January Transfer Window 2014

First topic message reminder :

I'm gonna open this up now as I contemplate watching the shower of poop I'm about to watch.

What strong rumours have we heard? What do teams need? Where do you think the money will be spent?

I shall start you off with rumours surrounding Lambert maybe considering West Ham and similarly West Ham going to Spurs cap in hand to request a loan of Defoe or Adebayor (sources not so tight haha)

The issue is that he doesn't work hard, has a huge ego and could destablize a very tight clubhouse. Is he better than Poldi, people forget Lukas got us 16 goals last year and that he is proven German international. Berba hardly lit it up this season and is way passed it. I don't feel he is an upgrade on what we have, and right now what we have is poldi and Giroud, I wouldn't play berba over either of them. He doesn't have the same work rate and has a bit of an attitude problem.

Berbatov has so much talent you would think he would be playing for a top club like Barcelona or Real Madrid or Man Utd or Tottenham Hotspurs or Hull City. I wonder why he isn't?

Nore Staat wrote:Berbatov has so much talent you would think he would be playing for a top club like Barcelona or Real Madrid or Man Utd or Tottenham Hotspurs or Hull City. I wonder why he isn't?

LOL! Nore Staat he probably would be better than Bobby Soldier right now.

Arsenal need a plug and play striker until the summer. Walcotts injured, Giroud and Podolski have missed time. You can't convince me Bendtner is a better option.

Pompey need a striker. Er..... and a keeper. Come to think of it, a couple of centre backs and a full back or two wouldn't come amiss. Oh, and while we're about it, the midfield could do with improving, too.

What do you think our chances are...? <gloom>

The Fourth Lion wrote:Pompey need a striker. Er..... and a keeper. Come to think of it, a couple of centre backs and a full back or two wouldn't come amiss. Oh, and while we're about it, the midfield could do with improving, too.

What do you think our chances are...? <gloom>

Ah Lion always look on the brightside fella. Seems like only yesterday Simeon Jackson was heading in Foxy's lovely cross to send us to the Prem at Fratton Park, it can all change quickly as you well know

we signed anybody yet? no?     

on another point, why do clubs always leave it till end of jan to do there deals, surely it would be better to get a pre contract agreement signed so when jan comes around he joins straight away, a whole extra month to bed someone in then.

glad to see that at least ole knows this and has moved quickly, i expect us to be flapping around and be linked with every man and his dog come deadline day then end up signing nobody. of course we'll blame it on jan being not a good time to sign players

We might have to wait for Remy Cabella until the summer, because he wants to save Montpellier from relegation. Hopefully we can push through a deal sooner.

They must of gone bad since Giroud left   

John wrote:We might have to wait for Remy Cabella until the summer, because he wants to save Montpellier from relegation. Hopefully we can push through a deal sooner.

They must of gone bad since Giroud left   

Don't be so dismissive of Giroud he lead ligue 1 in goals and lead a small club the league championship. If you are mean to him he will score on Newcastle again.

Schalke have signed Sidney Sam to a pre-contract for next season fuelling rumors of Julian Draxler's immediate departure.

all but confirms Draxler to Arsenal then. Good business all round. I haven't seen Draxler play really apart from the odd occasion, so its hard for me to judge how good he really is apart from take people's word that he is a very talented player who is a cracking prospect.

Hope utd get a move on. Saw we'd been linked for a move for Moutihno. Wanted us to go for him before he even went to Monaco. He's the midfielder we've been crying out for for the past 3/4 seasons now. Only 26 and could play for us in the champions league. If we get him and Coentrao i'd be over the moon.

You should bring in the dream Portuguese trio 

Moutinho....
Coentrao ....
Bebe...   

#BringBackBebe

http://www.insidefutbol.com/2014/01/09/inter-defender-andrea-ranocchia-snubs-norwich-city-interest/120457/

Well we're aiming big, but it'd take a mentally unstable person to come to us at the minute...

Olly wrote:http://www.insidefutbol.com/2014/01/09/inter-defender-andrea-ranocchia-snubs-norwich-city-interest/120457/

Well we're aiming big, but it'd take a mentally unstable person to come to us at  the minute...

You're linked with Joey Barton?

Di Marzio - "@SL_Benfica is talking to @ManUtd for #Garay"

wouldnt be a transfer window if we werent linked with him. lot of talk vidic is on the way out and rio's legs have gone so for a change wouldnt mind him if above is correct. cant rely on jones and smalling as there always injured

With it looking increasingly likely that all of Vidic, Ferdinand and Evra will be gone in the summer we do need a fairly experienced centre back, Garay looks a decent bet but these rumours have been surfacing for at least 5/6 years now.

I'd prefer (Barlow) Gary than Garay at Man Utd...

Olly wrote:

The Fourth Lion wrote:Pompey need a striker.  Er..... and a keeper.   Come to think of it, a couple of centre backs and a full back or two wouldn't come amiss.   Oh, and while we're about it, the midfield could do with improving, too.

What do you think our chances are...?   <gloom>

Ah Lion always look on the brightside fella. Seems like only yesterday Simeon Jackson was heading in Foxy's lovely cross to send us to the Prem at Fratton Park, it can all change quickly as you well know

Very true, old chap, very true.

Heady days at FP back then with the crowd singing "'arry and Jim". We will return...... oh yes, we will return.

PUP.

Fernando wrote:You should bring in the dream Portuguese trio 

Moutinho....
Coentrao ....
Bebe...   

#BringBackBebe

Nobody puts Bebe in the corner.   

Jermain Defoe will move to Toronto on the 28th February.

What a disappointing move for everybody. Tottenham have lost a very useful striker, and if they continue to play with two up top, it only takes one of Soldado or Adebayor to get injured for them to feel the effects of this move, they will need to find a replacement.

I think this will seriously harm Defoe's World Cup chances as well, he's not playing at the highest level in the US, even with Walcott's injury I think this will make Hodgson consider other options other than Defoe, players who are playing at the top level.

For Defoe it's disappointing that at just 31 he's moving to the MLS, I think he had a lot more to offer in the Premier League even if he had to move to a smaller club than Tottenham to get first team football.

Just read Stephen Ireland's loan move to Stoke has been made permanent.

Another one off our books.

Now can we get rid of Hutton.
Neve gonna play for us again, i have more chance.

He still gets a game for Scotland though!!

They must be very short on right backs then if he still plays.

Defoe leaving the Premiership is an upsetting day for all.

Cracking player. I would of 100% taken him to the world cup. Can't now.

I was hoping 'Arry would work his magic and get Defoe up west, similar level of football as he's going to and at least in a shopfront for the summer. Ninety grand a week might have been a stretch, he'd have been on half of Wright-Phillips and Cesar!

NickisBHAFC wrote:Defoe leaving the Premiership is an upsetting day for all.

Cracking player. I would of 100% taken him to the world cup. Can't now.

+1

cant say i ever really rated defoe, one dimensional player who if you dont give any service to (like england wouldn't in the world cup) is a total waste

I think he was badly treated at Spurs, he always produced goals for them and never seemed to be given a fair shake over there. MLS is not that bad of a level, I don't watch it but they play some good ball I just find it uninteresting in comparison to european football. Afterall the USA is undefeated in world cups against England so the MLS can't be all that bad.

...

no socal but england are, its the number of highly talented foreigners that make the premier league what it is. apart from rooney on his current form is there a english man currently who gets near top 10-15 players in the prem?

The MLS is pretty shocking in comparison to the top european leagues, it's star player is Landon Donovan which says it all really.

Defoe would be a good striker for any mid table team in the premier league but like Hernandez at United offers very little other than finishing, to cut it at the top you need to be able to bring others into the game too.

Hammersmith harrier wrote:The MLS is pretty shocking in comparison to the top european leagues, it's star player is Landon Donovan which says it all really.

Defoe would be a good striker for any mid table team in the premier league but like Hernandez at United offers very little other than finishing, to cut it at the top you need to be able to bring others into the game too.

agreed hammer, thats why wellbeck even with his many flaws is getting in above both these players

Liam wrote:all but confirms Draxler to Arsenal then. Good business all round.

Yeah, cracking signing if this is pulled off. Arsenal really moving in the right direction now following Ozil's arrival & then bringing in a striker in the summer, like Manduzkic, would be the icing on the cake.

Do they really need Draxler though, he seems very similar to almost half their squad.

compelling and rich wrote:no socal but england are, its the number of highly talented foreigners that make the premier league what it is. apart from rooney on his current form is there a english man currently who gets near top 10-15 players in the prem?

Interesting question you are probably right about that, other than Rooney I can't think of a top English star that is world class. However I will say this I really am not a nationalist and don't care that much about the passport of footballer but what he brings to the game. You guys seem to spend a lot of time worrying about the number of English players at this team or that just be happy with having the best pro-league in the world and being able to watch these players. England is not going to win the Euros or world cup any time soon and that has nothing to do with the number of English players in the EPL. England won one world cup on home soil and never won a euro title when almost all of English top flight football was domestic british players. If you have good players they will develop in the EPL or Championship and the top foreign competition is no bar to that success if anything it makes the players be better.

It's a long term investment, if it goes through and, in doing so, they're getting a 20 year old who's one of the brightest talents in Europe. Either you act now & get him or he ends up at your rivals. Rosicky won't be their long, so it could just be a replacement long term & adding another technically gifted German into the already settled Podolski, Gnabry, Mertesacker & Ozil.

Good deal from what I see.

John wrote:

Liam wrote:all but confirms Draxler to Arsenal then. Good business all round.

Yeah, cracking signing if this is pulled off. Arsenal really moving in the right direction now following Ozil's arrival & then bringing in a striker in the summer, like Manduzkic, would be the icing on the cake.

I think we will get a top notch striker by next year, I don't think Arsenal have the talent to compete with City just yet. But the young core is really good and the club is heading in the right direction that is why I think we will be winning big trophies in the next 2-3 years, everyone wants instant gratification but City and Chelsea have so many stars. Arsenal has developed and bought smartly in the last couple of seasons and are no longer in danger of losing their best every year. Walcott, Wilshere, Ramsey, Gibbs, Ozil, Ox, Gnabry are all very young but really starting to flower give this core another year or two with another couple of good signings and even City and Chelsea will have a tough time keeping up.

Can't agree with that Socal, young english talent gets stifled by the number of foreign players in the premier league. Players like SWP, Richards, Adam Johnson and Scott Sinclair were ruined by clubs who wouldn't play them because they had a multi million pound superstar to play instead, hell SWP was bought for £24mil and still wasn't played at Chelsea. The best players are the best because they were given a chance when they were younger.

John wrote:It's a long term investment, if it goes through and, in doing so, they're getting a 20 year old who's one of the brightest talents in Europe. Either you act now & get him or he ends up at your rivals. Rosicky won't be their long, so it could just be a replacement long term & adding another technically gifted German into the already settled Podolski, Gnabry, Mertesacker & Ozil.

Good deal from what I see.

To knit in nicely with my last post I just see signings like that being a bad thing for Oxlaide-Chamberlain, he's a talent player who when fit wont be given sufficient playing time because of a German youngster instead.

Hammersmith harrier wrote:Can't agree with that Socal, young english talent gets stifled by the number of foreign players in the premier league. Players like SWP, Richards, Adam Johnson and Scott Sinclair were ruined by clubs who wouldn't play them because they had a multi million pound superstar to play instead, hell SWP was bought for £24mil and still wasn't played at Chelsea. The best players are the best because they were given a chance when they were younger.

Well if they can't cut in the EPL they probably aren't world class to begin with. There are 20 teams, and the championship provides a better level of competition than many top flights around the world, and there are leagues all over Europe they can go to but never seem to try. England has never been that good at the national team level. Basically take Italy, Germany, Argentina, and Brazil have won the vast majority of all world cups and the big regional tournaments because they have the ability. England was never at this level even when all your pros in the top flight were English. 66 was a fluke, good on England for doing it, but English players are just not good enough in large enough numbers to win Euros and World cups. Why didn't you guys win major trophies in the 50s or 70s when most the top flight talent was domestic? My point is that most of the big tournaments are won by a handful of national teams and England has never consistently been on par with those elite footballing nations.

I'm not sure if it was put on here earlier or not but Nahki Wells has signed for Huddersfield for a record fee.

Hammersmith harrier wrote:Can't agree with that Socal, young english talent gets stifled by the number of foreign players in the premier league. Players like SWP, Richards, Adam Johnson and Scott Sinclair were ruined by clubs who wouldn't play them because they had a multi million pound superstar to play instead, hell SWP was bought for £24mil and still wasn't played at Chelsea. The best players are the best because they were given a chance when they were younger.

bit simplistic for me that hammer, you can also easily say these lot took where the money was then was quite happy sitting back earning there wages from the bench. the culture we have at the moment is all about the money and fame, not enough winners who strive there all to become the best they can without money getting in the way. ronaldo is the prime example of hows its done and cant think of a recent english player with a similar mindset

Hammersmith harrier wrote:

John wrote:It's a long term investment, if it goes through and, in doing so, they're getting a 20 year old who's one of the brightest talents in Europe. Either you act now & get him or he ends up at your rivals. Rosicky won't be their long, so it could just be a replacement long term & adding another technically gifted German into the already settled Podolski, Gnabry, Mertesacker & Ozil.

Good deal from what I see.

To knit in nicely with my last post I just see signings like that being a bad thing for Oxlaide-Chamberlain, he's a talent player who when fit wont be given sufficient playing time because of a German youngster instead.

With injuries and the gruelling EPL and champions league schedule and 5 midfielders you should be able to find sufficient time for Ox. Especially since I think Arsene sees Theo as a future striker. Who knows Arsenal may go barca style and just play with a false number 9, too soon to think this will hurt Ox or anyone else. Cazorla, Rosicky, and Arteta are a getting on in age and with 5 midfield spots you should be able to find time for 7 or 8 midfielders to see regular action.

Hammersmith harrier wrote:The MLS is pretty shocking in comparison to the top european leagues, it's star player is Landon Donovan which says it all really.

Defoe would be a good striker for any mid table team in the premier league but like Hernandez at United offers very little other than finishing, to cut it at the top you need to be able to bring others into the game too.

The MLS is good fun to watch. It's better than the boring French, Italian and Dutch leagues. Donovan isn't the star player, he's just the face, the American Beckham.

Holymiky wrote:I'm not sure if it was put on here earlier or not but Nahki Wells has signed for Huddersfield for a record fee.

Interesting to see how he does in stepping up.

compelling and rich wrote:

Hammersmith harrier wrote:Can't agree with that Socal, young english talent gets stifled by the number of foreign players in the premier league. Players like SWP, Richards, Adam Johnson and Scott Sinclair were ruined by clubs who wouldn't play them because they had a multi million pound superstar to play instead, hell SWP was bought for £24mil and still wasn't played at Chelsea. The best players are the best because they were given a chance when they were younger.

bit simplistic for me that hammer, you can also easily say these lot took where the money was then was quite happy sitting back earning there wages from the bench. the culture we have at the moment is all about the money and fame, not enough winners who strive there all to become the best they can without money getting in the way. ronaldo is the prime example of hows its done and cant think of a recent english player with a similar mindset

This is true but similarly players like Jones and Smalling have gone where the money is but importantly have been given ample opportunity to prove their worth, slightly biased I know on the pair but think both have the potential to be very good defenders. Savage hasn't got a clue, for an indication of the pairs ability watch the Arsenal game where they were both brilliant, Welbeck has also been given a good run in the team and is improving into a pretty useful striker. You can say that players like SWP are greedy but when a team pays £24mil for your services you must assume that you will be played regularly, bit different with Moses, Rodwell and Sinclair who must have know they would be lucky to even be on the bench. Just look at Henderson, was in and out of the team, looked a fairly average player, gets given a chance by Rodgers and quickly develops his game.

You do then have your Cleverlys who play week in, week out and aren't good enough but at least he was given a chance to prove it.

66 was no fluke either Socal, we had a world class team full of world class players; Banks, Moore and Charlton were all among the best in the world while Alan Ball had almost unequaled work ethic. We won that tournament because of Ramseys tactics knowing exactly how to get the best out of his players, we started indifferently using a wing man formation but went from strength to strength using flankers like Ball.

CFCNick wrote:

Hammersmith harrier wrote:The MLS is pretty shocking in comparison to the top european leagues, it's star player is Landon Donovan which says it all really.

Defoe would be a good striker for any mid table team in the premier league but like Hernandez at United offers very little other than finishing, to cut it at the top you need to be able to bring others into the game too.

The MLS is good fun to watch. It's better than the boring French, Italian and Dutch leagues. Donovan isn't the star player, he's just the face, the American Beckham.

When Donovan was younger at his peak he could start for England, he is a better footballer than Aaron Lennon ever has been or will be if Lennon can get 30 caps for England playing wide right Donovan could get 60 caps playing in the same position. At least Donovan can whip in a good cross. He played well for Everton on a loan and Everton wanted him just couldn't afford the price set for him. MLS has done a good job considering how new of league they are and the massive amount of competition for viewers they have with the more traditional American team sports from one end of the spectrum and then competition from the Euro leagues for tv viewers on the other end of the spectrum. I don't watch it very often though I would rather watch EPL, la liga or Bundesliga.

Hammersmith harrier wrote:

compelling and rich wrote:

Hammersmith harrier wrote:Can't agree with that Socal, young english talent gets stifled by the number of foreign players in the premier league. Players like SWP, Richards, Adam Johnson and Scott Sinclair were ruined by clubs who wouldn't play them because they had a multi million pound superstar to play instead, hell SWP was bought for £24mil and still wasn't played at Chelsea. The best players are the best because they were given a chance when they were younger.

bit simplistic for me that hammer, you can also easily say these lot took where the money was then was quite happy sitting back earning there wages from the bench. the culture we have at the moment is all about the money and fame, not enough winners who strive there all to become the best they can without money getting in the way. ronaldo is the prime example of hows its done and cant think of a recent english player with a similar mindset

This is true but similarly players like Jones and Smalling have gone where the money is but importantly have been given ample opportunity to prove their worth, slightly biased I know on the pair but think both have the potential to be very good defenders. Savage hasn't got a clue, for an indication of the pairs ability watch the Arsenal game where they were both brilliant, Welbeck has also been given a good run in the team and is improving into a pretty useful striker. You can say that players like SWP are greedy but when a team pays £24mil for your services you must assume that you will be played regularly, bit different with Moses, Rodwell and Sinclair who must have know they would be lucky to even be on the bench. Just look at Henderson, was in and out of the team, looked a fairly average player, gets given a chance by Rodgers and quickly develops his game.

You do then have your Cleverlys who play week in, week out and aren't good enough but at least he was given a chance to prove it.

66 was no fluke either Socal, we had a world class team full of world class players; Banks, Moore and Charlton were all among the best in the world while Alan Ball had almost unequaled work ethic. We won that tournament because of Ramseys tactics knowing exactly how to get the best out of his players, we started indifferently using a wing man formation but went from strength to strength using flankers like Ball.

66 was a fluke a one off, if it wasn't a fluke you would have repeated the trick. I am not saying those players weren't great they were but it was a golden generation that you never produced before or since and it coincided with a home soil world cup. England lose in international competitions to better footballing nations they lost when all the league's players were domestic and they lose now as well. England has never been at the level of Germany, Italy, Brazil, Argentina and now Spain. It is not an insult, very few nations have a chance at a world cup England is not one of them.

A fluke is something that shouldn't have happened, we simply did not fluke that world cup win, we were the best team in the world and were it not for Banks getting injured in 1970 we could well have retained the title. That subsequent england teams have not replicated does not impact on the 66 team in anyway, I presume you think that France fluked it in 98 then completing disregarding the world class players who deservedly won that tournament.