Summer 2015 - Transfer Rumours, Speculation & Suggestions

[Chris Smith]

'Ello, 'Ello, latest French player to be linked Lens Central Defender Loick Landre. 20m euros.

Another player pronounced with a local accent. Excellent.

I can believe Baker is on his way out, having appeared with Tim's Bombers against Forest Green. It would be an odd one if Clark has got the dead eye too though, but not impossible. Bids rarely arrive out of the blue. Usually there's been a bit of chit chat somewhere to establish that a deal could be done.

That's my feeling too Steve.

The West Brom link feels like they've had some encouragement from either us or the player.

Maybe, or maybe they are just chancing their arm, thinking that with the signing of Richards we might be looking to move one of the others on. Whichever it is I am glad we turned them down.

[SoccerHQ]

Tim rates Senderos the least of all the CBs, Richards IMO won't be good enough in that position and will be moved to RB at some point of this season and Okore is knackered until September.

I'd be amazed if Clark or Baker leave.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Baker looked very good the other day. It will be a tough call who plays as the left sided centre back.

[Chris Smith]

Baker looked very good the other day. It will be a tough call who plays as the left sided centre back.

If we have learned anything from the last few seasons it is that injuries and suspensions mean that none of them stay available for more than a couple of months at a time. They will all get games.

[Steve R]

Baker looked very good the other day. It will be a tough call who plays as the left sided centre back.

If we have learned anything from the last few seasons it is that injuries and suspensions mean that none of them stay available for more than a couple of months at a time. They will all get games.

Very true. And that could be the perceived problem. We have perfectly good centre backs but they are never available for long enough. It's an outfield position where most teams seem to make fewest changes. Do Chelsea even have a specialist 4th centre back? We had 5 last season yet at times were unable to name one on the bench.

[tomd2103]

Baker looked very good the other day. It will be a tough call who plays as the left sided centre back.

Against Forest Green? 

[tomd2103]

'Ello, 'Ello, latest French player to be linked Lens Central Defender Loick Landre. 20m euros.

Another player pronounced with a local accent. Excellent.

I can believe Baker is on his way out, having appeared with Tim's Bombers against Forest Green. It would be an odd one if Clark has got the dead eye too though, but not impossible. Bids rarely arrive out of the blue. Usually there's been a bit of chit chat somewhere to establish that a deal could be done.

Clark's in the last year of his contract isn't he?  Agent angling for a new deal by encouraging interest from another team?

[Lastfootstamper]

'Ello, 'Ello, latest French player to be linked Lens Central Defender Loick Landre. 20m euros.

Another player pronounced with a local accent. Excellent.

I can believe Baker is on his way out, having appeared with Tim's Bombers against Forest Green. It would be an odd one if Clark has got the dead eye too though, but not impossible. Bids rarely arrive out of the blue. Usually there's been a bit of chit chat somewhere to establish that a deal could be done.

Clark's in the last year of his contract isn't he?  Agent angling for a new deal by encouraging interest from another team?

Maybe we should let him go. If we have another already coming in, he's been replaced. Perhaps by better, most probably by cheaper.
Should we give him a new (TV money-sized) deal?
Could he command loads more elsewhere? No.
Could he get a bit more elsewhere? Probably.
Maybe he'll turn out to be good enough for the level we want to be at, maybe he's only good enough for slightly higher than where we are. Delph, Benteke, we'll survive and, I hope, improve. Clark going? I think we'll get over it. As much as I wanted him to be, he's no Cahill.

[Steve R]

'Ello, 'Ello, latest French player to be linked Lens Central Defender Loick Landre. 20m euros.

Another player pronounced with a local accent. Excellent.

I can believe Baker is on his way out, having appeared with Tim's Bombers against Forest Green. It would be an odd one if Clark has got the dead eye too though, but not impossible. Bids rarely arrive out of the blue. Usually there's been a bit of chit chat somewhere to establish that a deal could be done.

Clark's in the last year of his contract isn't he?  Agent angling for a new deal by encouraging interest from another team?

That's probably the most likely explanation. Although it's a todd up as to which way the conversation is going.

Clark : 'It's 50k a week or I go and play for Pulis'
Fox : 'Fck me, I'm really scared'

or

Fox : '20k a week tops or you're off down the road to Smethick'
Clark : 'Have you got a pen?'

[old man villa fan]

I have always thought you needed balance across the back four.  You play a right-footer on the right and a left-footer on the left.  Richards and Okore are right, Clark and Baker are left, with Senderos having played most on the left.  Left footed central defenders are harder to come by than right sided players.  Unless they are very good with the ball on the ground, it is very difficult to play on their 'wrong' side.

The only thing I have seen in Baker is as a 'stopper' and at PL level, this makes him very limited, whereas I see more in Clark.  I would be inclined to offer Clark another contract now as we could get him to sign up for a reasonable amount and I would let Baker go out on a season loan to one of the better Championship clubs to see if he can improve over the season.

I would still like to see a commanding central defender come in.  I would also like to see Richards and Okore being given time at RB to see if we can strengthen that side of the defence up to counter the attacking emphasis of the new LB and giving more protection behind, say, Gil on the right.  For CB's both Richards and Okore are quite quick and reasonable ball players so it is not unrealistic for either to play RB.

£2m for Clark is an insult and if he did go, I believe he should be valued at around £6-7m.

[Ron Manager]

Good post OMVF I agree with all of your views except I believe Richards is a right back and not a centre half as we shall find out as the season progresses.

[villadelph]

with Landre and Richards in the back we'd form our own rendition of the bash brothers. Those two are built like refrigerators.

[brian green]

Agreed villadelph but in epic bash bros combos you need one who wears glasses and he's the hardest of the lot.   See Slap Shot, best sports movie of all time.

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

SSN reporting we have done a £12m deal for Ayew .........

[Tokyo Sexwhale]

SSN reporting we have done a £12m deal for Ayew .........

I hope he's worth it!

So we just need another striker, a couple of midfielders, a central defender, and possibly a right back and a keeper.