Klasnic

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Perhaps he'll change things more often (or earlier, or less predictably) when he has more of 'his' squad. That said, Sturridge is his, and Rodrigo, and Klasnic (re-signed). I think that behind the (welcome) attacking talk, he quietly plays the percentages as much as Allardyce in certain ways - like keeping the braveheart totem-pole on even when all others think he should be subbed.

[BWFC_Insane]

Perhaps he'll change things more often (or earlier, or less predictably) when he has more of 'his' squad. That said, Sturridge is his, and Rodrigo, and Klasnic (re-signed). I think that behind the (welcome) attacking talk, he quietly plays the percentages as much as Allardyce in certain ways - like keeping the braveheart totem-pole on even when all others think he should be subbed.

He makes positive subs and thats good and looks to get goals, also good.

To be honest of all the things that concern me most its his continual picking of Knight over a centre back he invested money in.

Knight positionally continues to make errors and is not exactly comfortable in posession. We spent money on Wheater and whilst not perfect looked decent enough when we played him and is light years ahead in posession.

Yet Knight is back in as soon as possible and continues to make errors!

[Lofthouse Lower]

Knight is f ucking dogshit

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

To be honest of all the things that concern me most its his continual picking of Knight over a centre back he invested money in.

While I agree with your worry and logic, here's a thought: maybe, just maybe, OC is playing the long game. Cahill will leave in the summer and although we'll get money and a replacement, maybe OC's thinking his first-choice two might be Knight and Wheater. Maybe he doesn't want to drop the 31-year-old for a younger man and then be forced back to his obvious lesser choice.

Tis but a theory.

[BWFC_Insane]

To be honest of all the things that concern me most its his continual picking of Knight over a centre back he invested money in.

While I agree with your worry and logic, here's a thought: maybe, just maybe, OC is playing the long game. Cahill will leave in the summer and although we'll get money and a replacement, maybe OC's thinking his first-choice two might be Knight and Wheater. Maybe he doesn't want to drop the 31-year-old for a younger man and then be forced back to his obvious lesser choice.

Tis but a theory.

Its probably correct but doesn't the thought of that particular combo any less scary!

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Don't get me wrong, I prefer Wheater to Knight and would rather have a ball-player alongside either as the Paul Jones to their Allardyce. I'll say it again: we'll miss Cahill when he goes.

[lovethesmellofnapalm]

Don't get me wrong, I prefer Wheater to Knight and would rather have a ball-player alongside either as the Paul Jones to their Allardyce. I'll say it again: we'll miss Cahill when he goes.

me too. a lot on here are rubbing their hands at the money we'll get for him but to buy what?
been his best season for us by a distance especially considering what he has been playing alongside.

[BWFC_Insane]

Don't get me wrong, I prefer Wheater to Knight and would rather have a ball-player alongside either as the Paul Jones to their Allardyce. I'll say it again: we'll miss Cahill when he goes.

me too. a lot on here are rubbing their hands at the money we'll get for him but to buy what?
been his best season for us by a distance especially considering what he has been playing alongside.

I think we'd all like him to stay but realistically he won't.

So getting the best cash/player swaps we can will be the priority.

Thing is IF Coyle is going to get anything to spend it will more than likely be from whatever is left out of the Cahill spoils so I think thats why people are thinking about the money.

We WILL miss Cahill, as Alan Gowling said on the radio on Saturday the back four needs some serious work and it'll only get worse when Cahill goes. We concede too many, and often very soft goals. Cahill has for me been at his best this season!

[Lofthouse Lower]

Two new full-backs, for me, as well as shipping out Knight

[Tombwfc]

So that's what, four new defenders, two strikers and at least one top notch central midfielder?

To pay for that, we'd need to fetch a fee for Cahill reflective of his apparent ability to drag us to 8th despite playing alongside a dogshit central defensive partner, the worst full-back ever to play for the club, a pub player left-back and a past-it goalkeeper.

I think if you sort out our issue's in midfield (three best midfielders all injured/knackered/out of form, playing two vs three in the middle more often than not), you solve a lot of our defensive problems as well. Starting next season with Al Habsi, NewLeftBack, NewCentreHalf, Wheater, NewRightback, sounds like it's asking for trouble, particularly if paired with NewLeftWinger, NewCentralMidfielder, Holden, LCY, Davies/NewCentreForward, NewCentreForward.

[Lofthouse Lower]

It is all 'in an ideal world', of course, with the reality being that Wheater, Knight, Robinson and Steinsson will be the back line. This upsets me greatly.

[Tombwfc]

I wouldn't be comfortable with Wheater/Knight by any means, it terrifies me. However, buying a straight replacement for Cahill and one midfielder (or just some new tactics) seems a lot more realistic than parachuting in an entire new defence.

[Lofthouse Lower]

I would give my sexy, hairless bollocks in exchange for Samba and Reo-Coker. Both much, much better than Knight and Muamba

[TKIZ!]

I would give my sexy, hairless bollocks in exchange for Samba and Reo-Coker. Both much, much better than Knight and Muamba

That's an image an a half!! Reo-Coker would be a good, reliable addition. Not sure about Samba, think he would be too similar to Knight

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Samba and Cahill are similar in that they frequently throw themselves in the way and waltz up Opta's "defensive blocks" chart. Otherwise, they're chalky white-boots and cheesy whiff. Samba's more than just muscle but Cahill's much, much more.

BWFCi, obviously I'd like Cahill to stay but I would have liked McAteer, Stubbs, Thompson and Curcic to stay. We just need to get the best possible price and build again, and there's no shame in that. Sometimes players move on, as Cristiano Ronaldo doubtless told Fergie. I would prefer us to get a ball-playing centre-half but they don't come cheap, especially in this country, and especially if the vendors realise we've just been given a rather large wedge.

And yes, it would be foolish to try to replace the defence en bloc. Evolution not revolution; if we settle the centre-back problem this window, we might bed in a new full-back in January, etc.

[BWFC_Insane]

I would give my sexy, hairless bollocks in exchange for Samba and Reo-Coker. Both much, much better than Knight and Muamba

That's an image an a half!! Reo-Coker would be a good, reliable addition. Not sure about Samba, think he would be too similar to Knight

You realise that Samba is 20 times the player Zat Knight is?

There is no chance we could get Samba but if we could then it would be a HUGE improvement over Knight!

[William the White]

I would give my sexy, hairless bollocks in exchange for Samba and Reo-Coker. Both much, much better than Knight and Muamba

That's an image an a half!! Reo-Coker would be a good, reliable addition. Not sure about Samba, think he would be too similar to Knight

You realise that Samba is 20 times the player Zat Knight is?

There is no chance we could get Samba but if we could then it would be a HUGE improvement over Knight!

if we got Samba he'd be playing alongside Knight...

[BWFC_Insane]

I would give my sexy, hairless bollocks in exchange for Samba and Reo-Coker. Both much, much better than Knight and Muamba

That's an image an a half!! Reo-Coker would be a good, reliable addition. Not sure about Samba, think he would be too similar to Knight

You realise that Samba is 20 times the player Zat Knight is?

There is no chance we could get Samba but if we could then it would be a HUGE improvement over Knight!

if we got Samba he'd be playing alongside Knight...

Only if Coyle was an idiot!

[thebish]

Only if Coyle was an idiot!

errr... what exactly is it that makes you think Coyle has the slightest intention of offloading or sidelining Knight?

[William the White]

I would give my sexy, hairless bollocks in exchange for Samba and Reo-Coker. Both much, much better than Knight and Muamba

That's an image an a half!! Reo-Coker would be a good, reliable addition. Not sure about Samba, think he would be too similar to Knight

You realise that Samba is 20 times the player Zat Knight is?

There is no chance we could get Samba but if we could then it would be a HUGE improvement over Knight!

if we got Samba he'd be playing alongside Knight...

Only if Coyle was an idiot!

Well, Cahill wouldn't be here...