http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17900036 Anyone interest you? I used to think Jamal Campbell-Ryce was the kind of winger we needed (pre Dyer/Sinclair that is), haven't seen much of him lately. Christian Ribeiro once had huge potential. David James to replace Morreira/Tremmel? Or do we need to be setting our sights significantly higher these days. Personally I feel it would be worth giving Ribeiro a chance as backup at centre-half and left-back. He's young, Welsh, probably cheap and we need more depth there.
Would rather Lewin Nyatanga, he was always highly rated alongside Ribeiro, he only has 1 year left on his contract and is still only 23. Ribeiro is constantly injured and Tatey is a better back up in that regard. David James whilst "great around the dressing room, etc" would still command too much in wages for a backup keeper, although he'd make an excellent GK coach to have around the place. Isn't our current Adrian Tucker...?
Think Vorm would end up schooling James to be honest I like Nyatanga too, Ribeiro is free though...would be a punt that's all, an option in an injury crisis. Obviously, assuming Caulker goes back to Tottenham and plays (Ledley King must be coming to the end of his borrowed time), we would still need to buy/loan 2 top class centre halfs anyway. Would feel much happier if we started our pre season friendlies with the following defensive personnel; --------------------Back-up RB: Rangel---------Obeng LB: Taylor.---------???? (Bessone can't be long term cover) CB: Ash.------------New signing CB: New signing.----Tate/Monk/Situ/Ribeiro Tate and Monk can't cut it, Situ is unproven and might be the muscle in midfield we need. Ribeiro on a free would at least be a young man who's played a lot of championship football at centre-half...and he's left footed. With Tate as extra cover at RB and Ribeiro as the 3rd option at left back we could be comfortable that in an injury crisis whoever's coming in is at least experienced and comfortable in the position. When Rangel was out this season we looked very fragile indeed.
I don't know mind, once Jazz had his run of games he started to look quite good. He had his token yellow card a game, but that can be worked on, and I think he did a good job. From memory, I think we kept a few clean sheets with him in the team too, although I could be wrong.
See where you're coming from Scott. I guess it was more of a feeling I had, I felt Caulker was having to bail out Jazz too often and that his winger could go past him almost at will (unless he fouled him). He is a midfielder after all. I know we came through that period well, it's just that I feel it could have easily gone the other way. If I was planning for next season I'd be looking to be prepared for such eventualities...or a decision needs to be made on Jazz's position and he needs to be drilled in that position for a couple of seasons, playing there consistently for the reserves. He's obviously not fancied at Right-back otherwise why Obeng? Perhaps he could be a left-back, perhaps.
He's said his favourite position is DM, but Buck obviously thought he played best at RB (until recently where he's gone back into midfield for the reserves). It looks like Obeng is being drilled heavily and taught our game for a long time so if he's good enough for the PL, he'll be ready for next season. Do you think Jazz could work at LB? I suppose, if Tate can do a good job at Championship level there I suppose there's no reason why Jazz couldn't do a job at PL level given a run of games. Edit: Another thing to consider is how heavily we normally favour our right hand side. All of the statszone analysis stuff shows Rangel as, normally, one of the top passers in the team and his combinations with Dyer have been a not-insignificant part in our success over the last few years, so for Jazz to step into that, for the first time, at PL level was a huge ask! They just kept giving him the ball, like you say, and while at first it was a bit "rabbit in the headlights" I thought after a game or so he adjusted well.
Unfortunately I think time is running out for Jazz to establish himself at Swansea. His best chance of getting in the first XI for us or Wales is at full-back as he is well down the pecking order at centre-midfield for both teams. But modern full-backs have to have pace both for dealing with modern wingers (who are like 100m sprinters these days) defensively and in order to be an attacking threat....that's why we bought Obeng, an attacking threat down the right hand side equal to that of Rangel. Taylor has pace and is an attacking threat too. I personally feel we need to get rid of Bessone and buy the equivalent to Obeng as back up to Taylor. Jazz simply isn't quick enough. If Jazz is going to make it as a centre-midfielder (and I want that to happen both for him and for Wales) he needs competitive games there either by moving or having a series of season long loans to somewhere where he'll be played as a defensive centre midfielder. If he does well then he can either force his way into our first team, move, or settle for being a utility player in the Swansea reserves...but at the moment we can't hang our premier league survival on the likes of Jazz being able to cut it for long periods. He got away with it this time I grant you.
Just read that Miles Addison is likely to leave Derby County for Bournemouth on a free. Hear me out. Addison is 23, built like Ash and has represented England u-21. 2 seasons ago he was being hailed as the saviour of Derby County, future captain etc. Then he got injured and was frozen out by Clough when he came back (Clough appears, to me at least, to be very petty minded and frankly childish in terms of his relationships with his players...getting on the wrong side of him is not a difficult thing to do). In the last days of Paul Jewell Addison was being tipped to make a multi million pound move to the premier league. Worth a punt as back up to Ash? http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17732249
Re: the left- back situation There are 2 boys at Ipswich who could be options. Aaron Cresswell is a good up and coming left back...but feel they wouldn't sell unless we offered serious money, which we cannot afford for back up. Here's the wild card. Jay Emmanuel-Thomas. I have always rated this kid. He's 22, tall and athletic, left footed. Was schooled at Arsenal. Arsenal played him everywhere. Left-back, left-wing and centre-forward (I think he's even seen first team action at centre-half and centre-midfield). Whenever I've seen him I've thought he had the potential to play for England as a tall, attack minded left-back/wing back. As most of you will be aware he was on loan at Cardiff where he was messed about and this season he's been messed about by Paul Jewell at Ipswich....by messed about I mean not being played consistently in one position, if he plays at all. It's not too late for this kid, I believe Rodgers could work wonders with him. He would provide excellent options at left back (where he should focus) and, in exceptional games, left wing (We currently have only 3 wingers). I believe we could sign him for a couple of hundred grand and he will provide genuine competition for Taylor. Thoughts?
JET, technically, is incredible. Check this out; [video=youtube;QZixaQA5CGw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZixaQA5CGw[/video] I like the idea, but I think he's just too attacking for LB? I'd be interested in signing him regardless of what position he plays! A player with that level of technique and that physique can surely be molded into a player we can use?
Have to point out Bongo, that 90% of our squad were playing at a lower level when we signed them and most of our lot have been let go at some point in their career. If a player has potential and time on his side I believe Rodgers can help him to achieve.
I was clamouring for JET to join us before he signed for Cardiff but when he played for them he seemed to go backwards at a rate of knots (not having a dig). There was You Tube footage of him back then and if you think the clip above was classy you should have seen the other stuff he did - might still be on there and worth watching if it is. He has huge talent and it is not being brought out of him. He's still young, so not too late for Buck to work his magic. The cons - thinks Swansea is on a geographical limb and I believe his work rate isn't the greatest so Buck would pass. But if he was being judged solely on talent, he's got bags of it. I seem to remember when he was at Arsenal that Wenger said he had the ability to become the next Thiery Henri.....
You're right Ivor and he was held in seriously high regard by Wenger. I know a lot of Arsenal fans, at one time, wanted him in the firsts regularly but it never transpired...maybe the work rate thing? If he was cheap/free, I think he'd be worth taking on a trial. Wonder if he has any other potential PL suitors?
I would take Nyatanga. As a 17 year old played for Wales and did well. Since then he has gone backwards. I am sure Brendan could get the best out of him
Bongo, i am 100% with you. why would we sign anyone from bristol city. They barely avoided relegation from the championship and these are seen as not good enough, thats why they are bein released. We should be setting our sights on players other clubs dont want to lose because they see them as their assets. not also rans from a nearly relegated championsip side. I feel now we need to set our sights higher. We are a premier league side and as such should be signing players capable of playing and keeping us in there. Terror you say 90% of our side have played at lower levels and of course you are right. But they were always seen as our star or valuable players. not ones we wanted to release. they have also while with the swans allways played in winning sides not fighting relegation year on year. which is what the players mentioned are doing year on year. one other thing is if they were capable of premier league football would they be releasing them. just a thought.
