[Archived] Ins and outs

[waynerovers]

Bolton anyone

you can add villa on final day of season to that

[MeanGreenMachine]

I am hot having a go at you here MGM, and I do understand what you are really getting at, but expressions/opinions similar to the bit that I have highlighted are quite commonly seen or heard these days amongst football supporters. Do they really believe that any young fit guy who can run around a bit and has pace and strength can expect to be accepted into a football club as a professional player if those are the only attributes he has?

I can assure anyone who labours under any such delusions that they wouldn't even make the lowest level semi-pro leagues anywhere if that is all they had.

After watching Goulon yesterday, damn right i believe it.

You need a decent mix, you need those guys who arnt technically brilliant, but will stick their foot in and work hard for the side. Problem is we have too many of them, but they also arnt good enough either. We have a collection of midfielders who would struggle to get in most championship sides.

And to improve this SA targets a midfielder struggling in the championship and a midfielder who has done nothing in the prem bar pass the ball nicely sideways. Neither have the pace or guile to take us further.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

After watching Goulon yesterday, damn right i believe it.

You need a decent mix, you need those guys who arnt technically brilliant, but will stick their foot in and work hard for the side. Problem is we have too many of them, but they also arnt good enough either. We have a collection of midfielders who would struggle to get in most championship sides.

And to improve this SA targets a midfielder struggling in the championship and a midfielder who has done nothing in the prem bar pass the ball nicely sideways. Neither have the pace or guile to take us further.

Thank you, you're dead right there matey.

[Mozzer]

i know for one id have alan smith here - we miss that passion in central midfield - someone willing to get stuck in , put themselves about ..he would be cheap regarding price i would think but as in wages i would think he would want alot :/

[Mr. E]

If Carlton Cole is leaving West Ham we should do everything to get him.

[magicalmortensleftpeg]

If Carlton Cole is leaving West Ham we should do everything to get him.

I work with several west ham season ticket holders and trust me we do not need Carlton Cole. He will play well once a season, get featured on MOTD and live off that reputation. I always rated him beforehand, but since being informed about how useless he is for the vast majority of the time, I hope we stay clear.

[chaddyrovers]

If Carlton Cole is leaving West Ham we should do everything to get him.

WHY??????

It would been a waste of money imo. 9 million pounds far to much for him. I would go for Pablo Osvaldo from Espanyol. Miles better striker than CC. Quality Striker and cheaper than Cole, probably get him for 7 million pounds.

Then sign Axel Witsel from Standard in Belgium. Class player and the future of Belgium football.

[Hughesy]

Anyone still want to say this squad is definitely strong enough?

Yes I would....1 defeat to United at Old Trafford doesnt change that view, regardless of the 7 goals.

As for Carlton Cole...NO THANKS

[Mr. E]

Isn't he by leaps and bounds their best player? He gets injured often but every time I've seen him he's been good.

[BPF]

Bolton anyone

He was in the hospital then Ade

[47er]

Personally I think Sam should move Heaven and Earth to persuade the owners to buy Bentley. No one player ever makes a team (unless its Shearer at his peak) but Bentley would come pretty close.

Has pace and vision and would transform our side. Same with Bellamy but assume he isn't available.

[chaddyrovers]

I would like us to sign Bentley but just think he will go to fulham with Hughes!

[magicalmortensleftpeg]

Isn't he by leaps and bounds their best player? He gets injured often but every time I've seen him he's been good.

Scott Parker. One of the best centre mids in the country. How he isnt in the England squad is a joke.

Carlton Cole is useless.

[Bobby G]

Pace and Bentley in the same sentence?

[47er]

Pace and Bentley in the same sentence?

Yes---haven't you seen him?

[Torgeir]

Yes---haven't you seen him?

Beginning to wonder if you have. Bentley is not quick, but makes up for it by being reasonably quick with the ball at his feet due to good technique.

[MikeB]

I think that we all need to be realistic about the quality of player and the 'size of name' that we will be pursuing in January.

We have not made such a huge leap from having to beg, steal and borrow to being able to even think about the likes of Diarra, Scott Parker etc, never mind signing them.

Our budget, at best, will be modest but a darn sight bigger than recent times.

Let's face it, it shouldn't be too difficult to strengthen midfield given supporters' perception of Grella, Andrews, Goulon etc.

The fact that we should have some decent money means that we can look forward to Sam unearthing players capable of replicating the impact made by Nelsen, Samba etc as we've seen with Givet and Diouf who were instrumental in saving us from relegation in 2008/2009.

[Steve Moss]

There are lots of names around just now. Last week there were three positions that needed filling.

That may have increased over the weekend of course.

Anyone still want to say this squad is definitely strong enough?

We're strong enough to stay up. Maybe mid-table. If we want to significantly improve we need to add right and left backs, a creative center midfielder (no more defensive midfielders, please!) and a striker. We need Venkys to kick in funds for transfer fees and we need to offload a few more players to make up the wages. I would suggest Chimbonda (a waste), Salgado (our best right back whom I admire greatly [i even own his shirt], but expensive and slow), Andrews (his one positive attribute, always fit, is no longer true), Grella (never fit, despite his alleged talent), and Roberts (unhappy, and aging in any event).

Thankfully we have a strong selection of center backs and have the foundations to build a more than decent team, with Samba, Jones, Olsen, Hoillet, MGP and Kalinic.

Scott Parker. One of the best centre mids in the country. How he isnt in the England squad is a joke.

Carlton Cole is useless.

Agreed on both counts.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

WHY??????

It would been a waste of money imo. 9 million pounds far to much for him. I would go for Pablo Osvaldo from Espanyol. Miles better striker than CC. Quality Striker and cheaper than Cole, probably get him for 7 million pounds.

Then sign Axel Witsel from Standard in Belgium. Class player and the future of Belgium football.

Hey, what happened to yesterdays wish list ? Carew, Ngog, Larson and Adams. Football manager 2010 not rating them anymore ?

[Tom]

That or its a reaction to the bloke from Espanyol scoring last night also that Witsel got a couple

Chaddy been watching the foreign highlights again it seems.

[Torgeir]

You're not being very constructive. Let's hear you pull some names out of the hat

[Paul Mellelieu]

We need a proper left back, a ball player in central midfield, oh yes and a decent forward.

[Tom]

Erm well that Gabriel Batistuta was class on Sensible World of Soccer let's sign him.

Also Tshablala has a cool name let's sign him as well.

[Darwen Rover]

Scott Parker. One of the best centre mids in the country. How he isnt in the England squad is a joke.

Carlton Cole is useless.

Conpletely agree the man oozes class both in terms of skill and attitude

[Tom]

Parker is class but strikes me as a bit of a home boy and wouldn't leave the capital.