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Distin to Spurs???
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The Daily Mail are reporting that dodgy Harry is looking at Distin as Bassong is on his way out.
Distin is reaching old age now and I'm afraid this was his last season at his best; I would certainly look at trying to get a swap deal with Bassong as I believe he is a more than capable replacement with pace and athleticism. He is a good player on the ball and also at a young age for a centre-back ? definitely worth a possibility...
Karl Bentham, Posted 19/05/2011 at 22:28:14
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Unfortunately, the small number of errors he has made have all seemed to be punished and that has taken the shine off a little.
He certainly looks in good enough shape for us to get at least two or three more seasons from him. Wouldn't swap him for Bassong no way.
We will be getting rid of enough players pre-season, so selling one of the rare few who pulled his weight this season for buttons would be just daft.
I'm basing my assessment off of one game. The fact is Distin is getting on, and yeah he might have a couple good seasons left, but when the time comes we will probably have to look at lower leaguers for a replacement.
So, from lower leagues only, who do you all think has potential?
"Distin is reaching old age now and I'm afraid this was his last season at his best."
How do you know? Personally, I don't agree, I'm not saying the guy will go on forever but I do think he's good for another year. Anyway, if Harry's sniffing, you can be sure he thinks the same.
Distin and Jags are pretty solid when both fit and given a run. Distin is super fit and I don't see his performance necessarily dropping off next season.
Since Man Utd (h) he has been outstanding; I won't forgot his goals against the Shite and City for a while either.
True professional and super fit, he's a stayer.
I don't think Heitinga is a proper replacement though. Someone with height but younger maybe.
Morgan is a great player in the Championship and I think could easily make the step up, I've watched him and his former (before injury and desire to move on) centreback partner Kelvin Wilson just full-on dominate matches.
Weir and Stubbs lasted until about 35 though (although they should never have been played together at that age!) and until I see Distin lose his pace (which he still has far more of than Wheater and Senderos) then I think he should stay. Maybe he can stay long enough for Duffy to make his way through.
Then we would have Johnny, Jags, Yobo and Distin without having to spend anything. A decent fee for Yobo in the region of £5 million plus would sway me to the idea of getting a younger replacement though. Tomkins from West Ham perhaps, or Dann from Birmingham if they go down.
1) The Daily Mail make up transfer rumors for fun and therefore should never be believed;
2) 'onest 'Arry Redknapp would never buy one of our players on the cheap whilst they're in the last year of their contract... would he?
Shock horror - ?appy ?arry is ?interested? in a player.
Boring.
Next.
I think I would keep Distin. Central defenders work in combinations, that sixth sense makes all the difference. He has been superb in the 2nd half of the season although I admit to calling for his head when Berbatov made a fool out of him at Goodison and wasn't impressed with that goal we conceded to West Brom. No wonder Moyes didn't want to talk to the press after that, never mind the ref.
I'm pretty sure Distin got done for strength and pace by Odemwingie againt West Brom and stood and watched as a big gap opened up in the middle as Jags went across to cover Distin's error.
Sorry for the fantasy Championship Manager talk!
However Guy Moussi (who we were linked with on a free) = shocking.
It would be nice to see that against Chelsea but no chance.
Some very decent players at the top of the Championship at the moment as well but we ain't got a pot to piss in till we sell 1 or 2 "high profile" players.
And I agree about Moussi, terrible player.
If Brum go down Johnson or Dann who is a scouser i think would be a good signing, Johnson's a arl arse reads the game well and gives very little that isn't earned and Dann before he got injured big strong fairly quick a good tackler who was learning fast and has lots of improvement in him still would be a ideal partner for Jageilka.
Yobo and Heitinga could well be off so competition may be needed at centreback.
Moyes missed out on the lad from Cambridge i think, so unless Heitinga's away its likely only a young kid will be brought in which is ok as were fairly strong at the back.
I knew someone (David #20) would advocate selling him and using Heitinga but what use is a centre-back with no pace, poor heading ability, an attitude problem and bottled tackles? And yes, I know he played in the final of the World Cup!
He regularly gets too close to his man and is caught on the wrong side of the opposition four or five times a match; his pace and strength have get him out of trouble a lot of the time but I'm not sure how long his luck can last...
Coming off the back of a semi-decent season, I'd get rid while his stock is still high. However, Moyes is so rigid with his formation that he'd insist on wanting a left-footer in Distin's current position ? and I'm not sure who else is out there.
Whoever suggested playing Heitinga as cb alongside Jags, Distin lb and Baines lw, I would support giving that a shot.
In a season where almost nobody has played consistently in any one position, it's probably worth a crack.
I think that we could do without one of Jags or Distin. Move Heitinga back there, and i would be looking at Diame from Wigan to be the full time defensive midfield role. Real quality box to box midfielder alongside Felliani and Arteta.
For an extra centre back Johnson or Danns would be a gould tout though.
Honestly, I think we should sell him for the best possible price or send him out on loan to a lower Premier League club like Norwich or Wigan etc so he can play for a worse team and be the best player and get week-in week-out football which he needs. Look at Welbeck for example, and Cleverly... it could really put his price up.
I believe some fans wall say, "What about injuries?" and "What about the squad getting smaller?" but it's easy ? sign players on loan or for free if we have no money. For example, David Vaughan, Hitzelsberger who are free transfers or Reo-Coker or maybe buy good cheap players from shit teams like Noble, Gardner or maybe Steven Ireland if available as I believe he still has his best days ahead of him.
Recall Dave Watson, Richard Gough, David Weir, Alan Stubbs...
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1 Posted 19/05/2011 at 23:54:00
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