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

[pedro25]

NRC's greatest asset is his energy, so restricting him to a holding midfield role is crazy imo, that type of role needs filling by someone who can pass a football, Makelele, Petrov, Clark, Makoun etc.  In terms of a box to box option NRC can run and run but his touch lets him down so I think there are better options out there than him.

[Karl Bridges]

Strachan & Southgate made a lot of sense after the game last night talking about defensive midfielders. Holland had two and Germany had none. the Germans rely on talented midfielders who can both stay and go but are smart enough to know which is required at any given time.

[Surrey Villain]

Strachan & Southgate made a lot of sense after the game last night talking about defensive midfielders. Holland had two and Germany had none. the Germans rely on talented midfielders who can both stay and go but are smart enough to know which is required at any given time.

Especially when those two midfielders are Ozil and Schweinsteiger!

[nigel]

Strachan & Southgate made a lot of sense after the game last night talking about defensive midfielders. Holland had two and Germany had none. the Germans rely on talented midfielders who can both stay and go but are smart enough to know which is required at any given time.

Especially when those two midfielders are Ozil and Schweinsteiger!

Agree.
Let's get them in.
(I can dream, can't I?)

[maidstonevillain]

I think sitting NRC in there playing a very simple role, just breaking up play and protecting the back 4 is very good value on a free which he reportedly is.

But there is no such thing as "a free". The major cost for most players is the wages over the period of the contract. Not to mention signing on fees. And I am sure that money can be better spent elsewhere. Having said that I wouldn,t be totallt aghast if NRC came back.

[tomd2103]

Strachan & Southgate made a lot of sense after the game last night talking about defensive midfielders. Holland had two and Germany had none. the Germans rely on talented midfielders who can both stay and go but are smart enough to know which is required at any given time.

I thought the German midfield three of Schweinsteiger, Khedira and Ozil were superb last night.  From what I could see, Ozil was playing in front of the other two, but when he dropped deep one of the other two moved into the space he came from.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Don't forget we've got Holman on the way.
He could be the business and his type of hardworking industrious approach will sit nicely with Lambert I think.

[SoccerHQ]

I never really saw much of NRC's much vaunted "leadership qualities".

I know he arranged the occasional pre match huddle, and did a lot of pointing, but that doesn't really make you a leader.

His skill also extends to sticking a foot in in midfield and being awkward, which whilst sometimes useful, isn't really enough if that's all you do.

Went to a reserve game at VP when NRC was coming back from injury and all you could hear was his voice booming around the ground so that suggests he's pretty vocal on the pitch.

He would've walked back into the team last season but I'd rather give Makoun a second chance.

Anyone think we should bid for Corluka? Playing well for Croatia in euros, wants to leave Spurs and can play RB and centre half.

[Ozzjim]

I never really saw much of NRC's much vaunted "leadership qualities".

I know he arranged the occasional pre match huddle, and did a lot of pointing, but that doesn't really make you a leader.

His skill also extends to sticking a foot in in midfield and being awkward, which whilst sometimes useful, isn't really enough if that's all you do.

Went to a reserve game at VP when NRC was coming back from injury and all you could hear was his voice booming around the ground so that suggests he's pretty vocal on the pitch.

He would've walked back into the team last season but I'd rather give Makoun a second chance.

Anyone think we should bid for Corluka? Playing well for Croatia in euros, wants to leave Spurs and can play RB and centre half.

I would play him with Makoun though Chris in games. I just think he is a bit of a force of nature, and we missed him last season.

On the wages/ bosman issue, I think NRC would be well to recall his standing in the game is not what it was before, and 30k with a playing bonus should be fine.

[Summers]

NRC is a definite leader. Always communicating.

[VWBelgian]

Always rated Corluka... would be decent i think. Lambert want Naughton?

[PeterWithesShin]

I think sitting NRC in there playing a very simple role, just breaking up play and protecting the back 4 is very good value on a free which he reportedly is.

But there is no such thing as "a free". The major cost for most players is the wages over the period of the contract. Not to mention signing on fees. And I am sure that money can be better spent elsewhere. Having said that I wouldn,t be totallt aghast if NRC came back.

We've already spent in the region of £15-16 million on NRC. I'm not overly impressed at the idea of spending another chunk on him.

[tomd2103]

I think sitting NRC in there playing a very simple role, just breaking up play and protecting the back 4 is very good value on a free which he reportedly is.

But there is no such thing as "a free". The major cost for most players is the wages over the period of the contract. Not to mention signing on fees. And I am sure that money can be better spent elsewhere. Having said that I wouldn,t be totallt aghast if NRC came back.

We've already spent in the region of £15-16 million on NRC. I'm not overly impressed at the idea of spending another chunk on him.

I agree PWS.  He might have just had a really bad night, but I thought he was poor when we played Bolton at home at the end of last season.  I lost count of the number of times he gave the ball away that night, and although he gets his foot in and does have a bit of a presence, I don't really think he is a player we should be looking at.  As for him being a positive influence, wasn't he supposed to have had a fight with O'Neill during training at Bodymoor Heath a few years back?

[john e]

i was cheering, waving and had the bunting out when we finaly got rid of NRC,
if we bought him back i would definitely throw myself in the river

[sid1964]

NRC - No thanks, very average, I could run around like an headless chicken for 90 mins for £30k a week!

I suppose his agent will be saying that all the top clubs in Europe are after him again like last summer LOL