According to Sky Sports News Tottenham are now after Etienne Capoue. I guess that is the bigger club he was looking for. Maybe that would open the door for Huddlestone to join us. I would much prefer Capoue though.
Is this a private thread Arwr ? I'll hope it isn't and say that I think you'll be ok anyway. This Capoue looks a top player but when a big club comes in there's not a lot you can do, we had exactly the same with Siggurdson. When Spurs came in that was it and you're going through the same thing now. If you get Huddlestone instead that would be a good signing, I think you have a decent manager with a good head on his shoulders and he will have a plan b
This thread is PUBLIC To be honest Dilligaf; I was hoping we would sign someone to sit and protect the back four. Huddlestone doesn't seem to fit that role (from what I've seen) and I was hoping for someone a bit better than M'bia. There's a lot of hoping in this I do believe malky has a plan B though.
he was never really interested in us, seemed to use our interest in order to get the deal he wants with a bigger club. good to see a bit of ambition by the club, even if it didnt happen this time, at least we're trying to bring in the right players at the right age level. unless we got huddlestone for like £4m, a bargain, then i'd keep looking, i dont think mbia is that good so i hope theres nothing in that. why dont we have a look in spain for a quality ball player?
If he goes to Spurs he will have got his move to a bigger club and good luck to him, Huddlestone would be a good quality player to try and get if he can stay off the treatment table. Why Spurs are in for Capoue though is a strange one they already have 2 DM in Pauliniho and Santos both quality players.
I am not sure "Thud" is the sort of player you need. I have watched him quite a few times at Spurs and he drifts out of games a lot, he has the odd game where looks very good but these aren't often enough. He does have a wicked shot on him though. Depends on how much Spurs would want for him - probably too much to make him a value buy.
the thing is is that its cardiff's first season and its very hard to persuade top players that you are here for a few seasons, If you manage to have a good season then players will take notice and consider joining, The targets you should be looking at are the ones who are coming to the end of playing top class football and instead of sitting on the bench at another premiership club to have one more season playing, failing that look to sign a loan player or look abroad....Its hard but it do get easier...
Your first half a year up is really a litmus test on how good your promotion squad is. Come January (league position depending) transfers maybe more fruitful. We had the exact same problem as an "unknown entity".
Huddlestone is a decent player but its his fitness that would concern me. No doubt Malky has a plan b, I'm sure you'll be ok this season
See, we can play nicely when we try. I don't think Thud is our man (although I will support him if he joins) but if Spurs sign Capoue and are looking to offload palyers then perhaps we should look at Jake Livermore who is a defensive midfielder, only 23, with an England cap like Caulker, never really had a real crack of the whip at Spurs, will be much cheaper than Thud and eager to show what he can do. Perhaps as a loan but with an option to buy? Can we loan players from other Prem clubs though?
Take him in a blink ccfc but I think Arsenal are more in a buying mode (when they can find someone other than Suarez) than selling. Also, he is not the defensive man we think we need and how much would Wenger want for him? Although, and this is a genuine question not a dig, do the Swans play a defensive midfield man? I know Britton operates in front of the back four but I see him as more of a ball fetcher/carrier than someone who puts himself about and wins lots of tackles. He hardly has the physique to compete with the big guys. Perhaps such a destroyer is not needed and we should be looking for someone who is better at looking after the ball?
Yeah, spot on. You just need someone to secure you a decent amount of possession so you have a foothold in the game (I mean an improvement on what you've got....probably necessary at this level) and that doesn't necessarily mean someone hurtling around like a headless chicken clattering everyone. Since he switched to centre-midfield Leon has developed into a player who; - sits in the correct positions to intercept and clean up (intelligence and concentration) - gets his foot in and breaks up play (tenacity) - controls and gives the ball quick and simple, rarely giving it away (technique) - rarely picks up injuries (good natural fitness levels) these are the qualities that your potential defensive midfielder signing should have (can I congratulate the mods on their attempts to clean up this board - you'll get there, don't give up)
Good reply TW. How does Britton cope with the physicality or is the Prem not as physically tough (Stoke excepted) as the Championship? Apart from the back 4 I can't see that the Swans have had anyone else in midfield to dish it out if needed although I don't think Shelvey is a shrinking violet. Alternatively are people like Yaya Toure more selective about the battles they have to fight so the middle of the park is not such a rough and tumble?
We do have a player I think could do the job that Britton does for Swansea, We first need another defender who is not scared to actually pass the ball 10 yards and then receive it back. This all depends on what formation we play of course.
Very true in terms of formation. As for the ball player I assume you mean Whitts. The trouble is that after his goal scoring stints in previous seasons we all want him to push forward and do what we know he can do around the opposition penalty area. As for Mutch, I am having doubts about him. He gets injured very easily (groin strain at present) so cannot be relied upon week in/out. It looks like Kimbo will be used much further forward, perhaps doing what Whitts used to do - it has worked in the friendlies. I see from WoL that Gunnar is likely to be fit for the season start. That is good news as we know he can mix it with anyone without being too rash. I think Caulker has more ball playing skills than Huds and Turner but time will tell on that front. I know we wouldn't trust WoL with a barge pole but in their suggested team for Saturday they had us with a back 5 using all 3 cb's and Brayford and John as wingbacks. Perhaps they read my post from earlier in the week? They seem to nick most of their "scoops" from here.
The player I would use is...................................................................... Don Cowie, don't wont whitts to be anywhere near the back 4 Gunnar and Mutch are go forward midfielders not defensive minded players and Kim will be let loose behind the strikers. Cowie may not be the most skilful footballer we have but has a great engine and has the determination to close people down.
Okay, interesting thought. Certainly fit anough and able to close down but has he the balls skills needed as a fetcher/carrier though? I'm not sure he has the balance and flexibility needed for that. We may know more when we see the side Malky starts the game with on Saturday.
The same could be said of Leon Britton, but he has proved that a football brain and certain skills can be very useful in the prem. Have to give credit to Britton all 5,4 and 9 stone soaking wet he has been outstanding for the jacks the last 2 seasons. Does the simple things well and allows the more skilful to thrive. Feel Cowie could give us the same qualities
