800k fee agreed for Michael Duberry

[Royalee]

I do rate the lad but do we need him and at that price????

We now have Bennett, as well as Bikey, Sodje, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Gunnarsson, Pearce, Halford. (this is presuming Brown is going as part exchange)

Lot of money for someone who may not start and would leave us a little bit top heavy in that position.

I'd agree with that and I reckon Pearce'll be pushing for a first team place next season. That would give us Murty, Shorey, Halford, Sonks, Ivar, Bennett, Pearce and Bikey (once he improves and plays more games) who will all be reasonable options in defence. Great position to be in and I'm not sure we need anyone else! Central midfieldwise we're a bit short methinks.

[Coppelled Streets]

I do rate the lad but do we need him and at that price????

We now have Bennett, as well as Bikey, Sodje, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Gunnarsson, Pearce, Halford. (this is presuming Brown is going as part exchange)

Lot of money for someone who may not start and would leave us a little bit top heavy in that position.

Bikey looks all over the place and I always feel so uneasy when he's out there.

Looking at what we do have in defence, I'd love to see this young lad come in.

We'd have Sonko and Ivar as the current first choice centre backs, then you'd have Barnett and Halford who can play at centre back as cover. Bennett will need time and I'm not convinced by Sodje or Bikey. Youngsters are unlikly to break into the side unless they prove very special indeed.

This could prove a cracking piece of business by Stevie Coppell.

[SouthDownsRoyal]

I do rate the lad but do we need him and at that price????

We now have Bennett, as well as Bikey, Sodje, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Gunnarsson, Pearce, Halford. (this is presuming Brown is going as part exchange)

Lot of money for someone who may not start and would leave us a little bit top heavy in that position.

No DLC?

I agree though, don't feel we need another defender just yet and neither the Luton lad or the Stoke grandad appeal.

[ohagerup]

I do rate the lad but do we need him and at that price????

We now have Bennett, as well as Bikey, Sodje, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Gunnarsson, Pearce, Halford. (this is presuming Brown is going as part exchange)

Lot of money for someone who may not start and would leave us a little bit top heavy in that position.

I was wondering about the same. (We have Mate as well?). Bikey has been ok in other games as far as I've understood, so I wouldn't write him off quite yet. He can work out his clearences and better his ball controll. Being new in an established defense also normally would need some getting used to.

But with Bennett and possibly even another central defender, there would be very natural to letting someone go.

I am also worried about the lack of depth in central midfield, although Oster (and Seol?) has been tried there.

[Hoop Blah]

I do rate the lad but do we need him and at that price????

We now have Bennett, as well as Bikey, Sodje, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Gunnarsson, Pearce, Halford. (this is presuming Brown is going as part exchange)

Lot of money for someone who may not start and would leave us a little bit top heavy in that position.

How many of them are up to the Premiership though?

Bikey and Sodje aren't, Pearce is only just 18, whilst Bennett probably won't be ready for Premiership football for at least a few weeks. Both represent a gamble if we throw them into the side. Gunnarsson is a central midfielder and even a little club like ours should not be playing square pegs in round holes at this stage.

That leaves Ivar and the injured Sonko (knee injuries can be tricky to overcome and have a habit of re-occurance - especially if rushed back) and Halford who is primarily a right back.

If this fella from Luton is good enough to step into the side and improve it then I'm all for it and Coppell also said last night that the transfer window forces you to over buy and possibly have too many options because after it closes you can't do anything else about it.

That doesn't seem to apply to forwards and midfielders by the looks of it though!

[Gordons Cumming]

http://www.lutonfc.com/cgi-bin/newspro/viewnews.cgi?newsid1170200999,97084,

Interesting...

If that happens we'll have too many defenders now

[Only one Trevor Morley]

Everyone has forgotten Peter Mate!!

[Gordons Cumming]

Everyone has forgotten Peter Mate!!

We're overflowing with the bloody stoppers

[Corky341]

Luton have rejected a £3m offer from Reading for defender Leon Barnett (Daily Mail)

From the BBC Sports web site.

[Huntley & Palmer]

Looks lke Duberry, I think Sonko has a very serious injury if this is the case and we won't see him for the rest of the season.

DOOBS ON HIS WAY TO ROYALS
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09:40 - 31 January 2007
Stoke City were chasing an experienced Premiership defender today to replace skipper Michael Duberry ahead of tonight's transfer deadline.Reading have waved a substantial offer in front of Stoke to tempt them into releasing Duberry before the transfer window shuts at midnight.


But City will only do business if they can sign the player they have targeted as a direct replacement for their 31-year-old captain.

Stoke are under pressure to sell Duberry because he can walk away as a free agent when his contract expires in the summer.

His probable departure and subsequent replacement is likely to headline a potentially productive day's business for City manager Tony Pulis, who hasn't given up hope of adding to his current crop of goalkeepers and strikers.

[Stranded]

Haven't the club hinted that we'll be making another record signing today though - so whilst Doobs may come that may not be it?

[southbank1871]

Yeah, I can only assume they're not revealing the full extent of Sonko's injury yet, as if they do, any centre-back's prices they're going for will suddenly escalate.

[Wycombe Royal]

I still wouldn't be surprised to see a midfielder come in.

[Gordons Cumming]

Duberry

Make sense.

Experienced defender. A little suspect temperament ??

Short term deal?

Certainly better than Bikey last night.

[TVPRoyal]

http://www.stokecityfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Home/0,,10310,00.html

Duberry in discussions with Reading according to the Stoke offical site

[Huntley & Palmer]

Duberry

Make sense.

Experienced defender. A little suspect temperament ??

Short term deal?

Certainly better than Bikey last night.

I think so, possibly a year and a half deal as cover. Perhaps Bikey and/or Mate to leave once their loans finishes

[Huntley & Palmer]

http://www.stokecityfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Home/0,,10310,00.html

Duberry in discussions with Reading according to the Stoke offical site

Michael has evoked a clause in his contract, agreed at the time of him signing for the club, which allows him to talk to a Premiership club who make a bid for a fixed amount for him

[Dangerous]

Duberry

Make sense.

Experienced defender. A little suspect temperament ??

Short term deal?

Certainly better than Bikey last night.

I think so, possibly a year and a half deal as cover. Perhaps Bikey and/or Mate to leave once their loans finishes

Cover, yes.
Substantial fee, No!

[Only one Trevor Morley]

I'll be pleased if this is correct....

Wonder if Sodje will go on loan somewhere?

[Wycombe Royal]

Stoke have conceded 25 goals in 30 CCC matches which is the best in the league. He must be doing something right.