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

[N'ZMAV]

For us, it'll all be about balance in the midfield.  Petrov can read a game and intercept well, but lacks a really good engine, whereas Delph has that engine, but maybe not the experience and positional sense of Petrov.  If we could combine them, we'd be laughing.

I think Makoun is making a starting place his own, and Ireland will be given a chance as the most attacking of the three.  Asfter that I think Am needs to mix and match until he gets the blend right.  I don't think he's tried Makoun and Delpg together yet, has he?

I think Makoun, Petrov and Ireland will be the starting trio. With Bannan and Delph backing up, although, I think we might be a bit short of another battling type player.

[N'ZMAV]

Lassana Diarra would demand a salary that I don't think we'll pay.

Diarra played for Chelsea and Arsenal, then Portsmouth before moving to Real Madrid.


I always get confused when people start talking about Diarra. Is this the chelsea/arsenal one or the  other foreign based variety?

[Mazrim]

Lassana Diarra would demand a salary that I don't think we'll pay.

It's Mahamdou Diarra I'm talking about. I'd prefer Lassana but he's out of our reach at the moment.

[Greg N'Ash]

Lassana Diarra would demand a salary that I don't think we'll pay.

Diarra played for Chelsea and Arsenal, then Portsmouth before moving to Real Madrid.


I always get confused when people start talking about Diarra. Is this the chelsea/arsenal one or the  other foreign based variety?

cheers. In that case as you say, the wage bill probably rules him out.

[Maradona10]

I think we should go after Inter's Macdonald Mariga, pretty sure he's available and is a younger version of Diarra.

[N'ZMAV]

Lassana Diarra would demand a salary that I don't think we'll pay.

It's Mahamdou Diarra I'm talking about. I'd prefer Lassana but he's out of our reach at the moment.

Oh yeah, forgot about him, he's available on a free, isn't he? probably on big bucks too though.

[Archbishop Herbert Cockthrottle]

Lassana Diarra would demand a salary that I don't think we'll pay.

It's Mahamdou Diarra I'm talking about. I'd prefer Lassana but he's out of our reach at the moment.

Oh yeah, forgot about him, he's available on a free, isn't he? probably on big bucks too though.

In all fairness, we're more likely to go for Princess Diarra.

[LeeB]

Lassana Diarra would demand a salary that I don't think we'll pay.

It's Mahamdou Diarra I'm talking about. I'd prefer Lassana but he's out of our reach at the moment.

Oh yeah, forgot about him, he's available on a free, isn't he? probably on big bucks too though.

In all fairness, we're more likely to go for Princess Diarra.

That would be a car crash of a signing.

[VillaZogmariner]

If we are going to go for a 3 man midfield I'd prefer Ireland to be used as part of a front 3 like he was at Man City.

---Petrov---Makoun---Delph---
---Ireland---------------N'Zog---
----------------Bent----------------

Problem being though we are still light in that midfield if we have a couple of injuries.

[UsualSuspect]

A midfield of Delph, Makoun and Nutjob....well i've not see anything so far to suggest that them three could dominate a midfield or be that combatitive. Delph flatters to decieve and disappears in games, Makoun - doesn't strike me as someone who will get stuck in. Ireland - just not his game. IMO we'd get steamrollered especially against the physical sides.

I agree to an extent that we will get steamrollered however Delph has got to be a better option than petrov.

If AM is to be believed and that's it signing wise I can see who else we are going to play in the middle.

Most worrying for me is the fact we are banking on ireland being normal

[Caiphus]

If we are going to go for a 3 man midfield I'd prefer Ireland to be used as part of a front 3 like he was at Man City.

---Petrov---Makoun---Delph---
---Ireland---------------N'Zog---
----------------Bent---------------

Problem being though we are still light in that midfield if we have a couple of injuries.

I thought he was used in the position you have indicated for Delph at City, and he was running with the ball from deeper rather than an inside forward or wing role.

[Maradona10]

If the midfielders have fitness they can cover ground, however if one midfielder is insistent on sitting on top of the back 4 then we're in trouble which Petrov does he just invites pressure, if we play 4-4-2 Petrov should be nowhere near the starting line up for me.

[JUAN PABLO]

we still need another midfielder . we are too light in that department . 

[Concrete John]

Most worrying for me is the fact we are banking on ireland being normal

Actually, that attacking midfield role is one we're sort of OK in.  We could use Bannan or push Delph further forward, or go 4-4-2 and bring Gabby in.  It's be one less body in the squad to rely on, but I think it's a position we can handle a loss in better than most.

[Maradona10]

we still need another midfielder . we are too light in that department .

Agree but for me Barton is not that midfielder.