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

[Le Lapin]

If we are selling Dunne we'd need an experience centre back to come in as back up. Whatever form Dunne has been in over the last two seasons we all know that he's not a bad defender. He has a manager that has a clue now, and good young players around him and hopefully a midfield that will protect the defence a bit more than it has done. I'd rather see Dunne come off the bench with 20mins to go to close out a tight win than an inexperienced player.
 

Have you actually watched any of our football over the last two seasons? I wouldn't want Mr Concentration anywhere near us trying to close out a win.

Under Houllier it was when Dunne came back into the team that results improved and we moved away from the relegation places. He's a good defender when on form and we're short of numbers at the moment. I think we should keep him for this season at least.

He's in the last year of his contract though, isn't he?

If someone is going to offer us 3m for him now, then I suspect that'll be the most important thing.

If someone would offer us 3m for Dunne then I'd snap their hands off. But we would need to get a replacement centreback with Premiership experience in to replace him.

So we sell an experienced defender for 3m to try and replace him with another experienced defender who is not only better but on less wages?

Are people on here 'avin a laugh?

Yes Nasty Lee I think that might be the plan. Or else we are going to wing it with an inexperienced defense this season.

[Duncan Shaw]

Timing has been rubbish, because if Dunne goes and we are being offered decent money, it's a no-brainer to sell, but ought to have re-negotiated terms with Carlos in that case.  Now it's a case of seeing can maybe pick up a Dann or someone like that for reasonable money.  Ron and Ciaran will be our first choice, with Nathan as back-up, so we need one more body, but not necessarily one who expects to be starting.

Left back, however is a real priority.  I think we need two more full-backs ideally.

[bertlambshank]

Any centre halfs that can play left back out there?

[johncvilla88]

Any centre halfs that can play left back out there?

Baker/Clark?

[supertom]

Maybe looking for an experienced bargain in Scandanavia is an idea. They tend to adapt very well to this league. Particularly defenders. If we could get Kjaer or someone similar, it'd be good.

[bertlambshank]

Any centre halfs that can play left back out there?

Baker/Clark?

a bit more Premier savvy would be nice.

[Monty]

Kjaer no chance, at Bayern now. And it's no good just going for stereotypes, like 'experienced' or 'Scandinavian'. Lambert has very clear ideas about how he wants us to play, and centre-backs will probably be required to have pace and ability on the ball. Given that he also seems to want to develop the Vlaark partnership as first choice, I doubt there are many experienced, quick, good-on-the-ball centre backs out there whose wages we could afford to sit on the bench, nor who would be content with sitting on the bench.

[OCD]

For the purposes of this thread I think all we can do is discuss the qualities of the players we would like to see. Simply because the majority on here don't know too many players in foreign leagues that the scouting network can probably provide big dossiers on.

[bertlambshank]

Fuck it what's Mellberg up to,get him in as cover.

[Steve R]

....
Under Houllier it was when Dunne came back into the team that results improved and we moved away from the relegation places. He's a good defender when on form and we're short of numbers at the moment. I think we should keep him for this season at least.

That wasn't the case, Chris. During the great injury crisis (from November to January?), Dunne played most games. He certainly played in the games against ManU and Arsenal, where - if you look back at the match threads - the general concensus was that the youngsters played well but were let down by the senior pros - Dunne (and Collins, for that matter) included.

He also played in the League cup defeat at Small Heath and the 0-1 against Sunderand, pretty much the lowest points of the season.

The revival, which really started after the Sunderland game  had more to do with the arrival of Bent and Walker.

[curiousorange]

Dunne's age has caught up with him and i can't see him completing a contract being a permanent member of the first team. If someone else is willing to take the risk, great, we'll have the money thanks. People might wonder where £3m is going to get us a decent replacement but we've paid £8m and £10m for centre backs in the recent past, neither of which were top drawer. Lambert presumably has a replacement in mind, so let's see what happens

[pauliewalnuts]

Fuck it what's Mellberg up to,get him in as cover.

Joined Villareal the other week.

[pedro25]

If Dunne and Warnock go and we bring in a new left back and centre half i hope we dont go for 2 kids, maybe 1 and 1 with more experience, otherwise if we lose Vlaar we'd have to go with a full defence of inexperience.

[Nastylee]

It seems a bit risky to me given we're already shit.

[ktvillan]

So we sell an experienced defender for 3m to try and replace him with another experienced defender who is not only better but on less wages?

Are people on here 'avin a laugh?

Sort of like selling Collins and bringing in Vlaar you mean?