Telegraph reporting he is amongst a number of high earners that Michael O'Neill is looking to move on from Stoke this Jan
30 next March so fits our age profile
Been linked with him before so would not be a surprise (could get Ash Barnes to set up another daily taxi run for these guys from Stoke)
Another player we have been linked with in the past is Leicester's Daniel Amarty. Defender/Midfielder, 25 next week and who is, unsurprisingly, unable to get into the impressive midfield of Leicester this season. Out of contract in the summer
Given the lack of game time DD has been able to hold down it would seem his days are numbered with us

Also fits our profile of signing average players from Stoke. So why not

When Stoke got him off Liverpool I was gutted. Very tidy and would be a difference maker in our midfield.

That's then and this is now - so it would have to be a short term, incentive laden deal.

Wouldve taken him 2 years ago. Dont know whether he is past it now or stokes problems are down to other things...

It is going to take a special player to unseat Cork and Westwood combined. They do everything asked of them.

IanMcL wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 18, 2019 9:21 am

It is going to take a special player to unseat Cork and Westwood combined. They do everything asked of them.

Yes I imagine a Paul Scholes type figure should do the job

A fit Defour was good to watch!

IanMcL wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 18, 2019 9:26 am

A fit Defour was good to watch!

Ah yes, I remember that match

martin_p wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 18, 2019 9:28 am

Ah yes, I remember that match

Fortunately, there was a a few but sadly, not enough.

A few years ago not now. We are in the PL not the Championship. The only way we will improve our starting 11 and midfield is with quality. Averageness will not improve us. If this means losening the purse strings so be it. We need quality in central midfield ( a starter ). How many times have we said this. We now also need Right Back and Right Midfield/Wing improving with players good enough to start.

Another lightweight not quite good enough midfielder is not what we need

IanMcL wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 18, 2019 9:21 am

It is going to take a special player to unseat Cork and Westwood combined. They do everything asked of them.

I would say that they work hard but quality wise its an area that needs upgrading and it doesn't have to be special

Worth a risk if the price is right!
Dyche did wonders to get even those few games out of Defour- sorry team!
Seriously he worked wonders with Westwood and Barton why not with Allen?

A couple of years ago, yes. Now? I don't think he's what we need to address the midfield issues personally. We have to be reducing the age of our squad, more so first XI.

Won't get in the team,unless injuries occur,so would have to be happy to get splinters in his bum like Gibson

People talking like he's 38, he's 29, younger than Cork and the same age as Westwood.

No thank you, a waste of a fee/wage. We need to go to the next level, Joe Allen wouldn't dispense Back Cork, so no point.
Improving the starting 11, improves the squad automatically.

We need starters not do a jobs.
If not starters they need to be younger exiting prospects, with an eye on 12-18 months who can slot in and "do a job" if needed until then.

Ship has already sailed
Not what we need now.

Shouldn't be our first target. If we can't get any one else then yes he would be a good short term signing.look at the mess we were in the other week when Westwood was out.it would only take 2 of our cm to be out and we would be in real trouble

randomclaret2 wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 18, 2019 9:45 am

Another lightweight not quite good enough midfielder is not what we need

But probably what we will get.

dougcollins wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 18, 2019 12:24 pm

But probably what we will get.

Nah , I think there's cheaper out there

No, no and no again.

Never mind “cost” and “fit” - how about ability? The bloke just isn’t good enough to start for this club, and isn’t young enough to develop into a starter. Just the sort of signing we should actively avoid.

No better than Cork or Westwood. Another small, neat and tidy midfielder isn't what we need. A bit of power and athleticism is what we're lacking.

I know we can't afford to shop at Harrods but surely we can afford better than B&M bargains.

It surprised me we didn't go in for him as a squad player last year tbh

We need a Shelvey type. Someone who can lift their head up find a man, score the odd goal or two. Whilst I know Shelvey isn’t great, he’s the best what we could do. We’ve too many neat and tidy types. Allen would add nothing to what we have. That’s our main problem. We make changes/subs like for like.

Shelvey would be a cracking signing for us. Won’t happen unfortunately.
Mooy would have been a good signing for us too in the same mould - affordable...good passer of a ball....bald as a coot...etc !

Someone of Shelveys quality on the ball would be useful.
They’d need to be better than him off the ball though.

i really rated him a couple of seasons back, but not sure about now. how old is he anyway ? very talented player.

Lansbury started for Villa last night...cheeky bid?

we clearly need pace, Dyche has said as much - therefore Allen is not remotely what we are looking for

We need a younger player. and, IMO, you have to ask questions about all the Stoke players still there from their relegation team.

jrgbfc wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 18, 2019 1:24 pm

No better than Cork or Westwood. Another small, neat and tidy midfielder isn't what we need. A bit of power and athleticism is what we're lacking.

Yes a big strong player required.

Joe Allen isn't the answer to our midfield issues,and he'll no doubt be on a decent wedge at Stoke,we're already wasting wages on Drinkwater,Gibson,Vydra to name just three,we're in danger of becoming a retirement home for Stoke's cast-offs.

Blackrod wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 18, 2019 9:34 am

A few years ago not now. We are in the PL not the Championship. The only way we will improve our starting 11 and midfield is with quality. Averageness will not improve us. If this means losening the purse strings so be it. We need quality in central midfield ( a starter ). How many times have we said this. We now also need Right Back and Right Midfield/Wing improving with players good enough to start.

Yes, quality with speed & a better first touch preferably. I thought Minamino would be a good buy after seeing him last year, but what do I know? Lol

tiger76 wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 18, 2019 10:31 pm

Joe Allen isn't the answer to our midfield issues,and he'll no doubt be on a decent wedge at Stoke,we're already wasting wages on Drinkwater,Gibson,Vydra to name just three,we're in danger of becoming a retirement home for Stoke's cast-offs.

Wasting wages? This is a squad game so someone would need to be being paid to fill those spaces.

Players like Drinkwater, Gibson and Vydra along with Long, Lennon, Hart/Peacock-Farrell are all part of the insurance policy that SD has in case of injury, suspension or severe lack of form. Insurance policies are generally expensive and seem to serve no practical purpose - until you need them. Then they are priceless!

Blackrod wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 18, 2019 9:34 am

If this means losening the purse strings so be it.

How easy it is to loosen someone else's purse strings!