Two signings already?

Difficult, isn't it? Arguably at Lb we have Santon, Haidara and MYM. MYM arguably looked the strongest of the 3 at the end, Santon looks better further up the field. However, at Rb we have only Debuchy. But who's the purple?! In midfield, Tiote has looked so bad I wouldn't want him 1st choice. Perch is more like a Willo than a 1st teamer and we have lacked a deep lying forward/attacking midfielder for some time. If we persevere with 4-3-3, we've only got one right winger - Ben Arfa - and he's hardly too reliable.

Personally, I think we need to work out what we are. I always agree with Jose's assessment that any team with hopes for achievement need two per position, but we've not got enough of an identity to map this out properly. For me, we need to go with 4-4-1-1; it's what we have at our disposal. Rather than trying this 4-3-3 which just had us so clueless so often, we should go to this 4-4-1-1/4-5-1 model, counter-attacking. We seem to have more personnel in that formation;

GK; Krul/Elliott
Rb; Debuchy/Simpson
Cb; Colo/Streete
Cb; Saylor/Willo
Lb; MyM/Haidara
Rm; Jonas/Obertan
Cm; Sissoko/Tiote
Cm; Cabaye/Anita
Am; Ben Arfa/Marv
Lm; Santon/Gouffran
Cf; Cisse/Campbell

It's weird, because when you look at it like this we don't look so bad. But it's more about different options, as you say. You really need 4 strikers who bring something different, your observation there is spot on. But you also need reliability and consistency of playing together. Is Cabaye/Sissoko the right Cm partnership - almost definitely. We can vary that as needs must - bring in Anita for either, and alongside when we need a stronger midfield, same with Tiote - these guys are good options. Benny should be a number 10, but you're going to get him for around 60% of a season, so you need options - this is where flexibility of dropping the number 10 and playing 4-4-2 or 4-1-4-1, and so on, comes in. Cisse cannot be relied on for goals in this system, but gives options up front. The left of midfield has to be given to Santon - the boy isn't a left back and Jonas should be an understudy if he can't be shipped out. Gouffran is a decent utility player for that side, and the right, and up front.

So what do we need on this basis? I think our captain will need replacing and we will need a leader who is a beast in the air. Once upon a time Samba would have worked, now I'd like a Lescott. We may well need a backup Cb if Streete isn't ready - can't spend too much and would prefer someone who can play right now. Maybe Wilson from Celtic? We will need to invest in a future right back without question, else we'll be caught massively short here. We've been burned by this before. So 2 or 3 at the back. Then in midfield we have to look at the right hand side - and for me we should be paying £5m for Scott Sinclair. I think he'd be a fantastic addition. Failing that, a McManaman would also work but we need industry, stamina and flair over here and RELIABILITY. These kids don't get injured. I'd then look at two strikers - one for right now, and this will be where money is needed. They need to be able to get goals and offer something different from Cisse, to be able to play with him. I'd consider Campbell one of four, meaning we have our nippy lad. We need a big lad and a runner, think Drogba and Long as examples. I'd probably aim high for the big lad - Carroll would be good, as would Lukaku.

That said, who we get is anyone's guess. Until Pardew shows us what kind of identity his team has, we're all just p'ing in the wind.

 

We'll have had problems scouting real quality in the back half of the season as there was a real chance of playing Championship football next year. Here's hoping it's just put a dampener on the start of the window and we'll make some key additions later on.

 

Agree with most of this, though I'd put Taylor and Vuckic in the same basket as HBA and Marv when it comes to likelihood of injury. Streete has had a bad time of things with injury too in his short career, and Colo has hardly been ever present this season. I'd say keep Willo or sign a new center back. I'd be less than satisfied with only Colo, Mbiwa, Taylor and Streete due to the fitness concerns over at least 3 of them.

 

True enough. Maybe shifting out Streete on loan (given the concerns over fitness) and replacing Willo is the best option. We have to accept that Saylor is frail. Colo is now the wrong side of 30 so even if he does stay he'll miss games. People always get on Jonas back but for me he has been a victim of Pardew continually moving him around. When just used as a defensive wing (which is required from time to time) option he is ok. The key guys we need to move on from are Willo, Gosling, Obertan and Shola.

Willo is not as bad as some make out but its the overall effect he has on the morale of supporters and our style of play which leads me to think a Dunk or Maguire is a better option to have around. The concern for those guys would be what happens while Saylor, Mbiwa and Colo are fit? Its why it will maybe be easier to go and get a young foreign kid or maybe an experienced centre back who is more athletic and gifted than Willo.

Gosling is just not a modern midfielder and in the few appearances he does make, I struggle to see the point in him. I'd rather see Brad Inman given a chance than him if we don't want to spend money there, at least he offered a goalscoring threat on loan in the lower leagues.

Obertan is just a headless chicken, he's quick but there is no end product and everytime he takes a step forward with one performance (like at home to Bordeaux), he takes three back in his next game. He has a heart like a split pea and will neer have the self confidence or mental fortitude to make something of himself. Replace with a genuine wing option. It might cost us an initial outlay but we need some quality in the attacking midfield/creative areas. Ince or McManaman would be my choices as I say. HBA and Marveaux are what they in terms of fitness. Jonas - I'm open to keeping if it means Colo stays but to be honest, the wages he'll be on could be reduced for a young man option - he's never mentioned and I dare say he'd cost us but I have always like Jamie Forrest at Celtic. We of course could get away with signing one winger as Santon may be better employed there anyway. A first choice left back is then a must though.

Shola - he is just not good enough and hasn't been for a long time. Not even as 4th choice nevermind 2nd! Lets get two strikers. Gary Hooper, Jordan Rhodes, Charlie Austin, Carroll are domestic options. If it does get too rich, fair enough but get some variety in there.

 

We need two strikers in the summer. Shola just isn't an option anymore.

 

Saw a relation yesterday that I hadn't seen for a long time, big in cricket and used to go to the football but not now, and the first thing he said was, "Pardew Out"!

 

Someone mentioned earlier in this thread about bringing a McManaman type player in as a midfield option.

Just wondering what everyones thoughts would be if we were to show an interest in bringing him to the club after the Haidara incident ?

I guess it's one of those situations where it's a player you hate to play against but would have in your team in a heartbeat - Bellamy as a prime example !

 

McManaman would be ok from what we've seen, I wouldn't complain as it's a body in an area we need.

Is no-one interested in Sinclair? He's been put up for sale @ £7m.

 

You just have to move past the McManaman thing for me. It was a horror tackle but he looks a good young player. Can't cut your nose off to spite your face. Sinclair is another good option, as are Forrest and Ince. All exciting young wingers with that bit of pace we need.

 

If Scott Sinclair is available for that price I would snap their arms off. Quality player, only issue I would have is that I don't think Pards would play him effectively.

 

Better to have him playing for you than against you.

 

I would hate to see him here mate. Something about his Scouse face that I can't stand. That and his horror tackle and never once gave a **** to even ask Haidara if he was alright. I think he will end up at Everton

 

Left back? Goalie?

 

Wouldn't put it past the prick!

 

Will Hughes. Why??????

 

It is ambitious and intelligent.

 

Anything but intelligent. The ambition is in trying to make money out of it rather than profit from any ability.

 

This has crossed my mind. But can you imagine what Ashley would demand for a 23 year old English midfielder who is a complete midfielder with a left foot, and a fantastic footballing brain?