January Transfer Window - Rumours, Links, B*llsh*t and Made-Up Nonsense

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

A striker and DF midfielder is priority. With Gary Gardner and Delph back along with Bannan and Clarke we need goals and to tighten up midfield .........

[ozzjim]

See a striker would be nice but we have bigger problems. In all honesty if we essentially (without thinking of the 3-4 million it would cost) swapped Keane for Carew in Jan up front I would be more than happy.

[VillaZogmariner]

It all depends on what formation GH feels is our best way ahead, if he thinks 1 up front with another off the striker then I don't think a striker is that big a priority. However, if he wants to go 2 up front then I do think we need another one.

If it were up to me though I'd still look to bring one in anyway as a more direct competition for Gabby. I'd also want a new GK, Left Back and Defensive Midfielder. I'd also re-call Davies from his loan and tell him he has half a season to prove himself here.

I'd try and ship out some of the deadwood if possible (Salifou, Osbourne) as well as Carew, Sidwell and Dunne. However these may have to wait until the Summer.

Also, once we've got some players back from injury, I'd look to send Hogg, Baker, Lichaj, Herd and Weimann out on loan to Championship clubs to get some more experience.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson is set to raid Aston Villa for England winger Ashley Young in a deal worth £15m.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Aston Villa also plan to firm up their interest in Robbie Keane with a £6m bid.
Full story: Daily Mail

[Merv]

In all seriousness, a tough midfield man, a centre half, a left back and a keeper are all musts in Jan for me.

Those are exactly the positions I feel we need to be strengthening too, just about in order of priority as well (perhaps swap centre half and left back over, considering we currently only have one left back in the squad and his form is questionable.) Goalkeeper.... we could manage until the end of the season with Brad but if someone good is available, don't see why we shouldn't move for him in January.

[Lambert and Payne]

It all depends on what formation GH feels is our best way ahead, if he thinks 1 up front with another off the striker then I don't think a striker is that big a priority. However, if he wants to go 2 up front then I do think we need another one.

If it were up to me though I'd still look to bring one in anyway as a more direct competition for Gabby. I'd also want a new GK, Left Back and Defensive Midfielder. I'd also re-call Davies from his loan and tell him he has half a season to prove himself here.

I'd try and ship out some of the deadwood if possible (Salifou, Osbourne) as well as Carew, Sidwell and Dunne. However these may have to wait until the Summer.

Also, once we've got some players back from injury, I'd look to send Hogg, Baker, Lichaj, Herd and Weimann out on loan to Championship clubs to get some more experience.

If we were to go 1 up front i think we'd need a new striker that knows how to play on his own and scores plenty of goals? Gabby can scare defenders when he runs at players, but cannot finish 1 on 1's.
Right now id give Davies the chance and agree with everything else you mentioned

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

I'm sure we were linked with Traore from Cluj the other week. Not sure what his domestic record is like but he's scored a few in the Chumps League this season.

[Concrete John]

I don't think I'd be looking to sign a CB right now..

OK, we're poor there right now, but we do know both Collins and Dunne are better than this and we also have Carlos.  Personally, I'd target the DCM we all know we need, which would also free up Clark to go back to his best position, and if that doesn't solve the defensive problems look at CB in the summer.

[fredm]

Aston Villa also plan to firm up their interest in Robbie Keane with a £6m bid.
Full story: Daily Mail

[/quote]

Not sure that he is the person to score the goals to keep us up, but am fairly certain that with him on the pitch you would get 100% effort and commitment which should lift the rest of the team, which is a lot more than can be said about Carew at the moment.

[Shrek]

We have needed a striker who can play every week and get goals for years now.

[pablopicasso_10]

I'm sure we were linked with Traore from Cluj the other week. Not sure what his domestic record is like but he's scored a few in the Chumps League this season.

decent enough, but it is the romanian league...

from the looks of it, he is a bit raw, but has the potential to be very good... think john carew with work rate...

[ROBBO]

To even think of letting Young go in January is a nonsense, if we do that we deserve to be relegated.

[BedsVillain]

I don't think I'd be looking to sign a CB right now..

OK, we're poor there right now, but we do know both Collins and Dunne are better than this and we also have Carlos.  Personally, I'd target the DCM we all know we need, which would also free up Clark to go back to his best position, and if that doesn't solve the defensive problems look at CB in the summer.

Completely agree John! We have decent CB's here already, Dunne is having a shocker at the moment and seems to be bringing Collins down with him. I'm not sure if it's to do with their individual heads or the new way in which they are expected to play, but we know they are decent players, because we've all seen them do it consistently before.  I'd much rather get a specialist midfield enforcer in to screen the back four, drop Dunne so he can sort himself out and play Carlos or Clark next to Collins.
Momo Sissoko wouldn't be a bad option, if all he had to do was be physical, break up play and give the ball to Bannan or Delph. If not Sissoko, someone of similar size or stature would be good, one of the young lads from France maybe.
Whatever formation we play, we so desperately need a goal scorer! Gabby is good at putting defences under pressure creating space etc... but we just need someone who's clever, who is always making the right moves and ends up in the right place at the right time. For me Wagner-Love love would fit that bill and should be available, the Brazilian Robbie Keane, imagine it!

So my New Year wish list is:

GK - Stekelenburg (Ajax) get him while their board has no manager to change their minds!
FB - Jorge Fucile (Porto) Can play either left or right back, good defender, great going forward!
DM - Sissoko(Toulouse) or Capoue (Toulouse) or Sissoko (Juve) All 6 foot plus brick walls
ST - Vagner Love (CSKA) Skillful, intelligent and SCORES GOALS! Russian league doesn't start until March and CSKA have loaned him out in the last two January windows.

.......................Stekelenburg...................

L.Young......Cuellar..........Collins.......Fucile

...................Sissoko......Delph.................

.....Albrighton.......V-Love............A.Young
.....(Downing)
........................Agbonlahor.....................

[lovejoy]

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson is set to raid Aston Villa for England winger Ashley Young in a deal worth £15m.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Aston Villa also plan to firm up their interest in Robbie Keane with a £6m bid.
Full story: Daily Mail

Apparently Houllier has said he doesn't like losing his best players but if he does have to lose them he'd prefer it to be to liverpool than anyone else.

[Concrete John]

We have needed a striker who can play every week and get goals for years now.

We couldn't get one under Doug as they were too expensive and it is the one position MON never got quite right.