I cannot see us getting a c/b in this transfer window that is better than we currently have. Since we started to play after the 3/3 game against Killie our defence has done its job. That includes probably 4/5 players in the two centre positions at various times. Up front, certainly if we could get someone who would give us other options and score a few goals, we certainly want someone. But who wants to part with that player now. People say we missed the boat with MacCarthy and Fletcher and with hind sight that seems to be certainly true. However I know lots of fans were calling for them before they went south, at that stage they were a gamble and especially with MaCarthy, we had young players his age who looked special. A couple of years ago a young player Boyce was all the rage at Cliffenvale. I must confess I thought he was the real thing and I was all disappointed when he went to Germany. He lasted a year came back to England after another spell he is without a club and looking to get back to Irish League. As I say in hindsight we could all make good signings, I hope N. L. has the foresight to sign a good striker, and it probably won't be until the last days, until a club get a replacement or are desperate for a few £'s.
I think Flecture and McCarthy had both proved to be players more then capable of holding first team places at Celtic before we let them get away. One was down to penny pinching but McCarthy was down to Tony not wanting him .
The player I always regret not getting was the left back Kadlec , we were linked with him under 3 managers before he found his way to the Bundisliga with Leverkusen , look at number of bad left backs we had before finding izzie . Saw Boruc has not signed new contract in Italy , inter and Juventus very interested even at 5 million
Thomas. Regarding Fletcher I am sure the problem was that Celtic thought they had a Man. City player as good as signed. At virtually the last moment he signed a city contract. I don't remember his name but I think he went down to the championship since and has not made it. Fletcher's bid was regarded by him and Hibs as half-hearted and desperate. To be honest I am not sure Celtic really wanted him. McCarthy was playing for Hamilton, that doesn't say he was or is good enough for Celtic. He is now at Wigan and has not set the world a light. None of the better EPL teams have been hammering at Wigan's door. Remember Wigan have G. Caldwell as captain, so they are not necessary a team of stars. Despite the Irish pundits and Irish media singing his praises it is very unlikely that he will make the Irish 23 for European finals. We may not have lost much when we did not get Mc Carthy.
McCarthy is highly rated in the EPL and for ROI team ... He's still a pup as well. Celtic defo missed a trick letting him pass. Fletcher - rather have Hooper.
I have a blind spot with McCarthy. I just don't see it myself. I know he must be good. Everybody says he is. Journalists I think are very good speak very highly of him. Martinez speaks highly of him, He is apparently coveted by big clubs..... i am not saying this to be controversial or anything, I just haven't seen him boss a game yet. McArthur looked to be more the total package to my eyes. I know I am wrong.....I must be. it is just what I see right now. He hasn't done a tap for Ireland yet. That is going to be difficult under Trap. He is very rigid and very loyal. It is no fun to watch and (despite my misgivings, I do recognise McCarthy is a tidy ball player) I don't think he's a Trap type midfielder. Trap had Pirlo playing as a water carrier. Great at getting results.....not the best to look at.
Pud. I am sorry McCarthy is well thought of by some Irish fans and some of the Irish media. He has played 4 minutes Competitive football for the Republic of Ireland , Trap, did that to keep people off his back. It will be a major surprise if he makes the Irish 23 for Europeans Finals and certainly won't if there are no injuries. I am sorry he is far from well thought of by ROI and I agree with Rebelbhoy. He seems to be able to keep his talent well hidden.
That's the guy. Couldn't pay for a goal in the Championship, think he's into double figures for Sheff Utd in League 1 though.
I first saw McCarthy when he was playing the first division for Hamilton (the year they went up). The game I saw he was utterly anonymous and the best player on the pitch (despite being on the losing side) was that megastar Leigh Griffiths I saw him over the next season or too in the SPL (at CP) and again he never did anything overly impressive. McArthur always impressed me more. So maybe I've just been 'unlucky' but three or four times I've seen him play in person and he's been decidedly 'meh'
I think we could do alot worse than make a move for Fuller at Stoke on loan for second half of the season, not a hitman as such but decent in the air, good touch, powerful & quick - they have Crouch, Jones, Walters amongst others so could be a decent deal. Centreback I've always like is that Kilgallon who used to be at Leeds. At Sunderland now & wants a loan deal to get sdome games - sure MON would send him up here for a few months. He's not played that much in a while but always looked a player to me & this could get the best out of him.
**** loan deals, was a major error under Mowberry they aren't motivated enought unless they are very young.
A big strong striker as Harry says that could boss the packed defences would seem to be what we want. Over the last 10 years we have found it difficult to get the right one. Big John of course was dead on and a lethal scorer. The big Dutch man with the ling name started o/k but I think he had a low pain threshold and faded I thought. Killen and Murphy, never were and never will and I cannot think of anyone else, within the last 10 years. Funny I was just thinking that McCarthy and Fletcher would probably sell for about £10m +. However if they had signed for us they probably would be making about £5/6 million in total.
We should get Efrain Juraez on loan from Zaragoza, Darren O'Dea from Ipswich and Jos Hooiveld on loan from Southhampton.
Agree in principle but I don't see what business we are going to do in the transfer window without selling a few first & can't see who we could sell to generate enough funds to go for anyone decent enough to get a first team place Its easy to say we can sell Cha, Loovens, O'Dea, McCourt, Commons, Samaras, Murphy, Juarez, Bangura, McGinn.............but its not Football Manager!! We'd be lucky to get £6m for that lot then who you gonna get to replace them? I like Rhodes, but he's going for £4.5m & aint gonna come the SPL. I like Fuller, would he wanna come? Lets get him on loan & make him earn a longer deal
