its conceivable dawson could have been 5th choice under avb. He clearly rates Gallas and Kaboul as they got the nod at SJP. Vertonghen is a new expensive buy that you would've thought got the go-ahead from avb. Caulker is young, and more importantly quicker, which avb likes.
Actually I'm hoping that AVB and Levy have aagreed two lists: one with valuations for all the players in the squad and one with valuations for targets to improve each position. If we get a bid greater than the value on the first list then we should sell if we can buy a suitable replacement (or we are over-manned in that role). I can sort of imagine AVB and Levy having such a discussion whereas with Harry it would have been impossible. I don't really agree with loaning out Huddlestone either, but if AVB is not going to use him I'd rather someone else was paying his wages.
Your assuming Hudd would be happy playing reserve football, I think you need to think a little bit more about that one mate. The only way to get the necessary PL level of fitness...is in the PL. He can't get that with us, who would you drop? and in all honesty, we are in no position to carry anyone atm and he's miles away. After an injury that has had a couple of setbacks already, I'd rather the risk was with another club. It all makes perfect sense to me.
We have a new manager...he was not hired to carry on where Harry left the job. He was purchased to revamp and go in a new direction....as much as I like the 2 lads,Daws and Hudd, it is no coincidence that AVB has shifted 2 of our slowest players. This should give us an insight into the plans our new manager has for our team...I like the idea in theory and I am encouraged with how we played in our first match....now we got the lone striker in Ade. I'm optimistic.
As For Jenas and Bentley...I think it is more to do with the fact that nobody wants them not that AVB has major plans for them.
I think it says it all about Bentley his lack of interest to seek regular football elewhere, he's just tossing away the best years of the only career in football he'll get. I really cannot understand the bloke.
I'm sure that he's intelligent enough to understand that he needs to rebuild his match fitness levels to get back to the required standard and that a few reserve games would help with that. Playing alongside Carroll with other inexperienced players would also benefit the younger man and allow our coaches to see how that could work as a future pairing for the first team. Once he'd had a few run outs there, he could move on to the Europa League and League Cup. Getting fit at Stoke doesn't help us, as we can't recall him. We simply lose a midfield option and don't gain a fee to replace him. Who would I drop to accommodate him? Livermore. Sandro's the better player at the moment and we don't need two holding players. Huddlestone's range of passing would be more useful to us in a lot of games than Livermore's workrate and ball retention, in my opinion.
I'm sort of with pnp but with 1 caveat. Previously when Hudd has returned from injury he has looked VERY slow. His passing ability also dropped. We really would be carrying him. I would have loaned til jan and then assessed again.
I cant understand this. Huddlestone is a fabulous player on his day. Surely games in the milk cup / europa if hes a bit ring rusty. Dawson is good business if we need the money.
All perfectly reasonable mate providing Hudd himself is happy to do that, if he's insisting on PL football when he gets it, a loan is the only solution. It may well be a combination of that and the uncertainty around his injury and setbacks, presenting an element of risk taking up a squad place, there is also AVB's view on this to consider, he might not do risks, none of us are sure how he works yet, so it will be interesting to hear why, if and when anything is completed. Both routes to fitness are used successfully, so there's not much more to say, I'm sure we all agree a fully matchfit Hudd is a big asset...but there's the conundrum!
Good. Even if he still goes elsewhere, I'd prefer it to be a team that try to play a bit of football, occasionally.
Wigan, perhaps? Fulham to replace Murphy, with Dembele and Dempsey going the other way permanently, to pay for the loan?
I'm surprised Liverpool have not shown intrest, under king Kenny they were interested, under Brenda, they are not. I do not think it is a coincidence that teams that want to play fast,quick touch football do not want the Hudd, unfortunately.
