Martinez lining up Alcaraz

On a freebie, too? Well worth a punt.

We also got Jags from a relegated team (Sheff. Utd in 2007), and he's not been too shoddy, eh ?

Remember the famous back 4 at Arsenal, not greatest footballers in the world but boy could they defend and keep clean sheets.

I don't actually know what martinez will be expecting from his CBs, just hope its more about good defending rather then good passing, although its always a bonus to have defenders who can play a bit aswell

Yeah, I like my defenders to be able to defend first and foremost. Jags and Distin do this capably but when they try pass it between each other there is a real sense of an accident waiting to happen. And Duffy makes Jags look like Beckenbauer. Don't get me wrong, I like all three, I just hope they fit in.

Shouldn't the first question (from everyone) be "tipped' by WHO?"

Same kind of applies to 'speculation persists' - from who?

Not telling anyone what to do, but would suggest the next couple of months will be less stressful if you take a large pinch of salt when reading newspaper articles containing..

"An insider stated.."

"Friends close to.."

"A confidant of.."

"If rumours are to be believed.."

"It is believed.."

"It is thought.."

"Back-room staff believe.."

"Sources close to.."

"Those closest to.."

"It is thought that friends close to a confidant of backroom staff believe.."

Etc.

When it comes to a player's value it used to be striker most expensive; then MF, then CB, then GK. Moyes did well finding a decent back 3 or 4 but we are still undecided on the right – need a consistent season from Coleman but he got them pretty cheap and I suppose you can add Lescott to that list.

The point I'm trying to make is they don't have to be world class at the back (although it does help). As long as you're of a certain size and can defend, you're half-way there (this hole's getting bigger...) so, when a freebie comes along to add competition, then we should snap him up and use his strengths.

Heitinga last season was out-muscled (and out-thought) by a few, we could've done with an half-decent freebie against Villa, that's for sure. No offence to anyone who plays/played CB, I'm sure you're all talented people in your own right. (Where's me spade gone?)

Other than that, your list pretty much covers it.

Just because someone is free, doesn't mean it is necessarily worth it.... there is still a signing on fee and of course their wages.... but of course it has to be considered, just don't take them ONLY because they are free.

Whilst we need a few more players (which Martinez has acknowledged) I don't want to see us filled out with dross just to get numbers. Martinez actually said we have a great youth system and I think he is looking forward to trying out some of the youngsters, maybe some of them will become our squad fillers with a real possibility of breaking into the team... perhaps we'll see whether Moyes' lack of confidence in them was justified or not. It seems in the last few months Stubbs got them playing quite well together,... the likes of McAleny, Lundstrum, etc... look like they may merit a little more attention? (apart from the obvious choices of Barkley and Duffy)