Strovos has hit the nail on the head there, Liverpool have the following CB: Carragher Skirtel Agger The Greek Wilson Kelly (played at full back but a natural CB) They are also looking at Zapata (plays full back but more then capable at CB) and a french CB Ayala is not part of Daglishs plans in my opinion, I expect him to come to us, said last year he loved it here (went to Derby after Woys wobbler).
I think to sign Ayala now would be a mistake. I might have just prefered him to Hobbs,but if we were to sign Ayala it will almost certainly mean Chester being used as a utility. For me Ches is easily the classiest central defender at the club and i dont beleive that NP is at all concerned with his lack of height,as he signed him in the first place. Liam Cooper is ample cover for Chester and Hobbs,in fact i think he is unlucky not be considered first 11. But i do think the defence is looking the part now with the signing of Jack Hobbs.
Assuming Hobbs is confirmed I think that will probably be the last defender to sign. Hobbs and Chester to be the preferred pairing with plenty of options as cover. Dudgeon can play centre back plus McShane is likely to see out his contract at City so we will have him too, he is expensive as cover but not much can be done about it. Then there is still Cooper.
Agreed. City said they were after 7 signings. With McKenna, Adebola and Hobbs joining Evans and Dudgeon that leave 2 to go. We missed out on Danns so any further recruitment in midfield would be 2nd/3rd or 4th choice. Basically a squad member and we have plenty of squad members in midfield already. We must now sort out the goalkeeper.
Ever since the departure of Duke,ive had it mind that wed be after two new keepers,but maybe Oxley is ready to warm the bench afterall.No experience,but we all have to start somewhere. If not then it will probably be one perm and one loan. Manone for me.Please not Guzan !
Pearson's comment that we should expect 6 or 7 signings was actually made after we'd signed Evans and Dudgeon, so I'm not sure if it included them or not. I think we'll bring in a winger, a CB and a couple of keepers, possibly more than that, we haven't yet used up any of our loan spots.
I think people are forgetting the Loan market. Adam said we would be making 6 or 7 signings this Summer. I for one don't believe that was something cast in stone, but I do think he was referring to permanent signings. When Adam said Daniel Ayala was high on the list of targets, I am sure that that would have followed protracted conversations with the Management Team and they WOULD have discussed Hobbs in addition to the young Spaniard. Consequently, I think Ayala is still on the wanted list. Having said that, as Kempton Klutz said, I worry that NP will play Chester as a utility and give first choice to Hobbs and Ayala, which I think is not necessarily a mistake, but a huge waste of one of the best defensive centre backs I have seen for years in James Chester. Dudgeon was an obvious need as we simply didn't have cover for Daws. Whilst I love him to bits for his service to the club, I think most would agree that the sands of time were starting to have their effect of our Legend Left Back last season and a gradual transition this season is to be expected. Evans was an obvious replacement for Bullard in the link-playing midfielder role and given his assured performances in a highly pressurised position last season, I think he will get plenty of starts this time round and will grow in the role. I have spoken to a number of United fans and they thought he was going to be a better player than his brother Johnny for the reds and were surprised they let him go. They concluded it was only the quality of the competition and the impending influx of new signings that signalled his availablity. People should watch this lad carefully and remember he is still very young to be playing in such a pivotal position. I hope he isn't the next target for our infamous bully-boys. McKenna was always a priority signing in terms of position. We shouldn't be in this position as Ash should still be there, but his departure left a hole in the squad that must have been a high priority to fill at season end. As with Ash, McKennas role will not necessarily be about what he does with the ball at his feet as much as what he says (or shouts) on the field, in the changing room and in training. Expect him to wear the captain's armband. The Adebola signing (if it actually happens, which I would expect it to after the 30th) came completely out of left field for me. He is not my favourite player, but if he is to be used as a plan B in the 75th minute, then I suppose I can see some logic in it. So what is left? Goalkeeper(s)!! We will surely sign two goalies. I would expect City to try and get a permanent and a loan, but that may well turn into 2 loans if circumstances dictate. Personally, I do not see the logic in letting Matt Duke go. Offering him a new contract would surely have made sense to fill the back-up keeper position with a loan, class keeper (as Mannone was) coming in from a Premiership Club reserve team, maybe Forster? Not a desperate issue though. As Adam said, there are plenty of options around and we can take our time over this one and wait for the right man (men). The creative midfielder was to have been Danns, and as Adam said, was top of the list. It will be interesting to see who is Plan B, but that position is critical to us being competitive next season. I think Bullard leaving is crucial to this. If we can do a deal with him and a suitor club EARLY (by that I mean before the last day of the window!!) then we may be able to actually spend a bit of cash and get a quality player in. Otherwise, we may have to look to a free OAP or a young Prem reserve on loan. So the 6 or 7 are: Dudgeon Evans McKenna Adebola Hobbs Keeper? Creative Midfielder? The rest of the needs, I think, will be filled by loans. We need a left sided attacking midfielder, cover for Rosenior (although I suspect Chester will be a shoe in there!! ), another creative youngster (Pogba??), cover for Stewart until October? Like most, I would expect to see Leicester and West Ham as faves for auto with the usual suspects vying for the yearly lottery. With the budget we have to work with, I would be happy to have a sniff of the play-offs. But people should remember team-spirit counts for a lot and in Nigel Pearson we have a very capable leader. Bring it on!
Some one on the Derby board is probably saying: "I think Hull have just bought Hobbs as they know they're not getting Ayala."
unless there is something 'massive' we dont know about Liam Cooper's wages, and his subsequent impending exit, i cannot see Nigel Pearson wanting anymore than Chester, Hobbs and Cooper (as cover) trio? Maybe he feels that Chester has a role in front of Ayala and Hobbs partnership? Seems a big chunk of wages to get that though?
I think Derby don't want Ayala after the appauling way he hugged NP and applauded our fans after we defeated them at Pride Park!!
i basically agree with everything in strovolos' earlier post. the pearson's will be working tirelessly on the goalkeeping situation and there is no doubt they'll have planned for failing with the danns bid (even moreso as the summer has gone on). i refuse to believe kilkenny was much more than one of several names discussed in brief.
I prefer in believing the actual words of Adam Pearson rather than what is reported on Radio Rugby or by some failed hack in our very own local Non-News rag. Adam said that Kilkenny's agent was very interested in him signing for City. Meaning we might well have talked to his agent but that he was someone who was well down the list on our targets this Summer.
Just checked, there's only 47 threads on the Derby board, they're barely saying anything about anything. I remain of the opinion that Ayala will probably be with us next season.
