lloydie Posted 14 September, 2012 Share Posted 14 September, 2012 Noticed on sky sports news that west ham are having mikael silvestre, john mensah and anthony vanden borre on trial as they look to add to their defensive options. All are free agents and should be worth a look at, wondering why we wouldnt have them on trial at least. Silvestre on a free would be better than fonte, whilst all three would be much better squad players than seaborne (no offence to the lad). This is just my opinion, what do you lot think? Would have thought we would be looking at them to! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dig Dig Posted 14 September, 2012 Share Posted 14 September, 2012 LOL.......Silvestre, the answer to all our "problems" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 14 September, 2012 Share Posted 14 September, 2012 Jon Mensah would be an intelligent signing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammysaint Posted 14 September, 2012 Share Posted 14 September, 2012 The belgium defender AVB would be quality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToreSF Posted 14 September, 2012 Share Posted 14 September, 2012 Come on. Have some faith. We will use the players we have while we are thoroughly scouting the world for better options to sign in january. We don't need over the top overpaid old farts like Silvestre. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pingwing Posted 14 September, 2012 Share Posted 14 September, 2012 Again Lol Silvestre and Mensah! How does even considering a 35 year old CB make sense?! Or one who has had more injuries than games in the last couple of years?? Vanden Borre is apparently a right back which is one position we are stocked up on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToreSF Posted 14 September, 2012 Share Posted 14 September, 2012 From Wikipedia: "Mensah returned back to his parent club Lyon in August 2011, after spending the 2009–10 Premier League and 2010–11 Premier League seasons on loan to Sunderland. On his return from Lyon, Mensah was hardly used this season due injury and didn't play a single game at Lyon this season. On 8 July 2012, Mensah was finally released from the club after terminating his contract at Lyon." Yep. Sign him up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lloydie Posted 14 September, 2012 Author Share Posted 14 September, 2012 I know silvestre might be old, but even if he was 40 years old im sure he'd be better than fonte at the back. And agree this signing wouldnt be fitting of our current transfer policy but i'd much prefer to sign him, pay his wages for the short term to help us keep our premier league status, rather than for us to chance it untill january which could mean we miss out on valuable points we might otherwise have achieved with a slightly more capable defence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Garrett Posted 14 September, 2012 Share Posted 14 September, 2012 I get what you're saying but I don't think these players would fit the problem. We're not the kind of club who are going to look at panic buying. We'll have done our business in the transfer window and we'll see how we get on until January. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dig Dig Posted 14 September, 2012 Share Posted 14 September, 2012 I know silvestre might be old, but even if he was 40 years old im sure he'd be better than fonte at the back. And agree this signing wouldnt be fitting of our current transfer policy but i'd much prefer to sign him, pay his wages for the short term to help us keep our premier league status, rather than for us to chance it untill january which could mean we miss out on valuable points we might otherwise have achieved with a slightly more capable defence. A 40 year old Silvestre would be better than Fonte? Please share with us all the merits which Silvestre now posses which would make him a better player then Fonte? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpine_saint Posted 14 September, 2012 Share Posted 14 September, 2012 You can be sure there are defenders out there free to bring in (just look at the blue slime down the road), and a small proportion of them will be able to do a job for us, but somehow over the summer in the rosy after-glow of PL promotion out management and fans have become utter snobs, and from now on we are only interested in Franco Baresi clones that cost nothing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToreSF Posted 14 September, 2012 Share Posted 14 September, 2012 You can be sure there are defenders out there free to bring in (just look at the blue slime down the road), and a small proportion of them will be able to do a job for us, but somehow over the summer in the rosy after-glow of PL promotion out management and fans have become utter snobs, and from now on we are only interested in Franco Baresi clones that cost nothing. I thank the lord every night that you are not a part of the management at our club. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_Bald_Si Posted 14 September, 2012 Share Posted 14 September, 2012 Jon Mensah would be an intelligent signing. This didn't get the laughs it deserved. Lol to you sir, mega lol! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dig Dig Posted 14 September, 2012 Share Posted 14 September, 2012 You can be sure there are defenders out there free to bring in (just look at the blue slime down the road), and a small proportion of them will be able to do a job for us, but somehow over the summer in the rosy after-glow of PL promotion out management and fans have become utter snobs, and from now on we are only interested in Franco Baresi clones that cost nothing. And yet the man everyone is so desperate for us to replace in Fonte would walk into the pompey side. Who is the snob exactly? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Depressed of Shirley Posted 14 September, 2012 Share Posted 14 September, 2012 I know silvestre might be old, but even if he was 40 years old im sure he'd be better than fonte at the back. And agree this signing wouldnt be fitting of our current transfer policy but i'd much prefer to sign him, pay his wages for the short term to help us keep our premier league status, rather than for us to chance it untill january which could mean we miss out on valuable points we might otherwise have achieved with a slightly more capable defence. Christ on a bike. I love some of our fans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stu0x Posted 14 September, 2012 Share Posted 14 September, 2012 I know silvestre might be old, but even if he was 40 years old im sure he'd be better than fonte at the back. And yet Arsenal fans, who had him four years ago (and lets face it, he won't have improved with age) widely regard him as the worst centre back they've seen in the Wenger era. This being the same era that has featured the likes of Stepanova and Cygan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpine_saint Posted 14 September, 2012 Share Posted 14 September, 2012 And yet the man everyone is so desperate for us to replace in Fonte would walk into the pompey side. Who is the snob exactly? Really struggling to see the relevance of your point. Fonte has demonstrated his ability for League 1 where Pompey are, and has not yet shown himself to be PL class. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dig Dig Posted 14 September, 2012 Share Posted 14 September, 2012 Really struggling to see the relevance of your point. Fonte has demonstrated his ability for League 1 where Pompey are, and has not yet shown himself to be PL class. So which players at pompey could do a job for us like you said if only we werent too snobby to look at them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpturner Posted 14 September, 2012 Share Posted 14 September, 2012 I know silvestre might be old, but even if he was 40 years old im sure he'd be better than fonte at the back. Sorry old chum, but that is complete nonsense. Besides, personally, I am not ready to jump on this "Fonte is not good enough" bandwagon with all the other sheep just yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney Fudpucker the 3rd Posted 14 September, 2012 Share Posted 14 September, 2012 (edited) I know silvestre might be old, but even if he was 40 years old im sure he'd be better than fonte at the back. And agree this signing wouldnt be fitting of our current transfer policy but i'd much prefer to sign him, pay his wages for the short term to help us keep our premier league status, rather than for us to chance it untill january which could mean we miss out on valuable points we might otherwise have achieved with a slightly more capable defence. Hmmm, I see what you're saying but not sure Silvestre is the right player. People seem to write players off because of age which doesn't make any sense. Sherringham & Larsson were still playing great football in their late 30's. Let's not forget our very own, Jaidi who did a excellent job despite his age. Edited 14 September, 2012 by Sidney Fudpucker the 3rd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tokyo-Saint Posted 14 September, 2012 Share Posted 14 September, 2012 5 years ago on football manager, these would be the answer to our problems. Now, in the real world.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golac's Cunning Stunts Posted 14 September, 2012 Share Posted 14 September, 2012 Don't think Silvestre would be better than Fonte, but do think he would be better cover than Seaborne who really does belong in L1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_clark Posted 14 September, 2012 Share Posted 14 September, 2012 Mensah is probably too old now. Vanden Borre I do really rate, would be worth signing as he can also cover CM and RM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dibden Purlieu Saint Posted 14 September, 2012 Share Posted 14 September, 2012 Mensah is probably too old now. Vanden Borre I do really rate, would be worth signing as he can also cover CM and RM. Was crap at Pompey, failed at Genoa and poor at Genk. But yeah, he used to be good on FM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_clark Posted 14 September, 2012 Share Posted 14 September, 2012 Was crap at Pompey, failed at Genoa and poor at Genk. But yeah, he used to be good on FM. Crap at Pompey in a poor side, but I've never seen anything that said he failed wherever else he's been. He was highly rated and sought after when he was at Anderlecht. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tokyo-Saint Posted 14 September, 2012 Share Posted 14 September, 2012 Lallana put Mensah right on his arse in the away game last season Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buctootim Posted 14 September, 2012 Share Posted 14 September, 2012 You need an IQ of 90 to laugh at that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dibden Purlieu Saint Posted 14 September, 2012 Share Posted 14 September, 2012 Crap at Pompey in a poor side, but I've never seen anything that said he failed wherever else he's been. He was highly rated and sought after when he was at Anderlecht. He left Anderlecht 5 years ago!! Played twice in a season for Fiorentina, played 31 times in 2 seasons for Genoa, and 16 times in 2 seasons for Genk. He has been very poor since Anderlecht I'm happy to say he was good at Anderlecht, but you can't judge a player on the back of him being highly rated at 19 years old, otherwise we'd have Cherno Samba, Tonton Zola Moukoko and Freddy Adu playing for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Charlie Posted 14 September, 2012 Share Posted 14 September, 2012 Lallana put Mensah right on his arse in the away game last season Wasn't that Pantsil? Great skill though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tokyo-Saint Posted 14 September, 2012 Share Posted 14 September, 2012 Wasn't that Pantsil? Great skill though. Could have been, who is it that does a lap of honour after every game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Garrett Posted 14 September, 2012 Share Posted 14 September, 2012 Could have been, who is it that does a lap of honour after every game. Prutton. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mozz Posted 14 September, 2012 Share Posted 14 September, 2012 He left Anderlecht 5 years ago!! Played twice in a season for Fiorentina, played 31 times in 2 seasons for Genoa, and 16 times in 2 seasons for Genk. He has been very poor since Anderlecht I'm happy to say he was good at Anderlecht, but you can't judge a player on the back of him being highly rated at 19 years old, otherwise we'd have Cherno Samba, Tonton Zola Moukoko and Freddy Adu playing for us. The fact that Fiorentina swapped him for Papa Waigo probably says something of what they thought of him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Stimp Posted 14 September, 2012 Share Posted 14 September, 2012 Craig Gordon's still yet to sign for anyone either... Better than Kelv? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dig Dig Posted 14 September, 2012 Share Posted 14 September, 2012 Wasn't that Pantsil? Great skill though. If it lead to the cross for harding to score then yes I think in was Pantsil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saints_is_the_south Posted 14 September, 2012 Share Posted 14 September, 2012 Two that I mentioned a few weeks back, and both still without clubs. Per Kroldrup - CB - 33, ex Udinese, Everton and most recently Fiorentina (where he played over 100 games). Also has over 30 caps for Denmark. Fernando Meira - CB/DM - 34, ex Benfica, Stuttgart, Galatasaray, Zenit St Petersburg & most recently Real Zaragoza. Also has over 50 caps for Portugal. Both getting on a bit now, but both have loads of experience across many top European leagues, and ex international regulars for their respective countries. 1 of them could definitely come in and do a job for us until January at least when we can then go and purchase a longer term solution. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmacian_saint Posted 14 September, 2012 Share Posted 14 September, 2012 Fernando Meira - CB/DM - 34, ex Benfica, Stuttgart, Galatasaray, Zenit St Petersburg & most recently Real Zaragoza. Also has over 50 caps for Portugal. You must honestly be joking. I'd be surprised if one of his legs doesn't fall off while he's playing. Way, way, waaay past his prime time. He was poor for Zaragoza and his last weeks on contract there where spent healing a back problem (a.k.a. main signal that a career is about to end). The only way I could see him improve Seaborne is because of his experience, but even that is not enough to cover for his complete lack of fitness for the PL. He's also been linked to his hometown club Vitoria Guimarães suggesting a career finale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saints_is_the_south Posted 14 September, 2012 Share Posted 14 September, 2012 Asier del Horno (former Chelsea LB) is also available on a free following his release in the summer from Levante. Another player who could probably do a short term job and add experience to the back line. Like the 2 players mentioned above, he's over 30 but you are not going to get many decent freebie options that are below that age. Regardless, I'm sure somebody who has played for teams such as Bilbao, Chelsea & Valencia CDAJFU. Him and Fox would be good competition at LB, and we could loan Shaw out to a Championship to get him some much needed 1st team match experience. Fabio Grosso is another left sided defender who is currently a free agent following his release from Juventus in the summer. World Cup winner and played over 220 games in Serie A and 50+ in Ligue 1. Plenty of options out there around Europe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david in sweden Posted 14 September, 2012 Share Posted 14 September, 2012 I don't think any of us is looking to get someone to replace Fonte (or Hooiveld) but we do need some short-term reliable cover in case of injuries /suspensions or (most importantly ) loss of form. I think?.... in our last season in the Prem. 2005 ?..we had SIX defenders injured at about the same time and it was only Chris Baird who held the back line together. Our only other available CB (at present) is Dan Seaborne who (thankfully) has recovered from his night club escapade, but the sum total of his play last season was about 6 games ending in Sept. 2011, you couldn't say that he was even a proven quantity in the Championship ...let alone be Prem standard. Adding Yoshida to the squad is a good sign, but as we can't buy again until January 2103 - another 16 games away - I for one would like some extra experience on the bench in the meantime....just in case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tokyo-Saint Posted 14 September, 2012 Share Posted 14 September, 2012 I wonder if Martin can be recalled if we have an injury crisis? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Village Saint Posted 14 September, 2012 Share Posted 14 September, 2012 A 40 year old Silvestre would be better than Fonte? Please share with us all the merits which Silvestre now posses which would make him a better player then Fonte? I agree - absolutely bonkers suggestion. Sadly the original poster just does not get it. Whilst clubs like West Ham and QPR may have money to burn and are prepared to throw it at almost any target in the hope that one of them does the business, our Board at last is trying to run the club as a logical business. It is a shame that some of our other targets weren't obtainable but we did pretty well. And the stress we caused the FA over virtually all of our Summer transfers is evidence of just how much work our people had to put in to get the business done. Fonte and Seabourne might not be the strongest back up centre-backs in the Prem but whilst lets hope we dont need to use them much, they are well integrated into a tight group that has already produced more than many expected and will finish out of trouble - maybe do even better if we get our targets in January and they bed in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 14 September, 2012 Share Posted 14 September, 2012 It's a little worrying that we are potentially looking at out of contract players to 'do a job' in a sticky plaster type way when its clear Nige wanted 2 if not 3 defenders further to Clyne all summer and all we managed to get was one in, who is a gamble, right at the end of the window. Defence is one place we can't take chances and we need a solid back four. It was quite clear last season that we struggled at times defensively and gave away lots of sloppy goals. We've already been punished in all 3 games this season for the same type of errors with the same players making the same mistakes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david in sweden Posted 14 September, 2012 Share Posted 14 September, 2012 it's a little worrying that we are potentially looking at out of contract players to 'do a job' in a sticky plaster type way when its clear nige wanted 2 if not 3 defenders further to clyne all summer and all we managed to get was one in, who is a gamble, right at the end of the window. Defence is one place we can't take chances and we need a solid back four. It was quite clear last season that we struggled at times defensively and gave away lots of sloppy goals. We've already been punished in all 3 games this season for the same type of errors with the same players making the same mistakes. agreed ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 14 September, 2012 Share Posted 14 September, 2012 It's a little worrying that we are potentially looking at out of contract players to 'do a job' in a sticky plaster type way when its clear Nige wanted 2 if not 3 defenders further to Clyne all summer and all we managed to get was one in, who is a gamble, right at the end of the window. Defence is one place we can't take chances and we need a solid back four. It was quite clear last season that we struggled at times defensively and gave away lots of sloppy goals. We've already been punished in all 3 games this season for the same type of errors with the same players making the same mistakes. Why are you worried.... This league is average..... We will finish above Stoke and we are clearly bigger and better than Everton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golac's Cunning Stunts Posted 14 September, 2012 Share Posted 14 September, 2012 I agree - absolutely bonkers suggestion. Sadly the original poster just does not get it. Whilst clubs like West Ham and QPR may have money to burn and are prepared to throw it at almost any target in the hope that one of them does the business, our Board at last is trying to run the club as a logical business. It is a shame that some of our other targets weren't obtainable but we did pretty well. And the stress we caused the FA over virtually all of our Summer transfers is evidence of just how much work our people had to put in to get the business done. Fonte and Seabourne might not be the strongest back up centre-backs in the Prem but whilst lets hope we dont need to use them much, they are well integrated into a tight group that has already produced more than many expected and will finish out of trouble - maybe do even better if we get our targets in January and they bed in. Rose tinted glasses I'm afraid. In this league you get punished for defensive slip ups as is already evident in our first 3 games. You an get away with it to an extent in the championship but not in the prem. As for Seaborne, I saw him against the Nidge and he was torn a good one by average L1 players. God help us if he ever has to fill in because of injuries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badger Posted 14 September, 2012 Share Posted 14 September, 2012 Asier del Horno (former Chelsea LB) is also available on a free ... Fabio Grosso is another left sided defender who is currently a free agent .... Plenty of options out there around Europe. Yes, and plenty of shirt sales with either of those names available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captainchris Posted 14 September, 2012 Share Posted 14 September, 2012 Come on. Have some faith. We will use the players we have while we are thoroughly scouting the world for better options to sign in january. We don't need over the top overpaid old farts like Silvestre. Maybe not but we are pretty deperate right now so should be exploring some options instead of sitting on our hands!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dibden Purlieu Saint Posted 15 September, 2012 Share Posted 15 September, 2012 Del Horno is an awful player. Grosso was excellent, 6 years ago, but was and has always been VERY suspect defensively. Always needed covering as was very poor positionally. Great left peg though. Not worth bringing in an older, slower version of Fox in my opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pahars_Legend Posted 15 September, 2012 Share Posted 15 September, 2012 Theres a reason that these players don't have a club, they aren't good enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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