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

[supertom]

I think Wiemann is a better finisher than Bent.

Obviously you're joking, right?

I think Bent's more about positioning himself where he can't miss. Bit like Andy Cole, some games he'd need 4-5 chances to score. 
We might not see it from Andy unless he's moved centrally but outside of 10 yards I think he's technically better. He's been unlucky this season too.
That's what I'm telling myself anyway. I'll back the horse that's still in our stables in a couple of months time.

[Mazrim]

I reckon Michael Henke (who probably found Benteke for us) will have had a few months to draw up a list of gems to go and get in January. Could be a very interesting month.

[OCD]

I think I read somewhere that Lambert was originally eyeing Benteke as a potential Norwich signing. There were reports that he had arguments with the Norwich board as they wouldn't back him so if true, it might be that they weren't prepared to pay £7m for one player. Of course, its only conjecture.

I'm hopeful of the same Maz. Lambert's already shown that he and his scouts have a good eye for a player and with a head scout and presumably a proper network being laid down, I am more optimistic about the January window than normal. After a great initial January window (which in part was due to opportunism), O'Neill didn't have much joy - mainly because he only looked at the domestic market. Now that signings from foreign markets are now conceivable, it opens so many more avenues. I think we will line up a couple of flair players who can create/score.

[Mazrim]

Priorities for me are:

- Powerhouse central midfielder who can boss a game.
Don't want much, just somebody with no weaknesses at all and possibly the son of some sort of deity.

- Skillful attacking midfielder who can cover wide and support Benteke.
Don't want much, just somebody who has about 30 names abbreviated to one unfashionable old english name, classical composer or maybe a comic book hero. Like Bert, Amadeus or Thor. He should be able to to do things with a ball that make men want to be him and women want to be with him.

- Indomitable centre half to partner Roncrete or one of the young fellas.
Don't want much, just somebody able to leap like a Salmon, smash through 4 inches of depleted uranium armour with his little finger and able to kill a man if that man is stupid enough to say his name. He should also be able to control and pass a ball.
This will enable Richard Dunne to be fired from a cannon into a pie shop window.

Depending how well we do with these positions we could fly up the table.
We could also look at getting a cheap back up keeper and letting Given go, another versatile full back and perhaps another out and out striker to compete with or compliment Benteke. But those three positions I reckon are priorities.

[Percy McCarthy]

That is a wonderful wish-list Maz, those are exactly the qualities we should be looking for in players.

I'd have Young and Milner back if they're not busy.

[Jarpie]

Priorities for me are:

- Powerhouse central midfielder who can boss a game.
Don't want much, just somebody with no weaknesses at all and possibly the son of some sort of deity.

- Skillful attacking midfielder who can cover wide and support Benteke.
Don't want much, just somebody who has about 30 names abbreviated to one unfashionale old english name, classical composer or maybe a comic book hero. He should be able to to do things with a ball that make men want to be him and women want to be with him.

- Indomitable centre half to partner Roncrete or one of the young fellas.
Don't want much, just somebody able to leap like a Salmon, smash through 4 inches of depleted uranium armour with his little fingers and able to kill a man if that man is stupid enough to say his name. He should also be able to control and pass a ball.
This will enable Richard Dunne to be fired from a cannon into a pie shop window.

Depending how well we do with these positions we could fly up the table.
We could also look at getting a cheap back up keeper and letting Given go, another versatile full back and perhaps another out and out striker to compete with or compliment Benteke. But those three positions I reckon are priorities.

We also need someone to rotate with Ireland since we don't have anyone else to play behind the striker. He's been only player from our team who's been good with link-up play, creating space and given fluidity to our playing.

[LeeB]

Priorities for me are:

- Powerhouse central midfielder who can boss a game.
Don't want much, just somebody with no weaknesses at all and possibly the son of some sort of deity.

- Skillful attacking midfielder who can cover wide and support Benteke.
Don't want much, just somebody who has about 30 names abbreviated to one unfashionable old english name, classical composer or maybe a comic book hero. Like Bert, Amadeus or Thor. He should be able to to do things with a ball that make men want to be him and women want to be with him.

- Indomitable centre half to partner Roncrete or one of the young fellas.
Don't want much, just somebody able to leap like a Salmon, smash through 4 inches of depleted uranium armour with his little finger and able to kill a man if that man is stupid enough to say his name. He should also be able to control and pass a ball.
This will enable Richard Dunne to be fired from a cannon into a pie shop window.

Depending how well we do with these positions we could fly up the table.
We could also look at getting a cheap back up keeper and letting Given go, another versatile full back and perhaps another out and out striker to compete with or compliment Benteke. But those three positions I reckon are priorities.

From what I've seen so far, give Lambert something near £20m to spend on three players and he might get near it.

[Mazrim]

Jarpie - "Skillful attacking midfielder who can cover wide and support Benteke"

But have another one too, sure. Dan Johnson (not the guy with the Aligator and white Ferrari) and Carruthers will also come into the reckoning for this position before long I reckon.

Lee, I reckon he will get a fair wedge to spend whether Bent leaves or not. But most likely Bent will go and there should be quite the "warchest" for swoops, raids and whatnot.

[ozzjim]

Priorities for me are:

- Powerhouse central midfielder who can boss a game.
Don't want much, just somebody with no weaknesses at all and possibly the son of some sort of deity.

- Skillful attacking midfielder who can cover wide and support Benteke.
Don't want much, just somebody who has about 30 names abbreviated to one unfashionable old english name, classical composer or maybe a comic book hero. Like Bert, Amadeus or Thor. He should be able to to do things with a ball that make men want to be him and women want to be with him.

- Indomitable centre half to partner Roncrete or one of the young fellas.
Don't want much, just somebody able to leap like a Salmon, smash through 4 inches of depleted uranium armour with his little finger and able to kill a man if that man is stupid enough to say his name. He should also be able to control and pass a ball.
This will enable Richard Dunne to be fired from a cannon into a pie shop window.

Depending how well we do with these positions we could fly up the table.
We could also look at getting a cheap back up keeper and letting Given go, another versatile full back and perhaps another out and out striker to compete with or compliment Benteke. But those three positions I reckon are priorities.

From what I've seen so far, give Lambert something near £20m to spend on three players and he might get near it.

Would do me nicely.

What is Chris Samba up to these days?

[ozzjim]

That is a wonderful wish-list Maz, those are exactly the qualities we should be looking for in players.

I'd have Young and Milner back if they're not busy.

Milner, Young and Barry into this side for Weimann, Holman and Bannan from the side last night would be fab. Think it would be very dangerous. We have to go and find the next Milner and Young though.

[Mazrim]

If Bent goes to Liverpool, what chance Carroll coming here permanently?
Could he and Benteke play together? Probably. He does a lot of hold up work and isn't terrible in open play.

Lambert used to use two big guys at Norwich and he clearly likes Carroll.
Just a thought.

[eastie]

If Bent goes to Liverpool, what chance Carroll coming here permanently?
Could he and Benteke play together? Probably. He does a lot of hold up work and isn't terrible in open play.

Lambert used to use two big guys at Norwich and he clearly likes Carroll.
Just a thought.

I don't think Carroll and benteke would work personally, would prefer someone like Scott Sinclair who looked quality at Swansea and has been out of the picture at city .

[Salsa Party Animal]

I want another viking in our team in Laursen/Mellberg mould

[Chris Smith]

If Bent goes to Liverpool, what chance Carroll coming here permanently?
Could he and Benteke play together? Probably. He does a lot of hold up work and isn't terrible in open play.

Lambert used to use two big guys at Norwich and he clearly likes Carroll.
Just a thought.

I can't see it working. The midfield would get pushed deep to compensate for lack of numbers and we'd be reduced to hitting it long to relieve the pressure, only for them to have nobody to pick up any knock downs.

It's pretty clear the way Lambert wants us to (predominantly) play, expect any signings to be be abe to fit into that style.

[Salsa Party Animal]

Could we be looking to build a system similar to Chelsea 4-3-3 with Benteke in Drogba role.