January Transfer Speculation (or lack of) Thread

[supertom]

Bent is offering us nothing at the moment. Not his fault. If you want the best out of him you have to keep feeding him the ball in the box. We create next to nothing at the moment.
Our midfield is that piss poor I'd be tempted to sell Bent for 25. Buy Defoe for 10-15 (probably closer to 15 knowing Arry) who offers the same threats as Bent and buy a couple of decent midfielders with the difference.
Of course that would raise a couple of problems.
1- It's McLeish buying the players.
2- Even if we sold Bent, would we get all the money back to re-invest in the squad? No we wouldn't.

[SoccerHQ]

We created plenty tonight in the first half so we keep on doing that when Bent gets in the team he'll start scoring again no problem.

I don't think the club will dare sell him in the summer unless Bent really forces the issue which I doubt.

Might be a different story in the summer though.

[PeterWithesShin]

Thing is, can we be as effective by taking someone out of midfield to accomodate  both Gabby and Bent?

[brontebilly]

Thing is, can we be as effective by taking someone out of midfield to accomodate  both Gabby and Bent?

against a shit team maybe. Bent and Gabby isnt working when they play up front together in a 442. They get in each others way. Gabby has seven assists from outwide this season and 5 goals but tonight aside you can see he wants to be up top by himself. The service to Bent has been dire for much of the season but we cant afford him to have days like Bolton where he missed 2 sitters and adds nothing else to the play.

We definitely cant get away with Bent, Gabby, Albrighton, Nzogbia in the side at the same time against reasonable opposition. We dont have 2 players capable of holding the midfield so we need to go with 3.

Collins will come back in for Stoke. Hopefully Herd is fit. Id prefer him at right back but not a chance McLeish will go with that. Herd, Petrov, Clark in midfield for Stoke I reckon. Harsh but maybe leave Albrighton out for this one. Nzogbia, Bent, Gabby as the front three.

[ROBBO]

Trouble is neither Gabby or Bent are good at holding on to the ball, Bent is an out and out in the box finisher who reads the game well, he may well have got on to some of those crosses tonight. Gabby cannot play main man up front.

[Clampy]

I've heard one of those supposedly ITK rumours that one possible player coming in is Damien Duff. Let's hope not eh?

[Greg N'Ash]

hmmm. can't imagine why we'd want Duff to be honest.

[PaulTheVillan]

hmmm. can't imagine why we'd want Duff to be honest.

Back up winger?

I'd rather we took a punt on a younger player for a back up winger.

Someone with pace and energy.

[Greg N'Ash]

hmmm. can't imagine why we'd want Duff to be honest.

Back up winger?

I'd rather we took a punt on a younger player for a back up winger.

Someone with pace and energy.

yeah i guess but seeing we need back-up nearly everywhere i'm not sure its a priority. As you say, he too old and he's iffy injury wise

[Matt C]

Can't imagine Duff is on small wages either.

[Clampy]

hmmm. can't imagine why we'd want Duff to be honest.

Back up winger?

I'd rather we took a punt on a younger player for a back up winger.

Someone with pace and energy.

yeah i guess but seeing we need back-up nearly everywhere i'm not sure its a priority. As you say, he too old and he's iffy injury wise

And he's crap.

[eastie]

steven davis may possibly be arriving from rangers to bolster our midfield options and id expect petrov to rejoin mon at sunderland , doubt we will have much to spend but hugely encouraged by the performance last night.

[SheffieldVillain]

steven davis may possibly be arriving from rangers to bolster our midfield options and id expect petrov to rejoin mon at sunderland , doubt we will have much to spend but hugely encouraged by the performance last night.

I really hope not. Essentially swapping Davis for Petrov would be utterly pointless.

[PaulWinch again]

steven davis may possibly be arriving from rangers to bolster our midfield options and id expect petrov to rejoin mon at sunderland , doubt we will have much to spend but hugely encouraged by the performance last night.

I really hope not. Essentially swapping Davis for Petrov would be utterly pointless.

It's be worse than that, Petrov is better.

[jenninc]

I'm not a fan of Zamora but right now we are really thin all round the squad - up front no exception. I'm happy to be linked with anyone who displaces Heskey on our bench right now!