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

[eastie]

Good to see MON finally showing he can think outside of the obvious. It's not like Saha is old, injury prone or plays in England.

I wonder what Davey makes of it all and if what we were saying a while a go is beginning to ring true for him and that it wasn't just sour grapes from us?

True, the only surprise is he went for saha ahead of his old mucker heskey.

[pedro25]

Don't see the point in another striker. We have Bent and Gabby and we're never going to get a proper view of Delfuneso and Weimann if we put another obstacle in the way of their progress.

If they are good enough they will always break through, no matter who is in their way.

[PaulWinch again]

Like Paulie it's the fullbacks that are the major concern for me. We need a left back full stop and Lowton at right back maybe good, but it's a big gamble without a suitable alternative.

[LeeB]

Don't see the point in another striker. We have Bent and Gabby and we're never going to get a proper view of Delfuneso and Weimann if we put another obstacle in the way of their progress.

If they are good enough they will always break through, no matter who is in their way.

Like David Platt at Man Utd, for example.

[eamonn]

Or Gareth Cahill at Aston Villa.

[DrGonzo]

Like Paulie it's the fullbacks that are the major concern for me. We need a left back full stop and Lowton at right back maybe good, but it's a big gamble without a suitable alternative.

Lichaj?

[PaulWinch again]

I'm not convinced by Lichaj, he may be alright but I think him and Lowton as our right back options is potentially very risky.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

From what I've seen of pre-season, I'm more worried about the defence. Against Werder - the only team of decent standard we've played this summer - they looked every bit as all over the shop as they did for last season.

Vlaar, I think will be a good signing, and hopefully he and Clark will form a good partnership, but regarding full backs, we look a bit sketchy. Lowton may be a decent signing, but again, he's come from the third division, so it's asking a lot to rely on him to perform straight away.

Lichaj doesn't convince me hugely, Stevens looked decent when I saw him pre season, but again, inexperienced. Warnock, obviously, is shite as is Hutton, but by being left at home at various points this summer, this indicates a certain amount of bridge burning where these two are concerned.

I recall reading the Norwich board's just before Lambert left and quite a few comments were made about how he had failed to sort out the defence during his time at Carrow Road. A quick look at his teams at Norwich show the following:

2011/12 66 goals conceded (joint second worst in the PL)
2010/11 58 goals conceded (despite finishing second, worst defence in the Championship top 6)
2009/10 47 goals conceded (despite winning Division One, worst defence of the top 3 sides promoted)

Obviously I'm not going to ignore the goals scored by his teams but it does strike me that he appears to build his teams from the front rather that the more traditional method of from the back. I'm hoping that the defence is not his achilles heel as the Premier League can be very unforgiving.

[PeterWithesShin]

Worth a mention that in 09/10 that Norwich conceded 7 in their first game before Lambert joined them. Without those 7 they would have had the best defence in their division that season.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Valid point, PWS although it could be argued he inherited that team's defence from Glenn Roeder/Bryan Gunn.

[Dave]

I'm not convinced by Lichaj, he may be alright but I think him and Lowton as our right back options is potentially very risky.

Well, I suppose we could always keep Hutton.

[PeterWithesShin]

Valid point, PWS although it could be argued he inherited that team's defence from Glenn Roeder/Bryan Gunn.

And managed to turn them from a defence that conceded 7 at home first game into the best defence in that division over the next 45 games.

Time will tell what he gets our defence doing but as he's already signed 2 defenders and is hopefully going to have Clark there, i'll accept them being a bit iffy at times. No way can it be any worse than the last 2 seasons!

[hartman_1982]

I was told this a few days ago. If RVP joins United then we are getting Hernandez in on loan for the season. I am not getting my hopes up but that would be ideal!

[Holte L2]

I was told this a few days ago. If RVP joins United then we are getting Hernandez in on loan for the season. I am not getting my hopes up but that would be ideal!

I doubt it mate. That would only leave them with Berbatov - who they're trying to shift.

[spangley1812]

I was told this a few days ago. If RVP joins United then we are getting Hernandez in on loan for the season. I am not getting my hopes up but that would be ideal!

I doubt it mate. That would only leave them with Berbatov - who they're trying to shift.

Wellbeck