Summer Transfer Thread: Speculation, Lies, Absolute Cr*p and Bosman Rumours

[The Situation]

So I see Stoke might be interested in signing Dunne and Warnock is training with the reserves which hints at the obvious. I don't think we would be selling half of our defence without the intention of bringing in a couple of defenders to replace, you can't just expect to get by after selling your starting defence despite how bad people think they're. We need a LB and another CB.

That's just the defence. Bent has basically said (without saying it) he'd welcome someone like Jones to play with, unless Gabby magically gets back to playing near his best or Delfouneso steps up it'll be hard to rely just on Bent no matter how good he is we need as many goal scorers in the team right now. The possibility of a midfielder on the creative side some think we need in the team is also in question.

I just hope we don't leave it too late because the clock is ticking. This is our time to make some big strides in the transfer market to get the players in to make our team/squad stronger. It wouldn't be good if the transfer window shuts and we haven't made those moves where we are left to not feeling as assured as we originally did about the team going into this season with those same constant lingering thoughts. If we can do buisness now we need too and not wait until January where we would have to make those signings because we didn't make those signings in the first place (which is now).

[Dave]

Maybe we're still after that Douglas geezer. This is the part where some smart ass tells me he's just been signed by someone, but never mind.

Dave? (whistley bloke)

Heh. No, I think you're still good on this one.

[john e]

i'm sure Lambert would move Dunne on if he could, i just dont see him having the right playing stye to fit into a PL side.

one of the biggest differences on saturday was the amount of times we played it out from the back,
 Given always if he could threw the ball out  mainly to one of the defenders, and Ron V took the ball out and played it through to midfield etc with confidence, as did all the defenders in fairness,
 Dunne just cant do this, its not his fault he hasnt ever had to play this way before and he is a stopper, a good one a lot of the time, but still a stopper and thats what you get.

so playing with Dunne would upset the way Lambert wants the whole team to play, he just hasnt got the composure or ability to be a part of a ball playing defence, even as a back up CH he would be out of place, so best move on

[Holte L2]

I remember Makoun putting a glorious through-ball for Bent to score against Newcastle only for him to be wrongly (?) ruled offside. He made another defence-splitting pass for Ashley Young who subsequently smacked the bar in that awful 0-1 home defeat to Wolves. The lad can pick a pass and had a decent pedigree prior to joining us. Our midfield is full of unproven or unreliable players, it's a pity Makoun hasn't got a proper go for us.

Makoun needed time to adapt to our football, not forgetting to settle in a country where he doesnt speak the language.  The guy was a Cameroon international, and came with a Pedigree of playing Champions League Football.  He had obvious qualities that we're lacking.

I'm convinced that had we given the lad 6 months to settle and adapt to the pace of the game we would have had a real player on our hands.  Even to the extent we would be talking about Makoun being a big player for us, like Tiote at Newcastle and Song was at Arsenal.  It's a real shame he's not been given the opportunity when you have mercanaries like Ireland and N'Zogbia playing week in week out.
I'd have Makoun in the eleven with Delph and Karim in a heartbeat for Saturday.

[Monty]

i'm sure Lambert would move Dunne on if he could, i just dont see him having the right playing stye to fit into a PL side.

one of the biggest differences on saturday was the amount of times we played it out from the back,
 Given always if he could threw the ball out  mainly to one of the defenders, and Ron V took the ball out and played it through to midfield etc with confidence, as did all the defenders in fairness,
 Dunne just cant do this, its not his fault he hasnt ever had to play this way before and he is a stopper, a good one a lot of the time, but still a stopper and thats what you get.

so playing with Dunne would upset the way Lambert wants the whole team to play, he just hasnt got the composure or ability to be a part of a ball playing defence, even as a back up CH he would be out of place, so best move on

I agree John, Dunne is a good traditional style stopper but he's never been part of a side who convincingly play out from the back which is, as you say, a crucial part of the possession ethos. The other real point you make there is about the keeper distributing the ball short, and last season the sight of Dunne and Collins (Dullins) jogging idly up the pitch, not looking at the keeper who has no option other than to smack it was singularly depressing. No that has to change, so goodbye Dullins and hello Vlaark.

[supertom]

Dunnes fitness has also been a constant problem. He was ridiculously overweight at the Euro's, more so than normal. He's always had a fair wedge of timber since joining us. Add to that a constant string of niggling injuries, possibly in part due to him not being as fit as required at this level, then you've got a player that we seriously need to move on. I mean I'd rather give his place to Baker. He might not have the experience but he's got ability and youth on his side.
I'm sure if we sold Dunne, PL would bring in another CB.

[Le Lapin]

If we are selling Dunne we'd need an experience centre back to come in as back up. Whatever form Dunne has been in over the last two seasons we all know that he's not a bad defender. He has a manager that has a clue now, and good young players around him and hopefully a midfield that will protect the defence a bit more than it has done. I'd rather see Dunne come off the bench with 20mins to go to close out a tight win than an inexperienced player.
 

[badluckeric(gates)]

According to sky's 'paper talk' The Times are saying Lambert has asked Randy for funds to buy Defoe.

[LeeB]

If we are selling Dunne we'd need an experience centre back to come in as back up. Whatever form Dunne has been in over the last two seasons we all know that he's not a bad defender. He has a manager that has a clue now, and good young players around him and hopefully a midfield that will protect the defence a bit more than it has done. I'd rather see Dunne come off the bench with 20mins to go to close out a tight win than an inexperienced player.
 

Have you actually watched any of our football over the last two seasons? I wouldn't want Mr Concentration anywhere near us trying to close out a win.

[Chris Smith]

If we are selling Dunne we'd need an experience centre back to come in as back up. Whatever form Dunne has been in over the last two seasons we all know that he's not a bad defender. He has a manager that has a clue now, and good young players around him and hopefully a midfield that will protect the defence a bit more than it has done. I'd rather see Dunne come off the bench with 20mins to go to close out a tight win than an inexperienced player.
 

Have you actually watched any of our football over the last two seasons? I wouldn't want Mr Concentration anywhere near us trying to close out a win.

Under Houllier it was when Dunne came back into the team that results improved and we moved away from the relegation places. He's a good defender when on form and we're short of numbers at the moment. I think we should keep him for this season at least.

[Le Lapin]

Yes I have, and he has been shocking at times, but so the has whole team been shite, can you pick out any players that have excelled in the last two seasons. No midfield protection, no plan for set pieces and no management for two seasons will do that to a defense. Dunne has lost his way, but he is a good defender when in a settled team, look at our defense under O'Neill. Each of those guys played a blinder, Collins and Warnock included.
But if it's time to move them on, I'd rather that we get a replacement centrehalf with the experience that Dunne has than hope that the inexperienced guys will step up to the mark.

[LeeB]

If we are selling Dunne we'd need an experience centre back to come in as back up. Whatever form Dunne has been in over the last two seasons we all know that he's not a bad defender. He has a manager that has a clue now, and good young players around him and hopefully a midfield that will protect the defence a bit more than it has done. I'd rather see Dunne come off the bench with 20mins to go to close out a tight win than an inexperienced player.
 

Have you actually watched any of our football over the last two seasons? I wouldn't want Mr Concentration anywhere near us trying to close out a win.

Under Houllier it was when Dunne came back into the team that results improved and we moved away from the relegation places. He's a good defender when on form and we're short of numbers at the moment. I think we should keep him for this season at least.

He's a good defender until he switches off, which is usually at least once a game, and which invariably leads to a goal.

Furthermore, he's 32, he's in decline and with a fondness over the years for pies and pints, I reckon it will be sharp.

He must be on somewhere around £50k a week, which is madness for a bit part player, so I expect him to be gone soon.

[LeeB]

Yes I have, and he has been shocking at times, but so the has whole team been shite, can you pick out any players that have excelled in the last two seasons. No midfield protection, no plan for set pieces and no management for two seasons will do that to a defense. Dunne has lost his way, but he is a good defender when in a settled team, look at our defense under O'Neill. Each of those guys played a blinder, Collins and Warnock included.
But if it's time to move them on, I'd rather that we get a replacement centrehalf with the experience that Dunne has than hope that the inexperienced guys will step up to the mark.

People keep going on about the year under O'Neill.

They defended well enough, as they barely had to move from the edge of the box, all bloody 4 of 'em.

[Monty]

Yes I have, and he has been shocking at times, but so the has whole team been shite, can you pick out any players that have excelled in the last two seasons. No midfield protection, no plan for set pieces and no management for two seasons will do that to a defense. Dunne has lost his way, but he is a good defender when in a settled team, look at our defense under O'Neill. Each of those guys played a blinder, Collins and Warnock included.
But if it's time to move them on, I'd rather that we get a replacement centrehalf with the experience that Dunne has than hope that the inexperienced guys will step up to the mark.

People keep going on about the year under O'Neill.

They defended well enough, as they barely had to move from the edge of the box, all bloody 4 of 'em.

A very good point. Under McLeish, we were a crap counter-attacking team, but under MON - probably because of a combination of better management and undoubtedly better and better-suited players - we were a good counter-attacking team, and defended with two banks of four and eleven behind the ball like we did last year.

[Irish villain]

I remember Makoun putting a glorious through-ball for Bent to score against Newcastle only for him to be wrongly (?) ruled offside. He made another defence-splitting pass for Ashley Young who subsequently smacked the bar in that awful 0-1 home defeat to Wolves. The lad can pick a pass and had a decent pedigree prior to joining us. Our midfield is full of unproven or unreliable players, it's a pity Makoun hasn't got a proper go for us.

Makoun needed time to adapt to our football, not forgetting to settle in a country where he doesnt speak the language.  The guy was a Cameroon international, and came with a Pedigree of playing Champions League Football.  He had obvious qualities that we're lacking.

I'm convinced that had we given the lad 6 months to settle and adapt to the pace of the game we would have had a real player on our hands.  Even to the extent we would be talking about Makoun being a big player for us, like Tiote at Newcastle and Song was at Arsenal.  It's a real shame he's not been given the opportunity when you have mercanaries like Ireland and N'Zogbia playing week in week out.
I'd have Makoun in the eleven with Delph and Karim in a heartbeat for Saturday.

Just to put the 'Champions League football' in context, Enda Stevens arrived with the pedigree of having played Europa League football.... I'm not dissing Makoun, just pointing out that we have to be mindful that the English league is a few notches above the French and that villa would probably have the beating of most sides who play in France.