West Ham have a shortlist of 25 players (minimum) Just trying to buy up everyone's targets Anyone remember last time we spent big, the Burley years, it backfired and we declined from then on...
Thing is we wouldn't be buying players just for the sake of it. We would be buying players to strengthen our team. Our squad depth is very thin and needs sorting out. So to use West Ham as a comparison isn't right.
I'm just saying we hav proved for the first half of the season that we are very much capable. But we shouldn't start bringing in a load of players because it could unsettle and unbalance the squad. By all means strengthen but there is no need to spend big, and we don't need to bring in anymore than maybe 2 players
I think we should go for broke. It doesn't matter what it costs, buying success is all that counts even if we can't afford it. If it doesn't come off it won't matter. All we have to do is go into administration, pay off our creditors at 20p in the £ and start again as if nothing had happend. It's a proven method.
2 or 3 players(hopefully premier league quality or close to) would be the perfect amount really.They will need time to settle in with our squad and our style of play.Then if we go up,we will probably buy 2 or 3 more players in the summer,that will leave us with 5 or 6 new players in our squad,and we wouldn't have to resort to buying virtually a new team to compete in the prem.Slowly and gradually the new players would settle in.
Apparently they've already had bids rejected for Whittingham (£3.5 million) and Rhodes (not sure of the amount).
If this is true then it seems like it would be worth following up. 700k is peanuts in football terms and if it worked out he would be a real bargain.
I have a feeling that we will not be bidding for anyone until towards the end of the window. Other than foreigners perhaps......I cannot see we will be bidding silly money for who ever. As per usual we seem to only target what no one else wants. Interesting tactics.....
Yep Forte was a poor signing, not sure anyone can argue with that. He did score 2 very important goals though
I don't think 5 signings is to much, I suppose 3 is more realistic but we don't have the biggest of squads. People like Holmes, Jaidi, Dickson, Forte, Seaborne and Bart are never going to make it in the Premiership. Why not look to replace them now and get new players settled for next season. You have to improve your team whenever you get the chance and we have a great opportunity at the moment to bring in some real quality with the position we are in.
Goalkeeper - I didn't say change him now although I'm not confident in him at the top level. I said he was getting old and I have no confidence in Bart. So we definitely need a new keeper. Centre Midfield - As I said we have 4 very good midfield players I just feel we lack someone who is capable of controlling the game from this position. I have no doubt Morgan and Cork will be able to do this in time I just don't think they are there yet, especially in Premiership which is what we should be gearing up for. If you don't have a commanding central midfielder in the premiership you will get rolled over every week. I do agree that we have some outstanding young players coming through but I don't see them being able to take on this role yet.
I think today showed that our squad definitely needs more strength in depth to continue a title challenge for the rest of the season. I know the sending off was a major factor today but when you're relying on a bench that includes Holmes, Forte and Reeves (who am sure will be a good player but not proven yet) it doesn't bode well.
