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

[peter w]

No need to say it like that, it's all about opinions. He's good at what he does, I rate him, I'm happy he's here, I just don't think he's as high quality a player as some make out (i.e. the class of Laursen, Mellberg, Milner and Young who we've had over the past few years).

Like you say, in the current market 'worth' is relative, but we were desperate, Sunderland were doing way better than us and it was mid-season. It was an astronomical fee at the time (not knocking Randy at all, I'd rather overpay for someone with guaranteed quality than some of the shite we have done). I just think we pin our hopes on him a little too much, Laursen, Milner and Young have been worth points on their own, we've won games we probably didn't have the better of through their consistency and moments of brilliance. Bent without service is like playing with 10 men at times.

He's scored a few corkers he had no right to get in, but he's missed a lot of chances, especially last season. I think it was Monty who said he's nothing special as a finisher (something I agree with). But yeh, maybe it's something he'll sort out when chances come more regularly.

Sunderland fans did warn of his erratic finishing though, and I'm sure Bruce criticised the way he operates (when he tried to get him wide ride a few times). As well as Capello saying he needed to leave Sunderland to improve his game.

The trouble is we bought him 2 years too late. 2 years earlier and I believe we would have got 4th and now be in a different situation. As it was he came when we were near the bottom, and his movement is world class. His finishing is ok, certainly better than anyone else we have for sure, but his movement is what makes him special. For all the skill Young had, his final ball went down hill when Carew went over the top because Gabby never had the movement to provide the ball in the box. It is no coincidence Young, Walker and Downing all looked great the second half of the Houllier season, because Bent makes it easy to find a killer ball.
His worth is debatable, but I think he would fetch what we paid still, as his goal record has been superb here even when the team was so defensive last season. Strikers also naturally snatch at chances more when they know the next is not coming along in the next 5 minutes. If they get a lot, they relax and find the net more often, so missing a few last season was inevitable, the difference with Bent is though even when missing a few, his goal record was under 1 in 3. I think in the position we are we are very lucky to have him, and I hope we can over the next 3 years give him a side around him that utilises his strengths as it would take us a long way up the table.


Metro have linked us with Defoe. Can't see that one happening. In theory he and Bent just could not play together successfully.

100% agree.; Well put.

[LeeB]

I'm going to Tuna in tomorrow for more rumour news. If you're going to West Ham, have a whale of a time.

Nah, he's just rehashed some earlier attempts, which I think is hake-ing the piss a bit.


And we have a winner.

[ozzjim]

There was no sole in his attempt, it was a group-er effort to arrive at his attempt.

I hope Vlaar plays well today. He is certainly no shrimping violet.

[Bernie Gallacher]

I won't Carp on for too long but I think we should be looking at signing some Southend players, even if ultimately our attempt to sign some Shrimpers Flounders!

[Olneythelonely]

The sheer scale of the puns in this thread is ridiculous.

[taylorsworkrate]

The sheer scale of the puns in this thread is ridiculous.

Agreed. Everyone should know their plaice.

[James]

Now now, let's not get all 'prawn again' about things! PL will be casting his line far and wide to make the right catches for us, meantime we have to put the Spammers to the swordfish so that we can say tartare and get back to it!

[Clark W Griswold]

Be nice to have someone like Platy in the team again though. We've generally haddock rap goal return from midfield since he left.

[avfcpg]

Ignoring the fish puns..they codn't get any worse, they're really floundering...

Adam Johnson, C. Adam, Defoe/K Jones...would give is more attacking options and decent quality...

[supertom]

Right then:
LB
CB
CM
RLW
ST
Preferably consistent and with prem experience. The worry with all these kids and signings from abroad is that off the back of a relegation dogfight in the last two seasons, we don't have the experience and quality to drag us safely away from it.
We're really light in midfield and up front too. Need more options. N'Zogbia has to go. He's piss poor to be blunt. I want to see a lot more from Ireland too. Can't fault his workrate today however. Bannan, Delph and Gardner are still unconvincing.

[The Situation]

After todays performance is there anyone who still doesn't think we need another striker... someone like Jones? Of course we shouldn't go into knee jerk mode after the first game of the season but Bent just looked so isolated. If he had someone to support him like Jones he could of at least   made himself available with the ball and getting into positions you would expect him to make as a striker.

[Monty]

After todays performance is there anyone who still doesn't think we need another striker... someone like Jones? Of course we shouldn't go into knee jerk mode after the first game of the season but Bent just looked so isolated. If he had someone to support him like Jones he could of at least   made himself available with the ball and getting into positions you would expect him to make as a striker.

Bent isolated himself. Every time the ball went near the final third he went missing. People need to stop assuming that, if a striker doesn't get the touches on the ball, the midfield must be the problem. Bent was anonymous today and his movement wasn't good.

[OCD]

I would prefer a striker more of the Robbie Keane mould - someone who will drop off Bent into the space between the striker positions and the midfield and has good movement. There's no need to throw a passing based style of play away for a more direct approach because of one bad result.

[Monty]

I would prefer a striker more of the Robbie Keane mould - someone who will drop off Bent into the space between the striker positions and the midfield and has good movement. There's no need to throw a passing based style of play away for a more direct approach because of one bad result.

Precisely. If people think we need to be more direct and less possession-based, maybe they should give last season's DVD Review a watch.

[The Situation]

After todays performance is there anyone who still doesn't think we need another striker... someone like Jones? Of course we shouldn't go into knee jerk mode after the first game of the season but Bent just looked so isolated. If he had someone to support him like Jones he could of at least   made himself available with the ball and getting into positions you would expect him to make as a striker.

Bent isolated himself. Every time the ball went near the final third he went missing. People need to stop assuming that, if a striker doesn't get the touches on the ball, the midfield must be the problem. Bent was anonymous today and his movement wasn't good.

True he did look anonymous but the supporting cast did not help him today at least allowing him to get into positions, make runs etc...

I'm still not sure whether or not Bent needs another striker to play with because he has shown with the right players around him doing the right things he can produce on his own, but at the same time when things don't go to plan he looks like he might need someone up front with him to support him.

And I don't like direct football, I believe if we want to move forward possession based football is the way to go... but a big athletic striker doesn't automatically mean we would have to play direct football.