Fabian Delph

[CoopsieDeadpool]

That's a possibility, but the fact remains that he saw an England call up in September, hasn't since, and would see his potential to get back into Hodgson's mind if he waits/allows a competitor to take his place.

It's possible Liverpool may promise him that with the departure of Gerrard, but I don't think he'd be their first choice player and they'll also likely have less games next year with no Europe. But I cannot see Pochettino guaranteeing him a place next summer at Spurs, and I think that's fair.

Yep I agree with that, i was merely pointing out that it's not inconceivable that he has already been told by a PL club that they will take him in the summer. As @allatsea said, it's likely there'll be more than just Liverpoo & THFC after Delph.

 

[DaSpurs]

Yep I agree with that, i was merely pointing out that it's not inconceivable that he has already been told by a PL club that they will take him in the summer. As @allatsea said, it's likely there'll be more than just Liverpoo & THFC after Delph.

True, I'm actually surprised to see Everton not linked with their midfield problems with McCarthy out.

And you're certainly right someone may have told him they'd maintain interest through the summer or have even guaranteed him a spot, but I still think it's a very risky decision at a crucial point in his career. He may have his bigger move assured, but if he loses that spot in the England team in that time, is it worth it? And correct me if I'm wrong, but I assume you chaps have Euro qualifiers this spring, yeah?

 

[CoopsieDeadpool]

True, I'm actually surprised to see Everton not linked with their midfield problems with McCarthy out.

And you're certainly right someone may have told him they'd maintain interest through the summer or have even guaranteed him a spot, but I still think it's a very risky decision at a crucial point in his career. He may have his bigger move assured, but if he loses that spot in the England team in that time, is it worth it? And correct me if I'm wrong, but I assume you chaps have Euro qualifiers this spring, yeah?

Funny you mentioned Everton, I was thinking about them as an option whilst typing my last response to you.

As for England & Euro qualifiers, wouldn't have a clue, mate. I'm about as interested in International football, as I am in A&C's worryingly sick bedroom habits

 

[ebzrascal]

It's quite apparent to me that with Bentaleb gone to ANC, we don't really have another player in our squad that is similar to him and based on what I've seen of Delph, I'd argue that the two of them are actually very similar players.

Delph is a high energy, combative midfielder who has a good long range shot in his locker. He's tidy on the ball and a decent passer. All of the above you could say about Nabil. The one thing about him I haven't liked is that he's often late in the tackle and can be a bit dirty, having said that though, no harm in having a bit more steel in the midfield. Both Mason and Bentaleb have shown that they are willing to mix it in that same regard.

This transfer would be a no-brainer for me. Low risk, possible high reward.

I really don`t think we need him Benteleb will be back early Feb we have enough we not talking about Roy Keane or Patrick Viera he is a young kid still learning and I would not play him every week anyway.. Capoue and Stambouli need to step and seize their chance..

 

[DaSpurs]

I really don`t think we need him Benteleb will be back early Feb we have enough we not talking about Roy Keane or Patrick Viera he is a young kid still learning and I would not play him every week anyway.. Capoue and Stambouli need to step and seize their chance..

We don't have enough players at all compatible with Poch's system. There's a reason that when Bentaleb and Mason in particular are out, our attack is entirely blunted and our midfielders cannot find the forward players to save their lives. It's far too static and predictable. Even with Masom and Bentaleb, we lack in various qualities that sides can easily take advantage of.

For me, CM is once again our highest priority after two and a half years later and still not properly addressing actual needs. This has to stop.

 

[dagraham]

Is Delph really the best we can do? A player whose career has totally nosedived into averageness (if it ever really took off in the fist place).

I don't watch Villa every week so maybe I'm doing him a disservice, but just because he had a few good games and got an England call up doesn't make him any better than Mason or Bentaleb.

 

[DaSpurs]

Is Delph really the best we can do? A player whose career has totally nosedived into averageness (if it ever really took off in the fist place).

I don't watch Villa every week so maybe I'm doing him a disservice, but just because he had a few good games and got an England call up doesn't make him any better than Mason or Bentaleb.

Again, the reasoning shouldn't be that he's better than them, but rather that he improves our options because Poch clearly doesn't like any of them after Mason and Bentaleb. With Delph, he'd give us assets none of our other midfielders have and would therefore improve Poch's options for any given match. He's also IMO a very compatible player with Poch's system, and a very versatile one throughout the midfield in a squeeze or in our case, trudging through four competitions with an unbalanced squad. I think it'd be an incredibly ideal plan if we could get him for anything under 7 mil.

 

[millsey]

Is Delph really the best we can do? A player whose career has totally nosedived into averageness (if it ever really took off in the fist place).

I don't watch Villa every week so maybe I'm doing him a disservice, but just because he had a few good games and got an England call up doesn't make him any better than Mason or Bentaleb.

If you don't watch villa you don't watch Delphh. So you can't really judge home. Bentaleb and mason wouldn't stand out on Match of the day of villa games would they

 

[y1dk1d]

I think if we get Delph, it'll be deadline day. Levy will feel it's his for the taking and he's in the driving seat, his favourite

 

[DaSpurs]

I think if we get Delph, it'll be deadline day. Levy will feel it's his for the taking and he's in the driving seat, his favourite

Hope that isn't the case, as we need him for some crucial cup matches this month, especially at the tail end. I think we could satisfy Levy's wish for negotiating down, while also getting him in with time for those.

Very wishful thinking though admittedly.

 

[walworthyid]

He would suit our system perfectly. Pacy, fit, energetic and aggressive. I would like him.

 

[THOWIG]

For 3 mil it's a no brainer surely?

Same with Lambert.

 

[kernowspurscoach1977]

For 3 mil it's a no brainer surely?

Same with Lambert.

No thanks I lambert

 

[THOWIG]

No thanks I lambert

Why not?

Kane is a nailed on starter now for the rest of the season. We just need someone to back him up until the end of the season.

 

[Sweech]

Why not?

Kane is a nailed on starter now for the rest of the season. We just need someone to back him up until the end of the season.

Plus he's very proven with Poch.

I don't understand people waving a dismissive hand either.

 

[ebzrascal]

We don't have enough players at all compatible with Poch's system. There's a reason that when Bentaleb and Mason in particular are out, our attack is entirely blunted and our midfielders cannot find the forward players to save their lives. It's far too static and predictable. Even with Masom and Bentaleb, we lack in various qualities that sides can easily take advantage of.

For me, CM is once again our highest priority after two and a half years later and still not properly addressing actual needs. This has to stop.

you seem to forget our best performance of the season was without Mason for 70 minutes when he went off it was 0-0

Bentaleb was being slated prior to the last couple of weeks so lets give some of the other guys a chance to come in and impress..

Dembele was excellent against Chelsea before that game people wanted to sell him.. I am against having players being guaranteed starters lets just calm this down as before the 2nd half against Man Utd we have been shocking especially with our lack of protection of the back four..

 

[ebzrascal]

Why not?

Kane is a nailed on starter now for the rest of the season. We just need someone to back him up until the end of the season.

Again this is so stupid !! he starts while he is in form if he goes off the boil someone else gets a chance that how it should work.. He missed a sitter against Burnley maybe a bit of over confidence.. He has done really really well but lets not go over board on this I have seen it so many times before. Poch is right to want to get another striker in to play with Kane or Challenge him for the number one role as when there is good competition for places do players improve.. Rose and Davies is starting to look like an example of this..

 

[DaSpurs]

you seem to forget our best performance of the season was without Mason for 70 minutes when he went off it was 0-0

Bentaleb was being slated prior to the last couple of weeks so lets give some of the other guys a chance to come in and impress..

Dembele was excellent against Chelsea before that game people wanted to sell him.. I am against having players being guaranteed starters lets just calm this down as before the 2nd half against Man Utd we have been shocking especially with our lack of protection of the back four..

I don't forget that performance at all, but as I've pointed out already in this thread that was due to the scenario, not because Dembele himself overcame our found the incisive passes past Chelsea's defense.

Dembele worked very well in that match because once Chelsea became frustrated in the second half, their midfielders collapsed on him in attempt to win the ball, and due to Dembele's top shelf shielding ability he managed to retain possession and play into the space left behind by those opposing midfielders. It worked absolutely brilliantly. However, this would not translate whatsoever into breaking down the sides who instead sit back and attempt to frustrate us instead, as most smaller sides do. As a result, we saw exactly why Stambouli and Dembele reverted right back to stale football from the midfield against Burnley.

No one is suggesting Delph be a guaranteed starter. Literally, no one.

Protection for the back four? That's the whole point here, love. Have you missed the conversation in which Delph's defensive contributions have been pointed out as opposed to Dembele's? In last season, he had nearly twice as many attempted tackles per match to slow down the opposition (while less fouls committed despite this), more interceptions and blocks than Dembele and Paulinho combined son, almost as many clearances as those two again combined, and with just as good of an aerial duel rate as the much taller Dembele (and massively better than Paulinho's). All of this in a worse Villa team.

And so as you can see my friend, Delph would actually be an improvement for our defense of our back line, not a degradation.

 

[DaSpurs]

Again this is so stupid !! he starts while he is in form if he goes off the boil someone else gets a chance that how it should work.. He missed a sitter against Burnley maybe a bit of over confidence.. He has done really really well but lets not go over board on this I have seen it so many times before. Poch is right to want to get another striker in to play with Kane or Challenge him for the number one role as when there is good competition for places do players improve.. Rose and Davies is starting to look like an example of this..

No it's not stupid. What's stupid is ignoring the fact that many of these Prem-established strikers will demand to be first choice, and furthermore the impact that replacing Kane would have on him, the squad, and especially the youth academy players looking up the ranks.

We do need an alternate to Kane, but Thowig is absolutely right that we do not need a player who would replace him, nor one that would displace him elsewhere and cause the whole system to be less efficient.

 

[ebzrascal]

No it's not stupid. What's stupid is ignoring the fact that many of these Prem-established strikers will demand to be first choice, and furthermore the impact that replacing Kane would have on him, the squad, and especially the youth academy players looking up the ranks.

We do need an alternate to Kane, but Thowig is absolutely right that we do not need a player who would replace him, nor one that would displace him elsewhere and cause the whole system to be less efficient.

I agree not someone to replace him and we should not guarantee players a place in the team... I don`t think top teams should do that.. Bony will not be guaranteed a place at Man City and Falcao is not at at Man Utd.. Harry Kane should not be afraid of competition and I do not think he is after all he has overcome Soldado and Adebayor this season to be the number one.

As a team we need to continue to improve and if that means we get another top striker in then sorry I am not sentimental and I want that player. Harry Kane will not become a worse player by training every day with better players and we have enough games to keep everyone happy as already I think some of our squad are playing too many games.