Apparently we have made a £5m bid for Matt Taylor

[rage]

of course it makes a difference if we are signing big, 20 mill + player, that means we probably won't sign more players that cost that much, but a 5 to 8 million player surely won't affect the budget...

well i hope you're right.

[Howard_lfc]

Once again my irony is lost without smileys i apologise. The point i was trying to make was he does all that Riise does but is capable of defending whilst in my opinion JAR isn't. I have seen Taylor play on numerous occasions in the flesh and on TV and he has always impressed me in an average side, he runs all day can get forward, tackle, passes quite well and can also shoot from distance.
If Riise is going i think he would be a decent replacement, we have needed a decent left back for years, as we continually leak goals from crosses down that side, JAR gets sucked inside to easily and he doesnt learn.
I have never faulted Riise's attitude or effort i just think he is the weak link in an excellent defense.

• please don't use irony. It's lost on me.
  
  If you can name a left back who has been part of a probably the best defence in the country for the last few years, and has also contributed more goals during that time, then I may be inclined to believe you. This said left-back must also be able to switch into a left midfield berth at the behest of the manager - and perform equally as well there. I'd be interested just as to who people think this left back would be.

[tomasjj]

At least this goes to show that Rafa wants a new left back.
That is great news to me.

[lfcruleus]

• please don't use irony. It's lost on me.
  
  If you can name a left back who has been part of a probably the best defence in the country for the last few years, and has also contributed more goals during that time, then I may be inclined to believe you. This said left-back must also be able to switch into a left midfield berth at the behest of the manager - and perform equally as well there. I'd be interested just as to who people think this left back would be.

Ok i get your point but imagine how good our defense would be if we had someone of Finnan's defensive ability on the left? I would love to see the statistics of how many goals we concede from play on the left compared to the right, not just when Riise is playing mind. Oh he also has ginger hair.

[Howard_lfc]

Ok i get your point but imagine how good our defense would be if we had someone of Finnan's defensive ability on the left? I would love to see the statistics of how many goals we concede from play on the left compared to the right, not just when Riise is playing mind. Oh he also has ginger hair.

The ginger hair is unforgiveable - I agree.

However - IMO JAR was superb last season as part of an excellent defensive unit. I agree he had some poor games this season and didn't reach last seasons levels though. I still believe blowing five big ones on Matty Taylor is a waste - if it indeed happens. (there's no irony in there btw!)

[captainfog]

Don't believe this story.

He's a decent player, but we don't need him. Probably his agent trying to ramp his price up.

Rafa should concentrate his transfer efforts elsewhere as we already have adequate options at left back and I don't think he is good enough to play left wing. We need world class wingers and I don't see him performing that much better than Riise.

He's a very good player but we already have a team of very good players. It's the world class ones that we're short of.

[El Jefecito]

• please don't use irony. It's lost on me.
  
  If you can name a left back who has been part of a probably the best defence in the country for the last few years, and has also contributed more goals during that time, then I may be inclined to believe you. This said left-back must also be able to switch into a left midfield berth at the behest of the manager - and perform equally as well there. I'd be interested just as to who people think this left back would be.

Lahm.

BTW Riise has score ONE goal in the league this year.

[Howard_lfc]

Lahm.

I'll give you that Speedy - but I was really alluding to the fact that JAR gives the team far more than what people (on here) give him credit for.

[kopash]

The sooner we have a LB to replace Risse the better. Good squad player at best.

[kopash]

Better left backs? Bridge, Cole, Clichy, Zambrotta, Lahm off the top of my head.

[orri]

i would rather keep riise and have aurelio as backup than buy matty taylor

[El Jefecito]

Better left backs? Bridge, Cole, Clichy, Zambrotta, Lahm off the top of my head.

Clichy?

[einar]

i would rather keep riise and have aurelio as backup than buy matty taylor

Or keep Aurelio and have Riise as backup.

[Howard_lfc]

Better left backs? Bridge, Cole, Clichy, Zambrotta, Lahm off the top of my head.

Bridge? Remind me again how many games he misses.
Cole? See above - and hasn't played well for a couple of years now.
Clichy? Scores how many goals exactly?
Zambrotta? He'd get ripped in the EPL. He's an excellent footballer but defensively is average at best.
Lahm. I'll give you that - but we've no chance of getting him.


I bleedin' hope JAR is reading this as I'm fighting his corner like wounded dog here !!!

[einar]

Bridge? Remind me again how many games he misses.
Cole? See above - and hasn't played well for a couple of years now.
Clichy? Scores how many goals exactly?
Zambrotta? He'd get ripped in the EPL. He's an excellent footballer but defensively is average at best.
Lahm. I'll give you that - but we've no chance of getting him.


I bleedin' hope JAR is reading this as I'm fighting his corner like wounded dog here !!!

Why?