I reckon Mackem Steve nailed it. We were all pissed off that our players were underperforming but since MON took over we seem to have a completely different set of players and are spoilt for choice in all positions. Even left wing, so long a problem and now we have Jimmy Mac, Sess and Kieran all capable of putting in a good shift. Left back we have Kieran, Jack and Hamish. Wherever you look we have suddenly got options. Strikers (I'd still have Defoe) we have Bendy, Ji, Connor and soon Fraizer together with possibly Ryan. If we are to strengthen then replace a player with a better one, something like Defoe for Ji. I do think all the lads are playing similarly good and are of a similar quality to each other. They are playing as a team. Look at Catts and Gardner now! Whichever way you look at it Mon has got the lads playing to their full potential.
I would be more worried if we did not sign a striker if we weren't scoring goals. However, scoring goals is not a problem under MON. Therefore, when you think of 35 million for Andy Carroll and 24 million for Darren Bent in the last transfer window - I think it would be better to wait until the summer when you can get more value for money. Bentner and Wickham seemed really good when they played together and factor in Campbell. I would wait. As Quinny would say the biggest mistakes are made in January.
Like ours was by not replacing Bent, yes we got away with it but it was a close run thing..we all know that
4/5m would get Jordan Rhodes. Another young lad who can grow into the club with Wickham, frazier, Noble, Ji. We seem to be getting quite a few youngsters in which (hopefully) will save tens of millions in the future. Not paying big fee's and wages qon't be stupid either. Defoe, Arshavin, even Ba would be upwards of 50,000 per week. Also it would shove Lee Clarke's ugly mug up his own arse. The prick.
I would love to see a striker - quite like the idea of Defoe - he will need regular 1st team time to get to Euro 2012 surely? He`s better than Ji (despite him being the Korean god of football!) and would score the "striker" type goals we have missed since Judas left. I would even see if we could get him on a loan just for the rest of the season - next year I reckon we`ll have Gyan back (or significant cash in his place), Frazier more like the finished article plus Connor and Ji which looks OK to me. Like the left back link on another post (the Brazilian from L`pool) but even patched up the back 4 (or 10 v Citeh) look much better organised than under the Beak. End of the day let MON decide - not done too bad a job so far! Happy Days
I think we are ok in all departments now untill May, Frazer scored for the reserves and we have Connor, Ji, and with Craig gardner, and Kilganonn doing well in defence with Brambell and Turner coming back and wtih Rico, Vaughn etc we are strong enough. And hearing about Darlington's sad position can we play a friendly for them and give them all the proceeds to help them, and at the Boro cup game paople should come with buckets and if put £3 each in and there is 45,000 that would raise about £120,000 for the club, as it is a sad situation for them.
Would not be bothered if we didn't sign a striker as long as we keep winning. We are getting goals all over the pitch so would rather he had the summer to identify the right target. Saying that if the right man was availalbe then go for it but just don't think you can get great value in January.
Defoe virtually guarantees the goals but like Scatty says bendy & wickham looked good together the short time they had together. Campbell, Sess and either Ji or Noble is a bloody good forward line, if we stay clear of injuries.
We still need a striker and one who scores goals not a player who holds the ball up well (just another name for a crap striker see Heskey). When Gyan does decide to come back he'll be sold in my opinion and, with Bendtner going back to Arsenal (please go back to Arsenal asap) we will need another striker for next season.
