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

[eastie]

Is there anyone we can afford who is good enough to get into our team?

I'm still not convinced we've sorted the left back spot properly.

Yes to a point. Jury still out on Bennett but he needs to be given a chance. I'd like to see another CB and a nippy forward. What the squad needs is depth and variety but most of the current lot are earning the right to keep their places.

I think Bennett will be well suited to the wing back role , once he's had a run of games fully fit I think he will prove a very good player.

[tomd2103]

The commentator on WM made the point towards the end of the game today and there are a lot of "ifs" involved, but if we continue with the 3-5-2 formation, if we don't suffer a lot of injuries and if noone leaves, how many players do we really need in January?  As far as I can see, we will have:

Goalkeepers - Guzan and Given

CBs from - Vlaar, Baker, Clark, Dunne (Lowton if needed)

RWBs - Lowton and Lichaj

LWBs - Bennett, Stevens (Lichaj if needed)

DMs - Westwood, Bannan, El Ahmadi, Delph

AMs - Holman, Ireland and N'Zogbia

STs - Benteke, Weimann, Bent, Gabby and Bowery

Do we really need to bring anyone else in?  I would say that a creative attacking midfielder who can chip in with goals (though Holman is doing well in that role) would add something as would another wide player if we switch formations.  Apart from that, I don't really know if we need much else.   

[citizenDJ]

It's quite an interesting point, that.

I suspect that Dunne is a write-off, to be honest, so maybe another centre-half, but that doesn't seem a priority at the moment.

I think I'd like to see an upgrade/challenger to Ireland's role, and maybe a more experienced centre midfielder.
Although he was unbelievably frustrating last year, I still think its worth persevering with N'Zogbia; it might be more hope than expectation, but we know what he can do when he is in form, and if he could find that for us then he will be a huge asset for the system(s) we're playing.

[Percy McCarthy]

We could probably get rid of everybody who's on £40k or more per week without even noticing.

[Chipsticks]

The commentator on WM made the point towards the end of the game today and there are a lot of "ifs" involved, but if we continue with the 3-5-2 formation, if we don't suffer a lot of injuries and if noone leaves, how many players do we really need in January?  As far as I can see, we will have:

Goalkeepers - Guzan and Given

CBs from - Vlaar, Baker, Clark, Dunne (Lowton if needed)

RWBs - Lowton and Lichaj

LWBs - Bennett, Stevens (Lichaj if needed)

DMs - Westwood, Bannan, El Ahmadi, Delph

AMs - Holman, Ireland and N'Zogbia

STs - Benteke, Weimann, Bent, Gabby and Bowery

Do we really need to bring anyone else in?  I would say that a creative attacking midfielder who can chip in with goals (though Holman is doing well in that role) would add something as would another wide player if we switch formations.  Apart from that, I don't really know if we need much else.   

I still think that could be Bannan if given the chance.

[PeterWithesShin]

I'm not convinced it could be Bannan, 1 league goal in his Villa career and that was a penalty.

[OCD]

Its usually better to assess the squad after a defeat to see where the weaknesses are than after a day like this. We've looked a lot better going forward in the last 2 games but before then we've really struggled for creativity. In a 4-2-3-1 the inside forwards and the attacking midfielder roles all need reinforcing. In a 3-5-2 we need strengthening in the forward and attacking midfield roles.

I can still see there being a fair bit of work done in the summer and we might see a couple more of the types we've already seen i.e. young, hungry players probably from the lower leagues and maybe the odd foreign bargain.

[Monty]

I think Bannan could play well further up the pitch, but I don't think he'll ever really be a goalscoring midfielder. You'd need a Zog upgrade to be that play, I think.

[PaulMcGrathsNo5Shirt]

Dunne, Ireland and Y'Zogbia can all go. Big money and little output. The young lads have no egos and are running through walls for the team. - More of the same please!!

[Matt C]

Dunne is, well, done as far as we're concerned I suspect. Maybe we'll see a bit of him towards the end of this season but we're not going to offer him a new contract and he'll be off on a free.

I hope he likes Sunderland.

[ozzjim]

Dunne is, well, done as far as we're concerned I suspect. Maybe we'll see a bit of him towards the end of this season but we're not going to offer him a new contract and he'll be off on a free.

I hope he likes Sunderland.

Spot on. You have to consider his age and fitness too. I don't reckon he will get another premier league side after us.

[danno]

Dunne is, well, done as far as we're concerned I suspect. Maybe we'll see a bit of him towards the end of this season but we're not going to offer him a new contract and he'll be off on a free.

I hope he likes Sunderland.

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2012/12/15/3604861/aston-villa-dealt-injury-blow-as-dunne-suffers-setback

[barrysleftfoot]

  Add Gabby and Given to that as well PMS.

 Hernandez wants more games apparently.Perfect fit for me, i would'nt mind Kone either from Wigan.Can play as an inside foward, or a CF.

[ozzjim]

Hernandez and Benteke would be pretty frightening together, although Weimann is doing a damned good job. Over 10 games or so in this formation together it will be interesting to see how many they score.

[Dave]

If the established wisdom is that Bent and Benteke doesn't work, why would Benteke and Hernandez work?