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

[eastie]

I see phil Neville is a free agent in the summer , worth a cheeky £1.5m bid to Everton or not?

Another name mentioned is Feyenoord ‘hothead’ Kelvin Leerdam. The midfielder appears to have fallen out of favour at the Dutch Eredivisie club and would maybe  be keen to link up with former team mates Karim El Ahmadi and Ron Vlaar.

That bit makes you sound like you've actually turned into a tabloid journalist.

The fact of the matter is only Paul Lambert will know who his real targets are and until things become official we will have to continue playing the guessing game – it’s fun though isn’t it?

I don't think anyone's having quite as much fun as you are.

Loving it Paulie ! Transfer window, semi final tomorrow , all good times.

Back to work Thursday after 10 weeks off not quite so good though.
The feyenoord link  and fun though quotes were a copy and paste  though from metro .

[Concrete John]

I know people will say that the window has only been open a month, but I am surprised that there has not been any action from us as yet.  Surely PL knew some time ago that he would need additional resources this month, even before the Chelsea mishap, and it would be expected that these would have been identified and some connection made with agent/club to pave the way etc.  The game next saturday is a massive one, not just for the three points but also for morale throughout the club, players and spectators alike. For that reason alone I would have thought that there would have been some movement if only in relation to one player at this stage.

It would be easy to have signed a player by now, but the RIGHT player sometimes take longer.  If you offered me Lescott on 31st Jan or someone like James Collins now, I'd take Lescott on the 31st.

Speaking of which, Lescott is the only 'link' I really trust right now, based on PL's comments.  I think it's either dead in the water or a bit of brinksmanship between the player and City over a pay off.
   

[paul_e]

I think 3 players is enough in this window

Central Defender - Replacement for Dunne, preferably someone with a bit more experience - Lescott would be superb
Central Midfield - A physical presence; big strong lad who can put himself about, doesn't necessarily need to be a defensive player, box-to-box would be fine as well - If it's true that QPR have bid 6.5m for M-Vila we should try to hijack that one.
Wing Forward - This is the key for me, a creative player who can play across the 3 behind Benteke, links to Coutinho and Aubameyang  suggest this is one PL agrees with - Either of the names mentioned would be perfect (If the money there I'd get both).

The only potential weakness then is left back but I think  we need to trust Bennett and Stevens for another half a season and then see where we are in the summer.

[Concrete John]

I think 3 players is enough in this window

Central Defender - Replacement for Dunne, preferably someone with a bit more experience - Lescott would be superb
Central Midfield - A physical presence; big strong lad who can put himself about, doesn't necessarily need to be a defensive player, box-to-box would be fine as well - If it's true that QPR have bid 6.5m for M-Vila we should try to hijack that one.
Wing Forward - This is the key for me, a creative player who can play across the 3 behind Benteke, links to Coutinho and Aubameyang  suggest this is one PL agrees with - Either of the names mentioned would be perfect (If the money there I'd get both).

The only potential weakness then is left back but I think  we need to trust Bennett and Stevens for another half a season and then see where we are in the summer.

Hard to disagree with that, but getting three of sufficient quality is a big ask in January.  Therefore, I'd be thinking of the following in terms of priority:-

DCM - Westwood injured, KEA being poor and now away, plus it's a hole in the squad anyway.
CB - Slightly less of a priority, but still something we need, based on Baker being back, who I rate, and hopefully Vlaar not too far off.  Both of them back should help tighten us up.
Flair player - he is needed, but this is probably the 'luxury' element on the Jan shopping list as our main issues are at the back. 

[David_Nab]

Remember PL mentioned Carroll in the Summer and we got Benteke instead wouldn't rule out a bit of misdirection here

[tomd2103]

I know people will say that the window has only been open a month, but I am surprised that there has not been any action from us as yet.  Surely PL knew some time ago that he would need additional resources this month, even before the Chelsea mishap, and it would be expected that these would have been identified and some connection made with agent/club to pave the way etc.  The game next saturday is a massive one, not just for the three points but also for morale throughout the club, players and spectators alike. For that reason alone I would have thought that there would have been some movement if only in relation to one player at this stage.

To be fair to Paul Lambert, we've had a pretty hectic fixture list since the window opened and I would have thought he's been a bit too busy preparing the players to concentrate on transfers.  I'm not sure what the structure of the club is like and whether we have someone in a similar role, but that is why a good Director of Football (like Ashworth at the Albion) can be a big benefit, as he can get on all with all transfer negotiations while the manager takes care of the team. 

[Jarpie]

I think 3 players is enough in this window

Central Defender - Replacement for Dunne, preferably someone with a bit more experience - Lescott would be superb
Central Midfield - A physical presence; big strong lad who can put himself about, doesn't necessarily need to be a defensive player, box-to-box would be fine as well - If it's true that QPR have bid 6.5m for M-Vila we should try to hijack that one.
Wing Forward - This is the key for me, a creative player who can play across the 3 behind Benteke, links to Coutinho and Aubameyang  suggest this is one PL agrees with - Either of the names mentioned would be perfect (If the money there I'd get both).

The only potential weakness then is left back but I think  we need to trust Bennett and Stevens for another half a season and then see where we are in the summer.

Hard to disagree with that, but getting three of sufficient quality is a big ask in January.  Therefore, I'd be thinking of the following in terms of priority:-

DCM - Westwood injured, KEA being poor and now away, plus it's a hole in the squad anyway.
CB - Slightly less of a priority, but still something we need, based on Baker being back, who I rate, and hopefully Vlaar not too far off.  Both of them back should help tighten us up.
Flair player - he is needed, but this is probably the 'luxury' element on the Jan shopping list as our main issues are at the back.

Neither Westwood and KEA aren't DCMs, and both would really benefit playing alongside of "destructor" DCM.

[Concrete John]

I think 3 players is enough in this window

Central Defender - Replacement for Dunne, preferably someone with a bit more experience - Lescott would be superb
Central Midfield - A physical presence; big strong lad who can put himself about, doesn't necessarily need to be a defensive player, box-to-box would be fine as well - If it's true that QPR have bid 6.5m for M-Vila we should try to hijack that one.
Wing Forward - This is the key for me, a creative player who can play across the 3 behind Benteke, links to Coutinho and Aubameyang  suggest this is one PL agrees with - Either of the names mentioned would be perfect (If the money there I'd get both).

The only potential weakness then is left back but I think  we need to trust Bennett and Stevens for another half a season and then see where we are in the summer.

Hard to disagree with that, but getting three of sufficient quality is a big ask in January.  Therefore, I'd be thinking of the following in terms of priority:-

DCM - Westwood injured, KEA being poor and now away, plus it's a hole in the squad anyway.
CB - Slightly less of a priority, but still something we need, based on Baker being back, who I rate, and hopefully Vlaar not too far off.  Both of them back should help tighten us up.
Flair player - he is needed, but this is probably the 'luxury' element on the Jan shopping list as our main issues are at the back.

Neither Westwood and KEA aren't DCMs, and both would really benefit playing alongside of "destructor" DCM.

It depends on what you see as a 'DCM'.  In the system we play, there are two deep lying midfielders, which is where they would play.  They're not your old school 'rat catcher' type players, but they are in that defensive/support portion of our midfield.  I agree both would benefit from playing alongside a midfielder with more defensive attributes, but as things stand they are who we would look to to be our 'DCM'!

[paul_e]

With Westwood and Bannan both comfortable playing deeper as the creative link player and both being more than willing to work hard defensively we don't need an out and out defensive player.  we just need someone who can dictate the tempo of the game and take charge of the midfield, clearly they need to be able to sit in and do the defensive, backs to the wall, job but I don't think we can afford to have someone who's only job is to do that.

[tomd2103]

With Westwood and Bannan both comfortable playing deeper as the creative link player and both being more than willing to work hard defensively we don't need an out and out defensive player.  we just need someone who can dictate the tempo of the game and take charge of the midfield, clearly they need to be able to sit in and do the defensive, backs to the wall, job but I don't think we can afford to have someone who's only job is to do that.

Agree with that Paul.  What we really need is someone who can provide a physical presence, bt can also drive forward with the ball and get the odd goal here and there.  A modern day Andy Townsend would fit the bill nicely.

[eastie]

With Westwood and Bannan both comfortable playing deeper as the creative link player and both being more than willing to work hard defensively we don't need an out and out defensive player.  we just need someone who can dictate the tempo of the game and take charge of the midfield, clearly they need to be able to sit in and do the defensive, backs to the wall, job but I don't think we can afford to have someone who's only job is to do that.

Agree with that Paul.  What we really need is someone who can provide a physical presence, bt can also drive forward with the ball and get the odd goal here and there.  A modern day Andy Townsend would fit the bill nicely.

Craig Gardner?  Gets stuck into tackles and gets quite a few goals from midfield.

[Risso]

Craig Gardner isn't fit to be mentioned in the same breath as Andy Townsend.

[DrGonzo]

I'm hoping that all Lambert's attention today and tomorrow are focussed on getting us to Wembley in the spring.  That's not to say things can't happen behind the scenes but it did seem as though Lambert was quite 'hands on' in the transfer market so I wouldn't expect to see much before Wednesday evening at the earliest.

I hve no issue with being proved wrong.

[eastie]

Craig Gardner isn't fit to be mentioned in the same breath as Andy Townsend.

Andy townsend isn't an option though is he , Gardner scores goals from midfield  and I couldn't care less who he supports.

[saunders_heroes]

Craig Gardner isn't fit to be mentioned in the same breath as Andy Townsend.

Andy townsend isn't an option though is he , Gardner scores goals from midfield  and I couldn't care less who he supports.

He wasn't good enough first time around.