Ben Arfa and Gosling looking good!

I've got no issue with Guthrie as a squad player, and if injuries and summer signings go as planned, we shouldn't need to rely on him as we did for periods of this season -- in which case there's no reason to show him the door

 

Lets all hope Nigel De Jong does not try and intercept them at the airport ey

 

I think our plan is to use Guthrie as back up for Tiote, as a ball player rather than a tackler. If you watch when we play Guthrie and Nolan, Guthrie sits back playing a Xabi Alonso style role while Nolan is still allowed to venture forward.

 

Not sure it's quite in the same league as Xabi but I'll roll with it

 

No I would never claim he is but their style of play is comparable, and we play OK with him and Nolan in CM together, which in theory should get ripped apart.

 

That was back in the Championship though.. I don't EVER again want to see a partnership between Nolan & Guthrie, we got totally outclassed in the midfield department last time they were put up in a midfield 2(Fulham away if I'm correct). If Nolan plays in a midfield 2 it has to be with TIOTE or a similar player, so Nolan can push up forward & have a bit more freedom to roam, otherwise your bound to get overun with Nolan's lack of technical ability & box-to-box action, hopefully Cabaye will shift him out to the bench. Yes I'm not a Nolan fan! Legend for that hat-trick though.

 

I was talking about this season with those two, we played them both against Spurs home, Sunderland away and another game I've forgotten. Way better midfields didnt really cause us much bother with those two, which I was pleasantly surprised with.

 

My problem with guthrie is based on what I've seen overall Sir Bobby, not a few games to be fair. Unfortunately in our game you need athletes.you can get away with it in the Championship but lads like Guthrie get overrun in the PL and hurt you badly. There is no getting away from his distribution. For a lad who clearly has passing abillity, the number of times he gives the ball away or gets caught on it is a killer in the PL. Given there is some natural ability there, I think it's his lack of athleticism. We see it time and again in the PL. PLayers who can play a bit getting overrun by players with not as much technical ability. If Guthrie was to take a grip of his career and do something about this like Lampard did under Mourinho, I could see him becoming decent. But he's been here a while and he looks the same chubby little fella that signed for us.

 

Oh yeah true, forgot about the Spurs & Sunderland game, but against Fulham they just didn't ''connect'' and were very average.

Still fair do's to Guthrie, after that horror show against West Brom he picked himself of & has given very assured performances(especially against Man United at home). Very good back-up indeed, but if a decent offer came in(2m for example) then I wouldn't say no.

 

I would say no, just to have a bit of cover (priority would be offloading Smith), but if he asked to leave I'd let him go. Probably change my mind by January if we remain injury free and he hasnt played.

 

Mmm.. so if Guthrie isn't a ''athlete'' then what makes Nolan who looks like a pub owner!

 

That would be brilliant, if after retiring Nolan bought a pub in Newcastle

 

Yeah.

I was just pointing out the things that Nolan isn't! Athlete, technical ability and getting overrun by players. That sums Nolan's weaknesses!

 

great news on ben arfa and gosling and as for guthrie a good solid squad player (which is what we need) and capable of fitting into the first team unlike perch now he's utter gash

 

Great news on the Ben Arfa and Gosling front. Gosling I think played well at Everton and I am eager to see if he can capture his form again. Ben Arfa...well we all know his ability and again it looks good that he'll come back as good as ever. I'm glad we haven't rushed them back and wouldn't be too mupset if they weren't available for the frist couple of games of the season, as long as they are 100% when they come back.

In terms of Guthrie, I think he is very hit or miss. Everyone remembers him for the West Brom shocker, however our whole team had an absolute stinker. I think with a run in any team he would be a good Premiership player. I don't think he would ever set the world alight but I would definately keep him as back up!

Edit: Also welcome to Not606 Warm Pouch, I remember you on 606 and hope you enjoy it over here!

 

Yeah thats what I kinda meant I'm unsure of him as he hasnt played enough at this level, to determine how good he is going to be yet. I suppose for him to prove himself the manager may have to take a leap of faith with him, however with the signing of cabaye this seems increasingly unlikely! Although we all know how unlucky we get with injuries so he may get a decent run in the team!

aha its okay you dont need to apologise for your opinion, its a football debate forum. Guthrie has had good and bad games so its expected that opinion of him will be divided!

 

I like Nolan but I do think he has his limitations. I was shocked in our early games last season when he looked so unfit. That winds me up with modern footballers, how do you get unfit, you've got jack to do! But Nolan was excellent and even though his effectiveness dropped a little when his buddy Carroll went, he still had a great season. Tiote is so immense that he gets away with it. The thing with Nolan is he scores so many goals you can kind of forgive him. If Tiote isn't playing I wouldn't contemplate playing Nolan in a 442. 451 he's fine because he is a class act at the second striker role. Great bloke and a real motivator in the dressing room.

Danny isn't going to get you many goals. He pops up with the odd assist. But he's a quiet lad and doesn't bring much in terms of driving the club forward. Yes he's not first choice but then neither is Smith and he plays a big role. If someone offered decent money for Smith and Guthrie I'd take it, I'd love us to go and get an up and coming defenisve midfielder (Carr will undoubtedly know some young French or Dutch guy!) as back up to the Great Tiote.

Nolan would make an excellent pub landlord.

 

Yeah, totally agree.

Maybe that Wanyama fella we are linked to? Sell Smith.. that has to be a MUST, the guy's quality doesn't even back up half of his wages(50k per week), ridiculous! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Wanyama

 

Not sure about the middle name!!!!!!!