Good morning.
This is one to divide opinion. We appear to be selling Michael Dawson. Sir Les as he was, is affectionately known is understood to be weighing up his preferred choice of destination between QPR and Stoke.
It’s been suggested to me that the business of Liverpool being linked with Michael last week was simply a lose lipped agent discovering that the player was ‘available’.
There are a number of factors at play here. He has frequently had to combat injury and with the arrival of Villas-Boas he’s been found to be not quite sophisticated enough. Is this fair? Well, having a big heart and a desire to do your best are separate issues. Notable features of the boss’s new system is the control and focus on ball retention.
All hands to the pump type hoooooooofs up field aren’t desirable. They are old school and at best turn possession into a 50/50 ball. You’ll notice that Brad has mostly been rolling the ball to the back four’s feet.
Another issue has been development. Daws was always doing his best and improved over time, but did he ever really look ready to replace Ledley King? I’d argue not. He frequently looked the business when teamed up with Ledders but Kaboul looks a better long term bet. The addition of Jan Vertonghen the last nail in his first team coffin.
If we were on the same financial footing as Manchester City, we could afford to keep him in the squad. Alas we are not.
According to some tweets we are in for some fella called Willian from Shaktar, apparently he is a Brazilian attacking midfielder and his contract is up this year?
Sky sports are reporting that Q.P.R. have offered £5.5 mil for Dawson. Fuck that, i’d keep him for that. Nothing less than £8 mil for me!
I can see the logic behind thinning the squad down. We’ve been running the club with three players for each position for too long – without a proper reserve team and only limited rotation. Trouble is we always seem to lose the best squad players and fail to dislodge the ones that don’t contribute -s’pose this must be the same at most clubs/ businesses.
Feel that cutting Dawson (if true) is one too many.Ledley is going to be a big loss and Bassong was never going to get a fair run. Khumalo’s in Greece for the forseeable (though suspect he’s only being retained as a figurehead for the South African connections).Which’d leave us with Kaboul, Gallas,Caulkner and Vertonghen – Don’t reckon Gallas has got a full season in him. Why not loan Daws to QPR until January to get his fitness back.Fryers maybe able to cover – but what’s happened to him, is he training with the club? What’s the delay with the tribunal? We need him for cover for Benoit. The two Kyle’s are well signed up for the future, with Smithy as back up.
The announcement of Fryers should release Danny Rose on loan as he needs a stretch of games to bring his confidence back (again suggest to only loan until January). Would be good if Butland is joining next season.
With Parker out, Modric going, Pienaar and Krancjar leaving we are now well down on our uppers in midfield. Sandro will be a key man but Jenas, Huddlestone or Livermore put together wouldn’t fill Luka’s boots and his replacement better be a top class one.Hudd looks like he’s burnt his boats which reminds me of an old Queen Mary comment. I still think Livermore is a good honest player who is a bit out of his depth but learning very quickly. Jenas gets a bad press from his own supporters and deserves better.
Sigmurdsson and VanDerVaart might be an interesting competition for the AM role.
Was disappointed to find out 4-3-3 means playing two wide men up front. Think that we have cover for Bale and Lennon with Townsend.
Bentley and DosSantos should be released/ sold off quickly.
Good to see Adebayor has finally settled into our paystructure? DeFoe is a top striker and reckon anyone who wants him to leave is a couple of pork pies short of a picnic. Although it might cause some selection problems I think we do need another forward as Harry Kane is still in development and should be out on loan to a better club than Millwall- do we really plan to play one up in all games League, FA and Europa Cup – how predictable.
Just had a horrible thought. QPR are looking for a big strong leader at the back while we are looking for a midfield general playmaker / link up man who can use his head when under pressure, twitter around the pitch and get us out of jail in tight situations.
It seems like a horridly short sighted sale:
1) Gallas is not for our team for much longer. Who is the backup or the backup’s backup?
2) Are we THAT 100% certain that Vert is better than Dawson who was the one constant defender in our CL qualifying season?
Both point to Dawson as being massively valuable to us.
Regarding the hoof- is AVB THAT bad a coach that he cant teach a defender how to lay it off. We know Sir Twitchalot was that bad at coaching but surely AVB could instruct Dawson what to do?
Finally; if two of our 3 defenders (Caulker, Vert, Kaboom) get injured next season, who are we replacing them with? Gallas is already past it IMHO and I cant see him sticking around past the end of this season. So what happens next season?
Dawson can be infuriating with the hoofs and last ditch tackles but he IS an accomplished defender. £10m will not buy us a replacement.
After SOOO many seasons where we run out of bodies at the back I hope we are covered…that is all.
Welcome home Ade.