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

[TheSandman]

I don't quite get why we have to get rid of one of Reo Coker and Petrov... I'd happily see the back of both. As Chris says Reo Coker is not good enough for where we want to be and in my view Petrov is getting a bit too old and is starting to lose his legs.

A new defensive midfielder to replace Reo Coker and hopefully Delph stepping up to replace Petrov would be my plan for next season.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

I don't quite understand the Reo Coker love in. Decent enough at the limited job he does but we're going to need far better if we want to progress.

Yes, I agree, if we had a player that brings us all the strengths of Reo Coker but also composure and class on the ball that would be ideal.
But there's a lot to admire with him. He gives it everything, never stops working, is strong, mobile and a leader on the pitch. He's very useful to have in the squad. Flawed, but also with a lot to offer.
Anyway, I dont see a love in but justified appreciation of his talents.

As Mazrim points out, he's the sort of person you want in the squad, not necessarily in the first 11.
You're not going to get a squad of 22 world beaters.
Ideal to have on the bench.

[BannedUserIAT]

I don't think NRC is good enough for where we want to be either.
Trouble is, thanks largely to a four-eyed, Irish, crime-fetishist, we're not even close to where we want to be.
Hence, Nige is good enough...for at least another season.

[Dante Lavelli]

Hence, Nige is good enough...for at least another season.

...yeah but is it worth offering NRC a new contract?  His runs out in the summer, so we will not get another year unless we extend his contract.

Personally I would not unless we can sell Petrov.  It would be my aim to keep one of them and buy a better replacement.  My guess would be that it would be difficult to shift Petrov (due to the MON wages) and therefore NRC loses out on default.

[Mazrim]

It depends on whether his demands were reasonable. He can't expect to be on big money and if he asks for it he can go elsewhere, but if they're reasonable, why not. If he gets a better offer, good luck to him.
The point is he can still do a job for us for years. And no, I'm not suggesting as an autmatic starter either.

Let me ask you guys this though, if Reo Coker wasnt there on Sunday, out muscling the so called hardman Wolves midfield and getting stuck in, what would have happened? As things stand now, who can do that job? Who can we call on to break up play and win the ball for us?
Yes, the long term plan would be to improve on him but even if we buy two players who are better at what he does, he would still be a viable option as cover or rotation.

[KevinGage]

Agreed Maz.

He offers us things that none of our other midfielders can at present.

It's a team game, no point focussing on what he can't do. He brings enough to the table to be a in our starting XI as it stands and should probably have featured a whole lot more during his time with us. But that's a separate argument for a different day.

We hopefully have a management set up now that might be a bit more pro-active and -If NRC decides to move on as is his right when his contact winds down- the hope will be that we've already sourced an adequate replacement. Or ideally an upgrade.

We'll cross that bridge when we get to it.

[Salsa Party Animal]

There is rumours Leicester City will have Martin O'Neill as next manager. Let hope he will buy Petrov.

If Carew got agreement to join Club X in Country X we should contact them and tell them they can have him now for £100,000. 

[Crabman]

[quote author=Mazrim link=topic=40222.msg1593951#msg1593951 I would like a "quarterback" player who is physically strong, can screen the defence and pick passes out and another box to box player with a bit of everything. That would complete our midfield. We have the attacking midfielders and wingers.
[/quote]
Bid for Diarra from Real In January?

[Monty]

I wouldn't say Diarra's the quarter-back type Maz was thinking of. More Xabi Alonso mould (not him, obviously, bit beyond our reach).

[barrysleftfoot]

  When 100% fit, Delph has the ability to play that "quater-back" role , with AYoung/Gabby/Downing/Ireland/Albrighton in front.We need another Milner to play on the RHS of midfield.

[Monty]

Delph has a good range of passing, but I'm not sure he has the vision or the tactical awareness to play that deep-lying playmaker role. Plus you don't want to limit his surges forward too much.

[JUAN PABLO]

There is rumours Leicester City will have Martin O'Neill as next manager. Let hope he will buy Petrov.

If Carew got agreement to join Club X in Country X we should contact them and tell them they can have him now for £100,000. 

I heard this yesterday..      cant see it , he will be waiting for his Liverpool..    But I would love to see Sidwell at LCFC

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Ye also think MON is waiting for liverpool job. Even would go as far as to say he has already had the nod .......

[ROBBO]

A lot of faith is being put in Delph, even if he is as good as some think he will take a long time to get over the injury and be match fit. Petrov is looking the weak link in the midfield, the fact that he can only see out the first half is a worry. Like most new managers Houllier will want his own players in so look for players to be sold that might suprise.

[KevinGage]

I'd see us getting the best initially from Delph wide left, or left of a central three.

Break him in gradually. Give him a chance to get fully up to speed with the demands of the Premiership in an area where if he does make the odd mistake it won't be so heavily punished. I know he played CM for Leeds (though he did also play wide for them) but it's a world apart doing that in League One rather than the Prem.

I also think playing him there will give us a different dimension and fresh impetus when he does finally make it back. More bite than Downing for one thing (not hard) and better cover for Warnock. Warnock might be the key beneficiary, in fact. Able to dictate the play further up the field and return to something approaching his form last year.

In time he might be more comfortable and effective playing more central, but I don't see that in a quarterback/ deep position. He's not a Tom Huddlestone-type player. He is slight of frame, likes to take on opponents and beat them (and is good at it) and would be most effective in the final third. His tenacity and willingness to get stuck in is a bonus, his allround game shouldn't be limited because of it.