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

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Better service? I wish.

[ozzjim]

I'd say someone like Rodallega would be a much more realistic target when Wigan go down.

He's been inconsistant this year but potentially can still improve with better service.

There are few players in the if they drop category.

West Ham, Wigan, Blackburn all have 2-3 players that would help us a bit.

[Mazrim]

Just for the record, I'm not proposing Bendtner as a priority target or anything like it. Just that he's not shit and there are a lot worse players around.
I'd much rather we went after somebody like Gervinho or Sturridge though.

I was saying yesterday during the first half after watching Kenwynne Jones give our centre halves the run around that he might be a good option as a more physical option. He has history playing with Bent too.
But after the second half, I was questioning that.

[hartman_1982]

Just for the record, I'm not proposing Bendtner as a priority target or anything like it. Just that he's not shit and there are a lot worse players around.
I'd much rather we went after somebody like Gervinho or Sturridge though.

I was saying yesterday during the first half after watching Kenwynne Jones give our centre halves the run around that he might be a good option as a more physical option. He has history playing with Bent too.
But after the second half, I was questioning that.

Kenwyne Jones strikes me as a managers nightmare. He has the ability and physical attributes to be a top premier league striker, unfortunately he applies himself far too often.

[Mazrim]

He does seem... inconsistent. Which would seem like a "deal-breaker" to me.

[bertlambshank]

He does seem... inconsistent. Which would seem like a "deal-breaker" to me.

And Bendtner.

[Mazrim]

Yeah, so we go for somebody better then. Great.

[eastie]

Today's press linking espanyol with Carlos cuellar, not sure what fee he would command with only a year on his contract but I would be sad to see him go.

[ozzjim]

Today's press linking espanyol with Carlos cuellar, not sure what fee he would command with only a year on his contract but I would be sad to see him go.

5 million I would think. I am hoping the rumour Liverpool want to pay 14 for Collins comes off!

[eastie]

I'd snatch liverpools hand off for the money back we paid for Collins, this season he has been poor.

[ozzjim]

If we could get our money back on Collins and Dunne I would jump for joy. Both have been so poor this season. Indeed, Luke Young has shown himself capable again at left back so should be kept, but of the back line, I would replace Dunne, Collins, Warnock and Friedel this summer. Thing is I don't think you need to spent the fortunes MON did to do so either.

[WikiVilla]

I'd much rather we kept Cuellar than Collins, better defender by a mile

[Clampy]

Today's press linking espanyol with Carlos cuellar

You mean today's Mirror Eastie? 

I'd prefer to keep him personally, he's never really had a decent run at centre half since he's been here, which is a shame.

[Matt Collins]

Today's press linking espanyol with Carlos cuellar, not sure what fee he would command with only a year on his contract but I would be sad to see him go.

5 million I would think. I am hoping the rumour Liverpool want to pay 14 for Collins comes off!

I think £5m is the uppermost we could expect. We got him for £8m and his real value must have diminished since then. Discounting to take account of the Bosman rule and I reckon it could be as low as £3m.

We could do with a new centre half I think, though not sure who. No real point buying a squad player. I'd only sell Cuellar if we did get someone new in and presuming Collins and Dunne stay (I can't see anyone forking out for Dunne, though could imagine Collins at somewhere like Stoke or Sunderland).

Hangeland? Samba? Bassong? Shawcross? R Johnson? Sakho? Bougherra or is that just silly? Diakhate? I reckon you're talking £7m upwards for any of them.

I'd keep Luke Young but he seems injury prone and oddly better at left back. So two new full backs I reckon. I'd like to think we could get Walker for about £7m. But otherwise, Onouha (who could play CB), Hutton, Clyne (has he regressed?). All of these options are at least £5m unless we spot a Bosman somewhere.

At left back, Taiwo on a free would be good business, but there'll be competition. Otherwise, I reckon Armand Traore (where is he now?) Ryan Bertrand on loan, Jose Enrique (can see him going to Liverpool), Figueroa (weak defensively?) Again, £5-7m minimum I reckon.

So I think that looks like the best part of £20m on the defence to really improve it. With perhaps £2-7m coming in, unless we sold Warnock, Collns and Cuellar which would be yet another serious upheaval at the back.

On balance, I think evidence suggests that you can improve defensive performance as much with organisation as with personnel until you get to the elite level. So there is a prize for stability.

That leads me to thinking we should keep Friedel and at most sell one of our centre halves (Collins / Cuellar). Keep Luke Young too. That still means getting in two new full backs as a minimum for £10m+ unless we get a good Bosman deal.

I'd also very much keep NRC for these reasons. Ideally we would get in much better centre midfielders than we have but given the need to get new defenders in, plus replace AY, I cant see us having the cash.

[olaftab]

Today's press linking espanyol with Carlos cuellar, not sure what fee he would command with only a year on his contract but I would be sad to see him go.

5 million I would think. I am hoping the rumour Liverpool want to pay 14 for Collins comes off!

If  any truth in this we need to convince them that Collins is at his best with Dunne alongside him  and they can have him free. Gets fatty off our wage bill!