January Transfer Speculation (or lack of) Thread

[ktvillan]

Agree with Mazrim, I'm not sure he hoofs it any more than various other players and his main weakness is his repeatedly being drawn out of position and then having to run around like a headless chicken and dive into blocks to try and make up for it. And he gets beaten in the air in the box a little too often for a bloke of his size and for a PL centre half.

[Risso]

I think the Fonz would have been getting a regular start by now if the manager and coaches thought he was up to it. Who do you drop to give him a run of games, Gabby,Bent? he's nowhere near their standard.

No, because he's 20 years old and at a similar age a far better footballer than Gabby or Bent. The difference is they had their chance to play regularly at his age. How do we know how good he can be if he doesn't play?
He should have had the game time Heskey has had for instance. Then we'd have a better idea.

Bent maybe, Gabby I'd say not. 

[jembob]

All players are capable of making simple passes so one is saying that but ive seen Collins on numerous occasions where he hasn't been under no pressure what so ever and has decided to hoof it up field thus resulting in the opposition gaining possession.

I agree that he boots it too readily however if he had the choice of making a simple pass to a team mate then I'm sure he would be tempted to take that route. The main cause of the hoofing is that there is not enough movement and players are not making themselves available. It's one reason why Petrov gets stick about his sideways passing - if nobody moves into space to get the ball up the pitch, he has little choice than passing back/sideways if he wants to keep possession. 

[Rick_avfc]

Another player we have been linked to  - Danny Simpson.  Apparently we are monitoring his situation but cant see any truth in the story

http://tinyurl.com/7ltxj4k

[PaulWinch again]

I hoping Hughes doesn't come after Bent now. Not saying he'd get him, but we could do without the aggro.

[Irish villain]

The Fonz hasn't had the opportunity he deserves because we have so many attacking options at the club. We can play 4-4-2 with Bent and Gabby, we can play 4-5-1 with Gabby wide, Bent alone or with any combination of Albrighton, N'Zogbia, Heskey, Ireland as support. I don't think the Fonz could partner Bent, could he partner Gabby? Hard to tell.

It's a shame as he clearly has talent. Just hard to see where he can slot in.

[Mazrim]

I think the Fonz would have been getting a regular start by now if the manager and coaches thought he was up to it. Who do you drop to give him a run of games, Gabby,Bent? he's nowhere near their standard.

No, because he's 20 years old and at a similar age a far better footballer than Gabby or Bent. The difference is they had their chance to play regularly at his age. How do we know how good he can be if he doesn't play?
He should have had the game time Heskey has had for instance. Then we'd have a better idea.

Bent maybe, Gabby I'd say not. 

At 20 years old Gabby was a guided missile. Effective certainly but not really a footballer. He's come on leaps and bounds in that regard. Fonz is and always has been far more natural on the ball with more awareness. Whether he gets the chance to show it or fails to realise his ability remains to be seen.

[Fernando Partridge]

Yes don't sell Ireland now.

I'm not so sure.

Ireland is currently showing the ability we all know he has, with the difference being his head seems to be on straight for a change.  The question being how long will that last?  It's taken 18 months for us to see this, but one little thing could upset the poor lamb again and we'd be back to square one with him - and I don;t want to wait another 18 months!

I'm not usually one to talk down our players, but I just can't see him not becoming a liability again in the not too distant future.  So, I'd be tempted to cash in now if an offer comes in.

Yes perhaps he stepped up as theres a Transfer Window!

[PeterWithesShin]

Hadn't Bent already rattled in 40 odd goals by the time he was 20/21? Admittedly in the second tier.

[N'ZMAV]

The last 2 games I've watched, it's only took us 7 seconds from kick off for Collins to just whack the ball forward, totally losing posession.

I've seen these and on both occasions we've lost posession as soon as the ball has left collins' foot.

[N'ZMAV]

As soon as there is any interest, Bent will want to go, we all know that.

[Mazrim]

Hadn't Bent already rattled in 40 odd goals by the time he was 20/21? Admittedly in the second tier.

I'm speaking of alround footballing skills. Bent has consistently been a poacher and little else.
Fonz promised that and more.
Fairly tall, quick, good in the air, skillful and an eye for goal. I'd hate to see him go before we've really tested him. Albrighton, Clark and Bannan and before them Gabby, Craig Gardner, Cahill etc all suceeded as first team players because they had decent runs in first team football. They had the chance and the space to learn their trade. Sometimes out of neccessity but true all the same.

Its the lot of a young striker that they are trusted less or for less time than other positions perhaps. Every time Fonz takes the field its like he has to produce immediately or he's "not going to make it". I really want us to give this kid a proper chance to prove himself.

[KRS]

As soon as there is any interest, Bent will want to go, we all know that.

Surely Bent would only make a career move to a top 6 club and I dont see any of them either wanting, needing or being able to afford him. I dont see clubs like QPR being able to afford him either and it would be a backward step for his career. If you consider his options, he'd be well advised to stay at VP.

[nick harper]

To me, Fonz just doesn't work hard enough when he plays. He doesn't work the channels enough, doesn't give enough movement to the player in posession. Similiar to Bent actually, without the goalscoring reputation.

He has a ton of ability but I'm not sure he wants it enough and we've seen enough of those pass through Villa Park over the years - potential that never quite blooms.

[PeterWithesShin]

Hadn't Bent already rattled in 40 odd goals by the time he was 20/21? Admittedly in the second tier.

I'm speaking of alround footballing skills. Bent has consistently been a poacher and little else.
Fonz promised that and more.
Fairly tall, quick, good in the air, skillful and an eye for goal. I'd hate to see him go before we've really tested him. Albrighton, Clark and Bannan and before them Gabby, Craig Gardner, Cahill etc all suceeded as first team players because they had decent runs in first team football. They had the chance and the space to learn their trade. Sometimes out of neccessity but true all the same.

Its the lot of a young striker that they are trusted less or for less time than other positions perhaps. Every time Fonz takes the field its like he has to produce immediately or he's "not going to make it". I really want us to give this kid a proper chance to prove himself.

Problem is with Gabby, Bent and probably Keane there is no way he's going to have a run in the first team here. It's one of the reasons i'm against Keane coming in. Despite not being convinced by Fonz (hard to explain why but it's just a feeling I get with him) like you i'd rather try and find out for sure whether he can cut it or not. So do we send him out on loan for a few months? And try and do it with a club that will play him often and as a striker, as didn't Burnley play him as more of a winger?