Summer transfer madness thread

[Matt Collins]

I'm afraid Barney is my current pet hate, he just seems so technically inept, unable to master the basics of controlling the ball.

We need to give him a chance given the injury and the fact he hasn't played for months when he joined. And he does have good energy and movement. But his touch and passing has made Jedinak look like Sid Cowans so far. Shockingly bad. If we're going to play him as a ten I think I'd rather just play gabby and hogan and ask one of them to drop deeper when we don't have the ball.

[Clampy]

I remember when Jedinak first came in. The number of times he gave the ball away in his first few games was ridiculous but after a while he settled in. Hopefully it'll be the same kind of scenario with Barney.

[tomd2103]

I'm afraid Barney is my current pet hate, he just seems so technically inept, unable to master the basics of controlling the ball.

We need to give him a chance given the injury and the fact he hasn't played for months when he joined. And he does have good energy and movement. But his touch and passing has made Jedinak look like Sid Cowans so far. Shockingly bad. If we're going to play him as a ten I think I'd rather just play gabby and hogan and ask one of them to drop deeper when we don't have the ball.

I remember Mark Reagan saying on WM when Bjarnason signed that Bruce was very pleased to have got him and was talking him up quite a bit.

[cdbearsfan]

I'm more than happy to give him a chance. I like that he regularly gets into the box. Maybe if he scuffs one in, he'll get a bit of a confidence boost and settle in.

[Matt Collins]

But it's his passing and control not just his finishing

We'll see I guess

[paul_e]

I'm afraid Barney is my current pet hate, he just seems so technically inept, unable to master the basics of controlling the ball.

We need to give him a chance given the injury and the fact he hasn't played for months when he joined. And he does have good energy and movement. But his touch and passing has made Jedinak look like Sid Cowans so far. Shockingly bad. If we're going to play him as a ten I think I'd rather just play gabby and hogan and ask one of them to drop deeper when we don't have the ball.

I remember Mark Reagan saying on WM when Bjarnason signed that Bruce was very pleased to have got him and was talking him up quite a bit.

Wouldn't surprise me, he runs about a lot and that gets him in positions where he get s chances.  Yes he misses a lot of them and doesn't do anything to help us build pressure or keep the ball but I honestly don't think Bruce cares about that.  Of the 3 midfielders we signed in January him and Lansbury make sense to me (as Bruce signings), Hourihane feels like he's one that an analyst/Round pushed for and Bruce doesn't really know what to do with him.  Hogan feels like another one that was picked up to play a different style to what I'd expect from Bruce.

[Matt Collins]

I agree it's hard to see where Hogan fits in at the moment

Hourihane is a centre mid and needs to compete to play alongside Whelan - I don't think he can play further forward

[tomd2103]

I agree it's hard to see where Hogan fits in at the moment

Hourihane is a centre mid and needs to compete to play alongside Whelan - I don't think he can play further forward

Agree, though I think you could play a three man midfield with Whelan holding and two of Lansbury, Bacuna, Hourihane and Bjarnason in front of him. 

[Matt Collins]

Agreed. Just think Bruce wants to play 442 or 4411

[tomd2103]

Agreed. Just think Bruce wants to play 442 or 4411

It certainly seems we will start the season playing that way, though we might need an extra player in central midfield in certain games. 

[ozzjim]

I think he thought he was buying Shane Long again in Hogan.

[PaulWinch again]

I think Hogan can be a very good player and I think Elmo can supply him with chances.

[ciggiesnbeer]

I think Hogan can be a very good player and I think Elmo can supply him with chances.

Agree.

I reckon his will be his season.

[Steve67]

I can honestly see us letting Hourihane go if the right offer comes in. Just a hunch.

[eamonn]

This soon? Nah. Unless those rumours of his homesickness are true. Anyone at Wednesday we could swap him for?
 Whelan might help him settle. Fatty Mac and Amavi will be the main ones out the door.