Quinn31

I wouldn't sell McCarthy to anyone unless stupid money is offered for him (20m+). I would love to bring back Lennon though if McGeady can be shipped out. Hell, I'd love to move Pienaar out the door as well (not because he can't still be effective, but he's never fit and is certainly on a veteran player's wages). Lennon isn't a worldbeater, but he's an effective winger who has been able to make far more of an impact than McGeady and is fit far more often than Pienaar. With one year left on his contract, I think a 2-3m pricetag is fair.

I've got to disagree with you here. Going out and getting drunk every so often (even if injured) isn't the end of the world for me. It'd be troublesome to me if he was getting pissed several times per week, but one incidence of partying means nothing.

I presume you're using playmaker in the deep-lying sense as opposed to a more advanced role?

Frequently or just once? I mean, every 20 something year old with money is going to go out and get pissed every now and again. I like Gibson a lot, but I've lost hope that he will ever be fit enough to really be a consistent contributor for us.

Yeah, possibly. On raw talent and potential he's above those two, but I don't know if it'd certainly translate to game time given his lack of experience (doesn't always happen that way). However, I do worry slightly that if he had a good season at Villa, they are a big enough club to possibly entice him to make a permanent move if his loan spell goes well if it looked like Baines would still be starting at LB here for 2016/2017.

Osman is a player who is at his best when in the center of the park. Also, like Pienaar, he has had questionable fitness recently and is getting on in age, though he is certainly still effective when healthy. If worst comes to worst, I'm sure we can recall Joe Yobo from his perpetual loan spell in Turkey and stick him on the wing. Wait, what? We finally sold Yobo?

I don't want to jump all over you about this since others have been critical of this, but maybe it's a bit sad to see a promising young talent like Shaqiri go there but this is definitely not the case for many of the types of players that Stoke has signed. Stoke have done a good job over the past few years of trying to move further up the table and also change their style into being a more passing and possession based game as opposed to what Pulis had them playing. Stoke has a lot of guys whose talent level doesn't surpass that of a midtable Premiership player and for these types of players, Stoke is a decent club with decent support. As for Shaqiri, definitely disappointing to see him move to a club that will likely never surpass being a midtable side, but there is some logic to this move. He will get a chance to prove himself with week in week out football (instead of being a fringe player at a club like Bayern) and if he does well, he is still young and the big clubs will likely scoop in for him at a handsome pricetag. Again, no mean to criticize you too harshly, Joe, just thought you were being a tad unfair to Stoke (who I find myself oddly defending for the first time) and Shaqiri.

Neither Oviedo nor Osman are particularly threatening on the wing, in my opinion, regardless of whether the manager has chosen to play them there in the past. Gareth Barry has filled in at leftback for us, but it doesn't mean I'd want to see him there except for in an emergency.

the only one of those players who is a winger is Pienaar, and he's been having near-constant fitness issues for two years. I'm sorry, but we need a squad of more than 16 players. As for McGeady, I would absolutely sell him as long as we have plans to bring in another winger, even if it's another guy who is certain not to be a first eleven regular. McGeady just hasn't worked out. He has all the tricks and ability to be a top player, but he is just mentally too slow for the pace of the Premiership. He's a guy who can be an ace in a lesser/slower paced league, hell, I'd even see him doing well in Spain, but not in the Premiership. He's the winger version of Bilyaletdinov: Great tools/skills, but not physical enough or mentally quick enough for this league

Him, of course.

I think he's one who will never be worth his hype. Think he will have a top career in a second tier league or be a middle-of-the-road player in Spain, Italy, England.

With any competency from our manager and players, that won't be repeated for a long time.

Oh my. I was mostly joking regarding this. Think he'd do well for Palace or WBA or one of the other lower midtable sides, but not here. I think he's a few years past his best and way too unstable of a temperament for this club. *Also* Mike, if what you are saying is true, then you are getting far more play from the ladies than I am despite a 30 year age gap!

...Released by QPR Being a bit naughty here. Anyone have a heart attack?

Besic gives a lot of hustle and heart, but I don't think he's ever going to be a star in this league. I think he serves as good cover, but even with age, I don't see him being the type of player to bring us trophies, top 6 finishes if he's in our starting eleven week in week out. I think those who love him are coming at it from an emotional look rather than reviewing his actual performance.

So sad, but true.

It's a weakness of mine.

It was meant as a compliment of sorts!

Haha, you're a vicious pragmatist, Mark. A definite contrast to some of the romantics on this board.

Hell, I'd love to get him on a new contract and then loan him to Bournemouth or another premier league side that could offer him time.

Yeah, he looked okay. I just want to stress the difference between a player getting one 30 minute spell vs 90 minutes week in week out though.

Fair enough, but that's assuming Martinez rates Browning and/or Galloway enough to have them ready to step in.

He acquitted himself nicely in a few of the matches he's featured in. I think he still has the ability to be cover to Seamus, but his fitness is troubling.

He's returned to form these past few months. Think he's still got a few good years left in him.

Honestly, sad to see this, but I'd like to see us move him out in the summer. He is not good enough as an attacker to be a winger, and not as good as Baines at Leftback. If we move him out, we can get Garbutt more game time if we can get Garbutt to stay. He looks a real talent.