Summer 2010 Transfer Thread: B*llsh*t, Rumours & Wishes

[TheSandman]

Steven Defour is a name from the past that I was reminded off. Last I heard he had bad injury and got a letter wishing him well from Fergie. He might be a player who can benefit us would he still be a goer.

Staying with Belgian football I see Jelly Van Damme or whatever who we were linked to last summer has signed for Wolves.

[KevinGage]

Witsel at Liege is another name that often gets mentioned.

Anyone with a vague interest in the Belgium league (don't laugh) got any updates?

From what I've seen of him he could be one to watch. Defensive midfielder, but has also played wide 6ft plus and a bit of a nasty streak. Haven't really seen too much of him this year TBH.

[Chris Smith]

Yet was a mainstay of one of the tightest defences in the league last year. We all have different opinions on the merits of individuals but it is difficult to argue with the fact that Cuellar was an important part of a very strong defence which goes a long way to justifying the manager's belief in him.

Luke Young was also part of that tight defence until he was unfairly dropped.

As I said we all have different opinions on players, including the manager. The idea that because his view doesn't coincide with yours it is proof of a vendetta smacks of arrogance.

Could be, Ace.  If you conveniently overlook his track record in similar scenarios, that is.

There are examples of pragmatism too, of course. What alcoholics might call a moment of clarity. He didn't ostracise Barry for an extended period after his scathing article in the NOTW. He brought Berger back after they had had a row in late 2006. Even NRC did appear briefly after their contretemps last year.

But in all those situations he was faced with little choice. Barry was our best player; we were crying out for something - anything- when Berger returned to the starting XI in 2007 and injury/ suspension seen NRC return to the fold.

But it seems quite clear that if a player crosses MON and -crucially- MON believes he can get away with keeping him out of the first team, he'll do so.

So remind me Moulder, when was it he fell out with Young?

[KevinGage]

Seeing as you asked so nicely:

It seems even his own players can not see the logic. Speaking after Saturday's defeat, Luke Young said: 'I'm not sure how the manager views it, but I think  the lads feel it is a waste of time putting all the effort in on Wednesday if we are not going to go over there and try and finish the job."

There were numerous references to being unhappy at being played out of position in the second half of the last campaign too, particularly around the time of the defeat at home to Tottenham and the Liverpool drubbing.

Though you probably didn't see those either.

[OCD]

Witsel got the reputation for being a bit nasty after breaking someone's leg. What I didn't know at the time was that the guy whose leg he broke made Vinny Jones look like Gary Lineker. That guy actually went out to purposely put people out of action, it was only a matter of time before karma got him.

Witsel was given a really hard time about it from the press, despite publicly apologising. It could be the right time to go and get him.

Another possibility might be Jesus Navas if we can persuade him to join a side who aren't in the Champions League.

[Chris Smith]

http://www.football.co.uk/aston_villa/cautious_martin_oneill_leaves_eight_at_home_as_villa_head_for_cska_moscow_rss65659.shtml
] Seeing as you asked so nicely:

It seems even his own players can not see the logic. Speaking after Saturday's defeat, Luke Young said: 'I'm not sure how the manager views it, but I think  the lads feel it is a waste of time putting all the effort in on Wednesday if we are not going to go over there and try and finish the job.

There were numerous references to being unhappy at being played out of position in the second half of the last campaign too, particularly around the time of the defeat at home to Tottenham and the Liverpool drubbing.

Though you probably didn't see those either.

Moscow I see. So he was dropped at the end of last season was he? I hadn't realised that.

I know you love to find hidden agendas in everything but I think generally the most obvious answer is the correct one. In this instance he lost his place due to being on compassionate leave and during that time MON decided he preferred what Carlos offered at right back.

[phantom limb]

Another possibility might be Jesus Navas if we can persuade him to join a side who aren't in the Champions League.

As good a player as he is, Navas suffers from crippling homesickness to the extent that he couldn't go away with the national team when they called him up. The last I heard he's meant to be improving but I couldn't see him going anywhere because of it.

[KevinGage]

Moscow I see. So he was dropped at the end of last season was he? I hadn't realised that.

I know you love to find hidden agendas in everything but I think generally the most obvious answer is the correct one. In this instance he lost his place due to being on compassionate leave and during that time MON decided he preferred what Carlos offered at right back.

As soon as MON was in a position to distance him from the first team, yes. That's effectively what happened.  Compassionate leave might have put MON in a position when he initially had to go with one of Beye or Cuellar.

It doesn't then explain why he persisted with Cuellar.

So rather than finding reasons to justify what appears to be a deeply flawed decision, we can instead look at MON's previous track record when it comes to dealing with dissent in the ranks.

Y'know, the most obvious answer usually being the correct one, and all that.

[barrysleftfoot]

Navas is a very good player, not sure hes what we need, but has trouble leaving his own city, let alone leaving Spain.

[Ads]

Witsel got the reputation for being a bit nasty after breaking someone's leg. What I didn't know at the time was that the guy whose leg he broke made Vinny Jones look like Gary Lineker. That guy actually went out to purposely put people out of action, it was only a matter of time before karma got him.

Witsel was given a really hard time about it from the press, despite publicly apologising. It could be the right time to go and get him.

Another possibility might be Jesus Navas if we can persuade him to join a side who aren't in the Champions League.

The challenge though is horrendous. He got all the stick he deserved for it, as it truly was awful.

[PaulTheVillan]

That is sick.

[Legion]

Utterly disgusting. Disgraceful. Worst I think I've ever seen.

[OCD]

You can only hope he's learnt from it.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Getting back to Beckford, where does all this 'he's free so he's worth a punt' mularkey come from?
There is no such thing as a free transfer, the fee would be given to Beckford over the period of a 4 year contract.
He's apparently getting £25,000 per week, so Everton's total outlay is £10.2m!!!

No way is that 'worth a punt'

[Risso]

I know you love to find hidden agendas in everything but I think generally the most obvious answer is the correct one. In this instance he lost his place due to being on compassionate leave and during that time MON decided he preferred what Carlos offered at right back.

That doesn't even remotely tally with what actually happened.

Luke Young had got back in the team and was playing really well.  Warnock sustained an injury, so Young was played at left back.  Then when all of the back 5 were fit again, it was Young who was left out, despite playing well.  if players were dropped after bad performances, then Cuellar after his nightmare against Blackburn should have been given a rest, but wasn't.  The only logical conclusion is that O'Neill saw Young as the player he didn't mind falling out with.  I've asked before and I've never received an answer as to what he did to deserve to be dropped.