The Transfer Rumours Thread

[Simon]

Blimey, had no idea that had gone through. Also just found out Reading have inexplicably managed to sign Daniel Carrico who was Sporting's captain and was being linked with loads of top clubs like two years ago.

[BBF]

Sturridge to Liverpool is confirmed. Be interesting to see where he plays.

[Alf]

We are a tough one. We clearly need another striker that can actually convert the chances we are making, other than that, like you say, we'd have to spend big to improve enough for it to be worth it.

Walker needs some competition. He keeps making really stupid and rash mistakes again and again. He needs to be benched, rested, and come back with renewed vigour.

I think the Dembele injury showed us what lack of depth we have in central midfield so I think that needs looking at. Sandro has been playing out of his skin recently but we do need a bit more attacking guile in there. Hudd and Livermore are fucking awful players. Hudds especially. I can't even look at him. So yeah, another really amazing central mid to make a 3, with Parker and Carroll as back-up/rotation.

It would be good to have a bit stiffer competition for Lennon but Townsend is a good option. I think he needs the magic 'loan to a prem club' that worked wonders for Caulker, Walker, and now Rose.

[Rip]

Think I've only seen Parker play once this year and he looked a shadow of himself, he's a player I've loved over the years and it's a shame he lost time at Chelsea, he was an absolute beast for us and until this season everytime I've seen him for you he's looked the same until now when it looks like his engine has gone.

Odemwingies 'agent' is supposed to be in the North East for talks tonight, so looks like we may be looking to the summer, or he's coming in to replace Jonas :dunno:

[Simon]

Parker was one of our best players last season and has only just come back literally a week ago...maybe you saw him on a bad day but I don't remember him really having one.

[Rip]

Good, he's a player I've always been a fan of (once had 'his' name on a shirt) I'd be gutted if he'd lost it.

It was early in the season on a Monday (because I only saw the second half) can't remember who you played but I remember he just looked done in.

[Bad Collin]

Sturridge to Liverpool is confirmed. Be interesting to see where he plays.

It will. Presumably on the right of the front three unless we change the system.

I'm very pleased that we have decent cover for Luis now at least.

[Bad Collin]

Look at how happy he is :)

http://assets.lfcimages.com/uploads/sturridge8.jpg

[Simon]

I honestly think Sturridge is shit and will amount to nothing. Great technique but no brain and no guts.

[BBF]

Greedy fucker too really from what I've seen.

[Hlebsfall]

12m? wow, he is shit. Chelsea laughing to the bank to that one, when they can now go and get an infinitely better player for 5m less.

[Simon]

My main problem with Sturridge is how much of a fucking vadge he is. I get annoyed at Bale cos he bottles out of 50/50 tackles, but Sturridge routinely jumps out of tackles that are well in his favour. I remember he missed a great chance against Arsenal (I think) last year where the keeper ran out to meet him after an overhit through ball, Sturridge pulled out when he was favourite to such an extent that the keeper missed the ball and was still able to get back to it before Sturridge. He's a fucking poose.

[BBF]

Ba is apparently costing £12.5m with agents fees on top. Still a good price but a bit more believable.

[Rip]

Sturridge worth £12m makes me sad to think what Ba would have been worth.

[Bad Collin]

It's a signing which could go either way. I'm optimistic.

[BBF]

Just got the irony of me calling someone greedy.

[Simon]

Sturridge worth £12m makes me sad to think what Ba would have been worth.

Remember though you got him for free, so regardless of the actual fee you got for him you made a £7.5m profit which is about right. Call him an £8-10m player when you signed him (about the going rate for a good striker at a relegated club I'd say, for example Fletcher was £12m wasn't he?) and you've got the equivalent of £15-17m or so for him, which I would say isn't far off his 'true' value.

[Simon]

Football Weekly reckon West Ham are going to sign Chamakh, Givet and Kalou.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

Sturridge worth £12m makes me sad to think what Ba would have been worth.

Sturridge is 22, not African and doesn't have a busted knee. I reckon he should be a good signing for Liverpool, it's a big club but the pressure won't be too intense on him and he hasn't got a great deal of competition. He seems like the archetypal confidence player. He looked excellent for Bolton but Chelsea never really had a great deal of faith in him.

I think Ba won't be great for Chelsea, I have a feeling that Newcastle was probably his level anyway and he'll struggle in a bigger side. Could be wrong, but he seems like a good player with superb agents. Whether Chelsea will play to his strengths or not is the question. He's no Drogba, he'll not be able to play like a star whatever is going on around him. His lack of adaptability shown at Newcastle last season when Cisse came in doesn't bode well.

[Rip]

We paid agents fees and signing of aroud £4-6m depending on which you believe (Chelsea will be in the same boat) but I agree we've had our value out of him, and to be fair I'm not bitter if he wants to go for the chance to win and earn more good on him he's not a local lad so why shouldn't he, it would be nice for a little honesty for a change mind.

[Beefy]

I used to quite like Daniel Sturridge. I now hate him. I can only think that the sole reason for this was that penalty at the Olympics.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

He's not a likeable player because he's quite flash, but I think the flashiness belies his need to be loved and to have full confidence in him, he wants to do something big so he gets himself in the side. If he scores a goal or two early on for Liverpool, I think he'll be flying. Rodgers is the sort of manager who appears to make players feel like they are loved and has them walking on sunshine, going by what Swansea players said about him, so perhaps Sturridge is exactly the sort of talent he can get the best out of. However, it won't go well if Sturridge doesn't work on his decision-making. He's a greedy fucker at times. Suarez will end up decking him or biting a lump off his face or racially abusing him if that selfish side of his game is too prominent.

[Simon]

I don't think you'll miss him that much anyway, you only had space for one of him and Cisse to be the central striker and both are pretty mediocre when playing wide...with him gone Cisse will start scoring goals again up front.

Still think Newcastle (and probably Liverpool) have the most scope for improvement, not just because you're playing below your level but because you have a mostly strong side with a couple of glaring weaknesses. It still seems mad to me that you can have a core group of six or so that could play for any side, but then also players like Williamson, Simpson and Perch getting regular football. Pardew seems to have acknowledged that in Simpson's case by getting Debuchy in, but if you could get a quality centre back to partner Coloccini and some natural pace and width out wide - Jonas is slower than a weekend in Borth, Ben Arfa is class but not a natural winger - then you could really do something. Obviously you would need Tiote, Krul and others to stop playing crap as well.

[The Rosk]

Sturridge is a talented footballer without question. With an extended run in any side he will do well in the Premier League and I could see him linking up well with Suarez. Remember Liverpool desperately need a striker who can run in a straight line.

[Rip]

Ba is a good player and when used right a dangerous goalscorer, I think he could be another Carroll though, his best days will be with us because we played to his strengths, Pards is damn good at getting the best out of people and like Carroll I think Ba will regret leaving, however I'm pretty sure the warm feeling in his wallet will help him cope till he gets his move abroad.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

Everton ping-ponged up and down the table for a good few years and Newcastle could do the same. Their recruitment policy is excellent and if they stick to it by re-investing the money they get, then they should establish themselves further up the league in time.

[Simon]

Watched MOTD earlier, Villa's first team at the moment is laughably short of experience. Who exactly is injured at the moment that necessitates Lowton, Herd, Baker, Bennett, Delph, Weimann, Clark etc to all be starting every week? The concept of bringing through loads of youth players is all nice in theory, but IMO this Villa has a worrying similarity to the Boro side of a few years back, where many of them will probably go on to be good players, but if Villa get relegated before they blossom then they will just get cherry-picked out of the Championship as happened with Downing, Johnson, Cattermole etc. Very dangerous game IMO.

[The Rosk]

Dunne, Vlaar, Agbonlahor, N'Zogbia, Petrov, Bent. So six first teamers have gone and we've got the youngest team in the history o f the world or something. Very important we get a bit of experience in as they could be great but they are bafflingly stupid at times (see the ludicrous gaps that opened up at the back in the last three or four games). Bannan has been dogshit ever since the Liverpool game rather predictably. Westwood looks to be a good player and Lowton looks to be a solid but but the rest are all in dire need of a strong leader to pick them up in the game. Benteke is 22 and already seems to lead the team through his moods.

[Simon]

Come on Newcastle tonight. And QPR if that isn't a complete waste of time even bothering to say.

[Rip]

Everton ping-ponged up and down the table for a good few years and Newcastle could do the same. Their recruitment policy is excellent and if they stick to it by re-investing the money they get, then they should establish themselves further up the league in time.

We've got a bloody good policy in place and the long term future is excellent, including Pards and his backroom staff on long deals, the kids we've got in are mostly excellent prospects to come in, our problem this season has been that we're lacking the 'middle' of a squad, we've got a good XI and good reserves but no-one really to come in yet, look at Bigi and Anita they were bought for the future and they've played 9 & 17 league games already, couple of years time we'll be sorted.

[BBF]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/A_nhunHCUAAnzHQ.jpg:large

[Simon]

Hahaha class.

[Rip]

Twitter.

Is there anything it cannot do?

[Alf]

I used to quite like Daniel Sturridge. I now hate him. I can only think that the sole reason for this was that penalty at the Olympics.

Flicking from Mo doing a load of well good running to that England game and seeing him do that penalty, and then seeing his petulant toys-out-of-the-pram gangstaaaa display, pushing his team mates away as they tried to consol him, has made me absolutely hate his fucking guts.

[Bad Collin]

I didn't see that game. Did he try to chip it or something?

[BBF]

He did some shit stumbled run up if I remember correctly.

[Alf]

I can't really remember, but I think he tried to stutter the run up like a plaaayaaaa but then kicked it relatively softly right near the keeper for an easy save. Then acted the cunt after it.

[Rip]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqyIL4O3VdE

Chip


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoitrxIdjVI

Pen

[Rip]

Debuchy to be introduced tonight on a five year deal signed this afternoon.

[Bad Collin]

Yeah, The BBC has a video of that excellent chip on the sport page today.

I've seen worse pens. He needs to buckle down and prove himself at Pool though.

[BBF]

Fellaini to Man United APPAZ

[Alf]

Well, he is exactly what they need.

[BBF]

According to some cunt on twitter the fee has been agreed.

[Torn]

Why do you always believe random nobodies from twitter BBF? This isn't happening.

[BBF]

Who said I believed it? I'm just passing on the RUMOUR

[El Capitano Gatisto]

Why even bother? There's zero chance of that happening, some gimp has invented this as a rumour. We could just make our own stuff up here rather than import it from random arseholes on Twitter.

[BBF]

Gowon then.

[Jay]

I do like that some are trying to substantiate the rumour by saying Fellaini has updated his bio to included "Red Devils", completely ignoring the fact that it's also Belgium's nickname.

[Bad Collin]

Arsenal have agreed a fee for Llorente

[wardy]

An ITK on a Kilmarnock forum I post on has confirmed that Ibrahimovic to Spurs is a done deal.

[RFF Champ]

Ba has a group of agents that follow him around and claim a lot of money from deals. We paid a few mil for him to sign in the first place in agents fees and I'm sure they've been touting him around ever since. We put ourselves in this position and we did it to Lille for Cabaye so I'm not too bothered. Cisse through the middle should mean the team isn't regressed, particularly if someone of Remy's calibre is being targeted.

[MMH]

Fellaini came out yesterday to say he was happy to at least see his contract out at Everton. I know footballers are generally knobheads but I would like to think that nobody could change his mind quite so quickly.

[Rip]

There's a shock...

Ba transfer hits a 'snag'.

[Chris Scott]

Alonso to us with Henderson going to Madrid.

[MikeHunt]

Hahahahahahahaha!

[Gary J]

That Fellaini rumour has probably come about because of that quote from Fellaini about buying a house in Manchester was in the mediawatch section on Football365 today.

[Ringo]

Mixed feelings about Sturridge. He's a very frustrating player (greedy, poor decision making, pulls out of tackles at the drop of a hat) and not particularly likeable. But I reckon he'll do well at Liverpool if he gets plenty of chances. An English player of his age and talent would normally demand a bigger fee in this climate but with a few months left on his contract this was inevitable.

£7m for Ba surely can't be anything other than great business though (provided he doesn't get crocked after a few games) - we've seen that any half-decent Prem striker is valued much higher. He doesn't need to set the world on fire - he should be a reliable option for rotation. The injury thing is a slight worry perhaps but there's no guessing how that'll pan out.

[Bad Collin]

Sky are reporting that Joe Cole is having a medical at West Ham. We better be clearing all of his wages.

[Grimario]

Blimey, had no idea that had gone through. Also just found out Reading have inexplicably managed to sign Daniel Carrico who was Sporting's captain and was being linked with loads of top clubs like two years ago.

They are also adding another Aussie to their books in Tomas Rogic. I don't know how much game time he will get (if any) but I can imagine him being extremely frustrating. He is already a lazy shit in the slower paced league here, if he doesn't get his work rate up, he will definitely not cut it in England.

[MMH]

That Fellaini rumour has probably come about because of that quote from Fellaini about buying a house in Manchester was in the mediawatch section on Football365 today.

Yeah thats true he has. Mirallas lives in Manchester so he has probably moved to be closer to his mate. Its not like Manchester is miles away from Liverpool either.

[Pablo Diablo]

Ronaldo for De Gea and Nani and 60m pounds.

God I love ridiculous transfer rumors. United would never take on someone who is cup-tied for that much. Lower it to 30m and then we're talking.

[turdpower]

I would teabag your face for that pabs.

[Chris Scott]

Mixed feelings about Sturridge. He's a very frustrating player (greedy, poor decision making, pulls out of tackles at the drop of a hat) and not particularly likeable. But I reckon he'll do well at Liverpool if he gets plenty of chances. An English player of his age and talent would normally demand a bigger fee in this climate but with a few months left on his contract this was inevitable.

£7m for Ba surely can't be anything other than great business though (provided he doesn't get crocked after a few games) - we've seen that any half-decent Prem striker is valued much higher. He doesn't need to set the world on fire - he should be a reliable option for rotation. The injury thing is a slight worry perhaps but there's no guessing how that'll pan out.

Just hope he does well for us.

[Chris Scott]

Sky are reporting that Joe Cole is having a medical at West Ham. We better be clearing all of his wages.

Yeah a nice £3m payoff the twat.

[Pablo Diablo]

I would teabag your face for that pabs.

I know we make fun of Liverpool fans on here but man every team certainly has their lot. Reading the comments on that rumour article makes me ashamed to be a United fan.

Also amazing how many people take these rumours to be FACT.

[Bennedy]

Ashamed to be a United fan? Calm down, it's only a few comments on a transfer rumour.

[Rip]

Odimwinge and Maiga in for £3m and £7m (what West Ham paid only a few months ago, which seems a bit odd, mind the lad really wanted to come to us and apparantly 'broke down' when he was told he failed his medical) to play alongside Cisse looks like being a pretty nice prospect with Remy being lined up for the summer is the latest local rumor.

Centre half search still no further on that loose rumors sadly...

[Simon]

£3m for Odemwingie? That's great business if true, I'd take him at Spurs all day.

[Alf]

Looks like some transfer shady shenanigans have gone on with Fryers... he went to Liege, now it looks like he's coming to us. Is that us avoiding the old tribunal fee think?

[Simon]

Corinthians have signed Pato Banton from Corinthians.

[Rip]

£3m for Odemwingie? That's great business if true, I'd take him at Spurs all day.

Three or four sources, I'm bloody happy if it comes off!

[Rip]

NUFC blog saying we're in 'advanced stages' of personal talks with Remy and fee agreed.

[Rip]

Any Arsenal fan know anything about Johan Djourou?

We were linked with him in October, Carr was seen at an Arsenal reserve game last month (don't even know if he was playing) and now Wenger has come out and said he could go in this window

[Alf]

Looks like some transfer shady shenanigans have gone on with Fryers... he went to Liege, now it looks like he's coming to us. Is that us avoiding the old tribunal fee think?

So this has now been officially announced. Interesting...

[Prototype16]

Any Arsenal fan know anything about Johan Djourou?

We were linked with him in October, Carr was seen at an Arsenal reserve game last month (don't even know if he was playing) and now Wenger has come out and said he could go in this window

I'm no Arsenal fan but he's an awful defender - the worst they've had in the last few seasons from what I've seen of them. He showed some potential a few seasons back but has lost his way completely, not surprised they are letting him go.

You can do a lot better

[Gary J]

A change might be good for him. He always looks good when playing for Switzerland.

[Andy]

Any Arsenal fan know anything about Johan Djourou?

We were linked with him in October, Carr was seen at an Arsenal reserve game last month (don't even know if he was playing) and now Wenger has come out and said he could go in this window

He can be a good defender when he puts his mind to it. Complete confidence player who can play at a good PL standard. I would think you could do better but if you get him on the cheap he might turn out to be a bargain.

[Andy]

We've been linked to Zaha and Adrian Lopez mainly so far. Not particularly excited about either.

[Andy]

Whatever happened to that young English guy who went via some lower league team to Bayern from Liverpool? Is he just rotting in their reserves? Can't remember his name.

[BBF]

Dale Jennings

[MMH]

And he went from Tranmere. Got a bad injury over there. In the youth/reserve team still I think.

[Rip]

Confirmed, one in one out.

Ba to Chelsea, Debuchy in.

[Alf]

Rumours of Hudd to villa... pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeease. You can have Jenas too.

[Simon]

Jenas managed one start in four months at Forest, can't see a Prem club wanting him.

I'm quite interested to see how Cole does at West Ham. By all accounts he was excellent at Lille last year, which has been conveniently ignored by all the pundits who have seen him flop at Liverpool. They keep mentioning how he's lost a yard of pace, but I don't remember him ever being particularly quick...that said, he will presumably be fucked out to the wing for West Ham with Nolan remaining behind a striker...I hope it works out for him though, he's only 31 and should still have it in him to be a superb player. Also, it annoys me that people are saying his career has been a flop - he's won the league three times, five cups, 56 caps for England and has won the player of the year award for both England and Chelsea...he might have stalled since leaving Chelsea but fuck me, it's hardly a bad haul.

[Beefy]

Cole wasn't excellent at Lille. He was pretty mediocre, actually.

I do like him as a player though and think he should do alright at West Ham.

[Simon]

Everything I heard suggested he started superbly, tailed off a bit but overall played really well :dunno: tbh I just rated him for fucking off some BBC journalist who made a sly comment about eating snails by saying that they are no worse than jellied eels.

[Bad Collin]

Cole was an odd one for us. He didn't get a run of games but also didn't do enough to deserve one. The BBC keeps posting videos of great moments from the new signings and Cole's is from 2006.

[Chris Scott]

Ince starts for Blackpool so if he does come to us he's cup tied, off course if we go through.

[Beefy]

West Ham have signed Wellington Paulista according to Sky. I know he's not a kid but wasn't he quite highly rated a while back?

[Bad Collin]

Ince starts for Blackpool so if he does come to us he's cup tied, off course if we go through.

I like that he took his dad along to the transfer negotiations :)

[Chris Scott]

Haha yes.

[Peter Griffin]

Apparently those cunts at Man City are sniffing around Will Hughes, alls i can say is FUCK OFF

[mj the kid]

Australia's best young striker Tom Rogic off to Celtic.

[MikeHunt]

5 goals in 25 games according to wiki. Is that right? If so he sounds a bit shit.

[Grimario]

Don't mind mj, he doesn't understand football.

Rogic is a lazy luxury attacking midfielder, like a (considerably) less skilled Riquelme. Probably the most gifted youngster we have still in Australia at the moment but one of the laziest wankers as well. Could be anything he wanted if he pulls his finger out.

[turdpower]

I don't get why we're being linked with Lewandowski. We already have 2 properly class strikers and 2 really good young ones, so I don't see the point.

[MMH]

I don't get why we're being linked with Lewandowski. We already have 2 properly class strikers and 2 really good young ones, so I don't see the point.

It does seem odd, espcially as he aint going to come cheap either and you surely have more pressing areas to strengthen.

[turdpower]

No, it's OK we're getting Frank Lampard, who'll be 35 by the time next season kicks off. :wired:

[Hlebsfall]

Better than just getting 'like a new signing' Abou Diaby

[1_Pablo_Angel]

Our defence has an average age of 13 3/4 and we've not really been linked with anyone yet. WHY WOULD WE BE?

[Bad Collin]

Chelsea could sign Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini by the end of the week, according to French newspaper L'Equipe.

They report that the 25-year old will sign a five-year deal with the club, for a fee of £22m. He will earn £4m a year.

However, Manchester United could still hijack the deal.

Possibly rubbish but it would be big news if it happened.

[Alf]

We apparently rejected a loan offer for Livermore from Everton, so it could have legs.

[Alf]

Or maybe they just wanted him as cover.

[Simon]

Imagine selling Fellaini and getting Livermore :nono:

[MMH]

Fellainis release fee is much higher than 22M according to the club and only if a champions league team came in for him which Chelsea currently aint! Got 4 years on his deal too.

Its conceivable he could go I suppose but I dont see anyone wanting to pay ridiculous money for him as he is a player who you have to build your whole system around to get the best out of him.

Livermore will be because we are woefully short of midfield options right now.

[Simon]

Fellaini didn't reach his current level til he started playing off a striker though did he? And if there's one thing Chelsea don't need right now it's another attacking mid...put him in front of the defence and he's still good, but not at the same level.

[MMH]

Fellaini didn't reach his current level til he started playing off a striker though did he? And if there's one thing Chelsea don't need right now it's another attacking mid...put him in front of the defence and he's still good, but not at the same level.

Yeah kind of. He prefers playing deeper but he has certainly stood out more in a more attacking role. As you say Chelsea dont need that role, I dont think United do either really and cant see them spending that amount of money right now.

Hes good at defensive mid but not great, too clumsy in the tackle.

[Bad Collin]

Another runour:


Liverpool table a bid of £12.2m for Fenerbahce striker Moussa Sow according to Turkish newspaper Fanatik Gazetesi.

The former Lille forward has scored 18 goals in 41 games in Turkey.

Interesting. I haven't seen much of his but he was good enough to be an RFF Euro player last season.

[1_Pablo_Angel]

If we don't buy a centre half or centre mid with a bit of experience, either Randy or Lambert will have fucked up big time.

I'm not hopeful.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

I remember reading that Lambert was talking up a move for Lescott, but then Mancini ruled out selling him with Kolo Toure away for a bit. Suggests he is definitely looking in that kind of direction.

[Alf]

http://i47.tinypic.com/2e16gld.jpg

[Simon]

Coloccini the latest in a line of dickhead players to plead and demand compassion because he so desperately needs to leave for personal reasons...but won't put in a transfer request and forego his loyalty bonus. Does my fucking head in.

[Simon]

A few relatively big deals going on in other countries at the moment...

-Taison from Metalist to Shakhtar, never seen him play but he was heavily linked with Chelsea recently...another high-class Brazilian at Shakhtar possibly
-Pablo Armero from Udinese to Napoli...I thought this guy was supposed to be class but he cost under a million :wtf:
-Guillaume Hoarau from PSG to Dalian in China
-Marat Izmailov from Sporting to Porto, with Miguel Lopes going the other way
-Renato Augusto has left Leverkusen to go to Corinthians, was supposed to be the next big thing a couple of years ago
-Ivan Perisic from Dortmund to Wolfsburg
-

[son_of_foley]

Coloccini the latest in a line of dickhead players to plead and demand compassion because he so desperately needs to leave for personal reasons...but won't put in a transfer request and forego his loyalty bonus. Does my fucking head in.

My understanding is that loyalty bonuses actually are really your signing on fee just its spread over the length of the contract so a lot of times players think of it as their money rather than it being some sort of cut from the deal

[Andy]

That's definitely not true in all cases because Vermaelen was given an up front bonus of somewhere between £2-3m for signing a new contract and there's talk of Walcott gettin the same.

[Simon]

My understanding is that loyalty bonuses actually are really your signing on fee just its spread over the length of the contract so a lot of times players think of it as their money rather than it being some sort of cut from the deal
Possibly, but even if that is true it's common knowledge that you lose that money if you ask for a transfer...that's the whole point of that bonus being awarded, it's a reward for remaining at the club, whereas cunts like Coloccini and Modric want it both ways - they want to be allowed to leave the club whenever they feel like it, but not hand in the transfer request that would facilitate the move. They should fuck off. I think Modric did hand in his request in the end, which led to the move happening more easily (eventually).

[Rip]

He's trying it on because he knows he's going to come out of this looking a twat, and let's be honest Ashley and Llambias aren't going to let him walk away with 1p more than they can get away with.

Oh and the whole 'Boyhood club/dream' story is shite, he was banging a tart from Wallsend and as usual for him this season, one slipped by and hit the back of the net.

Now his wife has told him she want's out of Newcastle ASAP before the little bastard turns up, hence the convenient story.

[Rip]

Deal looks like £8m, £2m less than QPR offered and £3m less than we were told in the summer, Remy and Cisse on parper looks a lethal pair full of pace and tricks with HBA coming back to play as the third piece of the attacking jigsaw should be good to watch.

Pards has said he was looking at 3 in before the window closes, the other two being defensive (so I guess we're leaving Sissoko till the summer, unless Pards is streatching it to defensive midfielder)

[Simon]

Very strange that we had a £22m bid for Remy turned down 18 months ago and now he's going for under £10m

[StevieV]

I hear Graham Dorrans is moving on.

[Alf]

Very strange that we had a £22m bid for Remy turned down 18 months ago and now he's going for under £10m

Do you really think we'd bid 22m for a unproven french youth striker?

[Rip]

Very strange that we had a £22m bid for Remy turned down 18 months ago and now he's going for under £10m

I know he has a heart condition but it's not expected to be an issue, he really wants to join us according to reports the QPR offer and terms were much better, something is odd though

[Alf]

It's probably because he knows QPR are tank. And you guys have a nice little french enclave thing happening.

[Simon]

Redknapp said he couldn't even get a meeting with Remy now he's at QPR.

[Andy]

Looks like Remy is going to QPR. What an idiot.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

If it's true, you say that but Newcastle aren't much better an option. He's probably getting a massive offer from QPR and no doubt will get a move if they do go down.

[Andy]

Depends how well he does. If he's shite and QPR go down who will take him on with the presumably massive wages he'll get there?

[El Capitano Gatisto]

Well the only difference will possibly be that Newcastle aren't offering him as much money. I would be stunned if QPR were not including a clause to cut his wages if they go down, or if he did not have a release fee should they go down. Anyway, we'll see what happens.

[Hlebsfall]

Meanwhile in the Arsenal negotiation room.

http://wwwdelivery.superstock.com/WI/223/1525/PreviewComp/SuperStock_1525R-77770B.jpg

[turdpower]

Fuck off are you signing Giggs.

[Bad Collin]

Arsenal fans. Let's imagine that Wenger does have a bit stack of cash to spend, who realistically would you like £80 million spent on?

[Andy]

Hard to say, by my reckoning we need at least three top quality players and a lot more depth if we want to be challenging for the league again. I know that isn't realistic obviously.

We aren't creating enough and haven't been since Fabregas left. Cazorla is class but he's run himself into the ground. Same with Chamberlain. So a top winger and a striker I'd like. Isco from Malaga I like, Llorente too. I'd love to see us go all out for Villa or Higuain, someone like that. I also fucking love watching Reus from Dortmund play. I'd love him.

We also need a keeper, a top centre half and cover at full back, if not full time replacements. Arteta has also been run into the ground, need cover there. I like Diaby and Rosicky a lot but it's just not worth persisting with them. Get rid of them. Get rid of Santos, Mannone, Fabianski, Djourou, Chamakh. We still have Bendtner and Denilson picking up wages from us for fucks sake. It really is a bit of a mess at the moment.

[MMH]

Reus only signed for Dortmund in the summer.

[Bad Collin]

I wonder if Arsenal could get Di Rossi.

We have Vegard Forren on trail, he seems like a solid enough defender.

[RFF Champ]

I hear Graham Dorrans is moving on.

I've said he'd be a good signing for Newcastle to fill the gap Guthrie left. West Brom have said he can leave if something works out but they're happy to keep him. I think he wants to be closer to Scotland because his child is ill.

[Simon]

Looks like QPR are gonna complete the M'Vila deal now as well. Probably won't work out, but a year ago the pair would have cost the best part of £50m...if the attitudes are right then they could improve the side massively.

[Hlebsfall]

A keeper. Szchesney is getting complacent, and his distribution and kicking is diabolical.
A left back. Gibbs isn't a particularly good one.
A centre back, all the current ones are shit.
a defensive midfielder
A left winger
2 decent strikers.

That'll do, thanks.

[son_of_foley]

I wonder if a change in formation might help Arsenal out. I don't think the 4-3-3 is doing much for them. I would look to go to something more like 4-4-2 with current squad? I guess they might like to get a 4-2-3-1 or whatever but I think try Giroud/Podolski through the centre with Walcott. Buy another striker to rotate Walcott with. Try Chamberlain on the right side of a 4. Carloza on the left maybe. Dunno would probably descend into the same tentative bollocks it always does

[Rip]

Looks like QPR are gonna complete the M'Vila deal now as well. Probably won't work out, but a year ago the pair would have cost the best part of £50m...if the attitudes are right then they could improve the side massively.

Does make you wonder about the reasons behind the fall in price though, Remy from £22m to £8m is a huge drop, I know there was a heart condition on his medical when he went to OM but I'd assumed it was cleared up, got to question his attitude as well when he went from 'not interested' in QPR to running to them when the wage jumped up.

We're looking at moving on Sissoko now and a young Dutch centre half (who's name has just gone out of my head) but the rumors are we're looking for a new target up front because we'd gone all out on Remy, hopefully we can get someone worth having in!

[Bad Collin]

A keeper. Szchesney is getting complacent, and his distribution and kicking is diabolical.
A left back. Gibbs isn't a particularly good one.
A centre back, all the current ones are shit.
a defensive midfielder
A left winger
2 decent strikers.

That'll do, thanks.

That's my point though, who? I think Andy's suggestion of Isco is good. Ultimately though I think it would be better to give the cheque book to a new manager in the summer.

Looks like Forren is going to Soton for first team football, I kind of like that.

[Simon]

Everyone creaming about Isco, when exactly are you seeing him? Magala have had about three games shown on TV this season, and I doubt you're choosing to watch the Malaga games on CL nights.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

Between this season and last they've had a fair few games on Sky. They do show plenty of non-Barca/Real games, whether people watch them or not is another story.

[Alf]

Being linked to Son Heung-Min now.

[Simon]

Between this season and last they've had a fair few games on Sky. They do show plenty of non-Barca/Real games, whether people watch them or not is another story.
I just don't see how people are giving it the big knowledge about players they can't have seen much. Received wisdom I guess.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

But anyone could have seen plenty of Isco if they liked? He's hardly obscure. How many times would you need to see him play to be informed? It'd be easy enough to see as much of Isco as any mid-table Premier League player really. Malaga finished 4th in the Spanish league last year.

I personally think Arsenal already took Malaga's best player anyway when they signed Cazorla and they don't really need another creative midfielder. Arsenal should be doing better than they are, there are problems there other than just personnel.

[Bad Collin]

None of us are scouts Simon. I think everyone is relying on a few matches, some highlights here and there and reading positive reports from people in the game.

[Simon]

I guess it's possible, I just think it's a bit easy to say you'd like your team to sign someone who is massively hyped up but most people won't have seen much of - Isco isn't a great example as he is on TV occasionally, but the general point stands. It's the FM generation I guess.

Swansea have signed Roland Lamah who was hyped up as a youngster, dunno if he's turned out to be any cop. Apparently they are in for Tom Ince as well...I love Swansea's setup, it's so simple. Goalkeeper with good feet, technical full backs and midfielders, powerful centre backs, fast wingers, hard-working striker. I think this is why they can rotate the side without losing too much - beyond Williams and Britton they can rotate and still remain roughly as good, even Michu has a decent replacement in Graham.

[Simon]

None of us are scouts Simon. I think everyone is relying on a few matches, some highlights here and there and reading positive reports from people in the game.
Yeah of course...I just don't like that everyone wants to be recognised as knowledgeable off of received wisdom.

[Beefy]

Simon, you used to do this all the time. You were renowned for claiming knowledge of players based purely on Championship Manager.

[Simon]

Maybe when I was15.

[Beefy]

You're not 15? :wtf:

[Simon]

:cool:

[MMH]

Yeah of course...I just don't like that everyone wants to be recognised as knowledgeable off of received wisdom.

Its a small world now. Access to stuff like that is easy these days.

[Beefy]

It's not like it was in MMH's day, back in the fifties.

[Simon]

Its a small world now. Access to stuff like that is easy these days.

Yeah I'm sure it's possible, I just don't think the people who demand these foreign players all know that much about them. For example Isco would cost a fortune, he's 21 years old and hasn't played in England before, and yet people mention him as the answer to Arsenal's problems. Spurs fans are doing the same with Adam Maher, talking about him as the missing piece of the puzzle when he's 19 and has only played in the Eredivisie so far.

[MMH]

It's not like it was in MMH's day, back in the fifties.

Oh yeah sorry there young un!! :lol:

[MMH]

Yeah I'm sure it's possible, I just don't think the people who demand these foreign players all know that much about them. For example Isco would cost a fortune, he's 21 years old and hasn't played in England before, and yet people mention him as the answer to Arsenal's problems. Spurs fans are doing the same with Adam Maher, talking about him as the missing piece of the puzzle when he's 19 and has only played in the Eredivisie so far.

Aye true enough. You get the same even with youth players in teams. Our fans are fuming that unproven Ross Barkley is getting less game time than 60 caps for Germany Thomas Hitzelsperger and quite what they base this indignation on is anyones guess.

[Simon]

Vagner Love has gone back to CSKA Moscow and Nuri Sahin has gone back to Dortmund on loan.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

Arsene Wenger must be pretty fucked off that Liverpool went to all that bother nicking Sahin from under their noses then didn't even use him.

[Alf]

Yeah I'm sure it's possible, I just don't think the people who demand these foreign players all know that much about them. For example Isco would cost a fortune, he's 21 years old and hasn't played in England before, and yet people mention him as the answer to Arsenal's problems. Spurs fans are doing the same with Adam Maher, talking about him as the missing piece of the puzzle when he's 19 and has only played in the Eredivisie so far.

Are we linked with him then?

I've seen isco play a couple of times, and he has stood out in a big way. You can just see he is class.

[Christopherson]

Simon, you used to do this all the time. You were renowned for claiming knowledge of players based purely on Championship Manager.


Not wishing to start anything with Simon because he's all grown up and *gasp* a man now :scared: but this is exactly what I was thinking. My how times have changed.

[Simon]

If everyone was held to account for the dumb shit they were doing as teenagers we'd all have to kill ourselves.

Alf - Maher is one of the names that keeps coming up. Supposedly he's very good but who really knows.

[Alf]

I was convinced Andy Reid was the second coming. I was so sure he'd be mega for us.

[Simon]

Any professional sportsman who has the nickname Tits gets my full backing.

[Christopherson]

If everyone was held to account for the dumb shit they were doing as teenagers we'd all have to kill ourselves.



And if we're still doing the dumb shit at 36?

[Simon]

:dunno:

[Christopherson]

Fat lot of use you are, I was thinking I was finally going to receive the wisdom I so clearly needed.

[Hlebsfall]

That's my point though, who? I think Andy's suggestion of Isco is good. Ultimately though I think it would be better to give the cheque book to a new manager in the summer.

Looks like Forren is going to Soton for first team football, I kind of like that.

It's a futile exercise to state players, because it'll never happen anyway. I can sit here and say the likes of Gotze and Falcao, but it's pointless. Nothing will happen until January 31st, when they'll panic loan in some old sack of shit, along with signing Mbuzi Kwesi from the St Etienne under 14s.

[Gary J]

Aye true enough. You get the same even with youth players in teams. Our fans are fuming that unproven Ross Barkley is getting less game time than 60 caps for Germany Thomas Hitzelsperger and quite what they base this indignation on is anyones guess.

That's probably based on that one game when he played really well (can't remember who it was against). Got massively hyped up and then disappeared and is now at Leeds on loan (poor lad)

[El Capitano Gatisto]

He's still only 18 isn't he?

[Gary J]

He'll be about that i think he was only 16 when he made his debut.

[Andy]

Simon you've taken what I said way too seriously, I said it was unrealistic and I was basically just fantasizing about players I'd like.

And I wouldn't talk about players I don't know about, what's the point. I've seen loads of La Liga this season and Malaga along with Atletico have been on TV nearly as much as Real and Barca. Camacho looks a handy player too and their keeper Caballero has been class whenever I've seen him.

[MMH]

That's probably based on that one game when he played really well (can't remember who it was against). Got massively hyped up and then disappeared and is now at Leeds on loan (poor lad)

It was against QPR. We got beat. At home.

He could end up being great to be fair and probably will be very good top flight player but people base it on nothing other than rumours of how good he is. And yeah hes just turned 19, plenty of gtime for him to develop still.

[turdpower]

It's a futile exercise to state players, because it'll never happen anyway. I can sit here and say the likes of Gotze and Falcao, but it's pointless. Nothing will happen until January 31st, when they'll panic loan in some old sack of shit, along with signing Mbuzi Kwesi from the St Etienne under 14s.

He's shit.

[Bad Collin]

Cavani for Arsenal? What do you make of Wengers comments?

As a top five team neutral :( I would love to see Cavani in England.

[Simon]

:lol: Why would he go there? He's probably the second most hyped striker in Europe atm after Falcao, would walk into just about any side in the world. Arsenal would never pay the £40m+ it would cost to get him either...it's just Wenger sending out good vibes to keep the fans off his back for a couple of weeks...if they don't arrest their shitness it's gonna bite him on the botbot when it comes to February 1st and he's gone from jabbering about spending £40m on Cavani to bleating about how it's impossible to compete with United when it comes to signing teenagers from the Championship for £8m.

[Bad Collin]

Because Arsenal are a bigger club than Napoli with a world renouned coach, they play nice football and have RvP's wages to spunk on a new superstar.

Also, in terms of hype I wouldn't even put him in the top five strikers in Europe.

[Simon]

Because Arsenal are a bigger club than Napoli with a world renouned coach, they play nice football and have RvP's wages to spunk on a new superstar.

Also, in terms of hype I wouldn't even put him in the top five strikers in Europe.
Arsenal are maybe a bigger side than Napoli but aren't currently a better team, and in any case if he was going to leave Napoli why would it be for a club that by any stretch is little more than a sideways step...Cavani could play for any side in the world after the past few years, with Chelsea and City known to be trailing him just from England...Arsenal would make no sense for him.

In terms of 'proper' strikers who is bigger than him besides Falcao? Benzema, Van Persie, Suarez, Lewandowski, Ibrahimovic are the other top strikers from the main European leagues, not sure if any are held in higher esteem than Cavani though...possibly RVP and Ibra :dunno:

[Bad Collin]

I would put all of above except Lewandowski above Cavani in terms of hype/esteem but maybe we are reading different things.

Neither Chelsea or City have bid though and if he did go there then he wouldn't be top boy. There are many factors at work here, if we went to Arsenal he would be the first name on the team sheet for a CL side with a history (albeit a while back) of winning titles. Add a fat stack of cash and a big house in one of the best cities in the world and that could tempt anyone.

[Simon]

I would be stunned if he went to Arsenal. The only part of it that would make sense is that it would improve Arsenal's side, which seems to be a hundred places below "making sure the pitch looks nice" on their list of priorities.

[Bad Collin]

I think that it finally sinking in that the fans expect investment in top players for their sky high ticket prices. They are also in danger of losing their champions league place.

[Beefy]

Arsenal are a bigger club than Napoli and play in a stronger league. The issue would be that if he does want to move he can likely earn more elsewhere.

[turdpower]

And join a better team than Arsenal.

[Beefy]

They've been in the Champions League for the last 147 years. Apparently that's all players care about once money has been taken out of the equation.

[MMH]

And join a better team than Arsenal.

Who though? City have tons of options, as do United. Chelsea have just bought Ba and Torres is Torres. He wont come cheap either of course.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

Cavani seems like a lovely bloke, not one of those ones driven by cash. He actually signed for Napoli when he could have backed out of the deal when going from Palermo. There's an argument he's a better player than Falcao also because he does much more for the team. Falcao is basically an exceptional penalty box finisher, while Cavani can play across the attack, make the play up front, hold the ball up and can act as a target man. Falcao hasn't done much for Columbia apparently because they don't have a set up to play to his strengths, therefore he struggles a bit. He won't necessarily be an instant success elsewhere, as great a finisher as he is.

Seems unlikely Arsenal would get Cavani given he's probably up there as one of the best strikers around right now and would cost absolute shite loads of cash, but it would be brilliant to see. It would lift Arsenal massively.

Odd statement from Bad Collin about him not being in the top 5 "most hyped". Like Simon says, he's the most hyped after Falcao. On ability he's got to be top ten definitely.

[turdpower]

Who though? City have tons of options, as do United. Chelsea have just bought Ba and Torres is Torres. He wont come cheap either of course.

I think City would seriously go in for him if the opportunity was there. They went after RVP even with what they have now, so they I don't see why they wouldn't.

[Andy]

Wenger was asked what he thought of Cavani and said he liked him. Complete nothing story.

[Hlebsfall]

I would eat a shit if Arsenal signed him. Never going to happen.

[Rip]

We've agreed a fee for Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa (trips of the tounge doesn't it) who we've chased for 2 years now, so unless 'Arry the twat decides he wants to throw stupid money around that should help shore up our defence somewhat!

Still need someone to get goals and someone to keep Cabaye company in the middle since Tiote has been shite this year.

[Andy]

I'd love us to test your resolve and go for Cabaye. Never gonna happen though.

[Rip]

Right now they wouldn't let him go for anything, and he's happy at the club we signed his best mate and he'll be captain when Colo fecks off, and if we sold him the local idiots would be out for blood.

We've got a bloody good centre half coming in now, fingers crossed and a good young left back/centre half cover in Massadio Haidara from Nancy, now if we can tie them up and get a forward through the door we'll be okay, latest rumor I've heard is we're going to go for Danny Graham after all, and try and tie up Florian Thauvin from Basta as one for the future.

IF and it's a big if, we pull them all out of the hat that's not a bad window (not great to lose Ba but it was always going to happen) for us if we can keep Colo till the summer, if he goes we need another centre half.

[Mik]

Nobody is happy at your club at the moment mate.

[Simon]

That Alfred N'Diaye looks a player from the five minutes or so I've seen of him so far Mik.

[Bad Collin]

Looks like we are in for Coutinho, £5m and £8m have been reported. I don't know much about him, is he worth it?

[Simon]

Whenever I seen him play for Inter he looked pretty crap, very small and frail. What do I know though, I was convinced that Biabiany was gonna be amazing after seeing him against us in the CL, and he has been sold twice since then.

[RFF Champ]

Right now they wouldn't let him go for anything, and he's happy at the club we signed his best mate and he'll be captain when Colo fecks off, and if we sold him the local idiots would be out for blood.

We've got a bloody good centre half coming in now, fingers crossed and a good young left back/centre half cover in Massadio Haidara from Nancy, now if we can tie them up and get a forward through the door we'll be okay, latest rumor I've heard is we're going to go for Danny Graham after all, and try and tie up Florian Thauvin from Basta as one for the future.

IF and it's a big if, we pull them all out of the hat that's not a bad window (not great to lose Ba but it was always going to happen) for us if we can keep Colo till the summer, if he goes we need another centre half.

I'd like a couple of strikers really. I think the players we've missed this year have been Guthrie and Best who were dependable whenever they came into the team. We need to pad out the squad again.

[Rip]

I'd agree, Best has been a real miss solid player who never let us down, too many of the young lads we've brought in have proved they are no where near ready yet sadly.

Not really the best day to bring an African born French international across to sort out contracts today, hope the lad brings his gloves!

[Simon]

I'm blardy Leon Best.

[Mik]

That Alfred N'Diaye looks a player from the five minutes or so I've seen of him so far Mik.


He looks big and physical and thats pretty much what we've been missing.

[Bad Collin]

Liverpool are continuing talks with Inter Milan over the possible transfer of Philippe Coutinho after their initial bid was rejected.

The Reds are understood to have already had one bid rejected by Inter, which was in the region of £6.75million.

Now the clubs are continuing talks and the expectation is that a deal will be concluded shortly with Liverpool paying £8million.

More rumours, there seem to be too many rumours for this to be a complete fabrication.

[Ringo]

Any idea why he'd be available for that sort of money? He was supposed to be a big part of Inter's future. Out of contract?

[Rip]

I'd like a couple of strikers really. I think the players we've missed this year have been Guthrie and Best who were dependable whenever they came into the team. We need to pad out the squad again.

Yoan Gouffran for around £1m, first offer of £750k turned down this morning last rumor he might be over tomorrow with Yanga-Mwiba for double medical and signing after clubs agreed a fee today for both (Montpellier and Bordeux) Yoan is short (5'9) but quick and plays either through the middle or right, he started against us at our place and looked rapid but they were shit so he didn't get much of a chance to do anything, didn't play in the return but no idea why, goal ratio is around 1 in 3 or 4 which isn't bad considering he plays wide at least half the time.

And we've agreed a fee for Massadio Haidara the young left back/centre half from Nancy according to their club website, so maybe 3 tomorrow and news on Colos talks with the club could be a busy day!

I'm thinking the talks with Colo today went badly which is why they haven't said anything so they can reveal the new signing(s) to take the sting out of the bad news.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

Any idea why he'd be available for that sort of money? He was supposed to be a big part of Inter's future. Out of contract?

They're broke aren't they? Same reason they're taking €10 million for Sneijder when they were haggling over £30 million with United 18 months ago.

[Ringo]

Yeah I guess so. Probably why they keep signing players on loan for relatively small fees and then deciding if they want to sign them permanently. Not sure if that's a good strategy or not. Most Italian clubs can probably do with whatever they can get right now.

[Rip]

Someone has arrived for his medical at Newcastle, 6ft + coloured lad, could be either Haidara or Yanga-Mbiwa, by the tone of reports I'd think Haidara.

Latest reports are that Yanga has just arrived at Newcastle aiport.

:hyper: That could mean they're both here without bloody 'Arry getting in the way!

[Alf]

coloured? Jesus fucking christ.

[Beefy]

Oh look at Alf the London Boy all up to speed with his PC lingo.

[Rip]

Should I have said 'ethnic' mate? Didn't realise I'd used an incorrect term :D

Yanga having medical now, and it's started to blizzard up here so no-ones flying anywhere soon :lol:

[Simon]

I think the 'correct' denotation is to say "he's...you know..." and then do the John Cena hand thing.

[Simon]

Or just say he "doesn't look local".

[Rip]

Cool, I'll remember for next time :yes:

Old age lads I'm out of touch with the PC brigade... Can I still say 'lads' or is that offensive to someone?

[Bennedy]

As long as you don't mention the word 'banter' then you should be fine around these parts.

[Simon]

#LAD

[Rip]

Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa completed on a 5 1/2 year deal wearing number 13 :yes:

And Yoan Gouffran announced on twitter he'll sign tomorrow :D

[Alf]

Hooper rumours to spurs picking up... Ergh

[MikeHunt]

AVB was at the celtic game tonight and hooper had a complete belter of a game and two brilliant finishes according to my season ticket holder friend. He said that he's got no doubt he's gone.

[wardy]

I really hope we don't sell him til the summer but I don't think we're going to have a choice come the end of the month.

[The Rosk]

coloured jahahahaha

[Hlebsfall]

Arsenal linked to Diame, the coloured lad that plays for West Ham. One of the many 'top top quality' signings you can expect to see strutting their stuff at Arsenal.

[Bad Collin]

Yesterday it seemed that Coutinho was off but apaz we might still sign him even though we wants to stay at Inter.

[Alf]

Arsenal linked to Diame, the coloured lad that plays for West Ham. One of the many 'top top quality' signings you can expect to see strutting their stuff at Arsenal.

He is linked to Spurs too, west ham fan at work thinks he is a really good player. And this is one of those really miserable, self-loathing West Ham fans, a bit like a West Ham version of you.

[Simon]

He is one of them that dominates games, he came on against Chelsea (?) and completely changed the game. Also bossed Arsenal a while back. Apparently West Ham are refusing clubs permission to talk to him even if they meet the release clause in his contract so he could leave on a free :dunno:

[Bennedy]

Wasn't Diame at Wigan? I didn't hear many people raving about him then. How old is he? Maybe he has just took a while to get going and could go on to be a great player.

[Simon]

I always rated him at Wigan and said as much on here, was very surprised to see him leave on a Bosman. Then again I thought that bobblehead Hendry Thomas was good as well, fuck knows where he is now.

[Hlebsfall]

25 I think I read in the paper. I wouldn't be against Arsenal signing him. It's just that Wenger goes on about this bollocks of only signing top notch players, then the only player they are linked to is one with a 50p release clause.

[Rip]

Chronicle is reporting Gouffran and Haidara have both signed on long term deals with Sissoko due in for talks after we've gone from 'pre-contract agreement to sign him in the summer' to 'signing him right now'.

Good window, bloody great if we hold Colo till summer.


Krul

Debuchy, Colo, Yanga, Santon/Haidara

Cabaye, Sissoko,
Gouffran, . Marveux

HBA

Cisse

Elliot, Tiote, Jonas, Anita, Taylor, Shola, Haidara/Santon.

Now that looks a bloody good side.

[wardy]

Looks like we're about to sign Ali Jabeera, a young sand nigger lad from Iran. Sounds like a prospect!

[MMH]

Looks like we're about to sign Ali Jabeera, a young sand nigger lad from Iran. Sounds like a prospect!

For fucks sake.

None of that please.

[Alf]

Sissoko was one of those NEXT BIG THINGS FROM FRANCE players. Has anyone followed his career at all? Has he hit the shit? Seems a bit odd that he isn't more wanted.

Great window for Newcastle really, well, we'll see how they play first, but on paper they've done ok. They do need a striker something awful though.

[Simon]

I swear over the years there have been loads of young French-African centre mids that were supposed to be the next Vieira but for whatever reason never really did it. Mavuba, M'Vila, Sissoko, Fofana, Capoue...to be fair most of them are still young but all of them have failed to live up to the hype to varying degrees. Pogba really does look the shit though.

[BBF]

Yesterday it seemed that Coutinho was off but apaz we might still sign him even though we wants to stay at Inter.

APPAZ Southampton have had a bid accepted.

[Bad Collin]

And Ian Ayre has flown to Milan Levy style!

[Fanny]

Celtic have rejected an improved offer (improved on £5m) from Norwich, with Hooper refusing to sign a new contract at Celtic.

Hooper is a decent finisher, some of the time, but it's especially interesting the timing around his vast improvement during this season. I'd bite anyone's fucking hand off for £7m.

[Alf]

Word on the street is we may have actually been looking at Wanyama.

[Fanny]

I'm resigned to the fact he'll be leaving at some point, but I'd be gutted if it wasn't with us for the Juventus games.

He's going to be a huge, huge player in the coming years in either the Premiership or La liga. If Hooper's worth 5-7 million, Wanyama is closer to the 8 or 9 million mark at least.

I'm glad most people think Samaras is a big pudding, because he seems settled and happy at Celtic, loyal to the club and he's playing some really wonderful football just off the left wing. He's possibly our player of the season so far.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

Word on the street is we may have actually been looking at Wanyama.

I was thinking that would make more sense. Sandro's out for a while, Huddlestone isn't going to be a useful player at the upper Premier League level. Wanyama fits the bill as a youngster with some good performances against top sides under his belt.

[Rip]

San Lorenzos club website have said Colo won't be joining them in January :D

Now that's a nice bit of transfer news for us!

[Simon]

Would be an odd move IMO, as good as he is we have Sandro and Parker (plus Livermore) for the defensive midfield spot...obviously Sandro is injured but can't see Levy going out and spending big on Wanyama when he would be third choice for one position once Sandro is back playing again.

[Simon]

San Lorenzos club website have said Colo won't be joining them in January :D

Now that's a nice bit of transfer news for us!
I hope he pulls the old Ian Dowie trick and ends up moving 'closer to Argentina' with a transfer west to Liverpool :D

[wardy]

For fucks sake.

None of that please.
I was joking... he's from Saudi Arabia.

[Alf]

Would be an odd move IMO, as good as he is we have Sandro and Parker (plus Livermore) for the defensive midfield spot...obviously Sandro is injured but can't see Levy going out and spending big on Wanyama when he would be third choice for one position once Sandro is back playing again.

Not sure it's as cut and dried as that. Sandro is out for the rest of the season, we are an injury to Parker or Demebele away from having a stinking awful midfield like at the start of the season. Sandro seems pretty injury prone too, so I wonder if people are looking into his replacement already.

The problem is our depth in midfield is gash too. We need to be able to rest players and we need to be able to trust our depth not to be awful shite.

I don't know much about Wanyama but on paper he sounds like a better option than Hudds or Livermore, why not have that quality in depth? We've got a lot of football to play, and they'll be plenty of games to play next season too if we get champions league.

Also, Parker is 32. We need to think about replacing our players before they leave/get crocked. We should always be looking to upgrade the squad.

[Simon]

Not sure it's as cut and dried as that. Sandro is out for the rest of the season, we are an injury to Parker or Demebele away from having a stinking awful midfield like at the start of the season. Sandro seems pretty injury prone too, so I wonder if people are looking into his replacement already.

The problem is our depth in midfield is gash too. We need to be able to rest players and we need to be able to trust our depth not to be awful shite.

I don't know much about Wanyama but on paper he sounds like a better option than Hudds or Livermore, why not have that quality in depth? We've got a lot of football to play, and they'll be plenty of games to play next season too if we get champions league.

Also, Parker is 32. We need to think about replacing our players before they leave/get crocked. We should always be looking to upgrade the squad.

Not when we have limited funds to spend and still have only two strikers. We might only be one injury away from having a far weaker midfield, but at the moment we have NO strikers. Adebayor at the ACN, Defoe apparently injured. We also have Dempsey starting for us every week - he's improving, but he's the obvious weak link in an otherwise superb midfield and attack...we need a striker and an attack-minded midfielder, then we can start worrying about how bad it would be if we managed to lose Sandro, Parker and Dembele to long term injury at the same time.

No doubt Wanyama would be a good addition, but a short-term second choice, medium-term third choice defensive midfielder is not a priority right now IMO.

[Alf]

Defoe isn't injured. He trained today.

Dempsey being the weak link? Are you sure? He's been ace the last couple of games he has played. I don't agree with that at all.

Yep, a striker is a priority. Totally agree.

We've lost Sandro to long term injury already. We've only got Dembele and Parker that are capable of actually playing in central midfield. Part of the reason we've done so well this season is because we strangle games... and that is because of a hard working engine room. If we lose parker or demebele we lose that and we go to absolute pudding. Cast your mind back to the start of the season... the horror, the horror.

Fact is what we need desperately is a striker and a DM, and we need them now.

We might get Holtby early on the cheap and that solves the creative mid problem, and we have Sig that, with game time, could sparkle again.

This may sound mental. But a striker isn't essential to our performances, and isn;t nessecarily the biggest reason we are in the table. Defoe is still very limited as a striker (hasn't scored in 7 games), Adebayor is shit. We are where we are because of the rest of the team.

[Bad Collin]

With Valdes leaving Barca there are a lot of rumours about Pepe heading there. This would be fine as long as we got a good price and a decent replacement, I like Begovic.

[Alf]

Courtis might be a good shout for barca as one for the future... he's unhappy at Chelsea might be way early for him but he is the bo-hjangles by all accounts.

[Andy]

Begovic is better than Reina these days. I'd be really surprised if Barca don't get someone better.

I love how Adebayor has turned to shit as soon as he signed a permanent deal. Textbook.

[Simon]

Defoe isn't injured. He trained today.
Rumour going round is he is or has been injured, saw the training pics but dunno if that was non-contact or what...if he's fit, we still only have one striker at the moment and only two in total, who AVB has started trying to partner regularly.


Dempsey being the weak link? Are you sure? He's been ace the last couple of games he has played. I don't agree with that at all.
Like I said he has improved, but he's still the weak link going forward. Bale, Lennon, Sandro, Dembele, Defoe is a brilliant front five, if we had someone better than Dempsey in the hole it would be the envy of the league. Moutinho Moutinho Moutinho Moutinho...


We've lost Sandro to long term injury already. We've only got Dembele and Parker that are capable of actually playing in central midfield. Part of the reason we've done so well this season is because we strangle games... and that is because of a hard working engine room. If we lose parker or demebele we lose that and we go to absolute pudding. Cast your mind back to the start of the season... the horror, the horror.
In the long-term it just doesn't make sense to have three expensive and quality defensive midfielders when we have no one to replace Dembele when he is injured. We have been unlucky to lose Sandro, but that's why you have someone as good as Parker sitting on the bench for the past month...spending £10m or whatever on ANOTHER defensive midfielder is an expensive solution to a short-term problem, when we have long-term problems that need to be addressed.


Fact is what we need desperately is a striker and a DM, and we need them now.
Striker, attacking midfielder (again Moutinho would be perfect as he can play in the hole or in Dembele's position if needed, feels like more of a pipe dream every day that passes though), winger, then a defensive midfielder for me. It's no surprise that Lennon thrived on Sunday when United doubled-up on Bale, giving Lennon more space to tear Evra up like he always does anyway - lose one of those two and the other suffers because of the extra attention the opposition can afford to give. Seemingly neither ever gets tired so there's no problem playing them every game, but if we lose one to injury we have nothing to replace them, no natural width...Townsend might turn out to be great, but we just don't know yet.


We might get Holtby early on the cheap and that solves the creative mid problem, and we have Sig that, with game time, could sparkle again.
Getting Holtby in early would be great, and seems an obvious thing to do financially for an extra £1.5m or whatever when you think about the difference he could make in terms of ensuring CL qualification.

[BBF]

Why don't you play Gylfi? He's excellent and just needs games to show it.

[Alf]

Moutinho isn't an 'in-the-hole' attacking player though Si. He's much more like Dembele from what I've seen and read. i.e just a central mid. His passing and creativity is probably better than Dembele though... plus, if we can't afford to spunk 9m on a dm we definitely can't afford him.

Yep, BBF, I reckon we need to give Gylfi more time on the pitch. If Defoe is injured, stick Dempsey up-front and Sig behind him. Lovely. He can then drift where he wants when Bale drifts where he wants.