Without spending ridiculous amounts on players who are not in our league (at the moment) what line-up would you realistically see us putting out in August? I'd go for this... --------------Foster-------------- Onuoha--Ferdinand--Samba--Taiwo --Moses--Faurlin--Diakite--Taarabt-- -----------Cisse--Giroud------------
Swap Giroud out and replace with Del Piero for me Bolton had JJ Okacha for a while, about time we had a properly over the hill International. I'd even have 'Hulse' taken off the back of my shirt and have 'Del Piero' ironed on instead
Too early for all that . Don't think we could afford Giroud. I'd be ok with Zamora and Cisse up top , both fit and raring to go. If city continue to sign players there are a few form their squad that might become available . De Jong . Kolo Toure Adam Johnson Would take these three all day long. Interesting one for me is the goalkeeper. Hughes obviously has a decent eye for a keeper as he signed Hart for next to nothing. Now Hughes signed Given before , maybe there could be an opportunity there, esp with Villa in Turmoil, also would be opportunity to bring thru a youngster like they did with Hart at City. I love all this speculation.
This is a very good team Respect regrading Giroud someone here has a eye for a player... of course the French don't make good players
Hoppster, you'll have seen much more of Giroud than us, what I have seen is a player who is tremendous and fearless in the air and skilful on the ground. I think he'd be ideal alongside Cisse. The only drawback is with Montpellier in the Champion's League I doubt we'd be able to tempt him...
Am serious , If you think Anton and Clint are better Centre halves than Kolo Toure you must be mad. The guy has spent his career at Arsenal and City and is not good enough for QPR ??? really?
Foster Onouha Olsson Ferdinand Taiwo Nzonzi Diakite Faurlin Hoilet Taarabt Zamora Agree with Foster but would like to go for Al Habsi if not him. Not a dream siging but achievable would be Olsson from West Brom. Only a year left on his contract and he is waiting to see who comes in after Hodgson before extending. Same for Nzonzi. Really underrated player with lots of energy. Venkys wouldn’t be able to say no to a few quid. Hoilett would be a great free signing if Spurs don’t get him first. Above team for when away from home or against the big teams. When playing at home would drop Nzonzi and play Cisse. I've never seen this Giroud fella play so wouldnt know about him
A new keeper looks certain but do we keep Kenny or Cerny as reserve?. Another couple across the back who can play wide or cover for central defenders would be good. Keep Adel and get Faurlin fully fit along with Diakite and we won't need to go mad with midfielders especially if we keep hold of Derry as cover (don't see him being 1st pick all season). Do we need to consider using Traore as an out and out winger? Seems capable of moving up if he is not required as a defender, could be a good utility player. Cisse, Zamora and Mackie (when not on winger duties) as strikers but we need one or two more to cover. Sparky needs to work out his best 11 and then work out what sort of system we should be playing. High balls and knock downs, through the middle or use wingers to cross the ball to target men? He'd probably buy to suit the shape rather than try and fit the shape to a new signing (IMO). All the fringe players look like they are on their way out and we still need to sign up some of the loanees as permanents. It was posted on the 'Derry' thread that there is a danger in ripping out the heart of a club and sticking in a bunch of strangers in one go and I'd have to agree, I don't think we need to go mental but there are many who have reached the end of the line at Rangers. Not sure what the future holds for Barton but I think it will be more of a business decision rather than one based on damage to our morale and reputation. I expect him to stay but can't say I'm looking forward to the next time he puts on the hoops.
Isnt it incredible that one of our most influential players this season, JAMIE MACKIE, doesn't get a look in anyone plans! and isnt it annoying that we dont have Raheem Sterling to slot into that squad
Mackie would be a big squad player and get his fair share of starts, we have to bring better players in in all areas of the team...
I think it's a good shout re Adam Johnson Rangerw9 - i don't think we're likely to pick up too many first team players from the Premiership so it'd have to be raiding the great players that don't get a chance from the very top teams IMO. I'd expect a few relatively unheard of imports after the successes of Diakite and Taiwo (if Diakite ever gets over his virus).
I'd love us to have Johnson on the right. And I'd be sorely tempted to play Mackie played up front along side Cisse. Does anyone have a clue if the Brazilian we were linked with in January might come back into the frame? I seem to remember that the club indicated we could have got a work permit if we'd signed him permanently, and that we'd be back in for him if we stayed up.
