Falcao & Fellaini would be pretty much perfect. Cech, Ivanovic, Cahill, Luiz, A.Cole, Ramires, Fellaini, Mata, Oscar, Hazard, Falcao.
We've banged in 21 goals in the last 6 games ...and we need to lash out on a new ultra expensive striker???
I'm largely with SW6 here. We can't look to spend 50 - 100 million every time we lose a game. We've just beaten spurs and arsenal away and are top of the league. We got beat by a very very good side last night away from home in Europe, wont be the first or the last time. Just ask City, or United who needed to come back from 2-0 at home. C/L isn't a walk over, even the group stage. I'll tell you this, we'll be much much better v Shaktar in 2 weeks time. I'm not saying the squad is perect and we are light up top. I can see why Lukaku went on loan but only having 2 strikers seems madness to me. However, I think we are blooding kids well and no reason why that can't continue. If we need a more creative centre midfielder move Oscar back or use Josh from next season. We also have De Bruyne, Piazon, Lukaku and Bamford all young and attacking players who can come into the squad. Marin has barely kicked a ball but will be quality when fit. Lets thank Roman for his investment since January and maybe now have faith in what we have. If we must spend, I'd go for Moutinho and Neymar but I think we have to give some of the existing lot a chance. And I've not given up on Nando just yet...
I concede to be honest. My initial post was really more about seeing where we can improve, but you and SW6 are correct, we cant spend like that every season. We needed a small overhaul this year and we had the funds on the back of our CL and FA cup runs. I think we should make the best out of what we have at the moment (and hopefully win something) and make those two signings next season. And SW6, I apologise for getting all narky with ya, I have to confess, I was arguing with my wife when I wrote that second post and was in a foul mood
Surely a top class right back and a reliable centre back would be best? You'd got the class up front, maybe need a little more in the middle (like Fellaini, as someone said) but defence is the only obviously improvable part of your team. For the £60M you'd need for Falcao you could have (and I'm just throwing out names) someone of the class of Hummels, Fellaini and money for a right back.
We have Ivan and Azil at right back. That's as good as anyone else has in the league IMO. Falcao is too expensive and the wrong side of 26 to justify such a price tag. You'd only get 5 top seasons max and no real sell on value. Neymar would be much better value if we had to buy.
Those two signings would make the perfect team I agree... But it isn't likely to happen. We can't keep splashing the cash all over the place...
Apparently Neymar has as good as signed for Barca? Probably all paper rubbish. Ivanovic is good, playing well right now. Is he in that top bracket though - like say Hazard is at left wing?
It is a tough one really. Up front is currently our weakest position. We have Torres. Yes if he could bang in the goals and hit his old Liverpool form then we would be sorted but the fact is he isn't and hasn't been doing so for some time now. I think we do need a new striker but as to who that would be is another question... I would quite like someone under the radar who turns out to be a real hit in the Premier League but our scouts need to do their job if we are to find 'this guy'. Personally I would like Demba Ba up front. He is cheap (under £10 mil) and a brilliant player and imo, just the person we need. He is a big guy so wins the aerial battles but is also incredibly skilful. He would be able to link well with our 'three musketeers' and he can finish very well. If we got him then that would be perfect but that's just my opinion.
We have Ivanovic who can do for now and we have the youngster Azpilicueta who was a massive hit at Marseille. Give him the time and he could become a top right back.
The only right back better than Ivanovic in the PL is Sagna, and even that's debateable. If we played Cahill more we'd be fine defensively I think. Play Sturridge up top more, we'll see results I guarantee.
As I say, can't say there is anyone clearly better in the P.L than Ivan. The top bracket would contain the likes of Alves, Lahm etc, which isn't realistic. I don't think the world is blessed with world class full backs generally and Ivan also offers a goal threat that many other don't.
I was championing the Ba deal in the summer. Seemed low risk given money involved and P.L proven. Ba won a lot more games for Newcastle in the last year than Torres has for us that's for sure. He'd almost certainly come as well, especially with his nose being put out of joint by Cisse's arrival. The other option is try our 18 million signing Lukaku at some point or Sturridge.
I don't understand why you think you need a new CM. The midfielders you have are better than anyone else's. I can see why you want to replace Torres, but I'd still say you could use a first rate Terry replacement more. Cahill's fine, I think, but Terry's getting too old, if he's not too old already, and I think with Cole on one side and Ivanovic on the other, Luiz is too attack minded to play CB. In any case, last week both Shaktar (for the entire game) and Spurs (for ten minutes) made you look very weak defensively.
CM we only have Lampard (past it) Mikel (inconsistent), Ramires (good player), and Romeu (unproven). Next year we will need to replace Lampard and hopefully Romeu can show us this season that he can step up and be a regular XI player, he just needs more playing time.
De Bruyne is a CM. No need at all to sign a new one. This guy is going to be huge. To be honest, the only position we do actually need to sign a player is in the ST position. Every other position is covered comfortably (including loaned players).
He is a CM but it is true he is highly versatile. Watch the recent Belgium game. Made old Eden look a little bit ordinary.
Priority would be for new CB - JT increasingly looks surplus to requirements and Luiz is a loose cannon (that backward header in 1st half summed up his total lack of awareness); Cahill looks solid & reliable and has performed well. As for Torres, well its all been said.....Demba Ba would be a good aquisition -forget Falcao he's earmarked either for Real or City and at 60mil for a 26yr old its silly money - besides we've gone down that road and its been bad business.
