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

[Monty]

Out of interest, with what I think are the inevitable arrivals of Robbie Keane and Stephen Ireland, plus the departure of Milner. What formation/line up do people think we will go with next season?

Like I said, I expect an attacking 4-1-4-1, with Young, Stew, Keane and Ireland playing as the four like the Banana Splits for Flamengo in the early 80s. It would be more of a 4-4-1-1 out of possession, but though Gibbo's point about two players being disconnected from the rest of the team is a concern, I think that the link Keane provides would prevent this from happening. Also, I think this team would keep possession far better and far more than we're used to anyway.

[Ads]

Djemba-Djemba is going to West Brom haha!

The last three times I saw him play, once for us away at Liverpool and twice for Odense against us, he actually played well.

I hope the Albion stay up. There I said it.

[OCD]

Watched Tottenham and Man City on ESPN tonight. Keane looked really sharp, like his old self. Ireland still looks like a quality player with the imagination that we've been lacking. We absolutely have to get Ireland and after seeing him tonight, I wouldn't be unhappy with Keane.

[Dante Lavelli]

Anybody reckon this Spurs story is O'Neill asking Harry to do him a favour by making Citeh crack on with a good offer?

Martin tells him we'll take Keane and Bentley off his hands and he gets one of his cronies in the media to drop a story like this? We might not like him, but Martin and Harry have been in the game a very long time after all.

I thought exactly the same thing.  A clever tactic to push Milner's value up.  Some of which will no doubt be added to the Keane transfer fee.

Everyone else gets Man City to subsidise their existence, Villa and Spurs might as well jump on the bandwagon.

[BedsVillain]

Watched Tottenham and Man City on ESPN tonight. Keane looked really sharp, like his old self. Ireland still looks like a quality player with the imagination that we've been lacking. We absolutely have to get Ireland and after seeing him tonight, I wouldn't be unhappy with Keane.

Not too sure how available Ireland really is Stevie wants to stay & fight not too sure if it's just footballer talk to leave on good terms with the fans?!

[Monty]

He may want to stay and fight,but if he's told he has no future he'll go. Besides, it just sounds like diplomatic footballer talk, as you say.

[Greg N'Ash]

Mirror reckons he's off

Stephen Ireland is on his way out of Manchester City after a bust-up with boss Roberto Mancini on the club's trip to New York.

Midfield maestro Ireland clashed with the Italian after the defeat by Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon - and he now looks like being the big loser in the fall-out.

Mancini is not happy with Ireland's form and told the former Republic of Ireland star that he could even be completely left out of City's Premier League squad this season.

News of Ireland's row has already come back to these shores - and interested clubs are now looking to make their move and get the player dubbed 'Superman' by the fans.

Ireland has seen his place in City's first team go from guaranteed to under threat in the past 12 months and the new arrivals have only stretched his patience more.

However the crunch came after Ireland was dragged off after an hour of the Sporting setback and insiders say Mancini gave him a dressing down that left the pair's relationship on the rocks.

The threat that Ireland would not be in the Premier League squad list, which will be named shortly, seems odd as he is a home-grown player and would qualify on those grounds.

But the angry words point towards Ireland leaving sooner rather than later. Sunderland are interested in him but not at the £10million asking price



Read more: http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Manchester-City-transfer-exclusive-Stephen-Ireland-set-to-quit-after-US-tour-bust-up-with-Roberto-Mancini-Exclusive-article537337.html#ixzz0ujr5i2B8
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[Greg N'Ash]

Express


CARLTON Cole and Scott Parker could both be heading out of West Ham in a surprise double exit worth more than £20million.


Stoke City are lining up a record £12m swoop for Cole, who would effectively drop down the pecking order at Upton Park if the Hammers land Nice hotshot Loic Remy, who is also a target for Arsenal and Liverpool.

And, despite claims to the contrary from co-owner David Sullivan, West Ham will also let Aston Villa have Parker – if the price is right.

West Ham are also hoping to boost their coffers by at least £10m with a compensation payout for striker Dean Ashton, who was forced to quit the game through injury last season.

In the meantime the club is understood to have opened preliminary talks with Stoke about Cole. Potters boss Tony Pulis is a big fan of the former Chelsea and England striker who he sees as the perfect target man to lead Stoke’s Premier League charge this season.


Villa boss Martin O’Neill will also find the Hammers owners receptive if he bids enough for Parker as a replacement for James Milner, who looks certain to become the latest big money recruit at Manchester City.

[Mazrim]

For fuck's sake, Why do these papers keep claiming Parker is a replacement for Milner? Not the same sort of player at all.
Parker behind Ireland though could be very effective.

[Greg N'Ash]

For what they'd want i'd say he was too old. Gotta be a younger better option.

[Monty]

I agree with Greg. He's a very good player, but for the price quoted he does seem a bit old. He's not a super-genius, he's a decent player with plenty of limitations we'd notice if we started to see him every week, such as a passing range and consistency that doesn't really match Petrov's.

[Mazrim]

For what they'd want i'd say he was too old. Gotta be a younger better option.

Yes, especially if Flamini really is available for anything like £4m.
Still, Parker for a reasonable fee would be welcome.

[Monty]

For what they'd want i'd say he was too old. Gotta be a younger better option.

Yes, especially if Flamini really is available for anything like £4m.
Still, Parker for a reasonable fee would be welcome.

Agreed, for a reasonable fee. I think it's becoming clear that midfield should be and is our highest priority, especially with Milner leaving. Our goalkeepers seem fine for this year, the defence is nothing if not solid with some good prospects into the bargain, and up front Gabby is really something, the Fonz is really promising, and Carew and Heskey are hardly the worst options in the world. It's our creativity in midfield that's lacking, but also depth in all roles there, and our creativity could be enhanced by Keane's arrival anyway (second striker, attacking midfield - it's the same area of the pitch), so Parker could be very useful.

However, at all prices quoted, give me Flamini please, absolutely hands down.

[eastie]

A striker and if milner goes 2 midfield players plus a right back should be the priority.

Keane, Ireland, Parker and clyne would do for me!

[Rip Van We Go Again]

On Saturday The Times had a list of all the Premier clubs and who'd they signed.
Only one club hadn't signed anybody at all.