January transfer window...

[BWFC_Insane]

If (big if for me....) OC wants to continue playing Muamba, he needs to change the formation to accomodate him as a defensive midfielder sitting in front of the back four, not as part of a central two - its hardly rocket science.

Coyle needs to start looking at a plan B, not just continue playing 4-4-2 hoping that we sneak a lucky win and everything will be ok, we'll find out a lot about OC as a manager over the next few weeks, because we have actually been generally poor since the Newcastle game - that's a 2 month slump !

I think anyone who thinks Muamba can play as a holding or sitting midfield player wants their bumps feeling.

The lad has an engine, he's good at chasing the ball down, thats his best attribute (some would say only), take that away from him and make him "sit" in a more disciplined role and you have a disaster waiting to happen.

[Peter Thompson]

BWFCI - Muamba's only good attribute is breaking up play, his use of the ball in possession is awful and he is poor when running with the ball (like a headless chicken)

Football is about opinions and I have mine & you have yours...but yours is wrong in this case !

[Lofthouse Lower]

Muamba is brilliant, until he gets the ball. Always has been, always will be.

[BWFC_Insane]

BWFCI - Muamba's only good attribute is breaking up play, his use of the ball in possession is awful and he is poor when running with the ball (like a headless chicken)

Football is about opinions and I have mine & you have yours...but yours is wrong in this case !

Aye he's good at breaking up play, but not in the holding midfield role, in a chasing players, high tempo way. He's not a holding midfield player in the way Campo, Mikel, Hierro etc are.

He's a chaser, harrier etc and is best when he's winning the ball high up the pitch.

Yes he isn't a great passer and I've been very critical of him but last night thought he was better, won the ball, didn't give it away etc. Holden was poor IMO, looks unfit and tired to me.

There is no way on this earth that Muamba has the footballing brain to read a game in the "Campo" role, nor the short and long range distribution skills required to play in that position either.

[Peter Thompson]

But he also can't play as 1 of a central 2 - IMO because he's just not a good enough footballer and is very inconsistent

I seem to recall him having a good time playing as a defensive midfielder for England U21's in a tournament a few years ago, I appreciate that the prem is a lot harder to play in, but he's far more suited to the defensive side of the game breaking up play than going forward passing & creating (unless he can play without the ball or tie it to his boots)....

[boltonboris]

Makelele had the technique of Beckenbauer and Matthaus rolled into one didn't he?!

Ermm.. No he didn't. He won it, then gave to it to the nearest man who had more ability.

Muamba has all the attributes to be a top class defensive mid.

[BWFC_Insane]

Makelele had the technique of Beckenbauer and Matthaus rolled into one didn't he?!

Ermm.. No he didn't. He won it, then gave to it to the nearest man who had more ability.

Muamba has all the attributes to be a top class defensive mid.

No, Makelele was world class at reading the game and being in the right place at the right time. Positionally he was excellent.

Muamba's main strength is clearly his running power. Take that away by asking him to shackle himself for me won't work.

I agree that we need someone to sit in front of the back four, but Muamba is not it as it stands IMO.

[boltonboris]

Agree to disagree.. I've seen how effective he can be playing that position. You must have too, in order to give that opinion. But if you've watched the U21's and didn't think he was fantastic in that position, then I fear for your judgement in all things Footy

[BWFC_Insane]

Agree to disagree.. I've seen how effective he can be playing that position. You must have too, in order to give that opinion. But if you've watched the U21's and didn't think he was fantastic in that position, then I fear for your judgement in all things Footy

I saw him.

Take the final. The first German goal would sum up why I don't think Fabrice would be suited to that role in the premiership!

But like you say we'll have to agree to disagree.

[boltonboris]

You need your bumps feeling!

[Choppers]

I hadn't seen Fabrice play for a while, I was shocked at how much better he seemed on the ball.

Make of that what you will, but I was shocked to see the way he went forward with the ball through the middle on a number of occasions.

[Lofthouse Lower]

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said that signing a defender on loan may be his best option as he looks to cover for the injured Thomas Vermaelen.

Wenger has three centre-halves after Vermaelen was ruled out until March with an Achilles tendon injury.

"[A loan] would be the best solution for us because what do you do with five centre-backs?" Wenger told the club's official website.

Wenger also stated striker Carlos Vela could go out on loan this week.

The 21-year-old has made 13 appearances in all competitions for Arsenal this season, scoring three goals, and has already been the subject of a loan bid from Bolton.

Wenger wants the Mexico international to get some playing time and said he would prefer for that move to be to an English club rather than to one abroad.

"There's nothing done at the moment, no," added Wenger.

"But that could be sorted out Wednesday or Thursday.

"Personally I wish [he would go to a Premier League club] because he's a great player and it will be easier for me to follow his progress but he is attracted by Spanish football because it is his home language. But hopefully we can find a good solution for him in England."

[BWFC_Insane]

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said that signing a defender on loan may be his best option as he looks to cover for the injured Thomas Vermaelen.

Wenger has three centre-halves after Vermaelen was ruled out until March with an Achilles tendon injury.

"[A loan] would be the best solution for us because what do you do with five centre-backs?" Wenger told the club's official website.

Wenger also stated striker Carlos Vela could go out on loan this week.

The 21-year-old has made 13 appearances in all competitions for Arsenal this season, scoring three goals, and has already been the subject of a loan bid from Bolton.

Wenger wants the Mexico international to get some playing time and said he would prefer for that move to be to an English club rather than to one abroad.

"There's nothing done at the moment, no," added Wenger.

"But that could be sorted out Wednesday or Thursday.

"Personally I wish [he would go to a Premier League club] because he's a great player and it will be easier for me to follow his progress but he is attracted by Spanish football because it is his home language. But hopefully we can find a good solution for him in England."

"a good solution for him in England".

Does that mean a compromise like send him to West Ham rather than the grim and cold North?

[ohjimmyjimmy]

Surely he can speak fecking English by now?

[thebish]

i think he can - but it's Wengerlish...

[Bruno3]

Surely he can speak fecking English by now?

Que?

[BWFC_Wyles]

Darren Pratley.....
http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/ ... midfielder" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[newboy]

Darren Pratley.....
http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/ ... midfielder" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

from the fountain of all knowledge http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darren_Pratley" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[thebish]

Darren Pratley.....
http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/ ... midfielder" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

ahh - but that's by Alan Shaw - a reporter whose name hasn't even got an X in it...

[thebish]

here's a new one (new to me anyway...)

variously flavoured Lancashire online news outlets have...

According to reports Blackburn Rovers are interested in Lorient captain Jeremy Morel.

Sources in France claim Wanderers boss Owen Coyle is looking at bringing the Frenchman to the Reebok Stadium.

However, it seems he will face competition from his Blackburn Rovers counterpart Steve Kean.

The defender is out of contract at the end of the season and is yet to agree a new deal with his hometown club.

And the two Premier League sides are reportedly preparing bids and will make a cut-price move in January.

But they face competition from French sides Saint Etienne and Lens, with Lorient demanding an answer from Morel about his future next week.