Looks like we are in for signing Liam, i think this would be a great signing, Pompey have to be rid of him by Friday or its curtains for them apparantly.
A good signing but with what we have already will he even get on the bench ??? Would prefer we used the money to bring in an out and out winger ie Burke or Noone.
isaw.....! Ok on the bench. If we sign him he had better be on a fraction of his wage demands this time around. Personally I thought he only decided to put in a shift when he knew Pompey were definitely relegated, but in fairness he was played out of position for too many games. What we need is real pace.
Agree he would be no more than a bench/squad player at best but useful to have in view of his Championship knowledge and Prem experience. Burkie is not going to happen as he would cost us another £2/3m even if he wanted to return and we seem to have gone cold on Noone after Kimbo's signing. Lawrence is also a tough nut who gives as good as he gets which can be useful in this division. Was one of our better players at the very end of last season. I guess he and Malky have been playing hardball over his wages and with no one else coming in Lawrence must have modified his expectations to meet whatever Malky wanted to pay him - which would be less than at Pompey. From Pompey's point of view, if he comes, that only leaves Ben Haim to get shot of before Friday. I really hope this can be arranged to give them some sort of chance of keeping going. They might have to go down to come back up again but they have a good, old fashioned loyal fan base and they don't deserve to have their club pulled out from under them. While Chanrai (I think thats his name) says he wants back in I believe it would be better for their supporters' alliance to take over, if they can, and keep the local interest in the club.
BfB, i dont think either Burke or Noone are in malkys plans i should have put that type of winger. IF Bellamy returns the left side of our midfield will have a decent amount of pace with him and Kimbo. The right side we still need a bit more pace about it, cant see young Harris breaking through this year (hope he does) which would leave us with cowie or mason playing out there. Bring on the season now though
Yes cvd, can't wait. It will certainly not be boring. With 7 subs I think Harris may be on the bench more often and if the game is won - or we need something totally different - then Harris will have his chance. Also, with Kimbo, Etien and Mason we will not be lacking in pace compared to last season.
Hes a good player. But I dont think we need him. I dont think we will line up with wingers - I think we will be 4-3-3 and 4-5-1. I cant see Lawrence wide in a 4-3-3 and id rate Gunnar , Mutch , Cowie , Whitts (obviously), Ralls ahead of him for the central positions. Kim and Bellamy I would have thought would be the favoured players in the wider positions. Id welcome Lawrence but would prefer a younger player with potential. Id be suprised if we sign him.
Don't think we need Lawrence. Just not good enough for our current squad. Money would be better spent elsewhere.
Hilts, you missed Conway who has looked very sharp in the pre-season games so far, Hoping he can put his injury niggles behind him and kick on from here
I was quoting the central positions really. Conway will definately be covering the wide positions. But I see Kim and Bellamy being the no.1 choices there. Conway will get starts but I think he will see a lot more bench time. One thing is certain the squad is stronger than last season.
Don't need him, not good enough, exhorbitant wages and we are already well catered for in his position. We need two full backs not midfielders.
2 fullbacks? Being as we have a pretty set first choice back 4 I doubt we'll get 2 quality defenders to come and warm the bench. I'd say 1 utility defender who can cover both full back positions would be enough. I'm sure one of our many centre mids could cover fb if we do have injury issues.
On the thread topic I'd file signing Lawrence in the 'underwhelming' section. Probably best summed up by the fact I wouldn't really care if one of our rivals signed him.
I don't rate either McNaughton or Taylor. Good going forward but shocking defensively. Possibly with a better midfield our poor defensive record last year (9th I think) might be improved but I doubt it. Am I the only one who thinks we need better full backs?
We don't need Liam Lawrence over paid and not the fastest if we were to get another player to cover the wings I go for Adam Johnson on loan looks like he could become available but we need to get a left back shame we didn't loan Wayne Bridge! And maybe a CB but sounds like Ben Nugent could do well to cover injuries along with k9, I still feel we lack a tall strike up front and Chelsea open to offers to loan Lukaku this could be ideal! Whether he drop down a division I don't know!!
No, especially now Blake has rejected the new contract offered him. Palace are hoping to sign him. I thought we needed another LB, but we now need another RB and CB as well. Because of his versatility I think we'll miss Blake.
Tal Ben Haim has now settled his dispute with Pompey so it's all down to Lawrence, the last man standing, to make a decision today. Watch this space.
