http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11667/7674901/Fabio-to-take-in-loan-spell Could be a great loan signing for our rb problems if we went up
If we dont go up I would expect us to need a new top quality striker as I cant see us being able to keep Rickie. If I was a prem side I would be straight in with a massive bid as he is much better than some of the tossers up there. Couldn't blame Rickie for wanting a shot at it if we sh!t out.
If we don't go up I think it would be 50/50 on us keeping Rickie. He may stay to show loyalty before moving in Jan if we're not challenging for the top spots. I believe we will be aggressive in the market and the backroom team will come up trumps come the end of August. I mean we're a very attractive option for any footballer at the moment. If I was personally in Reed's/Adkins' role would be looking at: CB: Hobbs - £2million CM: Whittingham - £4 million RM: Burke - £2 million ST: Rodriguez - £3.5 million ST (If Lambert Goes): King £4million These signings would see us go up.
Just because I point out a (what I think is a) weakness of his doesn't mean I have a problem with him? for what it's worth, I also think he is a good left back, but this is an area of his game that can be improved upon Certainly not worth the £2m we spent on him though I'm afraid but he's had a good season, if he can stop drifting in so much he can be the best LB in the League
If that happened, I'm confident we'd find a way of winning games without him. For every door that closes, others open.
I'm sorry, but I am telling you for a fact it is not a weakness. That is how you defend. He is easily worth the money we paid for him, how many assists has he got, how many tackles and interceptions made? He IS the best LB in the league and the stats prove it.
Lambert signed a new deal at the beginning of the season. His family are settled. This is his best chance at getting to the Prem. HE IS NOT GOING TO LEAVE!
Is it his best chance is Fulham come calling? or QPR? or any lower/mid table teams? No. We need to go up, we do however hold some key bargaining material with the contract.
It's not a fact, it's your opinion. Look, we all see things differently and thats what I like on forums like this
But I know how to defend. I played RB and was coached by an ex international LB. When it comes to defending I know what I'm talking about, particularly when talking about full backs.
If we go up, we need: GK - A long-term replacement for Kelvin either next season or the season after ie a good, young keeper. CB - Two of them I'd say. One on loan maybe, particularly as we have no Premier League experience in the position currently. CM - A goal-scoring CM. Someone in the same mould as Sigurdsson. I'm not saying we should go for him because he'll more than likely, at this rate, end up at a top European club but someone like him who can break forward and shoot from long range. Enables Schneiderlin/Cork to sit back and play the defensive role. Hammond not good enough. RW - A 1st choice right-winger with pace and a final ball to avoid having to rotate as we're currently doing. ST - Someone in the mould of Jay Rodriguez ie quick, strong and able to play off Lambert. Sharp's done well so far but he's only a poacher so we therefore need something different. Lee will be back in August hopefully but we need that fourth striker as Connolly's contract is ending in June and Barnard will surely be off. So that's 5 or maybe 6 players in our first season.
