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

[oldtimernow]

So that's 2 girls. Now we need Juan Cup.

Along with the more expensive Juan Sheet...

[oldtimernow]

Juan Sheet was originally being touted to the Pornmeisters as cover for Green... who is as we know prone to spills

[JJ-AV]

Hope MON is talking about Curtis, Luke and Nigel as in his Bale example.

Think he'll give Sidwell another season though.

[Concrete John]

He'll give all of them another season unless the right offers come in.

[TheSandman]

I agree.

One of them could well be a regular, two can do a job instead of someone else and Sidwell is a much better player than we've seen (if you look at him for Reading) whose confidence has been knocked by not playing for us.

I still maintain we were at our best under Martin when we played the three man central midfield of Petrov, Barry and Sidwell even if Sidwell did sod all.

[Concrete John]

I agree.

One of them could well be a regular, two can do a job instead of someone else and Sidwell is a much better player than we've seen (if you look at him for Reading) whose confidence has been knocked by not playing for us.

I still maintain we were at our best under Martin when we played the three man central midfield of Petrov, Barry and Sidwell even if Sidwell did sod all.

He got forward and gave the defenders an extra man to pick up, therefore creating some space for Gabby.  But in general I get your point!

[Glenn Peen]

This one's for Maz. I know he likes bees, so this is a song about his passion to the tune of the Bee Gee's 'Jive Talking':

Hive stalking
Like bees in the wild
Mazrim's hive stalking
And drinking some mild

Duddle-uddle-uh
Duddle-uddle-uh
Duddle-duddle-duh-duh-duh

Duddle-uddle-uh
Duddle-uddle-uh
Duddle-duddle-duh-duh-duh

(Repeat to fade and end by shouting "men" really loud, before doing a star jump and crying)

[Clampy]

I agree.

One of them could well be a regular, two can do a job instead of someone else and Sidwell is a much better player than we've seen (if you look at him for Reading) whose confidence has been knocked by not playing for us.

I still maintain we were at our best under Martin when we played the three man central midfield of Petrov, Barry and Sidwell even if Sidwell did sod all.

He got forward and gave the defenders an extra man to pick up, therefore creating some space for Gabby.  But in general I get your point!

Is'nt that what Sidwell did at Reading though? It worked there. Whenever he comes on as sub for us, he just chases players, brings them down and gives away free kicks. I actually think we've got a very good player in Sidders actually. It's a shame we've not seen it so far.

[Matt Collins]

We did get great results when Sidders played in a 4-5-1, but let's be honest, many of our performances were crap. West Ham, Hull away being two prime examples where we completely jouced it.

I think we looked the best part way through this season when Milner started playing centre mid and Heskey was playing off Gabby.

I'm also seriously annoyed the world cup is over. I just know I'll go back to spending at least 20 mins a day reading about non-existent transfer actiivity until I'm in a physical rage.

[Monty]

I'm also seriously annoyed the world cup is over. I just know I'll go back to spending at least 20 mins a day reading about non-existent transfer actiivity until I'm in a physical rage.

The days between games are giving me a little taster of that. It's horrible yet familiar, like bin juice.

There's no doubt that our best and most consistent results and performances have come with the 4-5-1/4-3-3, but that's less down to Sidwell's doubtless individual talents and more to do with the sheer system, which just allows us greater flexibility. You can just see it, with 4-4-2, that there is a shortfall in midfield and a surplus up front (you see just a guy, standing around doing nothing). It encourages long-ball play as a result, and also leaves you hugely open to the counter-attack. If we had a better player in Sidwell's place we'd have had better results and better performances.

[Concrete John]

I'm also seriously annoyed the world cup is over. I just know I'll go back to spending at least 20 mins a day reading about non-existent transfer actiivity until I'm in a physical rage.

The days between games are giving me a little taster of that. It's horrible yet familiar, like bin juice.

There's no doubt that our best and most consistent results and performances have come with the 4-5-1/4-3-3, but that's less down to Sidwell's doubtless individual talents and more to do with the sheer system, which just allows us greater flexibility. You can just see it, with 4-4-2, that there is a shortfall in midfield and a surplus up front (you see just a guy, standing around doing nothing). It encourages long-ball play as a result, and also leaves you hugely open to the counter-attack. If we had a better player in Sidwell's place we'd have had better results and better performances.

I think the issue can be addressed by a change in peronel also.  If we had a striker capable of effectively dropping off (Martin has tried it with Heskey to little success) then that 4-4-2 becomes more of a 4-4-1-1 and we can get that extra man in that advanced midfield area Sidwell occupied, plus Gabby alone where he does good work.  We also have the issue of not having a naturally defensive midfielder without NRC, so we need to play a 3 in order to give us that and the ability to dominate/dictate games that we don't usually have in a 4-4-2.  By buying a Petrov upgrade with a greater engine and physical presence, we can get that without needing to play 3 players in the centre.

[Merv]

What's become clear in this World Cup is that those teams willing to move from a rigid 4-4-2 to playing three in midfield, or two central midfield players with three more attacking players in front and one centre-forward, have tended to prosper. I think it's the way forward for us, too: have preferred us over the last two seasons playing this 4-3-3/4-5-1 hybrid.

Say no players come in or out, this is how we'd line-up best in that area IMO:

                                       NRC           Petrov

                     Young             Milner             Downing

                                           Gabby

You could switch Young and Milner over.... if Milner goes then Ireland could be a perfect replacement as that attacking CM... when fit, Delph can challenge for a place...

[Greg N'Ash]

from mon's statement i get the feeling offers haven't been exactly flooding in for the firesale 6 and he realises he'll probably be stuck with them unless we sell them at rock bottom prices. people like nrc will probably just see out their contracts like harewood unless a top club comes in, which ain't gonna happen realistically

[The Man With A Stick]

What's become clear in this World Cup is that those teams willing to move from a rigid 4-4-2 to playing three in midfield, or two central midfield players with three more attacking players in front and one centre-forward, have tended to prosper. I think it's the way forward for us, too: have preferred us over the last two seasons playing this 4-3-3/4-5-1 hybrid.

Say no players come in or out, this is how we'd line-up best in that area IMO:

                                       NRC           Petrov

                     Young             Milner             Downing

                                           Gabby

You could switch Young and Milner over.... if Milner goes then Ireland could be a perfect replacement as that attacking CM... when fit, Delph can challenge for a place...

Considering our lack of options up front, it would make sense.

[Concrete John]

from mon's statement i get the feeling offers haven't been exactly flooding in for the firesale 6 and he realises he'll probably be stuck with them unless we sell them at rock bottom prices. people like nrc will probably just see out their contracts like harewood unless a top club comes in, which ain't gonna happen realistically

Well, there have been reports of Shorey to Forest, Sidwell to Fulham and now West Ham, Davies to Spurs (don't believe that one personally) and I'm sure there was talk of Young to another PL club as well?

I think there is interest, but from a fee point of few our negotiating position is weakened by admitting they can go, so in hindsight not the best idea!