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

[PaulWinch again]

I've seen no confirmation, but we better replace him if it is true. If this club somehow survives this year, then quality scouting is our hope moving forward.

[Des Little]

If Gary Hooper's leaving Celtic I would expect us to be in the running for him.  In fact, I would expect us to get him.

[eastie]

If Gary Hooper's leaving Celtic I would expect us to be in the running for him.  In fact, I would expect us to get him.

dont see a striker as a priority.

[montague]

Im not really expecting any signings of any consequence now. I think the club are sticking to the project, whilst hoping to stay up but preparing to go down. The wage bill remains the big issue.

[eastie]

Albion have confirmed dorrans is for sale.

[VillaAlways]

He's leaving in a month for a coaching position but has already done enough scouting for us to use I would imagine.

Has it been confirmed somewhere?

Matt Kendrick confirmed it on Twitter

[Toronto Villa]

He's leaving in a month for a coaching position but has already done enough scouting for us to use I would imagine.

Has it been confirmed somewhere?

No, nowhere. It's just someone throwing it out on Twitter, but I suppose that is good enough these days.

[VillaAlways]

@MatKendrick: Just to confirm, #avfc head of European scouting Michael Henke is set to leave for a coaching role at German club FC Ingolstadt next month

[onje_villa]

at least NRC has got a bit of fight and a bit of presence about him.

Yes but he's a terrible footballer.

Sorry, but for the umpteenth time, why is the only "defensive" midfielder in existence a very average one who currently plies his trade in a poor Ipswich squad and also couldn't help to keep Bolton up?

Is it not possible that there may be tens of thousands of different footballers out there, a vast number of who, have greater ability than NRC (or Hitzelsperger for that matter...)

[Toronto Villa]

@MatKendrick: Just to confirm, #avfc head of European scouting Michael Henke is set to leave for a coaching role at German club FC Ingolstadt next month

That's more official than some random tweet I'll concede. And it isn't because we're shit at everything as is being suggested on the thread that was created. I assume if a role more suited to where he is in his career arises he's have to consider it.

[N'ZMAV]

I wasn't NRC's biggest fan, but we seemed to have a few decent seasons with him in the team and squad.

[Toronto Villa]

I wasn't NRC's biggest fan, but we seemed to have a few decent seasons with him in the team and squad.

I was, and thought he looked brilliant for West Ham at VP in the season before he arrived. He's just very limited. Now, is he a better body than Bannan or Herd or Delph next to Westwood. Yes, but he'd also want stupid money to play in the PL which is probably one of the reasons he isn't playing at that level now. That and he's a liability with the ball at his feet which apparently is a big deal.

[Des Little]

To be honest, I think the team we had a the time made NRC look better than he was as opposed to the other way round.

[ktvillan]

NRC is a better defensive midfielder than Gardner.

Remember people it's a defensive midfielder we are after.

I think we need a couple of midfielders and another defender .
Defensive midfield I would like to see Clark alongside Westwood , that may see an improvement, and bring in another central defender.

Clark has been poor in centre defence and I think he would be a better player as a defensive midfielder.

I don't think Lambert will do it, but I'd be trying Clark at LB, once Vlaar is back in the side, to try and tighten things up.  A could DCM infront of Lowton, Vlaar, Baker, Clark would look a bit more solid to me.

Clark has been tried at left back before and let's just say it wasn't a success!  He needs to play in the position Gareth Barry originally played a decade ago in a 5 man back line.  Barry was able to play the ball out rather than hoofing it and developed into a world-class midfielder and still is.  His performance for Citeh yesterday was brilliant.

Hard to believe some people are still suggesting Clark as a left back.  He was all over the place positionally when tried there, even more so than he is now at CB. Fullbacks also need pace and Clark doesn't have any.  He'd be zero improvement on Bennett or Stevens.

[Mazrim]

We need control in the middle of the pitch and he just doesnt offer that at all.

I dont even know why we're discussing him. I could understand if he was a legend here or something but he wasn't and now even Ipswich dont want him.
There's no chance Lambert will be looking to him and if he does we really are fucked.