Striking/Attacking options

How many do you think we need?

 

12t

 

We need at least 2 strikers , if not 3.

 

2 strikers in the summer will do as far as the forward line goes.

Happy enough with LM (Jonas and Fergie) and Ben Arfa playing as an AM (play LM if required as well).

Need to bolster that RM position as once Barton is injured we still don't have the quality replacement to cover.

 

2 strikers(Target man and fast/skillful/dribbler man) and 1 Attacking mid(Creative, fast, skillful/dribbler and nippy).

Demba Ba - Target Man.
Fast/skillful/dribbler - Gamiero.

Vargas - Attacking Mid(capable of playing out wide because of his pace and trickery or in a 4231 with him and Arfa rotating).

Those are just names of the top of my head though.

 

2 strikers an a winger who can play right and left.

 

I'd go for 3 strikers actually, even though it's not in the poll

But thats only if we can get one on a free like Elmander.

I'd only PAY for two strikers. 2 attacking mids.

Perhaps Elmander and Seb Larsson for free, and buy a couple of each AM and strikers

 

2 strikers (1 for now to play next to Best, 1 for the future)

No attacking mid's needed, Nolan, HBA and Ireland are easily good enough for Europe.

Unfortunately that option isn't available, so I will put 1 striker.

 

Yes but don't you think a couple additions are needed for squad depth atleast? We've shown how paper thin our squad is this season.

 

THREE!!! What formation are you planning?

Just the one. Pardew has said we're playing a 4-5-1 with Ben Arfa in the hole. Best and Ameobi are more than capable squad players and they'll be happy to sit on the bench. I doubt Ranger will get a loan deal because of his alleged attitude so we'll have him about as well, and I think Lovenkrands has a year left on his contract and nobody's likely to sign him.

Expected Midfield: Barton, Tiote, Nolan, Jonas, Ben Arfa, Gosling, Guthrie, RTaylor, Larsson, Ireland.

That's ten midfielders (assuming we get rid of Smith). If a bid comes in for Ryan Taylor I'd accept it and buy somebody who will actually compete with the others for a first team place.

 

If we are buying players for squad depth, then an out-and-out CM would be good (like Guthrie), and a full-back who can play both sides, like Raylor but better defensively.

Other than that I think we are OK, but any free's who would improve the squad would be fine, just not anyone useless or overpriced.

 

First choice: Striker, Right wing. some strength in depth as well.


(sign Ireland on a permanent deal, and with Gosling back we've got more than enough at CM)

 

There isn't an option for just 2 strikers but I think we need 2 strikers but no AM's. Ben Arfa and Nolan can cover that position and we dont need to play a formation that incorporates an AM anyway.

I'd want - 1 target man, 1 speedy striker, 1 big 'takes no prisoners' CB, and one winger that can play both sides.

This would leave Best and Ameobi as 3rd and 4th choice strikers (let Lovenkrands and Kuqi go, loan out Ranger to the Championship)

 

Why is everyone assuming we'll have Ireland next year???

 

Current squad(not couting the ones on loan) :

GK - Harper, Krul, Soderberg.
RB - Simpson, Saylor(unconvincing), Perch(not good enough).
CB - Colo, Willo, Saylor, Sol(expiring contract), Perch(last resort).
LB - Enrique, Ferguson(inexperienced).

RM - Barton, Guthrie(awfully unconvincing), Guti, Raylor, Dan Gosling(unproven).
CM - Tiote(DM), Nolan(AM), Guthrie, Gosling, Alan Smith(not good enough), Barton, Vuckic(AM), Ireland(AM), Ben Arfa(AM).
LM - Guti, Ferguson, LuaLua(unproven), Ben Arfa.

ST - Best(decent but need better), Shola(not good enough), Loverman(not good enough), Ranger(needs loan spell), Kuqi(not good enough)

EDIT : Think we need 1/2 strikers(2 would be great), versatile full-back(Tomas Rincon.. cover full-back areas and midfield, relativly cheap and experienced in Europe), 1 RM/LM(versatile if possible) and 1 CB(not of big importance though).

 

Pardew has said he wants him to stay, and he looked pretty decent against Manure.

 

Because we will. Him, Larsson and Enrique leaving are done deals as far as I'm concerned.

 

1 is definitely not enough! What if he gets injured for a long period? I personally like to see us play 4-4-1-1 or just 4-4-2. With 2 strikers on the pitch and perhaps a back up.

 

I would put Gervinho at the top of the list then play a 4231 formation like:

Harper
Simpson Willo Colo jose
Tiote Barton
Gervinho HBA Jonas
(new striker)

 

1 would maybe be enough but what if we get an injury? It's best if we atleast sign 2, 1 we get on a free.