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

[Compass]

I think this should be enough. Maybe a good defensive midfielder and that's it.

Don't forget we still have to sort out the wage bill that Irish tool left us in and I'm sure the Young/Downing fee will go into that.

Then next season we can get rid of Heskey, Petrov reducing the wage bill even further. Then we can get more quality like Given, N'Zogbia, Bent etc. and have experienced kids to boot.

By 2012/2013, we'll be in a much better shape than the darkness that was 2010/2011.

Don't forget we don't wanna become like Leeds and fall off at the face of the earth. Props to the board.

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Think Mcleish will stick with the 4-4-1-1 he used against Walsall. With Nzogbia replacing Heskey. Do like the idea of Clarke replacing Petrov mainly for his natural defensive mentality and aerial power. Mahamdou Diarra could do a job in there. Excuse me for being optimistic but i still think Mcleish has money to spend and there will be other players brought in now Nzogbia is in place ......

[JUAN PABLO]

If we sign Mulumbu maybe would could push Petrov to say.........Scotland.

If we sign Mulumbu maybe would could push Petrov to say.........Scotland.

thanks for spitting my tea out  ;-)

[JUAN PABLO]

what about that ex-liverpoo player Sissoko ..

[UsualSuspect]

Would still like to see young Ciaran given a go in the specialist DM role. He's a big lad with a physical presence that would give us some much needed height in midfield and protection for the back 4. He's comfortable on the ball too, could see him being quite Viera-esque.

.............................Given.................................

Young...........Collins........Dunne.........Warnock

.....................Makoun....Clark.........................

Albrighton.............Ireland................N'Zogbia

.............................Bent.................................


Team to start against Fulham, although I expect Petrov to be in instead of Clark.

I think that team is roughly the best we can hope for, I would like to see Delph instead of Clark.

[Concrete John]

I think in terms of our best team, there seems to be a consensus forming about the Keeper, back 4 and attacking quartet.  What seems to be still open for discussion and of concern is those central midfield slots.

Should Randy decide to get the cheque book out again and get us a Given/N'Zogbia quality player in there, then I think even our resident pessimists might start feeling a little happier about the forthcoming season.   
   

[N'ZMAV]

If we sign Mulumbu then we could hopefully push Petrov a bit furthur forward.

Why in christ's name would we want to do that?

It was very tongue in cheek....

[supertom]

CM has been our biggest problem over the last couple of years. We've had nowhere near enough quality, or stamina (since age caught up with Stans pins) to play 2 in the middle. Nor have we had a really quality playmaker to have 3 in midfield and sacrifice a front man. So yeah, under O Neill we just fell short when it mattered. Under Houllier, with the loss of Milner in the middle, we were completely overrun.

We've got decent enough defenders (when they want to be that is), good strikers and a solid keeper. We just need someone influential in the centre who can make things tick. For a couple of years, Parker would do the trick. I don't know if we can really expect a younger, cheaper, foreign alternative to have has much influence on the team. Maybe, but Parker besides his quality is respected in this league already, and is a ready made captain. Something that as of now, we're sorely lacking. I don't think Dunne should get the job, nor can we give it to Petrov, simply because he can't play every week, or for a full 90 now.

[Caiphus]

CM has been our biggest problem over the last couple of years. We've had nowhere near enough quality, or stamina (since age caught up with Stans pins) to play 2 in the middle. Nor have we had a really quality playmaker to have 3 in midfield and sacrifice a front man. So yeah, under O Neill we just fell short when it mattered. Under Houllier, with the loss of Milner in the middle, we were completely overrun.

We've got decent enough defenders (when they want to be that is), good strikers and a solid keeper. We just need someone influential in the centre who can make things tick. For a couple of years, Parker would do the trick. I don't know if we can really expect a younger, cheaper, foreign alternative to have has much influence on the team. Maybe, but Parker besides his quality is respected in this league already, and is a ready made captain. Something that as of now, we're sorely lacking. I don't think Dunne should get the job, nor can we give it to Petrov, simply because he can't play every week, or for a full 90 now.

I still think Makoun will be that man.  Not many come from ligue 1 to the prem in Jan and make a huge impact.  I think he will surprise a few who have written him off already while playing in the Asia Trophy.

[TheSandman]

I don't think defensive midfield would be Makoun's best position. I think he's more suited to a deep lying playmaker role. If we get a good defensive midfielder to play alongside him we will have a decent enough midfield.

[mrfuse]

personally i wouldnt like to trust that Warnock, Ireland and  Makoun can just walk back into the team and perform i hope they can but I have a few doubts.

Loving the comments on sky sports about Nzogbia lots of people saying how much better he is than Downing! Really hope so because i actually liked downing.

[Concrete John]

personally i wouldnt like to trust that Warnock, Ireland and  Makoun can just walk back into the team and perform i hope they can but I have a few doubts.

I think it's a different question between Makoun and Ireland/Warnock. 

Makoun didn't do badly in a short space of time and showed enough promise, but the question is his suitability to the PL and what his best role would be.

The other two are proven PL performers and the question is whether they want to play for us or not!

[PeterWithe]

I though Makoun did reasonably well last season what with him being pitched into a poor team lacking in confidence. I'm expecting him to be an important player for us next year.

[Toronto Villa]

Makoun is a very tidy player. His perfomance at Man U albeit in a defeat was excellent. He is a perfect link man, nothing too fancy but always finds space to accept or make a pass. He's not going to charge around making challenges but has the intelligence to be aware of his surroundings. Last year I think he got out by the pace of the PL, something he'll be more comfortable with this season.

[badluckeric(gates)]

I think in terms of our best team, there seems to be a consensus forming about the Keeper, back 4 and attacking quartet.  What seems to be still open for discussion and of concern is those central midfield slots.

Should Randy decide to get the cheque book out again and get us a Given/N'Zogbia quality player in there, then I think even our resident pessimists might start feeling a little happier about the forthcoming season.   
   

I think if we could get Parker in there we'd be set.