Going on what SB has said, he's looking at 3/4 signing. IMO we need two keepers, right back, centre back, centre midfield, left and right winger and two strikers.
We are currently MASSIVELY more under strength than we were last season, and as we all know we were far too lite then. I think Aunty means 4/5 permanent signings and does not include loans. We need 2 goalies as perms, a new striker as a perm, cover for Rosenior as a perm and a replacement for McKenna as a perm (given McKennas age, like Daws he will need to be phased out) . The rest , left winger, centre back, creative cover for Koren etc will be loans.
Patience from the fans is what is needed most of all. New players will arrive sooner rather than later. Yes some sun would also be nice for now.
I arent that fussed about a CB tbh, I didn't think Cooper and Bradley looked too bad when they stepped in towards the end of last season. And I wouldn't have a problem with either stepping in untill Hobbs gets back. A goalkeepers a must, I'm not really a fan of relying on Loans for keepers so It'd be nice to have a young first choice who can be with us for a few seasons. Cover for Rosenior would also be nice (Unless of course we keep Mcshane) We definately need 1 or 2 wingers Preferably with a bit of experience and who can cross a ball. And then a Big strong forward, as a minimum.
If you consider the context of Bruce's comments we're not really much weaker than last season. He's speaking as someone who's said everyone is going to be given a chance, so he can't turn round before the first day of actual training and say he needs 7 or 8 players when we've already got this: GK - N/A LB: Dawson, Dudgeon CB: Chester, Cooper, McShane, Hobbs (from Xmas) RB: Rosenior LW: Stewart DM: Evans, McKenna AM: Cairney, Koren, Olofinjana RW: McLean ST: Fryatt, Simpson, Cullen Obviously we need 2 keepers, an additional winger and a striker. We could do with another defender for RB/CB (depending where he sees McShane playing), it's not essential but we'd be gambling on Hobbs return and not having an injury problem before that. Once they've had a chance to show what they can do I'd expect the defender to become a definite, an additional striker be needed to replace McLean/Simpson/Cullen and probably another midfielder in place of Olofinjana. Bruce could also be talking in the knowledge some deals are done, eg Keane coming on loan from Man U when they come back off tour being agreed would mean he was looking at 4 further additions rather than 4 additions to the confirmed squad.
With the transfer rumours it could possibly be (including transfers out and in): GK: Mannone, Guzan LB: Dawson, Dudgeon CB: Chester, Cooper, McShane, Hobbs (from Xmas) RB: Rosenior LW: Stewart DM: Evans, McKenna, Tunnicliffe? AM: Cairney, Olofinjana (Hopefully he goes), Koren (Possibility of leaving - Not certain) RW: McLean ST: Fryatt, Heskey?, Proschwitz?, Cullen, Simpson (I reckon is leaving) Edit:- Coutts? Keane?
Guzan deal is off now. With realistic signings I'd go for: GK: Mannone Gonzales RB: Rosenior CB: Chester Keane? (Cover at RB as well) Cooper Bradley Hobbs LB: Dudgeon Dawson CM: Evans McKenna Cairney Coutts? Olifinjana Wingers: Stewart Boyd?? (I would like to see us shell out a bit of money for him) Anderson CAM: Koren ST: McLean Fryatt Proschwitz? Simpson 6 New Perms - 2 Frees, 4 Costing around £2-3mil probably. Also got the loan window if we feel we're weak somewhere or a long-term injury.
As we have lost Basso, Mannone, Brady, King, Hoobs til Xmas, I'm afraid we are MUCH weaker CURRENTLY than last season. You've included in your squad players that barely played for us last season and who in all likelihood (despite what Steve Bruce HAS to say in public) will come nowhere near the first team next season. We Need: GK: New Perm x 2 RB: Rosenior, New Perm CB: Chester, Cooper, New Loan LB: Dawson, Dudgeon RW: New Loan DM: McKenna, Evans, New Perm AM: Koren, Cairney, New Loan LW: Stewart STK: Fryatt, McLean, New Perm
As long as we get one permanent keeper, our back up could be a loan. I think we will struggle to offload McShane; therefore we already have a back up RB/CB and if Keane comes in it only adds to the squad further. If any of Coutts, Anderson, Tunnicliffe or King come in then that adds to the midfield. Realistically two from these four is a possibility. We know SB is in the market for a striker and we may see either Heskey or Proschwitz come in, maybe even both if we can offload Simpson or McLean.
Some cooler weather today would be nice. Far too muggy for my fancy and my punkah wallah cannot cope.
You had better have a word with Dougie Freedman then. We just may have seen the last of Macca in a City shirt. Unless OJ does something Messi-esk you will not see much of him either i would suggest.
IMO, Cooper and Chester can more than do a good job. Liam Coopers main problem IMO is that his positional awareness could be alot better. That will come with good coaching. Unless we get A.Gerrard then i am more than happy with Cooper and Chester and IF Michael Keane comes on loan from MU then we are ok. Sonny Bradley also adds cover but i do expect he may go out on loan again sometime after Hobbs returns. A league one club would be a better option for him at the moment.
The problem doesn't lie with Cooper or Chester, it lies with the pairing of them together. I'm quite happy with Cooper/Hobbs or Hobbs/Chester, but putting 2 players who are shorter than 5'10" and weigh about 12 stone up against strikers who are 6'3" and weigh 14 stone is never going to work. It doesn't matter how well they position themselves if they just bounce off the striker like he's not there.
