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

[Concrete John]

Another 'no' to Scott Dann from me.

I know it's quite unlikely, but given Randy's reaction in buying Bent two years ago, I do wonder if he'll puch the boat out to try and get Lescott.  No idea how true it is, but I imagine he'd gladly pay the reported £8m pricetag if the overall financial package could be worked out.

[PeterWithesShin]

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.

[pauliewalnuts]

Another 'no' to Scott Dann from me.

I know it's quite unlikely, but given Randy's reaction in buying Bent two years ago, I do wonder if he'll puch the boat out to try and get Lescott.  No idea how true it is, but I imagine he'd gladly pay the reported £8m pricetag if the overall financial package could be worked out.

It's the wages that are going to be a problem.

We have to accept that we're going to need players in who will want more than the lower wages kids from the championship are on, but I think Lescott's deal at Man City will be enormous and well out of our reach.

[dekko]

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.


EDIT: Obviously we're going to need some older heads/experience etc etc but there's nothing wrong with bringing people in for squad depth at least

[pauliewalnuts]

Slight tangent, is there a player in the league who has celebrated as gloatingly in front of us as Lescott does? Strange for a childhood fan.

Although, his "OH NOES!11!! I DONE A MISTAKE!" face when Ashley Young scored at Goodison, minutes after he'd scored against us and does his usual gloating was priceless.

[N'ZMAV]

Lescott will have better options than Villa. Sad to say. He'd be more than useful. He'll could go back to Everton, as Distan is rumoured to be going to QPR. I'd also take Distan on a 18 month deal.

[Concrete John]

Another 'no' to Scott Dann from me.

I know it's quite unlikely, but given Randy's reaction in buying Bent two years ago, I do wonder if he'll puch the boat out to try and get Lescott.  No idea how true it is, but I imagine he'd gladly pay the reported £8m pricetag if the overall financial package could be worked out.

It's the wages that are going to be a problem.

We have to accept that we're going to need players in who will want more than the lower wages kids from the championship are on, but I think Lescott's deal at Man City will be enormous and well out of our reach.

In the same way we would need to give the likes of Hutton a pay off to move, as he'll get less wages elsewhere, then the same should be true of Lescott.  With Everton being his most likely destination, will they pay him what Man City are?

If we sell Bent in Jan, I can see something being possible with Lescott getting paid his wages.

[Mazrim]

If there's any chance at all of Lescott leaving Man City we should be all over it. I like the idea of two senior centre halves (Vlaar and Lescott) and one youngster at a time (Baker or Clark) with them. And then maybe one more for cover.

The way I see it is who are we currently happy with? What/who is working?

Guzan - Certainly.
Given - Move him on asap.
Lowton - yes.
Clark - Sporadically. He had a good spell before the recent turmoil. It would be good to take him out of the firing line more often.
Baker - Has been very good. At his age there will still be a fair few mistakes but is developing well.
Vlaar - Yes. A natural leader but still learning the game here. By the spring (injuries aside) he should be completely up to speed.
Herd - Again, sporadically. I believe his best position is right back though.
Lichaj - A useful squad player I'd rather not have to rely on for any lengthy period.
Bennett - Work in progress. Will need a year of cameos to get his head around it.
Stephens - See Bennett.
Dunne - Move him on asap.
EL Ahmadi - Good early performances and has hit the wall since. Reserving judgement. Not first choice in the mean time.
Bannan - Another player of potential but not the most reliable.
Delph - There's a decent player there somehwere but its not really working out.
Gardner - I have the highest hopes for him but those injuries...
Westwood - A solid player who has taken to this league well. One to keep I think.
Holman - Hit and miss.
Ireland - I love his vision and cleverness but again, something isnt firing. A passenger too often.
N'Zogbia - Very frustrating as we all know he could be magic, but injuries and questionable character may mean he'll never shine here.
Petrov - Is sadly probably never going to play for us again.
Makoun - Will be off as soon as we can find a buyer. I'd like to see him come back though.
Johnson and Caurruthers - Two players we should see more of.
Bent - A natural fox in the box but may be moving on.
Gabby - Frustrating beyond belief. Should be lethal but... isnt. A useful bench player now maybe.
Benteke - Certainly.
Weimann - Certainly.
Delfouneso - Havent written him off but I doubt he'll ever figure here now.
Bowery - No idea at all.

So who would I put down without any hesitation in a starting XI? Its usually a good indicator of what we need.
Imagine you're Lambert picking a team right now with everybody fit...

                                   Guzan
               
              Vlaar              ??            Baker
Lowton                                                            ??
                                    ??
                Westwood                  ??
                                   
                                    ??
                     Weimann            Benteke


So in my opinion 5 players short of a potentially very good or better side giving the other players we keep a chance to develop from more measured use.

[eastie]

If there's any chance at all of Lescott leaving Man City we should be all over it. I like the idea of two senior centre halves (Vlaar and Lescott) and one youngster at a time (Baker or Clark) with them. And then maybe one more for cover.

The way I see it is who are we currently happy with? What/who is working?

Guzan - Certainly.
Given - Move him on asap.
Lowton - yes.
Clark - Sporadically. He had a good spell before the recent turmoil. It would be good to take him out of the firing line more often.
Baker - Has been very good. At his age there will still be a fair few mistakes but is developing well.
Vlaar - Yes. A natural leader but still learning the game here. By the spring (injuries aside) he should be completely up to speed.
Herd - Again, sporadically. I believe his best position is right back though.
Lichaj - A useful squad player I'd rather not have to rely on for any lengthy period.
Bennett - Work in progress. Will need a year of cameos to get his head around it.
Stephens - See Bennett.
Dunne - Move him on asap.
EL Ahmadi - Good early performances and has hit the wall since. Reserving judgement. Not first choice in the mean time.
Bannan - Another player of potential but not the most reliable.
Delph - There's a decent player there somehwere but its not really working out.
Gardner - I have the highest hopes for him but those injuries...
Westwood - A solid player who has taken to this league well. One to keep I think.
Holman - Hit and miss.
Ireland - I love his vision and cleverness but again, something isnt firing. A passenger too often.
N'Zogbia - Very frustrating as we all know he could be magic, but injuries and questionable character may mean he'll never shine here.
Petrov - Is sadly probably never going to play for us again.
Makoun - Will be off as soon as we can find a buyer. I'd like to see him come back though.
Johnson and Caurruthers - Two players we should see more of.
Bent - A natural fox in the box but may be moving on.
Gabby - Frustrating beyond belief. Should be lethal but... isnt. A useful bench player now maybe.
Benteke - Certainly.
Weimann - Certainly.
Delfouneso - Havent written him off but I doubt he'll ever figure here now.
Bowery - No idea at all.

So who would I put down without any hesitation in a starting XI? Its usually a good indicator of what we need.
Imagine you're Lambert picking a team right now with everybody fit...

                                   Guzan
               
              Vlaar              ??            Baker
Lowton                                                            ??
                                    ??
                Westwood                  ??
                                   
                                    ??
                     Weimann            Benteke


So in my opinion 5 players short of a potentially very good or better side giving the other players we keep a chance to develop from more measured use.

You have 12 spots in that line up maz , the 7 chosen I'd agree with , I think I'd prefer to go with a flat back 4 though and see midfield as lacking in 2 quality players plus another central defender needed.

I would use Clark alongside Westwood as defensive midfielder when all fit, and I think Bennett would be ok if playing behind a decent midfield.

[Mazrim]

Yeah, should have mentioned. The 12 spots are for moving between 5-3-2 (3-5-2) and 4-3-3.
Which I see as the 2 main options.

[nick harper]

Clark was so anonymous in midfield last season, I can't believe we think he's going to solve any problems this time. He needs to make it as a centre half or not at all.

He badly needs some experience alongside him but he also needs to toughen up. He too often gets outmuscled.

[pauliewalnuts]

I'd go with:

Good Enough Now - Guzan, Lowton, Baker, Clark (although I'd prefer him in midfield), Vlaar, Bannan, Bent, Benteke, Weimann, Dunne (in the sense that we could do with him back now)

Unconvinced  - Holman, Bennett, KEA, Stephens, Gabby (mainly due to a comparison of what we could get out of him versus what we actually do get).

Not Good Enough - Lichaj, Herd, Delph, Delfouneso

Sell - Given, Hutton, Warnock, Ireland (I like him, but too inconsistent), N'Zogbia (I sometimes forget he plays for us)

No idea - Bowery, Johnson, Carruthers

[eastie]

I'd go with:

Good Enough Now - Guzan, Lowton, Baker, Clark (although I'd prefer him in midfield), Vlaar, Bannan, Bent, Benteke, Weimann, Dunne (in the sense that we could do with him back now)

Unconvinced  - Holman, Bennett, KEA, Stephens, Gabby (mainly due to a comparison of what we could get out of him versus what we actually do get).

Not Good Enough - Lichaj, Herd, Delph, Delfouneso

Sell - Given, Hutton, Warnock, Ireland (I like him, but too inconsistent), N'Zogbia (I sometimes forget he plays for us)

No idea - Bowery, Johnson, Carruthers

I see gabby and bannan as bench players really , not regular starters- you forgot albrighton, who I really don't think is good enough at this level, sorry that Carruthers hasn't been given a try because I think he could be very useful.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Has Sky's shouty 'Mr Transfer' said anything yet?

[pauliewalnuts]

I'd go with:

Good Enough Now - Guzan, Lowton, Baker, Clark (although I'd prefer him in midfield), Vlaar, Bannan, Bent, Benteke, Weimann, Dunne (in the sense that we could do with him back now)

Unconvinced  - Holman, Bennett, KEA, Stephens, Gabby (mainly due to a comparison of what we could get out of him versus what we actually do get).

Not Good Enough - Lichaj, Herd, Delph, Delfouneso

Sell - Given, Hutton, Warnock, Ireland (I like him, but too inconsistent), N'Zogbia (I sometimes forget he plays for us)

No idea - Bowery, Johnson, Carruthers

I see gabby and bannan as bench players really , not regular starters- you forgot albrighton, who I really don't think is good enough at this level, sorry that Carruthers hasn't been given a try because I think he could be very useful.

Ah, good point, forgot Albrighton.

I'd have him in the not good enough pot, too, sadly.