January Transfer Speculation (or lack of) Thread

[Toronto Villa]

I don't know what any of you have seen that makes you think Delfounso is going to make a premier league player.
He has had numerous chances and never given me the impression he is going to make it, another Luke Moore who will make a living in the lower divisions. Get Samba please.

I'm with you on Delfouneso unfortunately.  He just doesn't look good enough at all I'm afraid.

He just looks out of his depth, sadly.

We have to be realistic, and the majority of our kids are not going to make it. He's 21 soon and at the age where you'd expect him to have shown something, but he really hasn't.

Unfortunately I have to agree. There was an opportunity last night where he was one on one with a defender. Can't recall who. A Daniel Sturridge or young Gabby for example would have tried to blast past him and shoot or at the very least look up for support which was arriving to his left. Fonz did neither and looked like he actually had no idea what to do, or simply lacked the confidence to make a decision. Now maybe he needs a season on loan somewhere to give him a lift, but he needs to show that he has "it" more importantly wants "it" sooner rather than later.

[Dave Clark Five]

Boumsong is being rumoured to be on his way to us.

[Toronto Villa]

Boumsong is being rumoured to be on his way to us.

Wasn't he utterly pish at Newcastle?

[TheSandman]

Yes, but he did well enough at Rangers and Lyon. McLeish knows him well as he signed him at Rangers so it wouldn't surprise me.

[Dante Lavelli]

I would take Dempsey with glee, but he would be way too expensive to make it a deal worth doing, and he must be 28 ish now.

I would much prefer the club adopt a stance of no incoming player, unless on a free and thus only costing wages on a maximum 3 year deal, being over the age of 26, preferably under 24. Thus giving time to grow, good sell on value and an opportunity to develop a team.

Agree with that.  I'd prefer that we offered "dempsey's" transfer fee and wages to a player like Hoillet.  He may not be as good right now but has the potential to get even better and crucially will have a much higher sell on value in the future, whether that be Bolton or Barcelona buying him from us.

[Toronto Villa]

Yes, but he did well enough at Rangers and Lyon. McLeish knows him well as he signed him at Rangers so it wouldn't surprise me.

He's 32 so if he does come it would be a short term deal and experienced cover. If I recall correctly the whole deal was a bit dodgy and for a lot of money. He just never lived up to the expectation of the fee.

[Mister E]

Sell Heskey for a cut price fee and give Delfounso the chance in the second half of season. Sink or swim for him as he has been around the first squad for a while now.

I'd go with this.  He cannot be much worse than Heskey and he deserves a run in the team to prove himself (one way or another).  The last thing we want is a Cahill situation just because we are desperate to shoe horn Heskey in the team all the time.

Delfouneso has been around for circa three seasons, under 4 managers. That, for me, says it all - he's not Premiership material. Sad but it's time for us all to move on (and that includes  not-so-young-now Nathan).

[Mister E]

Yes, but he did well enough at Rangers and Lyon. McLeish knows him well as he signed him at Rangers so it wouldn't surprise me.

He's 32 so if he does come it would be a short term deal and experienced cover. If I recall correctly the whole deal was a bit dodgy and for a lot of money. He just never lived up to the expectation of the fee.

Boumsong would add absolutely nothing to the squad.

[ROBBO]

Trouble is once a player gets past thirty the injuries come more often and take longer to recover. It all depends what Lerners plan is (if he has one), If it's to get the season over without too much damage and the high earning non performers of the wage bill to enable him to rebuild in the summer fair enough, but if getting players like Boumsong is going to be the norm it would be very depressing.

[Concrete John]

It all depends what Lerners plan is (if he has one), If it's to get the season over without too much damage and the high earning non performers of the wage bill to enable him to rebuild in the summer fair enough, but if getting players like Boumsong is going to be the norm it would be very depressing.

I agree with that.

When we get to next summer we'll have Heskey, Cuellar & Beye off the wagebill, which creates plenty of room for new signings, plus I can see one if Collins or Dunne going, and Gardner will have benefited from his loan period.  I'd also like to believe that the recent incoming money is there waiting until we have a capacity to spend it wages wise.  So lets keep our powder relatively dry this January, unless the right player comes along, and patch up where needed with loan signings.

[ozzjim]

Boumsong coming in can only mean that we are letting Collins go IMO. Cuellar this close to the end of his deal will be too useful to let go in Jan as he covers right back.

[VillaZogmariner]

I'd rather give Wiemann a chance than Fonz.

[Rick_avfc]

I'd rather give Wiemann a chance than Fonz.

I agree.  Im surprised Weimann has not been given a proper chance yet

[pauliewalnuts]

Yes, but he did well enough at Rangers and Lyon. McLeish knows him well as he signed him at Rangers so it wouldn't surprise me.

He's 32 so if he does come it would be a short term deal and experienced cover. If I recall correctly the whole deal was a bit dodgy and for a lot of money. He just never lived up to the expectation of the fee.

Boumsong would add absolutely nothing to the squad.

Except comedy.

[ozzjim]

Imagine he and Dunne both have a ahem, funny game together.... 



If we do let Collins go to MON for something silly like 6 million, then it would at least give us cash to spend on the midfield were Boumsong fairly cheap, although I can't see his wages being small.