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

[Dante Lavelli]

Completely agree.  The last two years or so have seen utter insanity from Lerner.  He looked to be on the road to setting things back on the right track when he appointed Lambert, but unless he backs him properly, I'm afraid it'll be another case of trying to do just enough not to get relegated.

He’s made mistakes there is no doubt about that.  In many ways I think his approach right now reminds me of the current government:  Everyone understands that cut-backs need to be made but the speed and depth means that any small amount of growth is unlikely despite there being many variables being in our favour.

[tarzansbrother]

It certainly seems Adam Johnson is on his way based on quotes from Mancini.
Only word of caution would be from the Man City (proper) fans I know saying how he looks great on highlights but over 90 minutes doesn't cut it for them...
That said, I would be more than happy for him to end up here....attacking, can beat a man, puts the ball in...

commentators during the city game today said johnson is off to everton on loan for a season as a gesture of good will between the 2 clubs after the rodwell deal so nothing to see here it would seem

Our goodwill gesture from Man C after the Milner deal was washed up Ireland on a massive contract.

[Chris Smith]

I disagree with the midfielders not trusting Bent. He found a team mate more often than not when he had the ball at the weekend.

The ideal situation is to get a centre forward who is young, and good in the air, physical presence we can play off and can score goals, AND play alongside Bent who will benefit from that. Carroll being available is a perfect fit, IF Lerner wants to bankroll the deal. I still think he will give Lambert the funds for a couple of bigger signings, as logically he would have negotiated his budget to some extent when taking the job. Lambert is not stupid, and will say it is not all about money, but he was doing well at Norwich with his own squad, to leave that there has to have been a carrot dangled.

I don't see us going back to a bog standard 4-4-2 which you'd have to do to accommodate Carroll. Why spend all the time and effort in trying to develop a passing game to throw it all away for the sake of a over hyped bloke who has just flopped playing with much better players?

[tarzansbrother]

I disagree with the midfielders not trusting Bent. He found a team mate more often than not when he had the ball at the weekend.

The ideal situation is to get a centre forward who is young, and good in the air, physical presence we can play off and can score goals, AND play alongside Bent who will benefit from that. Carroll being available is a perfect fit, IF Lerner wants to bankroll the deal. I still think he will give Lambert the funds for a couple of bigger signings, as logically he would have negotiated his budget to some extent when taking the job. Lambert is not stupid, and will say it is not all about money, but he was doing well at Norwich with his own squad, to leave that there has to have been a carrot dangled.

I would take Carroll, about time we took advantage of another club paying a big fee for a player then looking to offload. They still owe us for Downing so use some of that for a season loan deal and to pay his wages.

[ozzjim]

I disagree with the midfielders not trusting Bent. He found a team mate more often than not when he had the ball at the weekend.

The ideal situation is to get a centre forward who is young, and good in the air, physical presence we can play off and can score goals, AND play alongside Bent who will benefit from that. Carroll being available is a perfect fit, IF Lerner wants to bankroll the deal. I still think he will give Lambert the funds for a couple of bigger signings, as logically he would have negotiated his budget to some extent when taking the job. Lambert is not stupid, and will say it is not all about money, but he was doing well at Norwich with his own squad, to leave that there has to have been a carrot dangled.

I don't see us going back to a bog standard 4-4-2 which you'd have to do to accommodate Carroll. Why spend all the time and effort in trying to develop a passing game to throw it all away for the sake of a over hyped bloke who has just flopped playing with much better players?

Norwich have played, successfully, under Lambert with a big man for the last 3 seasons, and still played good football. I don't think one means the other cannot happen.

[Chris Smith]

I disagree with the midfielders not trusting Bent. He found a team mate more often than not when he had the ball at the weekend.

The ideal situation is to get a centre forward who is young, and good in the air, physical presence we can play off and can score goals, AND play alongside Bent who will benefit from that. Carroll being available is a perfect fit, IF Lerner wants to bankroll the deal. I still think he will give Lambert the funds for a couple of bigger signings, as logically he would have negotiated his budget to some extent when taking the job. Lambert is not stupid, and will say it is not all about money, but he was doing well at Norwich with his own squad, to leave that there has to have been a carrot dangled.

I don't see us going back to a bog standard 4-4-2 which you'd have to do to accommodate Carroll. Why spend all the time and effort in trying to develop a passing game to throw it all away for the sake of a over hyped bloke who has just flopped playing with much better players?

Norwich have played, successfully, under Lambert with a big man for the last 3 seasons, and still played good football. I don't think one means the other cannot happen.

It does if one of them is a limited, one dimensional player like Carroll and the other is a penalty box poacher like Bent. It just doesn't seem likely to me given how we've played to date and the type of player he's signed.

[villan from luton]

Grant Holt aint exactly a ball player is he

[Matt Collins]

A few months ago I'd have entirely agreed with the above. But a key difference is the way the midfield is now structured, with four ball players. That should be enough to see you dominate possession enough and move the ball around. If you played 2 wingers a la MON it wouldn't work at all.

Whether you'd provide the service and crosses for the forwards is another matter. But Norwich did seem to with a similar philosophy

[ozzjim]

I disagree with the midfielders not trusting Bent. He found a team mate more often than not when he had the ball at the weekend.

The ideal situation is to get a centre forward who is young, and good in the air, physical presence we can play off and can score goals, AND play alongside Bent who will benefit from that. Carroll being available is a perfect fit, IF Lerner wants to bankroll the deal. I still think he will give Lambert the funds for a couple of bigger signings, as logically he would have negotiated his budget to some extent when taking the job. Lambert is not stupid, and will say it is not all about money, but he was doing well at Norwich with his own squad, to leave that there has to have been a carrot dangled.

I don't see us going back to a bog standard 4-4-2 which you'd have to do to accommodate Carroll. Why spend all the time and effort in trying to develop a passing game to throw it all away for the sake of a over hyped bloke who has just flopped playing with much better players?

Norwich have played, successfully, under Lambert with a big man for the last 3 seasons, and still played good football. I don't think one means the other cannot happen.

It does if one of them is a limited, one dimensional player like Carroll and the other is a penalty box poacher like Bent. It just doesn't seem likely to me given how we've played to date and the type of player he's signed.

We will see, but I think we will buy a target man before the window shuts, and it will be interesting to see how we play. The ability to put it into the box with a target yesterday AFTER some of the possession worked us into good areas would have been useful.

[avfcpg]

It certainly seems Adam Johnson is on his way based on quotes from Mancini.

What quotes? All I know is that he isnt even on the bench for Citeh today.

Mancini had all but admitted he's off. Said words to the effect that he is a good player and deserves to play games, but Mancini can only pick 11, so he accepts he needs to look elsewhere to get games...something like that anyway..

[avfcpg]

The Moose from Talksport tweeting that Carroll held talks with Villa after the WBA game...probably twittering bollocks but there's not much else going on so...

[Mark H]

If the Moose told me the time I would check another watch !

[Shrek]

I disagree with the midfielders not trusting Bent. He found a team mate more often than not when he had the ball at the weekend.

The ideal situation is to get a centre forward who is young, and good in the air, physical presence we can play off and can score goals, AND play alongside Bent who will benefit from that. Carroll being available is a perfect fit, IF Lerner wants to bankroll the deal. I still think he will give Lambert the funds for a couple of bigger signings, as logically he would have negotiated his budget to some extent when taking the job. Lambert is not stupid, and will say it is not all about money, but he was doing well at Norwich with his own squad, to leave that there has to have been a carrot dangled.

I don't see us going back to a bog standard 4-4-2 which you'd have to do to accommodate Carroll. Why spend all the time and effort in trying to develop a passing game to throw it all away for the sake of a over hyped bloke who has just flopped playing with much better players?

Norwich have played, successfully, under Lambert with a big man for the last 3 seasons, and still played good football. I don't think one means the other cannot happen.

But... Were they playing a big man AND accommodating a poacher that contributes nothing else?

I don't think we can play Carroll and Bent, it's one or the other for me.

[ozzjim]

If the Moose told me the time I would check another watch !

Most unreliable man in the rumour world. Never ever right!!

[Toronto Villa]

If the Moose told me the time I would check another watch !

Most unreliable man in the rumour world. Never ever right!!

Although, Carroll is going to end up somewhere, and he is the type of player Lambert could use. I'm not saying it's us categorically, but it wouldn't be a complete shock. The Moose is a cock though. Of that there is little doubt.