Upson

[Lomas has a lob on]

i dont want to turn this into a dunne bashing thread as im so grateful for all he's done at city, and would actually like him to stay on as back up, think he'd be ideal when called upon, but i doubt at his stage of his career he'd be happy with that scenario, but i'd be happy with upson imo, he is better than we have, ned potentially will be better but not yet, and no one really knows how good kompany is at CB in the prem, but i dont think were in a position to say "maybe kompany might turn out to be brilliant at CB"(although it would be great if he turned out to be a tremendous CB) hangeland would be a good signing as well imo! and on the AM/RM I wouldn't be suprised if bentley rocked up at city. . . . . . just my thoughts

I would be very suprised if we ended up with Bentley, one thing though I have never seen him play anything but wide on the right, he can play a more central role too?

yeh towards the end of hughes reign at blackburn he played bentley just behind RSC and he was superb, dont get me wrong im not a massive bentley fan, but like RSC and bellers hughes has got the best out of him, and its fair to say he's not gonna figure at spurs he stormed off down the tunnel yesterday after coming off in there friendly, his 1st appearence in donkeys years for them!! im just thinking out loud tho, i haven't got any inside info or anything, but i think he may be willing to be a "squad" player that understands he may sit out some games!

 

[Seosa]

Going back to the defence, with our defensive coach Derek Fazackerly gone, I just hope his replacement is up to the job. Another season of shipping goals like the previous campaign will rule us out of European football for another year. A top class CB is now urgently required to support Toure.

Mate with all due respect, Fazackerly was a joke, whenever we'd go to training you would watch Faz and he didnt have a clue, it was like, what exactly is his job, he was a yes man for Sven, Pearce and Kingy Keegan(:P).

I thought Fazackerly went ages ago?(I mean early last season).[/quote]

He did, my quote got mixed up, its a good thing he went, like I said, he was poor

 

[BlakeTheBlue]

Anytime Alex has been paired with another top class CB (Terry, Carvalho) he has looked class in my opinion mate. He is sadly under used at Chelsea. I think he would jump at the chance of a shot at a City starting birth. And i think he would be very solid alongside Toure, Vinnie, Ned or even (if he sorts himself out) Micah. Although i think Hughes will play Micah at RB.

If SWP gets a serious long term injury. Then i have real concerns about throwing young Vlad in at the deep end. I still think we need cover in that area. Also we should look at bringing in someone as cover for Stevie Ireland.

We need cover for Ireland desperately. Everyone knows that.

Talking of Martin O'Neill as I did, I have a feeling that one such player, Wesley Sneijder, is Villa bound.

I now see Villa as the team most likely to be challenging for fourth spot. Still too early to make wholesale predictions for who will finish where at the end of the season, as things could change dramatically between now and the end of the transfer window, three weeks today. Villa though look a bigger threat than I thought,

I particularly liked the way they outplayed Juventus, Fiorentina and other in their pre-season matches.

Sneijder is just the sort of player needed to offer better attacking midfield options .

Going back to the defence, with our defensive coach Derek Fazackerly gone, I just hope his replacement is up to the job. Another season of shipping goals like the previous campaign will rule us out of European football for another year. A top class CB is now urgently required to support Toure.

Agreed on all matters mate. A team like Villa can never be counted out. Not with the Manager and decent players they've got. I'd like to see Sneijder at City too. Can't see it though. Not because he wouldn't be interested, but i just don't think Hughes would move for him. Personally i would like to see........

CB. Either..... Hangeland, Carvalho, Alex or Fazio
RM. Either..... Robben or Cole. Even a cheeky massive money bid for Ribery (never gunna happen though)
Atck Mid...... Sneijder or even Riquelme.

Hughes says when the right caliber of player becomes available he will try his best to get them. And in all fairness we can't really complain at some of the great business he has done this summer. BUT.....at least a couple of these great players come into the "available" bracket. I think we should at least try to get them. Before our rivals do!!!

 

[Lomas has a lob on]

on "knees up mother brown" (west ham forum) some suggesting if we get upson that getting dunne in part ex would be ok, 1 on them even wanted TBH in exchange!!! there gutted if upson left they really do rate him, but its very eveident they are in a right financial mess, not that its a concern for us but upson i think could come very cheap

 

[alera]

I cant see him being at West Ham at the start of the season as :

(1) Their owners are near bankruptcy and a have made it clear they need to raise cash before the window closes. He is their most valuable asset with Villa, City and possibly Everton interested.

(2) If we dont get Lescott, Upson is our next choice.

(3) If we do get Lescott Moyes wants upson to replace him.

So not looking good for West Ham really !

 

[smiles]

Hopefully we'll sign Upson and another defender. Mertesacker would be a great signing, 24 and bags of experience.
I can see Dunne going if new defender's come in, and TBH with any luck.

 

[Lomas has a lob on]

Hopefully we'll sign Upson and another defender. Mertesacker would be a great signing, 24 and bags of experience.
I can see Dunne going if new defender's come in, and TBH with any luck.

think it'll only be 1 more defender who ever that may be, and maybe another attacking midfielder

 

[Cockney Reject]

upson aged 30= £10-12mil!

Lads, take or leave my info, but West Ham will do business, but will demand at least £15m. Maybe a bit more as its you guys.

Good luck in shaking up the league this year!

Fwiw, I think you'll do well once you get a better man to put the jigsaw together.

 

[alera]

We wont pay £15 million for a 30 year old defender the wrong side of 30 I can tell you that.

It will be around £10 million or maybe £5 million and Dunne, £8 million and Ben Haim.

According to KUMB website.....

West Ham United look set to lose England defender Matthew Upson before the end of the transfer window.

The 30-year-old centre half, who had been tipped as a future Hammers captain looks set to be sacrificed in order to appease the club's current owners, CB Holdings, who are said to be ordering the sale.

It is understood that a deal with Manchester City - thought to be worth around £12.5million - is on the verge of being completed, although an announcement is likely to be delayed until United manage to secure a forward in order to placate supporters who will no doubt be furious at news of Upson's sale, having been told earlier this summer that the club is now self-sufficient.

Manager Gianfranco Zola, who lost Craig Bellamy in the last transfer window is also thought to be deeply unhappy at the prospect of losing the England defender, but accepts that the position of centre half is perhaps where the Hammers are least likely to be affected by a sale.

 

[Cockney Reject]

We wont pay £15 million for a 30 year old defender the wrong side of 30 I can tell you that.

It will be around £10 million or maybe £5 million and Dunne, £8 million and Ben Haim.

Doesnt matter what you want to pay, if you want him then you have to pay what WHU want.

Same as Lescott with Everton.

We already quoted Villa £15m when they enquired...