Suarez will always be played as a striker though, surely? We don't have good enough current strikers to play him behind the strikers. Carroll isn't good enough, yet, to take up the isolated lone striker role.
Can't see Suarez being played as a lone striker ever, he'll always be playing off another striker, IMO. Recently its been Kuyt but I suppose the plan is in the long term to have him off Carroll, and if that doesn't work then buy another goalscorer he can play off.
I don't mean as a lone striker, he was played as a lone striker against Stoke and he didn't play too well. I just can't see Carroll or Kuyt being lone strikers yet, and will only ever partner Suarez. Personally I think Suarez does better as a second striker, and we could do with a player like David Silva to really unlock defences for Suarez to shine.
If i could choose one to buy if money was no object it would probably be De Rossi I've always thought he was a brilliant player and can play CM or DM and is about as experienced at the top level as they come. He might not fit in with FSG transfer policy though as he would probably command a large fee with not much sell on value. If i could have another one it would be Thomas Muller from Bayern think he's going to turn out to be a top player he's already pretty good and given his age could really go on to be great. I thought he might of been worth a bid when we sold Nando as i think what we paid for Carroll would have been enough to get him and him and Suarez could of been deadly together.Also any one think Montolivo might be worth a bid in January i know Arsenal are supposed to be interested and his contract is up next summer so he might be available on the cheap.
Suarez is a striker, not an attacking midfielder, even though he's a law upon himself that he never stands still
But where would a David Silva type player play? Let's assume Suarez won't be played as a lone striker, and will be playing off whichever striker we have and lets assume that Gerrard will come into the side to replace Henderson, there's only one place an attacking midfielder could play, and thats in Downing's position whom I really can't see being dropped by Kenny. Where would you see him playing mate?
--------Suarez----Carroll--------- --Down------Silva?------Gerrard-- -------------Lucas---------------
I think next season Adam could be surplus to requirements, he will be used as a back up or rotational starter. Thomas Muller is a good shout also.
I like Montolivo, for some reason I have never been a fan of De Rossi and he would cost a lot. With regards to Muller, you know we put around 30 mil up for Gomez, got turned down, and Llorente and got turned down? I think Carroll might have been 3rd choice, but it is what it is. Would of loved Llorente. RM who do we have that is natural there? There was talk of Marin back in the day and he could still be very useful. RB in dream world ( he would never leave Bayern) is Lahm. Not sure who else I would want there, not really sure who is a top top player there!
I don't think we will sign anyone in January and will add 1 or 2 quality players next year other than multiple buys. We have some youngsters coming through to replace older players.
Phillip Lahm for sure brilliant player never going to happen but a man can dream. I heard we bid for Gomez 30 mil and Benzema as well apparently so maybe your right and Carroll wasn't first choice. If Roy Hodgson would of been on the ball apparently Gomez was for loan the summer he took over we didn't go for him and he went on to score loads while Olic was injured and then his price rocketed again. I'd prefer Muller to Gomez if i'm honest he's younger and has looked better at international level, the times I've seen Gomez for Germany he hasn't been too great but maybe i'm just not watching them enough lol I haven't watched Llorente enough to really judge him to be honest but i hear good things about him. For the RM spot we are short we've got Kuyt but he won't last forever Marin is a good call slight worry about his Physique but then there always is with people of his height, i quite like Gourcuff for that spot if he was going not an out and out winger but a very classy player reminds me a bit of Pires or maybe Navas if we were after outright pace although i hear he's none to keen to leave Spain.
I love navas ( not literally) but like you said he has huge home sickness problems. Mata is tiny, Silva is tiny, and they are doing just fine. Mertens from PSV looks very crafty, Gourcuff would be awesome, but he needs to be pulling the strings from AM, don't think he is an out and out winger. Phillipe Coutinho from Inter could do well there I think, but then again we are all just speculating. What about RB though? Who is out there that would fit the bill?
considering their other signings thats a pretty lame joke kpr. Dont you guys need a new center back? Good back up striker. winger and maybe and new dm
Signed a CB ( Coates), signed a good back up striker ( bellamy, proven in the prem), winger (RM) I will give you and dm though.
Is Mata that small? he doesn't look it, i know its not always about size i mean just look at Messi its just that question always seems to be raised when a small player comes to the prem but i agree with you i like what i've seen of Marin. I'd like Affelay as well for that spot he's wasted being on Barca's bench and we were apparently a bit interested in him during the last window. Gourcuff would be a good signing because he's versatile he can go left, right or in the middle and we'll need that bit of continental flair if we get back in the CL. For RB we've got Kelly and Johnson at the min so they might not buy another if we were to buy one though Lahm aside maybe Vargas but i'm not sure if he plays on the left side or not, i like Van der Wiel as well think he'd make a decent addition for full back he's young and can play either side. Where would you say is the position that needs to be addressed the most urgently in the next window?
Carra would probz leave you guys soon so id still think about a new experienced CB, and Bellamy eh see him more as a winger but i guess he'd be a decent back up striker
I like affelay, not sure if it is Barca reluctant to sell him or he reluctant to leave. I like Gourcuff and he seems to have hit a wall in terms of his progress, we would need at least 25 mil for him as he was 20 mil from Bordeaux to Lyon. Depending on if Johnson ( hurt again!) or Kelly can remain fit, that might be one area we might have to strengthen. I would love to see good width on the right hand side as well.
I agree with you about Affelay he does seem a bit reluctant to leave Barca not that i blame him as he probably still hopes to make it there, i think Barca would part with him for a decent sum as I'm not sure he'll ever be a regular first teamer. Gourcuff wouldn't be cheap and apparently he's on a wedge at Lyon, his progress does seem to have stalled a bit i remember when he played for Milan at about 18 he looked like he could be up one of the best French players since Zidane but he seems to have gone a bit stale maybe a move out of Ligue 1 might help him push on again. I agree real width on both sides could be a huge benefit when trying to stretch teams and we still need a bit more pace in the side in my opinion, i think if we get back in the CL were going to need increased versatility in the squad and i think we might start to pick up one or two real quality players each summer to supplement the good base of a squad that we already have. As we know that little bit of extra quality which more often than not you have to pay more for makes all the difference in big games we have a hard working and committed squad at the moment with some quality but as you start to increase expectations you need that bit of magic that only a few players have, which we should be able to afford as we're hopefully not going to need such a hight player turn over for the next few windows.
Agreed, and I think we have turned over enough! Something like 18 players out and 30 million freed up in wages alone! I can see a purchase in January if we are a bit behind the pack say 5-7 and the owners, comolli, and KK feel we need that extra bit. Gourcuff would be a top signing, when he was at Bordeaux he was immense!
Oh and you know Comolli is itching to get a French player in the club. Why not go the spectacular route! Have a word with Blanc about him, maybe get Blanc to talk to him about it could ignite his international career again, etc. I still really rate Banega as well, imagine Lucas banega and gourcuff pulling the strings, would be a bit special our midfield!
