Hutton & Jenas set to sign.

[Concrete John]

Given

Hutton Collins Dunne Warnock
Albrighton Bannan Petrov N'Zogbia
Bent Agbonlahor

I'd say that central midfield is too weak in a 4-4-2.

[citizenDJ]

I think we'll line up like this;

                     Given

Hutton   Collins   Dunne   Warnock

         Jenas   Petrov   Delph

N'Zogbia                        Agbonlahor

                     Bent

Which doesn't actually look that bad, although I'd really just like to see:

Given

Hutton Collins Dunne Warnock
Albrighton Bannan Petrov N'Zogbia
Bent Agbonlahor

I think that team would be overrun through the middle too often and I wouldn't drop Delph for anybody at the moment.

Really? We haven't been overrun with just Petrov and Delph, so adding Jenas simply adds to its solidity in my view.

[VillaZogmariner]

I'm happy with Jenas, at 28 he has 21 England caps, Parker at 31 has 6.

That makes Parker better in my view.

[gallen321]

I think Jenas could turn out to be a good aquisition, there is talent there and he has been a good player, just needs regular football and pitchtime and I think the confidence will come back

[cb]

I'm not going to comment on Hutton, as I think most are fairly happy with him as replacement for Luke Young, as am I.

Regarding Jenas though I think people are being a tad harsh. Granted he's not a world class midfielder, but he is a good all-rounder, with very good energy levels. I think he'll be pretty good for us. In fact I think he enables us to do several thigns with our formation. I think Heskey has been doing a job in the attacking midfielder role, generally dropping off and making a nuisance of himself to help Petrov and Delph out. For me Jenas' energy can take the place of this and help cover the back four better. We can now push Delph a bit further forwards into the attacking midfield role, with Petrov and Jenas sitting. This alignment could also bring the likes of Ireland and Bannan into the fray for starting roles. I think McLeish felt they were too lightweight given the rest of our midfield make-up, hence the playing of Heskey. Jenas also has the ability to play box to box a bit like NRC, but maybe with a bit more goal threat and quality in the final third of the pitch.

So in summary, Hutton gets a thumbs up and Jenas (while not earth shattering) may allow us to bring other more attacking midfielders into play, possible making us more creative and maybe even chipping in with a few goals himself. I'm pretty happy with this and it seems McLeish is making a good fist of extracting the most from his resources. I'll be quite interested to see what he does next summer...

[Small Rodent]

It's a pity we didn't get Jenas on a proper transfer..... If Jenas has a stormer season, old melted wheely bin face is going to take him back and try flog us another of his midfield duds, or we'll be charged a fortune.

Isn't he in the last year of contract?

[Mazrim]

I think we'll line up like this;

                     Given

Hutton   Collins   Dunne   Warnock

         Jenas   Petrov   Delph

N'Zogbia                        Agbonlahor

                     Bent

Which doesn't actually look that bad, although I'd really just like to see:

Given

Hutton Collins Dunne Warnock
Albrighton Bannan Petrov N'Zogbia
Bent Agbonlahor

I think that team would be overrun through the middle too often and I wouldn't drop Delph for anybody at the moment.

Really? We haven't been overrun with just Petrov and Delph, so adding Jenas simply adds to its solidity in my view.

I dont think we've been playing a 4-4-2 with Petrov and Delph in the middle though and Risso has Bannan instead of Delph which greatly weakens it defensively. I agree that adding Jenas adds solidity and I have him starting with Delph and Bannan in my preferred starting line up.

[ROBBO]

Why would you play Albrighton? he really needs to play reserve football and get some confidence back.

[Risso]

Why would you play Albrighton? he really needs to play reserve football and get some confidence back.

Because I think having Heskey in the team offers us precisely nothing up front, as we've seen by failing to score against two of the three teams we've played so far.

[QBVILLA]

Why would you play Albrighton? he really needs to play reserve football and get some confidence back.

Because I think having Heskey in the team offers us precisely nothing up front, as we've seen by failing to score against two of the three teams we've played so far.

To an extent i'd agree with that, but i wouldn't blame it on Heskey.We've played far too narow.Personally i'd like to see N'Zogbia  wide left getting behind fullbacks and cutting crosses back into the box.We aren't getting the best out of Bent as we're not hitting the penalty area quick enough from wide areas.

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

Regarding Jenas though I think people are being a tad harsh. Granted he's not a world class midfielder, but he is a good all-rounder, with very good energy levels. I think he'll be pretty good for us. In fact I think he enables us to do several thigns with our formation. I think Heskey has been doing a job in the attacking midfielder role, generally dropping off and making a nuisance of himself to help Petrov and Delph out. For me Jenas' energy can take the place of this and help cover the back four better. We can now push Delph a bit further forwards into the attacking midfield role, with Petrov and Jenas sitting. This alignment could also bring the likes of Ireland and Bannan into the fray for starting roles. I think McLeish felt they were too lightweight given the rest of our midfield make-up, hence the playing of Heskey. Jenas also has the ability to play box to box a bit like NRC, but maybe with a bit more goal threat and quality in the final third of the pitch.

So in summary, Hutton gets a thumbs up and Jenas (while not earth shattering) may allow us to bring other more attacking midfielders into play, possible making us more creative and maybe even chipping in with a few goals himself. I'm pretty happy with this and it seems McLeish is making a good fist of extracting the most from his resources. I'll be quite interested to see what he does next summer...

Nicely put. Jenas wouldn’t be anyone’s first choice signing but given our limited resources he’s a solid player who can for fill a number of roles in midfield and I think he will surprise a few.

[nick harper]

Albrighton is either on the longest run of poor form I've ever known or he isn't that good. Either way, he shouldn't be near the first XI at the moment.

[Simon Ward]

Jenas is a useful squad player no more, but Hutton is an international who should slot in at right back with no problems!

[Jockey Randall]

It's a pity we didn't get Jenas on a proper transfer..... If Jenas has a stormer season, old melted wheely bin face is going to take him back and try flog us another of his midfield duds, or we'll be charged a fortune.

Isn't he in the last year of contract?

Looks like it runs out in 2013 so by next summer I doubt they would be asking silly money.

[pedro25]

Jenas is an international too, and for England not Scotland. Jenas would be in the team ahead of Heskey for me.  Albrighton would be no where near it at the moment I'm afraid, if Gabby loses his form out wide, Bannan and not Marc steps in for me.