£3m sounds a bit on the steep side for me and correct me if i am wrong but dont we have Redmond, Pilks and Garrido/Olsson that can play there? I would also like to think that in an emergency any of our right wingers could play there? A very odd transfer for me although I do like the fact that he is praised for his hard work. If he is in consistent though, arent we better off stricking with some of the younger lads and trying to get them to imrpove their game?
If it is £3m, that seems reasonable to me for a player with 22 caps for Argentina (it'd probably be more if he wasn't competing against Lionel Messi and Maxi RodrÃguez!). I don't see Pilks leaving, but with his injury problems JG would be a useful alternative. Redmond is a very promising player, but he doesn't yet have a complete game to compete in the PL. IMO, wide left is City's weakest position when Pilks is out, and this deal would leave money for a quality goal-scoring ACM and help City to improve over the rest of the season.
I can't see why this is an odd signing at all and it makes sense to me. Whilst Pilks would be a first-team regular if fit, he's just not fit often enough to be reliable. Garrido is not a left midfielder and should be only used there as a last resort, Olsson should stick to playing left-back - which he is doing very well in my opinion - and it's not realistic to keep expecting Redmond to start week in, week out. Add in Snodgrass's loss of form this season and the fact he looks knackered and in need of a break I don't understand why people are so confused at the prospect of us bringing in an experienced option to play wide left. £3m is more than I thought we'd be paying and I must admit that sounds a little steep for a 30 year old, but as I said previously he's got twenty odd caps for Argentina and they don't give those away for nothing.
He got the majority of his caps playing right back because argentina had no defenders when maradona was in charge and he was the only player who would just do it. Probably got the right attitude but he's not a 22 capped argentinian winger, just an argentinian who got on particularly well with a manager who knew he could rely on him to play right back when no one else would.
£3m for a second choice winger who doesn't keep possession, creates few chances and rarely scores. Was on £50k p/w at Newcastle, and at 30 will have little resale value. Yes he's an ex-Argentinian international, will give everything, work hard and probably be a positive influence in the dressing room, but I don't see it as the right move to be honest.
So he only played 22 times for Argentina because he was Maradona's mate and there was nobody else who could possibly have played at right-back, is that what you're saying? Yep, it's the glass-half full brigade back again, turning a potential positive into an amost certain negative and writing him off before the guy even puts the shirt on. Can we just give him a bloody chance please?? Dear me!
He hasn't turned up yet! We definitely won't be paying £50k a week so no need to worry - we might be getting him on loan or the sort of arrangement we have with Bassong and Tottenham. If it's character we're looking for, he sounds like he fits the bill. Plenty of time yet this transfer window to solve our other problems.
Didn't mean it like that sorry, just that I don't expect him to be a better player than we think he is because he's got these caps!
So let's look at the positives 1) he can play right back as well 2) he is willing to do what the manager says and put a shift in 3) He's got the right attitude and can bring experience to the team- 22 caps is useful experience I would think he was the only Argnetinian who would play right back - this stands out as comment of the day
Just to clarify my glass isnt half full, I just feel that the right purchases in January can take us away from the relegation zone. The wrong decisions could keep us in a similar position as we are in now. I used to be very keen on Jonas Gutierrez when he first arrived at Newcastle but I am never keen on paying fees for players who are 30+ as I just think you arent going to get anything back for them (unless they are a big improvement on what you have). I also really struggle with player tiredness and age arguments for players not player most if not all games if they are fit.We have a squad of professional footballers with expert nutrionists and fitness coaches, plus we are normally knocked out of the cups fairly quickly and have no european commitments.
I realise that despite saying my glass is half full that was a quite negative post...... Bottom line is that I dont think he would come to us if he thought we were likely to be relegated. Also, as mentioned above he seems like a hardworking player which is definitely a positive. If we can get a few glimpses of what he brought to Newcastle when he first signed then even better!
Someone I know who purports to have a source says it will be £2.5m for Gutierrez - that's probably the sticking point. He also says we have spoken with Chelsea about a buy-and-loan-back for Ricky. Now I think that's a load of rubbish but I thought you lot might want to hear it!
Well if they want to pay us £20m or so for him, then I guess it reduces our risks if we go down. Bryan Ruiz is looking set to join PSV from Fulham, rumoured to be a replacement for the outgoing (yep, you guessed it...) Ola Toivonen, who the club have apparently received an offer for.
Also on the subject of Gutierrez - I don't think we need him particularly but £3m (or £2.5m) is a pretty fair price for an Argentinian international with Premier League experience, even if just as a back-up. Personally I think he will kick Snodgrass straight out of the team which will do him good.
Indeed, he should certainly at least give him a kick up the backside, which is something people seem to be ignoring here
Too right. How bizarre that of last year's POTS candidates, Bassong and Snodders have gone backwards, and Bradley J has kind of stayed at the same level - indeed, he couldn't even get into the team while Tettey was fit and playing well. Surely, when surrounded with better quality players this season, as they are, you'd expect to see improvements as opposed to regression?
Doesn't Gutierrez normally play on the opposite side of the pitch to Snodgrass? Or are people anticipating Redmond moving over to the right, where he's arguably more effective?
