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

[N'ZMAV]

The Sun seems to think they've already gone...

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4442497/Sunderland-sign-Stephen-Warnock-and-James-Collins-from-Aston-Villa.html

[arnie66]

Tend to agree with the comments that Warnock has the ability to perform consistently well with the correct man management from PL.  Albeit in small glimpses this pre season he seems to have recovered some confidence and is adapting his game to the new passing style that PL likes to play. 

In the EPL confidence is a massive factor and in all my years of watching football I have never seen a less confident player than Warnock last year - hopefully PL can bring the best out of him.

Collins is also an interesting debate, last season his predictable 50 yard diagonal hoofs were all he had to offer passing wise and more often than not mis-placed however in pre season he seems to be passing the ball short and accurately....again we may be able to get more from him now PL is here.

I would be much happier to see tha back of Hutton and Dunne - Hutton just doesn't seem to have the technical ability required from a fullback in the EPL and I really don't think that he could be improved by anyone. 

Dunne will be culpable for numerous penalties every season due to his lack of pace, reckless decision making and poor timing.....no question about his bravery and commitment but that's just not enough these days.

[OCD]

I've waited up to watch this match and have just realised I'm going to doze off after 10 mins. Max.

Last season most people were saying that about 3pm kick-offs.

[Matt Collins]

James Nursey is suggesting the deal isn't done just that Villa have agreed the deal.

I don't think nursey is saying villa have agreed the fee. His twitter feed says exactly the opposite

[nigel]

I'd still be inclined to keep Warnock. He's one of the few who can keep it and as shite as we was at times last season in the run in he was one of our best, most solid, performers. Maybe he needs a manager who just puts his arm around him for him to come good. that certainly wasn't Houllier. Also, for all the talk of dropping the next defender not to mark at corners (or some such  comment) it was only Warnock that was usually dropped. Inisolation okay, but it would have left a player who maybe needing a cuddle to be exposed and singled-out by McLeish as the only problem in the back 4.

At times Warncok has looked very very good. At times, very very bad. If lambert can work him out then there is still a very good player there.

Agree, I think Warnock's looked pretty good this pre-season, and as you say he looked good towards the end of last season.

[LeeB]

This summers transfer activity just gets better and better.

Collins and Warnock have been shite for two seasons, under two managers, and there has been the off-the-field issues too.

They'll be big earners too, so the quicker they're gone, the better, as their is already better players at the club in their positions, let alone the players we'll be able to bring in.

Collins, Warnock, Heskey, Cuellar. That's probably the best part of £1m a month before tax off the wage bill. Fucking madness.

Anyway, Mad Martin is slowly winning back favour in my mind, after his contrition at last season's game and his efforts to now help us rebuild our squad.

[darren woolley]

I hope this now means we can get Ron Vlaar in to replace Collins.

[villastikz]

Being reported across the press/media now that Warnock and Collins are off to Sunderland

Also we're reported as interested Blackpool winger Matt Phillips

[spangley1812]

I'd still be inclined to keep Warnock. He's one of the few who can keep it and as shite as we was at times last season in the run in he was one of our best, most solid, performers. Maybe he needs a manager who just puts his arm around him for him to come good. that certainly wasn't Houllier. Also, for all the talk of dropping the next defender not to mark at corners (or some such  comment) it was only Warnock that was usually dropped. Inisolation okay, but it would have left a player who maybe needing a cuddle to be exposed and singled-out by McLeish as the only problem in the back 4.

At times Warncok has looked very very good. At times, very very bad. If lambert can work him out then there is still a very good player there.

Agree, I think Warnock's looked pretty good this pre-season, and as you say he looked good towards the end of last season.

I agree as well

[Rip Van We Go Again]

I'd still be inclined to keep Warnock. He's one of the few who can keep it and as shite as we was at times last season in the run in he was one of our best, most solid, performers. Maybe he needs a manager who just puts his arm around him for him to come good. that certainly wasn't Houllier. Also, for all the talk of dropping the next defender not to mark at corners (or some such  comment) it was only Warnock that was usually dropped. Inisolation okay, but it would have left a player who maybe needing a cuddle to be exposed and singled-out by McLeish as the only problem in the back 4.

At times Warncok has looked very very good. At times, very very bad. If lambert can work him out then there is still a very good player there.

Agree, I think Warnock's looked pretty good this pre-season, and as you say he looked good towards the end of last season.

I agree as well

I can't wipe the abomination of his form last season.
Dreadful - Get rid.

[Chipsticks]

I'd imagine this is why the Vlaar transfer has been moving slowly, I think we've been waiting to shift Collins before we bring him in.

Also, in fairness to Warnock, he wasn't awful towards the end of last season playing in holding midfield.

[KevinGage]

Warnock  is a curious one to me.

When he first arrived he looked exceptional, good technique for a full back, could offer a threat in the final third but could get stuck in too.  Even back then he did have a tendency to dive in too quickly with the rash tackle, but it wasn't as chronic as the past two seasons.  He fully deserved his place in the World Cup squad of 2010.

Since then -when he didn't get the move he wanted back to Liverpool that summer- he's been largely woeful. Playing that way under one manager you can perhaps -at a push- put down to the man in charge.  But he's delivered that level of ineptitude for two seasons in a row now, under two different managers.  Whatever the reasons, if we get anything approaching a half decent bid we have to take it. 

[supertom]

I'm glad to see the back of Warnock and Collins. Whether or not they have good pre-seasons or not, I just don't trust them at the back anymore. Collins just gets murdered by every half decent front man he comes against. Both give aways a ludricrous amount of freekicks in dangerous areas, not to mention the worry of giving away pens too. Dunne and Hutton are similarly woeful these days so at some point hopefully, they'll go.

I'd guess the Vlaar thing is just about the fee. Feyenoord probably think we're more well off than we are and want to get top dollar. Bear in mind also, we've already taken one of their best players, so going back to them again for another, is always going to be tough. They'll want a decent fee. Hopefully we'll get it sorted though, even if we pay a little over the odds.

Good stuff though. Wake up this morning, grab the paper and we've got rid of some dead wood (well, hopefully) and we've made it 3 wins out of 3 in pre-season.

[Ian.]

I agree I think we need to move on them on, along with Hutton. A new era is starting and we need to stop these silly mistakes which more often than not come from Warnock and Collins.

[danlanza]

I'm glad to see the back of Warnock and Collins. Whether or not they have good pre-seasons or not, I just don't trust them at the back anymore. Collins just gets murdered by every half decent front man he comes against. Both give aways a ludricrous amount of freekicks in dangerous areas, not to mention the worry of giving away pens too. Dunne and Hutton are similarly woeful these days so at some point hopefully, they'll go.

I'd guess the Vlaar thing is just about the fee. Feyenoord probably think we're more well off than we are and want to get top dollar. Bear in mind also, we've already taken one of their best players, so going back to them again for another, is always going to be tough. They'll want a decent fee. Hopefully we'll get it sorted though, even if we pay a little over the odds.

Good stuff though. Wake up this morning, grab the paper and we've got rid of some dead wood (well, hopefully) and we've made it 3 wins out of 3 in pre-season.

Sky sports confirms that they have signed for Old Pube Head !