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

[Ryu]

Merv:

That's my main concern about us playing 4-4-2 as things stand right now. Our midfield players aren't strong enough to play with two central midfielders: two/three years ago we had Barry, Petrov in his prime, NRC, Milner. Even when Milner played RM he was a player who dug in deep, could play narrower.


This is right regarding a straight 442. Playing two wingers is very exciting and all but when we were fairly successful doing it I think we won a lot of games on the counter and by the skin of our teeth thanks to having a good defence under MON and Milner doing the job of two men in midfield. And even then we tended to fade at the end of season when it all caught up with the players. I look at Man u playing say Nani on one wing and park on the other as the best example of a balanced midfield 4 in the prem.

[Quiet Lion]

So I have seen Bannan play well for 45 mins against Man U, put a great ball in to Albrighton at Fulham, score a great hatrick against Man U reserves, and show flash of skills.
 
But that half a game vs Man U aside I have rarely seen him make an impact on a game. I hope he does 'make it' but he looks more like a Jason Koumas type player to me so far.

[Mister E]

I wasn't imagining playing bannan and albrighton and downing in the same diamond.  More like downing or bannan at the top with. Delph, Makoun and Petrov as options in the middle. Depending on who we were playing Bannan could maybe play in the middle as well. Hopefully we'll sign Adam as he's chubby enough not to get bullied!

It was just an idea, anyway...

Hey I quite like the idea of a diamond, I just don't think that McLeish has it in mind. And I disagree with him fundamentally.

Agreed - with the type of players we have a 4-3-3 / 4-5-1 approach seeems to work best.
We certianly look vulnerable through the middle when we play 2 up top and two wingers. Maybe he'll only play one winger (as he often did on the Dark Side) and play three CMF (using one of the FB to attack and leaving the other efectively as part of a back three when in possession).

[Villafirst]

So I have seen Bannan play well for 45 mins against Man U, put a great ball in to Albrighton at Fulham, score a great hatrick against Man U reserves, and show flash of skills.
 
But that half a game vs Man U aside I have rarely seen him make an impact on a game. I hope he does 'make it' but he looks more like a Jason Koumas type player to me so far.
[/quote


That's rubbish. Bannan is still very young (only 21) and still learning. Players need time to develop and mature - he's shown great potential for the future.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

The only problem I've seen with Bannan is it's taken him 15/20 minutes to settle into a game, which is far too long. He does need more experience but he'll also need to be patient, something I'm not sure he'll have. I'd certainly like to see him in a more advanced midfield role, rather than playing too deep as he did last season. The kids got talent and a great touch on him, the sort that will prefectly suit Bent running off the defence. If we can use him in the same way Lee Hendrie worked with Angel, we really could create a threat through the middle, as well as the from the wings with Downing and Albrighton.

[BILL DE VALL]

young Barry has skills a lot of professional footballers would kill for
there are plenty of 90 min 'knees to water' midfield dynamos with a crap 1st touch and poor passing skills
NRC for one!
he should be given game time -his passing is sublime-and other things that rhyme

[Mazrim]

When are we playing next Bill?

[Merlin]

If AM has done his homework and listens to Cowans he'll realise that our better results came when we employed a
4 - 5 - 1 formation - with it turning quickly into 4 - 3 - 3 when in posession.
Darren Bent works best as a lone striker and with 2 players supporting and an inventive midfielder behind him - we'll be a very offensive team next season.
Whilst I'm a fan of Bannan - one of AM's tasks is to get into the mind of Stephen Ireland, who still could play a big part for us next season - there is no denying the talent ... but its whats between his ears that seems to be the problem.

[BILL DE VALL]

When are we playing next Bill?

Villa or cudamantra?
or fifa??
to what do refer?

[BILL DE VALL]

When are we playing next Bill?

Villa or cudamantra?
or fifa??
to what do you refer?

[eastie]

Hopefully new signings to add options in goal, right back ,Centre half, midfield and wide.


If Ireland and warnock rediscover their best form they could be very useful.

[TheSandman]

Another shout for a 4-3-3 rather than a 4-4-2. I know it's harsh on Gabby but we need that extra man in midfield. If we are going to have raiding fullbacks then we need intelligent central midfield players who will help the defence and plug the gaps when we go forward. The problem is that that leads us to lacking a link to the frontman if we go two up top so we need a third midfielder to provide that link.

McLeish I think may intend on playing only one winger with a midfielder helping out defensively on the other side.

[eastie]

I'd agree bentman, I think mcleish will only tend to use one winger and the extra man in midfield playing in a more narrow role tucking in and allowing the full back to push on.

Ireland could be the creative link if mcleish can manage to get inside his head and would be ideal with his quick feet and slick passing .

[Toronto Villa]

In terms of formation I'd imagine a lot will depend on whether Downing fucks off or not. It might force us to look at playing a different style, maybe with a wing back on the left. If Warnock can be brought back to life he'll influence that decision too, because he likes to come forward.

[pedro25]

Don't think we can sign another creative attacking midfielder until Bannan and Ireland have been given another opportunity to showcase their undoubted talents.  We will probably need one extra wide man, but I'm happy with a young player to cover Marc and Downing and spending the rest of the Ash money elsewhere.