Morning Folks. Whilst I fully appreciate we have been quiet on the auld transfer front up to now, I am fully convinced that it may remain the case. Lets look at the situation, the much mooted left wing problem appears to have been sorted or at least initially addressed by young McLeans emergence. Killa,s recent performances at centre half with O Shea have looked very promising and whilst we all accept that Super Sess is not an out and out striker , he has done well of late in that position. All in all, the massive increase in confidence throughout the entire club (never mind the first team) has had all the players playing out of their skin. I think MON is also looking closely at young Whickam and Ji to push on and although Bentner may leave at the end of the season, I dont think he will be a great loss.Given the fact that player prices are much inflated and availablity is poor during the Jan transfer window, I wouldnt be surprised if MON is looking to ensure stability this season then invest any possible funds at the end of the season. After all, we dont know how the Gyan sitaution may pan out, he may come back or continue to bang em in, the micky mouse league which would only serve to boost his value. No Folks I wouldnt give a jot if MON signs no bugger...the lads right now are doing me proud (I know this good run cant last for ever, but as Cest as said on many occassions, its the confidence and professionalism that MON brings to our club that has impressed me...something sadly lacking under the previous administration)
Hello Biffa ...nice piece. What I really like (for someone who listens quite a lot to the radio..and all the planks who make a fortune out of blab) is the absence of gossip Tons of gob about all the London clubs and flash Harries doing this and that... People are comparing ONeill to Clough but I think a facet of Ferguson is there too. He famously stopped talking to the BBC of course. While MON can be engaging to the media he really doesnt say anything about business Im sure this is great for current players However in the real world it would only take a couple of bad results for all the euphoria to turn on its head If this did happen I dont think SAFC supporters would turn on MON Look at the patience the previous Boss was given......I think the nearest he comes if you listen carefully is that he talks about an absence of real pace ....Somebody like Agbonlahor which i think may be his next purchase and like you Biffa I wouldnt mind if that was in the summer
I think we should look to keep our money for the summer when MoN can bring in 3 or 4 players who will really improve the squad. at this moment in time if we brought in no-one I wouldn't be concerned at all but if we do manage to bring someone in (Pienaar -2.5m??) I certainly wont complain if they are an improvement on what we already have.
I feel that way as well. It won't bother me to give the present squad a good settled period together. The only one I would really jump at is Bent because he'd get goals (especially with the improved supply we offer now) and it wouldn't involve a lot of cash changing hands because we're owed it. That seems unlikely so I'd be content to give the present squad time.
I think its simple, like me, he knows what he wants and if the player who fits his plans becomes available at the right price he will buy. What MON wont do is panic buy for buyings sake, that IMO was Brucies big downfall.
I think MON will work on improving our current squad and making players seem as if they are new, as opposed to the Bruce school of sign 3 players and 1 of them will be decent. Whatever he does I trust him that it will be the optimum decision in the long term.
I agree we arent desperate but still feel we need an experienced centre forward to hold up the ball better and allow our midfield and Sess to work around him, Bendtner doesnt do enough 'centre forward' work for me and drops into the wing and too far back and while he looks good in this position it isint what the team needs. A guy like this will only help players like Wickham.
Settled squad for a season is the way for me. Like I said on another post, hopefully come Feb/March if we do get a few injuries we can put a couple of the younger lads in the side with little pressure on them. If we have some funds available then I'd rather use them in the summer when you have alot more targets available and at better prices. This window might as well just be for loans only, they's only ever 1 or 2 big signings traditionally in January.
I've always thought we had a decent squad. Even under Keane the team wasn't too bad, Cisse, Jones, Malbranque, Chimbonda, Tainio (I was a huge fan). Now it seems we have a manager who can get the lads playing... Still wouldn't mind a signing or two, just to get me excited (selfish, I know)...
As i said before im laid back about it if sign anyone great if we dont im not worried we have the right man in charge.
Just think of how quiet the window is at the moment. A few clubs have bought but the majority of them haven't, yet. It's still early days, and I think for both our clubs, any transfer dealings will come towards the end.
To be honest, O'Neill will be thinking that if the current squad can keep you in the league, that will do. Transfers will probably wait till the summer when you can get 4 players for the price of 3 in January.
I'd like to see an out-and-out striker come in, but otherwise I am soooooo much more relaxed about it now that MO'N is doing his thing. If Bruce was still here Gardner would be up for sale for sure and the money we'd get for him would be going on more loanees. Nightmare situation...
For me we still need 2 players, A left back as we don't have one and a striker because Bendtner is not the answer and will be going back to Arsenal anyway. If Mon waits until the summer to sort these 2 positions out its fine by me. The only players I can see realisticly leaving are Gordon (contract up soon) and Elmo as Mon does not seem to rate him.
6 weeks ago we were desperate for the transfer window. 6 weeks on and into the Mon reign and that desperation has totally eased. That said, Mon is no wet nosed newcomer to all this and he will buy, loan or whatever if if sees fit. If he doesn't I am happy to live with that too. It's just nice having a manager you trust absolutely and not having to worry about things anymore. He will do the right thing everytime imo.
O'Neill loves Gordon, if he's fit in the next 4 months he'll get his new contract. O'Neill pretty much said that the other week on an interview, it's all upto Gordon's fitness. I'd love to see him stay and get himself fit for 3-4 seasons, when he's fit and had a little run in the side he's brilliant and I still maintain one of the best keepers around. Same can't be said about Elmo who's just not good enough. January is certainly not a buyers market, for that reason I don't think Newcastle will sign anyone. No one of note anyway, I don't think both sides really need investment at the moment, we both lack a striker but no one is worth what their January price tag will be.
