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

[Concrete John]

On the Villa page on SSN it says that Lambert does not plan to spend big in January ! So then, take from that what you will. Loads of loan signings, whilst shipping out the players that are not doing the buisness for us, or does that mean we are going to have the under 12's on the bench for some games ?
We have to get some experience into the squad, god knows where it is coming from, heard no rumours so far.

I'll take it for "Sky don't have a clue what we're planning to spend in January!"

[john e]

Absolutely agree with Dave's post above

Just to easy to say 'we need older players with premiership experience' thinking there is a bunch of them all waiting to sign and make a massive difference, in reality there is a bunch of them who will be more than willing to come but will make no difference,
 that's why we have loads of them farmed out or on the fringes on massive wages doing sweet FA,

To just keep saying we need a 'Roy Keane' like player in midfield or words to that effect is rediculous, we haven't got 50 mill to spend on one player,
Frimpong often gets mentioned, I don't know if he would be any good or not but I do know he would be just as much of a risk than any of the young players we already have, he's not currently doing great for Charlton

We do need leadership on the pitch, especially as we seem to start every game slowly and then gain confidence gradually if we haven't let in 3 or 4 by half time, but it's not easy to find those sort of players the good ones cost millions and demand high wages, that's why we are taking a few chances and trying to find pearls,
I hope PL does surprise us all and brings someone in who will fit the bill, who can bring some much needed leadership and quality to the team, but in general it's just as much of a risk with an expensive old hand ( n'zog)as it is with a punt on a youngster (benteke)

I have obviously chosen the two best players to illustrate the point there but you know what I mean

[danlanza]

On the Villa page on SSN it says that Lambert does not plan to spend big in January ! So then, take from that what you will. Loads of loan signings, whilst shipping out the players that are not doing the buisness for us, or does that mean we are going to have the under 12's on the bench for some games ?
We have to get some experience into the squad, god knows where it is coming from, heard no rumours so far.

I'll take it for "Sky don't have a clue what we're planning to spend in January!"

I hope that is the case Concrete John, i really do.

[danlanza]

Absolutely agree with Dave's post above

Just to easy to say 'we need older players with premiership experience' thinking there is a bunch of them all waiting to sign and make a massive difference, in reality there is a bunch of them who will be more than willing to come but will make no difference,
 that's why we have loads of them farmed out or on the fringes on massive wages doing sweet FA,

To just keep saying we need a 'Roy Keane' like player in midfield or words to that effect is rediculous, we haven't got 50 mill to spend on one player,
Frimpong often gets mentioned, I don't know if he would be any good or not but I do know he would be just as much of a risk than any of the young players we already have, he's not currently doing great for Charlton

We do need leadership on the pitch, especially as we seem to start every game slowly and then gain confidence gradually if we haven't let in 3 or 4 by half time, but it's not easy to find those sort of players the good ones cost millions and demand high wages, that's why we are taking a few chances and trying to find pearls,
I hope PL does surprise us all and brings someone in who will fit the bill, who can bring some much needed leadership and quality to the team, but in general it's just as much of a risk with an expensive old hand ( n'zog)as it is with a punt on a youngster (benteke)

I have obviously chosen the two best players to illustrate the point there but you know what I mean

I do know what you mean and a very good point made.

[Concrete John]

On the Villa page on SSN it says that Lambert does not plan to spend big in January ! So then, take from that what you will. Loads of loan signings, whilst shipping out the players that are not doing the buisness for us, or does that mean we are going to have the under 12's on the bench for some games ?
We have to get some experience into the squad, god knows where it is coming from, heard no rumours so far.

Wouldn't read too much into that , there have been reports of Lerner backing lambert financially as well, I don't think anyone knows what money is available to spend or who the targets are - its all guesswork at the moment - I do hope that deals are done early in jan rather than later though.

With the upcoming cup games, for which new players would not be eligable, we don't have a league match again until 12th Jan, so there's not actually all that much of a rush right now.

[eastie]

On the Villa page on SSN it says that Lambert does not plan to spend big in January ! So then, take from that what you will. Loads of loan signings, whilst shipping out the players that are not doing the buisness for us, or does that mean we are going to have the under 12's on the bench for some games ?
We have to get some experience into the squad, god knows where it is coming from, heard no rumours so far.

Wouldn't read too much into that , there have been reports of Lerner backing lambert financially as well, I don't think anyone knows what money is available to spend or who the targets are - its all guesswork at the moment - I do hope that deals are done early in jan rather than later though.

With the upcoming cup games, for which new players would not be eligable, we don't have a league match again until 12th Jan, so there's not actually all that much of a rush right now.

Still nice to get players in and settled though , I'm sure lambert has identified his targets already.
If we sign players who are not cup tied would they be eligible for the cups or is there a signing cut off date for cup competitions?

[PaulTheVillan]

For me:-

Happy with and can progress with
Guzan, Benteke, Weimann, Westwood, Lowton, Vlaar, Baker

Happy to stay as squad players
Bannan, Clark, Albrighton, Gabby, Given (although maybe move on due to his wages), Lichaj, Stephens, Holman

Undecided
Bowery, Bennett, KEA

Need to move on
Bent, Ireland, N'Zogbia, Dunne, Warnock, Hutton, Delph, Delfouneso

I would go with this.

I would get rid of Given and sign Craig Gordon on a free as a back up keeper. Would save us wages no doubt.

[saunders_heroes]

On the Villa page on SSN it says that Lambert does not plan to spend big in January ! So then, take from that what you will. Loads of loan signings, whilst shipping out the players that are not doing the buisness for us, or does that mean we are going to have the under 12's on the bench for some games ?
We have to get some experience into the squad, god knows where it is coming from, heard no rumours so far.

Wouldn't read too much into that , there have been reports of Lerner backing lambert financially as well, I don't think anyone knows what money is available to spend or who the targets are - its all guesswork at the moment - I do hope that deals are done early in jan rather than later though.

With the upcoming cup games, for which new players would not be eligable, we don't have a league match again until 12th Jan, so there's not actually all that much of a rush right now.

That's only a week and a half away. Get 'em in ASAP!

[saunders_heroes]

I'd keep Bent, Dunne and N'Zogbia. I'd even call back Warnock till we get out of this mess. We need experience. The team we have now is an abomination. Any more lower league players in the squad and we're gone.

[Dave Cooper please]

Charlton Athletic midfielder Bradley Pritchard has reportedly emerged as a transfer target for three clubs in the Premier League.

The Zimbabwe-born 27-year-old has been a permanent fixture in the Addicks team this season, earning rave reviews for his dominant displays in the centre of the field.

Yesterday saw the January transfer window open and, according to Sky Sports News, Aston Villa, Fulham and Reading are all monitoring Pritchard as they consider bolstering their squads.

Pritchard, whose contract expires in June 2014, joined Charlton from Hayes & Yeading in May 2011.

Charlton fan I know posted this on facebook:

'if you steal bradley pritchard off us i will take the cheese grater to your face. Peace'

He rates him.

Mentioned this in another (the wrong!) thread.
Ex Tamworth player and he follows me on Twitter!

Box-to-box midfielder, real grafter, but a massive step-up from Conference to Premiership in just 3 seasons. Still, some players mature later than others and at 27 he would raise our average age up a notch.

[olaftab]

Honestly there is not much point in doing too much in this window.  We need domestic PL experience in and around midfield/ forward area and an organiser in defence. So get Kevin Davies to do the former and Ron Vlaar back to do the latter and we will be fine.

Other thn that I am not sure that we will find exactly what we need in terms of quality in January.

[sirlordbaltimore]

Need to move on
Bent, Ireland, N'Zogbia, Dunne, Warnock, Hutton, Delph, Delfouneso

I would go with this.

Why would we 'need to move on' our best bet of scoring goals, the little things that are the difference between staying up and going down ?.

Surely we've seen with our woeful league position and goals for column that this Bentgate malarky has been nothing short of a disaster already ?

[ozzjim]

Chris Samba would be awesome, what is he up to now?

Being paid twice our annual wage budget to challenge for the title in Russia.

This is the problem - people say "we need Premier League experience" and expect that it means Lescott, Samba or Hangeland. As if they're not going to have a dozen or so more attractive options.

In our current situation it actually means Dann, Johnson, Bramble or Wheater.

Then they get very disappointed and shouty.

For the midfield, it Stuart Holden could get through a stringent medical then I'd be delighted with him.

Holden and Lee would be good from Bolton.

You are right Dave, which is why I would prefer to go for the likes of Chester and get a Viking. Teh experience thing is only important if coupled with ability for me.

[ozzjim]

Charlton Athletic midfielder Bradley Pritchard has reportedly emerged as a transfer target for three clubs in the Premier League.

The Zimbabwe-born 27-year-old has been a permanent fixture in the Addicks team this season, earning rave reviews for his dominant displays in the centre of the field.

Yesterday saw the January transfer window open and, according to Sky Sports News, Aston Villa, Fulham and Reading are all monitoring Pritchard as they consider bolstering their squads.

Pritchard, whose contract expires in June 2014, joined Charlton from Hayes & Yeading in May 2011.

Charlton fan I know posted this on facebook:

'if you steal bradley pritchard off us i will take the cheese grater to your face. Peace'

He rates him.

Mentioned this in another (the wrong!) thread.
Ex Tamworth player and he follows me on Twitter!

Box-to-box midfielder, real grafter, but a massive step-up from Conference to Premiership in just 3 seasons. Still, some players mature later than others and at 27 he would raise our average age up a notch.

Would he be any use?

[Chipsticks]

Need to move on
Bent, Ireland, N'Zogbia, Dunne, Warnock, Hutton, Delph, Delfouneso

I would go with this.

Why would we 'need to move on' our best bet of scoring goals, the little things that are the difference between staying up and going down ?.

You call him our best bet of scoring goals, but I doubt I'm the only one who would pick Benteke and Weimann as our strike force over him in a heartbeat.