January Transfer Speculation (or lack of) Thread

[Matt C]

I think the problem with Makoun is he didn't settle in a personal sense and failed to intergrate with the rest of the group - I imagine he was even further isolated when Houllier, his coaches and Pires all left too.

[Vanilla]

Indeed. He may well have ended up not being good enough, but at this stage none of us, including the management, are in a position to judge with certainty.

The managers (three of them, if you include Garry Mac) also saw him in training and between them decided he was only worth 7 games.  I'm guessing he simply wasn't/isn't suited to the PL.

You've missed my point. At the time he wasn't worth more than seven games (only two decided that), but if given further time to acclimatise he may well have been. Noone knows how they'll turn out without the player being given a real opportunity. Not even a manager who's more qualified than I to make a judgement. Six months isn't enough for a foreign import to show their worth and the Premier League's history is littered with players who having been excellent elsewhere, initially struggled, only to go on and perform after a year or so. Pires is a good example.

We'd spent the money and it was worth giving him this season.

I get your point, I just don't agree with it.

If you're out of the team the way you get back into it is by impressing in training and my assumption is that Makoun did not do this, hence hasn't been given the chance you suggest he should have had.  If others were doing better in the training, such as Herd, then he was rightly given a start ahead of Makoun.  It's OK to mention other players who take time to settle, but if in the manager's judgement that isn't going to happen, based on what he sees from (and admittedly limted number of) first team appearances and during training, then he's right not to play him and try to move him on.

I think squad numbers and the subjective slant of a manager also plays a part in a player succeeding or not. Would Petrov have had so long to settle if it weren't for the persistence of MON? Managers just take to certain players and dismiss other ones. That's why the current manager has brought in two players he wanted whilst at the Blues.

[Rick_avfc]

Delph has now been linked to West Ham.  I still think he will go back to leeds

[Concrete John]

I think squad numbers and the subjective slant of a manager also plays a part in a player succeeding or not. Would Petrov have had so long to settle if it weren't for the persistence of MON? Managers just take to certain players and dismiss other ones. That's why the current manager has brought in two players he wanted whilst at the Blues.

MON did give Petrov plenty of time, but back then there was very little competition for his place.  With Makoun, you've got Petrov, Ireland, Herd, Delph and Clark, plus NRC last season, meaning he had to do more to stay in the team. 

[Vanilla]

I think squad numbers and the subjective slant of a manager also plays a part in a player succeeding or not. Would Petrov have had so long to settle if it weren't for the persistence of MON? Managers just take to certain players and dismiss other ones. That's why the current manager has brought in two players he wanted whilst at the Blues.

MON did give Petrov plenty of time, but back then there was very little competition for his place.  With Makoun, you've got Petrov, Ireland, Herd, Delph and Clark, plus NRC last season, meaning he had to do more to stay in the team.

True, but this season we have played Heskey, Gabby and Hutton in midfield positions, meaning our midfield hasn't been bursting with viable options. Even when one comes good, i.e. Ireland, N'zogbia seems to disappear. And the less said about the Jenas signing the better.

 

[eastie]

Collins plus cash in exchange for Scott dann is being mooted on sky- id take that , dann is a decent defender , do not rule out Craig Gardner returning to the club in a swap deal involving petrov or Delph Plus cash!

[pauliewalnuts]

Collins plus cash in exchange for Scott dann is being mooted on sky- id take that , dann is a decent defender , do not rule out Craig Gardner returning to the club in a swap deal involving petrov or Delph Plus cash!

You're even starting to sound like him now, Eastie.

[Confusious says]

Anyone heard about the supposed swop of Bent for Carrol, instigated by Villa

apparently, Downing would be pleased.  I hope this is just rumour but who knows!

[Dave Clark Five]

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[SashasGrandad]

Anyone heard about the supposed swop of Bent for Carrol, instigated by Villa

apparently, Downing would be pleased.  I hope this is just rumour but who knows!

Why not throw in Heskey as well!

[Irish villain]

Delph has now been linked to West Ham.  I still think he will go back to leeds

I can't see him ever making it in the premiership. Our midfield has been decimated in recent seasons, we have no stand-out first choice midfield and he has failed utterly to impress when given a run in the side.

[tepavilla]

Anyone heard about the supposed swop of Bent for Carrol, instigated by Villa

apparently, Downing would be pleased.  I hope this is just rumour but who knows!

Why not throw in Heskey as well!

In that scenario we'd probably have to throw in some extra money as well

[Irish villain]

Anyone heard about the supposed swop of Bent for Carrol, instigated by Villa

apparently, Downing would be pleased.  I hope this is just rumour but who knows!

Why not throw in Heskey as well!

Collins plus cash in exchange for Scott dann is being mooted on sky- id take that , dann is a decent defender , do not rule out Craig Gardner returning to the club in a swap deal involving petrov or Delph Plus cash!

That would be a good deal. So long as Dann passed a medical. He's hardly injury prone is he?

[Dante Lavelli]

A swap between Collins and Dann would be a great move.  I don't think Dann is significantly better I just think that breaking up the Collins/Dunne partnership will shake the defence up a bit, forcing the whole unit to concentrate and communicate better.

He's also likely to be a "McLeish" man, whereas I fear Collins and Dunne pretty much do as they please.

[TheSandman]

I don't think Blackburn will sell Dann AND Samba this month and Samba has issued a transfer request so I don't think this will be a goer.