January Transfer Window

[Tes]

Yes except for the UNDENIABLE FACT that Reina has been on a downward curve for the past 2 years and is much more prone to mistakes now.

I don't want to lose Reina but I wouldn't lose much sleep if we did.

Agree with you, Edward that Pepe is not what he was but I'd rather first try and see we could solve that before being too hasty about bringing in a replacement.
Any replacement has to be carefully thought through as we could end up downgrading easily.
Someone like Butland is certainly not the answer and I don't see much in the PL I'd rather have, so it would almost cetainly be a case of looking outside of the PL, and when you look at the Mancs and Arsenals problems in replacing a long serving keeper, it makes you realise it's not a straightforward job.

[the dude abides]

I say dump Reina.   The boss has quite clearly rung every last drop of talent out of the youngster and if we can fool Utd, Barcelona or Arsenal into buying him for 20 quid, then we are on the pig's back.

Maybe swap him for De Gea, and give Utd 20 million to sweeten the deal.

[Ed]

I say dump Reina.   The boss has quite clearly rung every last drop of talent out of the youngster and if we can fool Utd, Barcelona or Arsenal into buying him for 20 quid, then we are on the pig's back.

Maybe swap him for De Gea, and give Utd 20 million to sweeten the deal.

The thing about Reina is he's not the greatest in terms
of controlling the six yard box. Dominating on corners and
free-kicks where he has the bonus of being able to use
both hands & a pair of gloves. But we kinda know that!

This notion of him being in decline?

You'd look at the managers and style of play, goal-keeping coaches,
competition for his place & the two lads (centre-halves) in front of him.

Arguably, to a certain extent, a top keeper should be able to
transcend most of these things & I'd admit it's been a while
since I felt at least we have Reina!

But then again it wasn't so long ago since he was putting himself
in serious harm's way for the cause and many a time have I seen
him attempting to launch quick counters and finding no-one reacting.

I think it's a decision for the gaffer (obviously!) and a very big one
at that. To start fannying about with keepers for a team in transition
& take a seriously experienced keeper out of the equation with all
that youth about would be a brave one.

I like Brad Jones and he's proved an able deputy when called upon.
I think that he deserves to be number 1 at a good club and think the
way forward would be to give him that opportunity if he's looking for
it over the Summer and bring in a candidate for Pepe's gig in the
long term (or at least to provide some healthy competition, again no disrespect
intended to Jones but his amiable demeanour and public statements
suggest a certain lack of threat to Pepe's position).

[Edward224]

I agree Tes Butland is definitely not the answer.

I'd say Mignolet or Begovic would be excellent replacements for Reina, were we to sell him in the summer. Both are excellent shot stoppers, both are used to the country culturally and the league itself.

Yes it isn't a priority but if we do get an offer from a Barca or whoever and it meets our valuation then I wouldn't be adverse to it. Listen I love Reina and from 07 to 10 he was the best goalkeeper in the league. But the fact remains the past two seasons he has gone down at least two levels from that. Maybe Reina needs a new challenge to get back to those levels. Maybe Reina is in his comfort zone here and has allowed himself to drop those two levels. I don't know the reason.

I am not saying I want to sell him not at all. Just that he isn't the GK that used to be. Will he be able to get back to those levels here or anywhere? Who knows.

[Tes]

I agree Tes Butland is definitely not the answer.

I'd say Mignolet or Begovic would be excellent replacements for Reina, were we to sell him in the summer. Both are excellent shot stoppers, both are used to the country culturally and the league itself.

Yes it isn't a priority but if we do get an offer from a Barca or whoever and it meets our valuation then I wouldn't be adverse to it. Listen I love Reina and from 07 to 10 he was the best goalkeeper in the league. But the fact remains the past two seasons he has gone down at least two levels from that. Maybe Reina needs a new challenge to get back to those levels. Maybe Reina is in his comfort zone here and has allowed himself to drop those two levels. I don't know the reason.

I am not saying I want to sell him not at all. Just that he isn't the GK that used to be. Will he be able to get back to those levels here or anywhere? Who knows.

Agree totally, Edward. The approach to have is that it's not a big enough problem to start actively dealing with, but if a bid is made then on that basis as our hand is somewhat forced then we look at it in detail (the idea of replacing him, not just the bid, I mean).
Meanwhile, as with every position on the pitch, if you can upgrade, you do so, and you keep an active eye out for the chance to do so, at all times.

It's difficult to know whether there is a way to get Pepe to get back nearer the level he previously was at, or if only a new challenge can do that.

Mignolet or Begovic are probably the best options in the PL, though I do think the overall general standard of goalkeepers has dropped in the last few years. I don't they are at the standard Pepe was when at his peak, but they are of a more consistent level than he is now.
A keeper is only as good (to a certain degree) as the protection he is given in front of him by the rest of the team, but the difference is when called upon he makes the right decision, has the right starting position and has kept his level of concentration and alertness up to the same high degree needed for the entire match, and therefore performs to a high consistent level throughout the season.
That in turn breeds confidence and surety in those in front (the defence in particular) which then contributes to a better level of protection. Rinse and repeat.

[Tes]

I say dump Reina.   The boss has quite clearly rung every last drop of talent out of the youngster and if we can fool Utd, Barcelona or Arsenal into buying him for 20 quid, then we are on the pig's back.

Maybe swap him for De Gea, and give Utd 20 million to sweeten the deal.

Not sure about De Gea, maybe that lad that plays for Bootle U-14s. That gives us a Scouse heart to replace Carra's with into the bargain. Nothing against just bunging the Mancs £20M still, though.

[the dude abides]

You'd look at the managers and style of play, goal-keeping coaches,
competition for his place & the two lads (centre-halves) in front of him.

To start fannying about with keepers for a team in transition
& take a seriously experienced keeper out of the equation with all
that youth about would be a brave one.

agreed, Ed.

one has to ask why a player who was previously superb, is now having issues.

like you say above, there are many variables to consider.

but to jettison a top european keeper, who has been fantastic for us, who probably merely needs a top goalkeeping coach working alongside him, is madness.

same when they jettisoned Kuyt.....madness.

[Edward224]

Except Kuyt was 32 when we sold him and wasn't going to get any better and in fact was on the decline. Yes Kuyt could do it on the big occasion for us but wasn't consistent.

IMO a bigger loss for us was Bellamy.

[the dude abides]

Except Kuyt was 32 when we sold him and wasn't going to get any better and in fact was on the decline. Yes Kuyt could do it on the big occasion for us but wasn't consistent.

IMO a bigger loss for us was Bellamy.

yes, bellamy was excellent too.

we really looked a different side when dalglish finally got his finger out, and brought on (they usually sat on the sub's bench) maxi, kuyt and bellamy.

a blind man could see who our best players were.....sadly kenny was not up to it, or even close.

kuyt and bellamy could, IMHO, have given us 2 more good seasons. 

[Edward224]

I would say though that we did not want Bellamy to leave. It was Bellamy's decision to go back to cardiff.

Same with Maxi as he wanted to go back to Argentina.

Kuyt was the only one out of the of three we wanted to get rid of really.

[Tes]

Sissoko's signed for Newcastle, silly boy. Oh well, at least we've got Allen. 

[Edward224]

Fee agreed for Coutinho medical at the start of next week.

[Ed]

http://inbedwithmaradona.com/the-100-for-2012/2012/12/3/philippe-coutinho.html

[Tes]

Fee agreed for Coutinho medical at the start of next week.

It'll be interesting to hear what fee we have actually paid.

As an aside:

Tom Ince - approx value £7.5M - 2012/13 season:  Games 26  Goals 13  Assists 10
                  (according to TransferMarkt value is £2.2M)
Wilfried Zaha - trans fee £10M + £5M  add ons - ditto - Games 27 Goals 5  Assists 6
                        (according to TransferMarkt value is £3.1M)

Games played are league games.

[Martinmarx]

Another step towards no. 19 was thereby taken. I tell you, Brendan's the man to take us back to the top.