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

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Still wonder what has happened to Sidwell. He has the physical aspects. Could Mr H bring in a one to one coach or sports psychologist cause he did have the ability at one stage ? .......

[Mazrim]

He's not that tall. Maybe about 5'9" or 5'10". He's not a powerhouse either. His tackling is more "technical". That is to say, he knows how to win the ball without using strength or fouling people.
He's often been described as "the new Redondo".

Also, I do not agree with a lot of the criticism of him above. He's a fine player. I can understand people wanting a more physical player to be our new defensive midfielder but as far as class goes he ticks all the boxes. His passing and vision is excellent and he reads the game well. From what I've seen anyway.
I want a player who can screen the defence and link up the attacking side with quality passes. I think Gago is up to that but accept there are probably more suitable choices for this league. Maybe Mahamadou Diarra for a few seasons.

[Concrete John]

Slightly left-field suggestion, but how much football is Viera getting at Man City this season?  I may be over egging the French connection, but he'd be what we need and might be a decent short term answer as a loan in Jan if Gezza can't recruit a longterm signing?

[Mazrim]

I'd be inclined to scour the current French youth system, which is very impressive, rather go for Vieira.


As an aside, that boy Altintop can hit 'em!

http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/football/840054-hamit-altintop-volley-goal-for-turkey-vs-kazakhstan-is-this-the-best-ever

[eastie]

Just Reading phil thompsons book and he says houllier always likes to get all his transfer dealings done by June at the latest well before pre season- what a refreshhing change!

[Mazrim]

Yes please. Although then it might be a case of "Fuckin' hell. Why didn't he wait a bit, he could have got x."
Maybe not so much though.

[Concrete John]

I didn;t care about MON waiting until later in the window and I don't care if Houllier goes in early doors.  It's the who and not the when that matters!

[Mazrim]

I agree but getting them in earlier is more beneficial. They do their settling in and feeling their way before the shooting starts.

[BedsVillain]

Don't really rate Gago myself. Never seems to be that comfortable on the ball and never seems to have full control. He does make some nice passes, but I'd much prefer a more combatitive DM. Stephane MBia would be a great option and  I still think Axel Witsel would thrive in the Prem!
Add to one of them, Guillaume Hoarau who I think is a younger more prolific Carew. Then a couple of young gems worth looking at are Andrej Kramarić from Zagreb or Rogelio Funes Mori from River Plate who are both 19 and already on their way to looking the real deal. Hopefully with a more 'internationally' minded manager we may pick up a few of these foreign gems!!

[Monty]

I'd like to get more of a deep-lying playmaker as I think that sort of tempo-dictator in midfield is what we're lacking when Petrov is out of form. Obviously, he'd have to be good at the defensive side of the game as well if we're looking to move forward, but with NRC reborn, Delph in the wings and Petrov out of form and not getting any younger, I think the tempo-dictator is the type of player we should be looking at.

[barrysleftfoot]

  Whats happened to that Belgian fella we was linked with?

[Dante Lavelli]

Defour?  From what I have read he might be that quarterback type player that Monty is referring to.

I'd imagine his time at Liege has probably served it's cause so I'd imagine he'll be looking for a move.  His injury might have put Fergie off (and others) so Villa could be the right club.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Shame. Both of them are good players who could have helped us with our problems in midfield.

Maybe. Something doesn't quite sit right for me with either though.

Portugal decided that Pedro Mendes was a better bet for their position for the World Cup. I'm sure I could be wrong (and I await Mark Kelly to tell me so) but I just get the feeling that they were both young Portuguese players coming through when young Portuguese players were very à la mode.

Querioz decided Mendes was a better bet, unlike the rest of Portugal that would have had Mortinho in the side. Veloso, as I've mentioned many times on here is just crap. Very good shot but never lived up to his potential and the only person I can think of that would lose in a race against Petrov after 80 minutes. Veloso only has two speeds; very slow and stop. He'd struggle to be a box to box player from the 6 yard box to the edge of the penalty area.

You're right about a la mode, poor old Sporting are skint as they've not had anybody to sell apart from Veloso and he hardly went for a fortune. Best young player over here is Benfica's Fabio Coentrão. The kid is absolute class.

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

Don't really rate Gago myself. Never seems to be that comfortable on the ball and never seems to have full control. He does make some nice passes, but I'd much prefer a more combatitive DM. Stephane MBia would be a great option and  I still think Axel Witsel would thrive in the Prem!
Add to one of them, Guillaume Hoarau who I think is a younger more prolific Carew. Then a couple of young gems worth looking at are Andrej Kramarić from Zagreb or Rogelio Funes Mori from River Plate who are both 19 and already on their way to looking the real deal. Hopefully with a more 'internationally' minded manager we may pick up a few of these foreign gems!!

I heard that M’bia was pissed off with having to play at the back rather than his preferred midfield for Marseille so perhaps he would move. Apart from him being a physical player and being highly rated I don’t know much about him.

Wasn’t Funes Mori once on Chelsea’s books?

[TheSandman]

Isn't Funes Mori the guy who won the talent competition to get a trial at Chelsea and become a pro footballer?