was near to joining Blackburn on a season long loan so maybe available…….. If not
Giovanni Dos Santos – Tottenham – 3/4m, Signed as one of the most promising players in the world then somehow ended up self destructing and going out for a succesful loan at Ipswich. Exciting young player and probably one of the best bargains around.

Thats around 25m and a team that looks a hell of a lot better on paper than our current one. It would go

………………………………..Kameni………………………………

Hutton…………….Dawson……………Colocinni………….Shorey

……………………….Thomas………..Diame……………………….

…………McGeady…………………………………….N’Zogbia……..

……………………….Dos Santos……………………………………..

…………………………………….Rodallega…………………………..

A very achievable team and a much better one than we have now. It’s not bad for starters. Then build and build and build on it again over time.
…………………………….

McMillan didnt play enough, Good enough sure but Kevin Sharp did a fantastic job for us in the 90s, People forget the quality of some of the individuals we had then. Kilford was also a cracker but never rolls off the tongue does it.

Whereas you are about as funny as both. Which is not funny one little bit

To be fair though Vat, We can’t expect miracles straight away, I said this a couple of months ago, As long as we scrap and battle our way to safety this season we need to trust the squad Bob will have built next season. It’s far too early to expect results. Annoying watching the team roll over every couple of weeks granted, But it’s all part and parcel of having a new manager in place and the time these things take. We just have to grin and bare it for now and see the rolercoaster times out until better times arrive. It was the same with Brucie, He needed a season to create the squad he was happy with and even when he buggered off we could have had a couple off better players in certian positions. To use a Martinez quote “we have to look at the positives”. To me the positives are….. Diame, Thomas, Rodallega, Bramble and N’Zogbia are nailed on to keep their positions, Thats 5 very good players to start a good re-build. It’s going to take a while again since all our big guns left. I’d say other than those 5 players every other position is up for grabs. Sorry to say it but there is aspects of Kirkland’s game im not too keen on and there is good quality keepers out there however i wouldn’t be disappointed if he stayed as number one. Im a bit gutted we got shut of Granqvist, i thought he had real potential.

Peter Atherton