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

[Monty]

So, let's say we sign Sissoko and Coutinho, and Vlaar and Dunne return to fitness. We might end up with a team that looks a little like this:

-------------Guzan-------------
Lowton-Vlaar-Dunne-Baker
----Sissoko-Westwood------
Bannan-Weimann-Coutinho
-----------Benteke-------------

Everybody happier?

Edit: just seen Eastie's post. Damnation!

[Concrete John]

So, let's say we sign Sissoko and Coutinho, and Vlaar and Dunne return to fitness. We might end up with a team that looks a little like this:

-------------Guzan-------------
Lowton-Vlaar-Dunne-Baker
----Sissoko-Westwood------
Bannan-Weimann-Coutinho
-----------Benteke-------------

Everybody happier?

Edit: just seen Eastie's post. Damnation!

I wouldn't want Bannan in that position anyway.  Either swapped with Weimann or we play Gabby/N'Zog/Holman there.

[Monty]

So, let's say we sign Sissoko and Coutinho, and Vlaar and Dunne return to fitness. We might end up with a team that looks a little like this:

-------------Guzan-------------
Lowton-Vlaar-Dunne-Baker
----Sissoko-Westwood------
Bannan-Weimann-Coutinho
-----------Benteke-------------

Everybody happier?

Edit: just seen Eastie's post. Damnation!

I wouldn't want Bannan in that position anyway.  Either swapped with Weimann or we play Gabby/N'Zog/Holman there.

Disagree. I know we've had this debate in the past, but if you compare Gabby, Zog's and Holman's performances with Bannan's on Saturday it's blindingly clear which one played the best. As for Weimann, when he plays wide he looks much less threatening than when he's able to switch positions with Benteke, make runs in behind or attack the box from deeper.

[VillaAlways]

Pauliewalnuts posted earlier that sissoko has agreed a deal to join marseille- has this been confirmed anywhere?

Can't find anything about that at all Lots of sources linking him to us though

[Chipsticks]

So, let's say we sign Sissoko and Coutinho, and Vlaar and Dunne return to fitness. We might end up with a team that looks a little like this:

-------------Guzan-------------
Lowton-Vlaar-Dunne-Baker
----Sissoko-Westwood------
Bannan-Weimann-Coutinho
-----------Benteke-------------

Everybody happier?

Edit: just seen Eastie's post. Damnation!

We've tried him there before but Baker is simply not a Left Back. Put Clark there if you must but I'd probably happier with Stephens or Bennett.

[Monty]

I thought Baker was more convincing at left back than Clark, and frankly Stevens just doesn't look up to it.

[eastie]

Pauliewalnuts posted earlier that sissoko has agreed a deal to join marseille- has this been confirmed anywhere?

Can't find anything about that at all Lots of sources linking him to us though

I know kendrick has tweeted French souces are saying sissoko going to marseille but i havent seen anything saying the deal is done yet.

[VillaAlways]

So, let's say we sign Sissoko and Coutinho, and Vlaar and Dunne return to fitness. We might end up with a team that looks a little like this:

-------------Guzan-------------
Lowton-Vlaar-Dunne-Baker
----Sissoko-Westwood------
Bannan-Weimann-Coutinho
-----------Benteke-------------

Everybody happier?

Edit: just seen Eastie's post. Damnation!

I wouldn't want Bannan in that position anyway.  Either swapped with Weimann or we play Gabby/N'Zog/Holman there.

Disagree. I know we've had this debate in the past, but if you compare Gabby, Zog's and Holman's performances with Bannan's on Saturday it's blindingly clear which one played the best. As for Weimann, when he plays wide he looks much less threatening than when he's able to switch positions with Benteke, make runs in behind or attack the box from deeper.

Bannan improved us enormously  in the second half on Saturday

[Monty]

Agreed VA. It's clear how much better and more comfortable he looks higher up the pitch, as opposed to how uncomfortable he looks in the deep two in midfield.

[eastie]

CLOSE?: #Marseille and #Toulouse are close to agreeing a fee to allow #NUFC target Moussa #Sissoko to go to #OM. (La Depeche du Midi)

[Concrete John]

So, let's say we sign Sissoko and Coutinho, and Vlaar and Dunne return to fitness. We might end up with a team that looks a little like this:

-------------Guzan-------------
Lowton-Vlaar-Dunne-Baker
----Sissoko-Westwood------
Bannan-Weimann-Coutinho
-----------Benteke-------------

Everybody happier?

Edit: just seen Eastie's post. Damnation!

I wouldn't want Bannan in that position anyway.  Either swapped with Weimann or we play Gabby/N'Zog/Holman there.

Disagree. I know we've had this debate in the past, but if you compare Gabby, Zog's and Holman's performances with Bannan's on Saturday it's blindingly clear which one played the best. As for Weimann, when he plays wide he looks much less threatening than when he's able to switch positions with Benteke, make runs in behind or attack the box from deeper.

As Weimann play's the role quite narrow, you still get that goal threat from him, as we've seen pretty much whenever he's played there, so I don't think he HAS to play central to give us that.  I agree Bannan may be more effective further forward, but I still think that needs to be in a central position.  So even wthout bringing anyone else into that team, I think swapping the positions of Bannan and Weimann would give a better balance to the side.

     

[Monty]

No indeed, those are fair points. In any case, you'd hope that any 3 in a 4-2-3-1 would be interchanging and fluid, so their starting positions should be academic really.

[Concrete John]

So, let's say we sign Sissoko and Coutinho, and Vlaar and Dunne return to fitness. We might end up with a team that looks a little like this:

-------------Guzan-------------
Lowton-Vlaar-Dunne-Baker
----Sissoko-Westwood------
Bannan-Weimann-Coutinho
-----------Benteke-------------

Everybody happier?

Edit: just seen Eastie's post. Damnation!

We've tried him there before but Baker is simply not a Left Back. Put Clark there if you must but I'd probably happier with Stephens or Bennett.

I thought Baker was more convincing at left back than Clark, and frankly Stevens just doesn't look up to it.

In modern football you need your FBs to be good on the ball, and Clark is better on the ball than Baker, so more likely to create something.  However, solidity is the key right now, so perhaps Baker is the right call short term.

I'd like to see how Bennett does with an experienced CB inside him to talk him though games.   

[paulcomben]

"Nottingham Forest manager Alex McLeish wants to strengthen his squad with a new goalkeeper, winger and attacker this month." (SSN) Nzogbia, Delfouenso and maybe even Given?

[Monty]

Agree about the left back situation there John, the solidity factor was my thinking as well. Besides, Bennett and Clark look absolutely mentally shot and in need of a break, whereas Baker seems a touch more resilient to me.