Gareth McAuley

[MPH]

If we're looking at signing the calibre of player like McAuley and Bakary Sako, we'll really struggle next season.

 

 

There's two types of players we will need

 

 

One group will imp[rove on what we already have , the second will fill the spaces vacated by memers of the squad from last season - Bakery will replace Knocky and mcAuley will replace Upson, i would imagine...

[Guest]

Nobody has said he's replacing Huth.

except you![/quote

And the person i quoted

 

So two of you are making things up then.

[Guest Col city fan]

I can't see any harm in this at all.

He's free. His wages wouldn't be vast by any means. And he's an experienced Premiership defender.

What's there to lose really?

We don't have Huth yet, Wes and Was could pick up injuries.

I'd have no qualms about signing McCauley.

[VLC86]

So two of you are making things up then.

Have a re read and then get back to me, if it still doesn't make sense go to college.

[teblin]

I can't see any harm in this at all.

He's free. His wages wouldn't be vast by any means. And he's an experienced Premiership defender.

What's there to lose really?

We don't have Huth yet, Wes and Was could pick up injuries.

I'd have no qualms about signing McCauley.

 

I agree with this, but in addition to another CB hopefully Huth.

 

That would leave us with Huth,Wes, Was, McAuley, Moore and De leat if needed. 

[Robin JD Popley]

 

 

 

Is that you on the right?

 

 

I don't even want to know what that orange thing they're all grabbing on to is.

 

Is this part 3 of the Hopper, Smith and Pearson video?

 

       

 

Genuinely my favourite three ever comments on Foxestalk!

 

(I want to know what Barrowman thought he was doing when they asked him to have a picture with them. Oh I know, I'll just lick her face...no, in fact, I'll go all the way and work my way around to the ear lobe in stages. Bound to look attractive!)

[4everfox]

If we're looking at signing the calibre of player like McAuley and Bakary Sako, we'll really struggle next season.

To be fair Bakary Sako is a quality player.

[MPH]

       

 

Genuinely my favourite three ever comments on Foxestalk!

 

(I want to know what Barrowman thought he was doing when they asked him to have a picture with them. Oh I know, I'll just lick her face...no, in fact, I'll go all the way and work my way around to the ear lobe in stages. Bound to look attractive!)

From dodgy 8 year old boy haircuts, to jimmy krankie, to strange ginger coloured pantomime 'items'. In the Gareth McAuley thread.

Only on Foxestalk

[johnny the fox]

       

 

Genuinely my favourite three ever comments on Foxestalk!

 

(I want to know what Barrowman thought he was doing when they asked him to have a picture with them. Oh I know, I'll just lick her face...no, in fact, I'll go all the way and work my way around to the ear lobe in stages. Bound to look attractive!)

Everybody knows Jimmy Krankie is hung like a donkey....where have you been?   check out Bang Bros..

[shailen]

I liked McCauley when he was here. But we can do better. Simple as that really.

[Babylon]

If we're looking at signing the calibre of player like McAuley and Bakary Sako, we'll really struggle next season.

How to do you come to that conclusion?

 

If we sign those two players they would be pretty much direct replacements for Upson and Knockaert. That's definitely an upgrade on Upson and there is a very good argument for Sako being an upgrade on Knockaert when you look at the goals he has scored, combined with his physical attributes that are important at this level. Then of course you have Fuchs as an upgrade to Konchesky.

 

What it also does, whilst upgrading the squad for a low cost. It gives you more money to spend on a couple of players of high value. We look at the moment (it's still early) to be following the same model as last season. Upgrading the squad with the decent frees available, then signing two maybe three high value players.

 

We are unlikely to buy high value players if we're also padding the squad out with a load of £2m, £3,m £4m players.

[Bettsj2]

The negative attitude towards this is because people are assuming we're signing him instead of Huth.

Very much doubt that's the case, as has been said a couple of times its more likely a replacement for Upson.

He's been playing well in the Prem for a number of years so its a bit of a no brainer on a free.

[SecretPro]

How to do you come to that conclusion?

 

If we sign those two players they would be pretty much direct replacements for Upson and Knockaert. That's definitely an upgrade on Upson and there is a very good argument for Sako being an upgrade on Knockaert when you look at the goals he has scored, combined with his physical attributes that are important at this level. Then of course you have Fuchs as an upgrade to Konchesky.

 

What it also does, whilst upgrading the squad for a low cost. It gives you more money to spend on a couple of players of high value. We look at the moment (it's still early) to be following the same model as last season. Upgrading the squad with the decent frees available, then signing two maybe three high value players.

 

We are unlikely to buy high value players if we're also padding the squad out with a load of £2m, £3,m £4m players.

 

This.

[Kitchandro]

There's two types of players we will need

One group will imp[rove on what we already have , the second will fill the spaces vacated by memers of the squad from last season - Bakery will replace Knocky and mcAuley will replace Upson, i would imagine...

All players should be improving what we already have. That's how the squad gets better. We certainly don't need another Upson.

[Babylon]

All players should be improving what we already have. That's how the squad gets better. We certainly don't need another Upson.

So you don't think McAuley would improve on Upson? Being fit alone with be an improvement on Upson.

[LCCFox96]

All players should be improving what we already have. That's how the squad gets better. We certainly don't need another Upson.

 

If McAuley is fit to cover centre half when needed then he is an upgrade on Upson to be fair.

 

Whilst I'd prefer Huth and another younger CB we can develop to come in as apposed to McAuley I'm certainly not as negative towards this as some. It would probably be categorised as an underwhelming but steady signing and don't think it would do us any harm to have him around the squad.

[foxoffderby]

How to do you come to that conclusion?

 

If we sign those two players they would be pretty much direct replacements for Upson and Knockaert. That's definitely an upgrade on Upson and there is a very good argument for Sako being an upgrade on Knockaert when you look at the goals he has scored, combined with his physical attributes that are important at this level. Then of course you have Fuchs as an upgrade to Konchesky.

 

What it also does, whilst upgrading the squad for a low cost. It gives you more money to spend on a couple of players of high value. We look at the moment (it's still early) to be following the same model as last season. Upgrading the squad with the decent frees available, then signing two maybe three high value players.

 

We are unlikely to buy high value players if we're also padding the squad out with a load of £2m, £3,m £4m players.

 

 

How to do you come to that conclusion?

 

If we sign those two players they would be pretty much direct replacements for Upson and Knockaert. That's definitely an upgrade on Upson and there is a very good argument for Sako being an upgrade on Knockaert when you look at the goals he has scored, combined with his physical attributes that are important at this level. Then of course you have Fuchs as an upgrade to Konchesky.

 

What it also does, whilst upgrading the squad for a low cost. It gives you more money to spend on a couple of players of high value. We look at the moment (it's still early) to be following the same model as last season. Upgrading the squad with the decent frees available, then signing two maybe three high value players.

 

We are unlikely to buy high value players if we're also padding the squad out with a load of £2m, £3,m £4m players.

Ok Babs its great logic and makes sense. I think its about timing, if we had bought 3 high value names and then bought in GM people would not be complaining as much. But its early days yet. I've changed my thoughts on GM. Top post.

[GingerrrFox]

We need to be looking to Italy for a centre back. 3 at the back is the most used defensive shape in Serie A and Serie B so bringing players into the club with a history of knowledge and experience in that set up would be brilliant for us. There are some serious young prospects and well established professionals that are knocking about in that league, that would be available for little fee.

I hope Nigel doesn't shy away from playing 3 at the back to try and change in the summer, it was obvious the difference in performance and results once we adopted the 3-5-2 and we should be looking to bring players in that will improve our team in that formation. McAuley doesn't look comfortable in a 2 never mind a 3. The wide centre backs have to be a hybrid of a full back/centre back as they have to be adept at defending further towards the touch line. In the centre you need a commanding and dominant player (Huth). McAuley doesn't fit anywhere in a back 3.

[Robin JD Popley]

Everybody knows Jimmy Krankie is hung like a donkey....where have you been?   check out Bang Bros..

 

Haha Johnny!

 

Back on point though... the one defender we must sign this summer despite this speculation is Huth. Hopefully we aren't far off hearing news there. 

[MrSpaM]

If he's a replacement for Upson I honestly don't see the problem with it at all

[Robin JD Popley]

If he's a replacement for Upson I honestly don't see the problem with it at all

 

That's my view mate - we know what his strengths & weaknesses are and to be fair to him, he was one of the few good things about that woeful side of 2007/08. As I said in my original post, I was genuinely sad to see him leave the first time around: always came across as a top bloke as much as anything else.

[LCCFox96]

The wide centre backs have to be a hybrid of a full back/centre back as they have to be adept at defending further towards the touch line.

 

Morgan wasn't a hybrid of a full back/centre back and he did alright in a back 3. Wasilewski would be more adept at full back than Morgan but I wouldn't say he was a FB/CB hybrid either. Rather, what we did in the run in was load our back 3 with 'tough tackling, bodies on the line' defenders with a lot of nous and experience, a covered their flanks with pacey energetic players in Schlupp and Albrighton and it worked fine.

 

I'd say McAuley, whilst not my preferred signing compared to a younger player (perhaps from Serie A, like you say, as I agree with that logic), would fit into the same mould as Wes, Was and Huth - old school defender capable of playing in a back 3.

[ALC Fox]

I'd take McAuley back. He's proved himself at this level and he's a sound pro that some of our youngsters (including Moore) could learn from. I think he'd be a useful addition for 1 or 2 years.

Saying that, I personally don't think it will happen unless we do offer him a 2 year contract. His first choice will surely be West Brom. I'd expect him to sign for them again unless, as I say, another team will give him the security of an extra year.

[Babylon]

Ok Babs its great logic and makes sense. I think its about timing, if we had bought 3 high value names and then bought in GM people would not be complaining as much. But its early days yet. I've changed my thoughts on GM. Top post.

Don't get me wrong... if we only signed McAuley and were scratching around for frees and nobody else I'd be concerned. But that will come at the end of the window, as you say it's early days.

[Marky mark]

Be handy as a bench player although huth has to be the top target