Summer transfer rumours, speculation and out-and-out b*ll*cks.

[WA Villan]

Wrong end of the season to blood unknown players. Were in a relegation battle as I see it, we do not have the luxury of time to tinker or the patience to mess about. When we are comfortable as a team / squad whatever we can have a play, but at the moment no. AY should be pushed back out to the wing, and if he doesn't like it tough, he's just another player, who by the way has not committed to the club ( signing new contract) and is not the player he thinks he is. We need players who are more about the team and less about themselves.

[KevinGage]

I think the system GED wants to use he will be looking for defenders who are comfortable in possession and who can pass well , Clark fits the bill but I'm not sure cuellar, dunne and Collins are able to distribute the ball as comfortably, and are prone to hoofing it- I'd expect at least one centre half in and one of those to leave, along with 2 new full backs and a keeper as priority.

Collins was at West Ham under Zola, and Dunne played for Erikkson, both of whom liked their teams to play a passing game.  Collins especially is well capable of playing the ball out from the back.  Our problems this year under Houllier run a bit deeper than that.

I am sorry Risso but you are watching a different pair of centre halves if you believe Dunne and Collins are comfortable on the ball. Collins seems to believe he has the ability to hit 50 yard balls to feet, and doesnt, and Dunne looks as though he is never exactly sure what he is going to do with it. One ball playing centre half will be bought in this summer to play along side Clark IMO.

I didn't say that's what they had been doing, just they were capable of it, Collins especially.  There was a spell of games last season when everybody on here was raving about Collins's distribution, and that was under O'Neill.

Spot on Risso

A feature of JC's early form with us was his ability to pick out accurate long passes from the back. This might have been carried over from his time at WHU where he was encouraged to play the ball out, and may have been knocked out of him either under MON or by a lack of confidence due to our general shiteness this year.

Either way, he looks a fraction of the player he did in the early part of his career with us.

[hartman_1982]

I think the system GED wants to use he will be looking for defenders who are comfortable in possession and who can pass well , Clark fits the bill but I'm not sure cuellar, dunne and Collins are able to distribute the ball as comfortably, and are prone to hoofing it- I'd expect at least one centre half in and one of those to leave, along with 2 new full backs and a keeper as priority.

Collins was at West Ham under Zola, and Dunne played for Erikkson, both of whom liked their teams to play a passing game.  Collins especially is well capable of playing the ball out from the back.  Our problems this year under Houllier run a bit deeper than that.

I am sorry Risso but you are watching a different pair of centre halves if you believe Dunne and Collins are comfortable on the ball. Collins seems to believe he has the ability to hit 50 yard balls to feet, and doesnt, and Dunne looks as though he is never exactly sure what he is going to do with it. One ball playing centre half will be bought in this summer to play along side Clark IMO.

I didn't say that's what they had been doing, just they were capable of it, Collins especially.  There was a spell of games last season when everybody on here was raving about Collins's distribution, and that was under O'Neill.

Spot on Risso

A feature of JC's early form with us was his ability to pick out accurate long passes from the back. This might have been carried over from his time at WHU where he was encouraged to play the ball out, and may have been knocked out of him either under MON or by a lack of confidence due to our general shiteness this year.

Either way, he looks a fraction of the player he did in the early part of his career with us.

I disagree. He may spot a pass from 50 yards but anyone can do that. The frustration is when he tries to spray a 50 yard ball outwide to Downing and it goes over his head for a throw in. Neither are consistent enough with their distribution and IMO neither will be our first choice centre half next year.

[eastie]

Collins and dunne are both decent enough defenders but I don't think they suit the kind of system GED likes and I expect him to be looking elsewhere- certainly I'd keep Collins as back up.

[freakypete]

we all know ash is going good luck to him at least he has saw his contract out....he can be brilliant or frustrating..... we badly need a centre half so why not wes brown? alongside kieran clarke???

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Posible good news, if true.

Stoke are set to make a £4m summer swoop for out-of-favour Aston Villa defender Stephen Warnock.
Full story: Daily Mirror

[WikiVilla]

we all know ash is going good luck to him at least he has saw his contract out....he can be brilliant or frustrating..... we badly need a centre half so why not wes brown? alongside kieran clarke???

He'll have 12 months left when he goes in the summer ?

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

we all know ash is going good luck to him at least he has saw his contract out....he can be brilliant or frustrating..... we badly need a centre half so why not wes brown? alongside kieran clarke???

He'll have 12 months left when he goes in the summer ?

Wes Brown ?? No chance. Collins and Cuellar are as good a pairing as anyone in the prem. Ash has 12 months left on contract and he "is" gonna go in the summer so i hope Houllier has several replacements in mind .......

[WikiVilla]

Seb Larrson is on i believe

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Seb Larrson is on i believe

I guess he'll be moody for a few days and suffer from stomach cramps.

[peter w]

Seb Larrson is on i believe

Which channel? Comedy?

[barrysleftfoot]

   Don't laugh.........would Seedorf be worth a go?

   Can see AC getting a younger squad, letting go of the older olayers, now probably past top 4 teams, but still a good enough player for teams in the chasing group.Much as i liked Pires as a player, i would prefer Seedorf.His experience and versatility would be fantastic, and tbh i think the challenge might intrigue him.If not, a quality old player, past his best, a la Pirs, would'nt be a bad idea.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

   Don't laugh.........would Seedorf be worth a go?

   Can see AC getting a younger squad, letting go of the older olayers, now probably past top 4 teams, but still a good enough player for teams in the chasing group.Much as i liked Pires as a player, i would prefer Seedorf.His experience and versatility would be fantastic, and tbh i think the challenge might intrigue him.If not, a quality old player, past his best, a la Pirs, would'nt be a bad idea.

I'm surprised Seedorf is 34, I thought he was much older than that.

[Holtenderinthesky]

   Don't laugh.........would Seedorf be worth a go?

   Can see AC getting a younger squad, letting go of the older olayers, now probably past top 4 teams, but still a good enough player for teams in the chasing group.Much as i liked Pires as a player, i would prefer Seedorf.His experience and versatility would be fantastic, and tbh i think the challenge might intrigue him.If not, a quality old player, past his best, a la Pirs, would'nt be a bad idea.

I don't think we need another older player coming in and shunting the likes of Bannan, Hogg, Delph etc further down the pecking order.  We have Pires, Petrov and NRC as well as Bradley in addition to the 3 youngsters and even if 2 or 3 of those were to leave I think centre mid is pretty much sorted.  Our main focus needs to be full backs and a goalkeeper imo.

[Shrek]

And a CB, I'd sell Dunne while we can.