http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2083939/Harry-Redknapp-rocked-Ledley-King-KO.html So, it looks like a central defender is going to come in and I think Samba is a really good option. A real man mountain and a leader. Whether you like it or not, and with all due respect to Blackburn, playing for Tottenham is moving up a level. It is completely different when defending as part of a team that keeps the ball and plays open football, opposed to the style Blackburn plays. Do you think that he can make the move into our team? Personally, I like him. But I really don't know if he could step up into our team.
I think that Samba's a very good centre-half, but I do worry how he might adjust to playing in our style. Blackburn don't play anything like our high line, so it may take him some time to get used to. With the extent of Gallas' injury currently unknown, Corluka seemingly on the way out and Bassong's future undecided, it wouldn't surprise me to see a couple of defenders brought in, at least. I just hope that we don't end up disrupting the harmony of the squad.
Would love to see Samba in our team, we might score a few more goals from set pieces. I've wanted us to sign him for years, and really rate him. Though I take PNP's points, he might need time to settle in, and any signing is a gamble re squad harmony and/or other matters.
If Chelsea are gagging over his salary demands, do you really think we'll be able to accommodate them?
Cahill is overrated, Samba is the better player and was born in Paris, rather than Sheffield, which has the result of approximately halving his wage demands.
Personally i would prefer Samba to Cahill. Samba has always been a player that seems too good for Blackburn and has always given us problems. Cahill is as others have said wildly overated and often inconsistent, and the fact he is holding Chelsea to ransom over wages tells me a lot about him (and probably his agent too). The fact that Gallas and King are again out indefinetly Harry really needs to address this. Btw does anyone know if Parker will be fit for Wednesday?
Samba would be an excellent addition to the squad. He is actually quite tall! I'd say that with him we'd have better chances at scoring headers from set pieces, except with our current crop of top class players, none can seem to get the ball between the first man (or the wall) and the last man (or under the bar and between the goal posts). Maybe Samba can give them a few tips on how to take a corner kick since he knows how to convert them so well? Pederson or whoever takes the corner kicks at BBurn must have given him a hint or two.
Caulkers rapid development shouldn't be ignored here, there's nothing to suggest at this point in time he won't be another Kyle Walker, in that one PL loan spell is enough. We do have Kaboul, and Daws is back, so as much as I see Samba's usefulness aerially at both ends, are King and WG really going to be out long enough to warrant buying a CB? If its possible I'd rather make it to the summer and take stock then.
I do agree smart, there isn't an immediate need for a centre-back right at this moment. We have Kaboul, Dawson, Bassong, and Charlie if needs be, irrespective of King and Gallas and their injuries, that should be enough quantity and quality to last the rest of the season and perform well. I do think that in the summer we are going to have to invest in one top drawer centre-back, Vertonghen and Samba seem to be the favourites. It will come down to a choice between dumping one of King or Gallas (as the ageing crocks) and I suspect the club will choose to keep King. With Gallas Bassong will probably be off too, so if we bring in one top quality and bring back Caulker to replace Bassong we'll be in very good shape.
I think we're looking at 1 defender in, max. I'd expect Samba to be too expensive for us, he only signed a new contract last January, I think, and Blackburn are looking to use his sale to fund their transfers so they'll try and get every penny they can for him. I wouldn't be surprised if the Villa defender we were linked to [Collins or Dunne] comes true for £3mill and Bassong is also given another run in the team. If we're going to go for a new striker in this window, every penny saved will help.
Dunne is a liability - most (joint) prem red cards and most prem own goals If we can bring someone in at the right price then that will be good but we are not desperate enough to pay any silly fees Really hope we do manage to get in a new striker though!
I look at it this way, there's not many players that would still be playing in the Premiership with that record so he must be bloody good
Dunne's a good centre-half, but only if he's playing in a side that defend quite deep. He organises well, he's very good in the air and he's great when the ball's in front of him, but if you turn him round then he's a total liability. He'd be a nightmare for us, considering how far up the pitch we normally play and how quickly our games tend to move. Why would Villa want to sell Collins to us for £3m? I don't get that rumour.
Dunne WAS a good CB - agree totally that he's still good in the air, but he doesn't command forwards in the way he used to and as PNP states, if he is turned then forget it........ Never particularly rated Collins - and cannot see why, if a CB is defo needed, that we don't just go with Samba. He is quality, mobile enough and with a massive presence, as well as scoring goals. Additionally he has played in the PL for a few years so little or no time needed to adapt. Oh - and he's also French. His English is pretty good from what I remember, but it can't hurt language-wise when his regular CB partner is likely to be Kaboul - and Benny alongside as well.
Congolese, French - same difference... Annoyingly, the talk of a £10m deal for Vertonghen has been scuppered by him wanting to remain at Ajax for the remainder of the season. Don't suppose Real, Barca or the Milan clubs have any (quality) defenders they aren't using for the next six months?
If Samba is too expensive, I'd settle for having Caulker back, as apparently we can recall him. As a 4th choice CB on a 'free', not too bad I reckon Bassong would then get quite a lot of game time, which he has all season anyway, so no need to move him on unless we get a cracking price for him to spend on Samba or someone else.
DOH!! Silly me - stereotyping again!!! At least I was right in thinking French was his first language....
