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

[Dave]

Just me that has no interest in Shay Given then?

In Guzan we've already got a keeper that is a very good shot-stopper but wouldn't come off his line if his life depended on it.

At 35 and for the money he would cost, it's a big "no thank you" from me.

[Ger Regan]

Without knowing the figures involved I'm assuming that as Given was a signing rather than a youth prouduct and senior pro not a youngster he would be on significantly more than Ireland was. If we're in the business of trimming the wage bill then he's probably out of our range at the moment.

Without going back to check his exact words, but didn't the General say that they would bring players in (on high wages) if it made sense, or something along those lines? I can envisage them seeing a longer-term replacement for Brad making sense.

[Legion]

A bit late (to put it mildly) to contribute towards this thread but there are three months or so to go before the January transfer window opens. All conjecture at such an early stage.

[peter w]

Given
Owen
French Player 1
French Player 2
Keane
Agger

[Toronto Villa]

Given would represent the next 10 years of solid goalkeeping

assuming he plays until he's 45

Bloody hell. I thought he was 30-31 for some reason. Ok 5 years of solid keeping

Runs off before I make a bigger tool of myself..

[Mazrim]

I'm still not sure whether Guzan will make it or not. So in the meantime I would rather get a long term number 1 who doesnt have question marks hanging over him. Some of you are saying its not a priority. Presumably then you will be comfortable with Guzan stepping in if anything happens to Friedel.

I wouldn't panic as such, but a long term top keeper would be up one of the first three things I'd do, say. After new class defensive midfielder and striker. Then it would be new keeper and fullback cover.

You know the youth team as well as anyone Maz - don't we have a young lad who could be top class (Ben Siegerst I think)? I would have thought it best to get a year or two more out of Brad until he's ready rather than buying someone who could only stand in his way.

I have very high hopes for Siegrist and he is hotly tipped to make it at the very top but he's still very young in keeper terms. I would rather just let him learn his trade for the next three or four years. If nothing else because keepers are hammered if they make mistakes and some never recover. I want him absolutely ready when his time comes.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

That crap site caughtoffside say that we're giving Ciaran Clark in part exchange for Owen.

That site has a 100% failure record at transfer predictions, i'm surprised the BBC even feature it.

[PaulTheVillan]

Clark has been very good in the home games he's played in.

Not sure if we can count Newcastle away as Dunne has had a shocker this season.

He's ahead of Davies IMO.

[JJ-AV]

I'd be happy enough to let Friedel, Davies and Carew go on frees next Summer. that should be around £130k a week or £6.7m a year off the wage bill.

I'd imagine next Summer it'd be much easier to shift Sidwell, Beye and Heskey when they've only a year left too. Especially the latter two. NRC and Luke don't have long left on their deals either do they?

I think along with the Gardner and Milner money Houllier should have enough to spend and find it easy enough to ship some out and free up spaces in the squad for cheaper upgrades.

[pauliewalnuts]

Given would represent the next 10 years of solid goalkeeping

assuming he plays until he's 45

Bloody hell. I thought he was 30-31 for some reason. Ok 5 years of solid keeping

Runs off before I make a bigger tool of myself..

We're in an awkward place with the keeper (if we decide something needs to be done).

Brad is, let's face it, good enough. If he's not as good as he used to be, that's forgiveable given his age, but he's hardly a liability. In fact, he's been very good this season, certainly compared with some of the other members of the team.

That leaves us with the conundrum of whether to replace Friedel, or whether to buy in more convincing back up to him.  Replacing him would be difficult, but - strange though this will sound - I think buying a decent back up to him would be even harder, as we'd be looking at someone who would be happy to be our number 2 at least for a while.

Much as I would like Guzan to succeed, I haven't really seen enough to convince me he's good enough, whereas I've seen more than enough to make me think he won't make it. If Brad were injured this week, I'd feel very worried about Guzan taking over.

[Toronto Villa]

The back up thing eliminates Given. Whoever buys him will need to guarantee him first team football which is why Arsenal fits the bill in my opinion. I can only think that he's on stupid money as to why Wenger didn't sign him, because he's better than Schwarzer. I agree with you though that Friedel is good enough for this season and possibly next, so you'd have to think Rafa will be advising GH about our long term strategy on goalkeepers at some stage.

[DrGonzo]

I reckon we should have a punt on that Jermain Beckford fella, he's unproven at this level but you've gotta take a chance sometimes.

[Chris Jameson]

I reckon we should have a punt on that Jermain Beckford fella, he's unproven at this level but you've gotta take a chance sometimes.

He looks the class striker we all knew he was, reckon he might get to take a chance sometime in 2011/12, probably whilst on loan at Huddersfield.

[Monty]

I'll probably get shot for this, but I wouldn't mind having Lucas if he were available. People in Brazil rate him as a real all-round midfielder who isn't being allowed to do as well as he could at Liverpool because of their stifling tactics. Statistically I believe his pass completion and tackling is right up there, and he was also known in Brazil for breaking late into the penalty area to score. If he could combine the two games he might be the player we need.

[Somniloquism]

I'll probably get shot for this, but I wouldn't mind having Lucas if he were available. People in Brazil rate him as a real all-round midfielder who isn't being allowed to do as well as he could at Liverpool because of their stifling tactics. Statistically I believe his pass completion and tackling is right up there, and he was also known in Brazil for breaking late into the penalty area to score. If he could combine the two games he might be the player we need.

You sound like a concise John Blackwell and I claim my 93.03 Norwegian Krone.