[stubba]

I`d like someone to ask Tony Brown if we should get Zoltan Gera back,the bloke loves him!!
I reckon Bomber would love a midfeild of GERA,MULUMBU,SCHARNER,DORRANS,and BRUNT.

  think we all would 

[DudleyBaggieFan]

CL article for Birmingham mail confirmed agent is to hold more talks over weekend re Gera, suggesting talks have already been held :-) come home zolly!!!

[B_H_Baggie]

CL article for Birmingham mail confirmed agent is to hold more talks over weekend re Gera, suggesting talks have already been held :-) come home zolly!!!

To be fair it wasn't the Birmingham Mail confirming that his agent was to hold further talks with us the weekend just reporting what has been said by Hungarian sources. As for already having talks I imagine with most free transfers we have held initial discussions just to see if they would be interested in joining the club should we want to make a move for them, almost a case of doing our due diligence.

[paulosull]

dont think he would get into first team, davis or murphy would be better options

[paul_47]

Roy obviously likes him, I think he would be great back here (Can't remember seeing him have a bad game)

[saml30]

like the fact he could play behind the striker or RM, variety for a club like us is vital IMO

[silver surfer]

Gera is a known quantity, older but more experienced, and would add depth to our squad.
Has always performed at this level so relativley low risk, injuries permitting.

[j_dog_1980]

Think it would be a great signing and said to my mate soon as Hodgson came in, we would be in for him if we stayed up! Great player who can still do a job in this league! Cant wait to see him doing his goal celebration flips in front of the Baggies a few more times!

[mb1]

Would be a decent signing can play on the left, right or through the centre behind the striker and has Premier league experience.

As somebody else mentioned moving Barnes on and getting Gera is good business.  We need a stronger squad beyond the first XI and his arrival would provide this. 

[WBASPE77]

I really hope we can bring him back as he would be a good sqaud player, and he now is a very experainced Premiership player.

[PsalmXXIII]

Gera has the fantastic ability to pick out that killer pass, regardless of his speed and movement. With regards to defence splitting passes, he's one of the best we've had, could see Odemwingie loving him.

[graka]

if we persist with 1 upfront then gera is great competition with dorrans for that role as i fell it doesnt suit cox or morrison.

[eaststandbaggie]

Bring him back still a great player

[Baggies]

As in another thread, im surprised that after the transfer policy working last time and with Ashworth and the scouts having proved their selves in the last few years, we now seem to be fishing in a small pool again. Gera would add experience and he can play both right mid (a bit of a problem position) and behind the striker (which would allow Hodgson to play his 442 while it also being a 451/433 type formation) but he is 32 now.

Maybe im just a bit disappointed that the likely hood of our scouts being able to sin nan exciting unknown quantity is slipping away. I just feel with past years having seen us come close to players such as Modric, Eduardo, Dembele and then with the signings of Odemwingie, Mulumbu and Velero (who although not working here is still proving to be a top player) that our scouts could possibly have pulled something else out of the bag.

[silver surfer]

As in another thread, im surprised that after the transfer policy working last time and with Ashworth and the scouts having proved their selves in the last few years, we now seem to be fishing in a small pool again. Gera would add experience and he can play both right mid (a bit of a problem position) and behind the striker (which would allow Hodgson to play his 442 while it also being a 451/433 type formation) but he is 32 now.

Maybe im just a bit disappointed that the likely hood of our scouts being able to sin nan exciting unknown quantity is slipping away. I just feel with past years having seen us come close to players such as Modric, Eduardo, Dembele and then with the signings of Odemwingie, Mulumbu and Velero (who although not working here is still proving to be a top player) that our scouts could possibly have pulled something else out of the bag.

In Geras case, he is a known quantity and knows the club, manager, fans. As long as hes fit and motivated theres nothing to dislike, surely?

[Dudleylad]

Whilst I agree in principle with what your saying Baggies, I think Hodgson has identified the lack of experience in the side, you only needed to look at last season we looked alot weaker with Reid and Scharner missing because that experience just wasnt there

[GrGr]

As in another thread, im surprised that after the transfer policy working last time and with Ashworth and the scouts having proved their selves in the last few years, we now seem to be fishing in a small pool again. Gera would add experience and he can play both right mid (a bit of a problem position) and behind the striker (which would allow Hodgson to play his 442 while it also being a 451/433 type formation) but he is 32 now.

Maybe im just a bit disappointed that the likely hood of our scouts being able to sin nan exciting unknown quantity is slipping away. I just feel with past years having seen us come close to players such as Modric, Eduardo, Dembele and then with the signings of Odemwingie, Mulumbu and Velero (who although not working here is still proving to be a top player) that our scouts could possibly have pulled something else out of the bag.

I wouldn't worry yet. Reid is an example of a player that helped us stay up this season. He knows the PL inside and out and it showed at crunch time. I don't mind a player or two more of the experienced sort.

But I am also certain that we will look to bring in the Odemwingie's, Dembele's, Tiote's, Valero's, Mulumbu's this window as well. We are in extremely early days and I bet most of the names thrown around are 'wide off the mark' as one reporter often says.

I am positive we have at least talked with Gera, but I doubt we will offer him a super contract. He is on the decline and I see him as a super solid backup rather than starter for us. And we know we must have strength in depth to survive in the PL.

[BB74]

As in another thread, im surprised that after the transfer policy working last time and with Ashworth and the scouts having proved their selves in the last few years, we now seem to be fishing in a small pool again. Gera would add experience and he can play both right mid (a bit of a problem position) and behind the striker (which would allow Hodgson to play his 442 while it also being a 451/433 type formation) but he is 32 now.

Maybe im just a bit disappointed that the likely hood of our scouts being able to sin nan exciting unknown quantity is slipping away. I just feel with past years having seen us come close to players such as Modric, Eduardo, Dembele and then with the signings of Odemwingie, Mulumbu and Velero (who although not working here is still proving to be a top player) that our scouts could possibly have pulled something else out of the bag.

Any idea if McAuley was an Ashworth or Hodgson signing? I.e. network or a player in Hodgsons mind?

[Baggies]

GrGr, im not sure if we will be getting too many unknowns looking at the current players in talks. Gera seems to be in talks and looks very possible with Friedel also a maybe. We don't need lots of signings, just top up's so I think if Gera comes in that will be the midfielder search all but over.

I have no idea BB74 about who's signing Mcauley was. Ive got a feeling it is somebody identified more by Hodgson personally which may not be a bad thing as the scouts have lacked in the area of defence in recent years while Hodgson hasn't but aI do have some reservations if he is the only centre back we bring in, with it being such a problem last season.

[silver surfer]

With Meite gone and possibly Tamas not part of the plan, Ibanez has question mark over him possibly.
Then you would expect one or two more established CB coming through the door in the summer.

[kris_boing]

Its all about evolution for me.

Releasing Barnes and Meite and bringing in Gera and McAuley is already an improvement on last season IMO.

If we bring in a proper rightback to replace Zuiverloon then thats another good move.

To replace players who never feature in the side or not likely too with potential first teamers is the right way to go.

[GrGr]

GrGr, im not sure if we will be getting too many unknowns looking at the current players in talks. Gera seems to be in talks and looks very possible with Friedel also a maybe. We don't need lots of signings, just top up's so I think if Gera comes in that will be the midfielder search all but over.

I have no idea BB74 about who's signing Mcauley was. Ive got a feeling it is somebody identified more by Hodgson personally which may not be a bad thing as the scouts have lacked in the area of defence in recent years while Hodgson hasn't but aI do have some reservations if he is the only centre back we bring in, with it being such a problem last season.

I have the feeling McAuley was a Hodgson signing as well.

I believe we currently are in the first round of signings/talks, this one is for free agents just like the Ibanez one last year. We will move on to the Odemwingie type targets later in the summer and a lot of that is probably very lowkey and under the radar atm. 

There has been a few rumours of 'fresh' quality players already (like the two lads from Gent) but it would surprise me greatly if we only brought in squad fillers this summer (don't mean that disrespectully, more in the light that you don't build a team long term around 30+ year players who may or may not be good enough for regular first team action), even if they are upgrades over existing fringe players.

We may not need a lot of players, but to me we definitely need to add one or two core calibre players in addition this season. I agree Friedel and Gera do not fall into that category.

[lordbaggie]

If our initial aim is to secure another season (or two) in the Prem, (and then take stock) then we won't do that by thinking long term - we'll do it by adding high calibre 30 year olds (ish) who can deliver immediately. And the key positions will be a CB to partner Olsson, another striker to reduce our dependence on Odemwingie, a better GK and a RB.

Friedel could be one of the answers, so could AJ.

Thinking long term is what we did when we added Brunt, Mulumbu and Dorrans. All three showed promise early on but each of them had at least a season (or more) - usually in the Championship, before they became consistent, top notch Premiership performers (and in the case of Dozza we're still waiting, albeit confidently.)

In my view we need a mix of long and short term thinking

[GrGr]

A mix of short and long term thinking is on DA's job description.

If we have a smashingly successful season next year and have Brunt, Mulumbu and PO poached by top clubs (and it is the nature of the business that the best players eventually move on), we don't want to be left standing with a bunch of 30+ year olds and our core ripped out.

[WBArgo]

A mix of short and long term thinking is on DA's job description.

If we have a smashingly successful season next year and have Brunt, Mulumbu and PO poached by top clubs (and it is the nature of the business that the best players eventually move on), we don't want to be left standing with a bunch of 30+ year olds and our core ripped out.

By then (3 seasons) we'll have at least; Thorne, Dawson and Wood all on our cards, not to mention the odd new/young success or two.