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

[Concrete John]

It's hard to trust him to get things right when the player he puts in at right back is often so unsure of his position and so sloppy with the ball. Cueller is one of the best centre backs in the league, better than James Collins, so why not put him in there and play a proper full back at right back? The same could be said of NRC in 08/09. NRC can be immense for us so often in the middle of the park and then get left out or put in at right back or something. Granted since the bust up I can understand him being left out when he was fit(I know he was injured for a good part of last season before it's pointed out to me). MON does seem to have his favourites, remember in the spring when the side never changed and Petrov and Gabby looked knackered when they could have done with a rest?

Or you could argue it's easy to trust him when the player we don't agree with was a mainstay of one of the best defences in the league last season.

I'm a fan of NRC and think he should be played more often.  But as you say an argument like that means it's difficult to keep him around and with injuries aswell can't argue with the games he got in 09/10.

[ktvillan]

I think the main thing that bugs me about the whole situation (aside from the attempts to justify it ;0 )
is the suspicion that it isn't entirely a football-related decision.

Sorenson was ostracised and not up for selection despite still being on the books when Carson was having a 'mare. Whatever the doubts some might have  had about Tommy, he was far better than Carson.

Ditto NRC. Again, he might have his deficiencies. As often mentioned, he has plenty of heart, commitment and strength, but his passing is suspect. Fair enough. But Sidwell can't pass tackle or shoot and has still seen more game-time in NRC's favoured position.

If Cuellar was preferred purely on the basis that MON believes that picking him increased our chances of success on matchday then I could just about swallow it, as illogical and misguided as it may seem. But as mentioned on the Luke Young thread, the decision probably has more to do with Luke's comments pre Moscow and voicing his concerns about playing out of position for an extended period.

That's not the way pick to a team, omitting players because of grudges and picking inferior players in their place. That can only weaken your chances of success.

Well argued. I have thought this for a while. Sorenson, wasn't so bad, NRC, well, he did end up in a scrap with the boss so his being cold shouldered (without going into how pissed off I was to see MON play him at right back two seasons ago) can be understood but the Luke Young situation is the one decision I will not be able to forgive or understand. He is one of the best right backs in the business, our results with him in the side before Christmas were very impressive and yet he sits out the second half of the season on the bench.

Let's hope Milner, Dunne and Friedal stay on MON's good side before he banishes them to the reserves.

I'd agree too, well put.  I think it's obvious to anyone who cares to take their claret and blue blinkers off that O'Neill has his favourites club and tends to be quicker than most managers to ostracise those who show any signs of dissent, however mild.

[Bosco81]

It seems more are in favour of signing Beckford on a free than Michael Owen last year, I don't see the point in holding Nathan Delf back with a signing like Beckford, we need a new starting centre forward, something Beckford certainly isn't it.

[VinnieChase84]

If Beckford was really that decent im sure it wouldnt have just been Everton in for him! I dont belive for one second that we actually wanted him as im sure if we did he would have joined us!

It could turn out to be a stroke of genius from Moyes but then it could be a disaster. After all most top draw championship/league 1 players havnt exactly set the prem world alight when they have played!? Nugent, Chopra, Jason Scotland to name just a few!!And they were more successful in a higher league than Beckford!

[Irish villain]

But will MON throw in Delf?  Had he played as many games as Heskey last season I bet we'd have scored more goals. He's going to be a goal machine. Heskey has been anythign but a goal machine.

[Concrete John]

But will MON throw in Delf?

I think we'll see more of him next season than we did last.  Which is what makes a player like Beckford pointless for us.

[Chris Smith]

I think the main thing that bugs me about the whole situation (aside from the attempts to justify it ;0 )
is the suspicion that it isn't entirely a football-related decision.

Sorenson was ostracised and not up for selection despite still being on the books when Carson was having a 'mare. Whatever the doubts some might have  had about Tommy, he was far better than Carson.

Ditto NRC. Again, he might have his deficiencies. As often mentioned, he has plenty of heart, commitment and strength, but his passing is suspect. Fair enough. But Sidwell can't pass tackle or shoot and has still seen more game-time in NRC's favoured position.

If Cuellar was preferred purely on the basis that MON believes that picking him increased our chances of success on matchday then I could just about swallow it, as illogical and misguided as it may seem. But as mentioned on the Luke Young thread, the decision probably has more to do with Luke's comments pre Moscow and voicing his concerns about playing out of position for an extended period.

That's not the way pick to a team, omitting players because of grudges and picking inferior players in their place. That can only weaken your chances of success.

What bugs me is that everytime Martin drops a player it's presumed to be because of a row.  Once again, I would play Young there ahead of him myself, but that does not mean that the manager isn't seeing something we're not.  

Agree with him?  No.  Trust him to be doing what he thinks is right?  Yes.

It's hard to trust him to get things right when the player he puts in at right back is often so unsure of his position and so sloppy with the ball.

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.

[Gareth]

I bet beckford gets more goals than any Villa player next season, which pisses me off.

Before we go too mad lets not forget that for all the hype this is a player who did not even get voted by his fellow pro's in that league into their team of the year!  Lambert & Holt were the strikers.

Bobby Zamora scored loads for Brighton in that league but took 5 years to make any impression in the Prem...Guy Whittingham scored loads in lower leagues, never made it in the top league....Moyes has taken a punt on Beckford, it might work or it might not.

[berneboy]

I bet beckford gets more goals than any Villa player next season, which pisses me off.

Before we go too mad lets not forget that for all the hype this is a player who did not even get voted by his fellow pro's in that league into their team of the year!  Lambert & Holt were the strikers.

Bobby Zamora scored loads for Brighton in that league but took 5 years to make any impression in the Prem...Guy Whittingham scored loads in lower leagues, never made it in the top league....Moyes has taken a punt on Beckford, it might work or it might not.

Now then, Gareth, stop being balanced and reasonable - it just won't do!

[Concrete John]

I always think it's hardest for strikers to make the jump up than any other position.  Mainly as those that thrive lower down are usually a yard or two quicker than the defenders they face, which they won't be in the Premier league.

In the last 10 years, what strikers have made the jump up and done well?  I would exclude players such as Defoe who went out on loan, so that leaves the likes of Doyle or Zamora.  I think you have to go back to Kevin Philips with Sunderland to see a striker come up really excel.

[Risso]

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.

[ozzjim]

Luke Young played when Carlos was in the centre and Collins out, which was when our best run of clean sheets came if I recall correctly.

[Greg N'Ash]

he's better than Heskey but then who isn't. its all about risks i suppose. Everton's is a  minimal one as even if he's only good enough as back-up he's not cost Harewood style money. i don't really see it as more of a risk than spending 10m plus and 50k a week on a 30 yer old out of sorts Keane thats for sure

Fee wise probably not, but I wouldn't be convinced he won't be on something like his £27,500-a-week wages!

26k reportedly. still works out favourably. if he does half decently they'll get a transfer fee. if not he's cost them nowt in transfer fee's. a decent gamble i'd say given the manager's judgement

I suppose it's a 'wait and see', but I don't think he'll make a huge impact and wouldn't want him here.

Over 4 years it's still £5m.  If he doesn't do well, which I expect to be the case, then they may have trouble shifting him out as we did with Harewood.

perhaps but its going to be 3/4 years before he even approaches the cost of Harewood on transfer fees, let alone wages, and i'm guessing Kenwright is more than willing to let his manager have a punt on lower league talent due to his record

[ozzjim]

If they want rid, a championship club would take him for a couple of million and he would go if not playing games. As it is, I reckon he will get 10-12 goals next season.

[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.