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

[Merv]

Can't see why it can't work fairly simply. Pulling defenders out of position - why would Heskey, the lumbering ox, be more effective than Gabby? Bent's the central striker, Gabby plays off him - slightly wide, but not touchline-hugging. Bent's no slouch either - imagine a centre-back pairing being dragged one way and the other by those two. Gabby's got the pace to stretch any defence. There might be times, sure, were we use just Bent but plenty of games to play both guys, I'd have thought.

[Chris Smith]

Is this the same chris smith who was saying ash was doing so well in his role last season that there was no way we should change to 442 and play gabby - you were the one saying no let's keep ash there when people were screaming for ash on the wing and gabby up front- typical!

What I mean was he was in and out the side and not given a consistent run and that started even before we signed Bent so nothing to do with 442 or not. For some reason Houllier didn't seem to fancy him.

[Mazrim]

I must admit, if I'm looking forward to anything this season its seeing how McLeish is going to fit Gabby and Bent (as strikers) into the same starting line up and make it work.

I really don't see why this would be so difficult.  Bent is always going to do what Bent does best, ie feed off any free balls in the area and slot them home.  I'd have thought having another decent striker who is supremely quick pulling defenders out of position would make this easier by giving him more space.  We just need to make sure the two of them get the supply, which is going to be difficult if we keep selling our best players.

Well, that's the thing. It's not so much playing them two up front as how the rest of the team is set up in order to get the best out of them and not be more accomodating than Jordan's glammity at the back.
They're both extremely quick, Gabby peerlessly so. They're both strong and hold the ball up well. They're both tidier in possesion than they're given credit for and bring midfield into play. However they're both very similar and you need somebody to be directly responsible for feeding them. That means playing some sort of bastardised 4-4-2 and also means its difficult to use two wingers at the same time.

Can you play Gabby, Bent, Downing AND Albrighton? Maybe but you then need two holding midfielders one of which still needs to get foward (box to box) or it becomes too predictable to counter and nullify. If you involve Ireland then a winger or striker is forfeit surely? Obviously flexibility is key and its nice to have options. Or it will be.
My gut feeling is he'll play two strikers but only press one flank at a time.

Like I say, he's made noises about what he wants to do and it will be interesting to see how it comes to life.

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Anyone in mind Walters?

Moussa Sissoko (toulouse) box to box player. Inter and other clubs interested but would like to come to the prem. Axel Witsel similar but in talks with benfica (7m)  but also would fancy the prem ...........

[UsualSuspect]

I must admit, if I'm looking forward to anything this season its seeing how McLeish is going to fit Gabby and Bent (as strikers) into the same starting line up and make it work.

I really don't see why this would be so difficult.  Bent is always going to do what Bent does best, ie feed off any free balls in the area and slot them home.  I'd have thought having another decent striker who is supremely quick pulling defenders out of position would make this easier by giving him more space.  We just need to make sure the two of them get the supply, which is going to be difficult if we keep selling our best players.

If you want a partner that will pull defenders out of position and create space for Bent that would have to be Heskey.  Gabby's quick but his movement is generally poor, I really can't see him pulling too many defenders out of position. 

Personally I fear for us playing 442

Far too many times over the past 2 seasons we have been lightweight in the middle with petrov breathing out of his ringpiece, this in turn makes us sit far too deep and invite teams onto us hence the defence suffers.

For me we have to play 451/433 with bent on his own and using albrighton and AN other to use their pace and someone like Delph/bannan pushing on behind Bent

[Rip Van We Go Again]

I think Bent does need a partner in a 4-4-2 formation, i'd question if Gabby is the right man for that job.

If we're going one up front, Gabby will have to make do with being Bent's understudy.
If so, he'll either lose patience and leave or bide his time till the end of the season when we sell Bent.

[Concrete John]

Personally I fear for us playing 442

Far too many times over the past 2 seasons we have been lightweight in the middle with petrov breathing out of his ringpiece, this in turn makes us sit far too deep and invite teams onto us hence the defence suffers.

For me we have to play 451/433 with bent on his own and using albrighton and AN other to use their pace and someone like Delph/bannan pushing on behind Bent

I agree with he 4-5-1/4-3-3 thinking, but I can see 4-4-2 working if the right personel are used in the centre.  Say it's Scott Parker and Delph, I could live with that!

[UsualSuspect]

I would be amazed if we get Parker

31 in October
Big wages
No resale value

Personally I cant see RL going for it, plus I think he has Spuds written all over him

[Concrete John]

I would be amazed if we get Parker

31 in October
Big wages
No resale value

Personally I cant see RL going for it, plus I think he has Spuds written all over him

I agree and posted something similar yesterday - the overall package for parker is very big, so needs to be considered carefully given his age.  But I was just trying to point out that from a purely footballing perspective 4-4-2 can work in the modern game with the right personel.

[Merv]

Personally, I'm not too fussed about Parker.

[UsualSuspect]

I agree John

Burger me how we could do with Milner

It's just that with our current central midfield ie, petrov, makoun, bannan, delph I wouldn't be comfortable with any of them in a middle 2

[pedro25]

You could add Ireland to that too.  When Gabby plays up top in a 2 he often drifts in from the left flank, I therefore think we may see Bannan, Ireland or even Delph play from the left, but drift in field with Albrighton as the only natural winger on the right. 

[Phil from the upper holte]

Any likelihood Given is signing anytime soon?

[UsualSuspect]

Any likelihood Given is signing anytime soon?

"in a few days"

How hard can it be???

[andyh]

Parker will go to Spuds to replace Chelsea bound Modric.