I agree. I think Cork is excellent there too, and he might not be as much of a regular in central midfield next season so that could work out nicely. I'd be wary about morale if we signed another RB, as he'd surely expect games and I don't think Clyne is getting dropped any time soon. Clyne, Chambers and Cork (and Lovren/Maya if necessary) is good enough for me.
DTLW has your source hinted at Banega or have you only read things on the net? You seem to be the man snooping around for us!
With chambers, Cork and Stephens as back up we should be OK. If we are primarily relying on Cork it would make another midfielder a concern. If Davis is the solution to that, we need back up for the hole. If Gaston is the solution for that we need back up for the wing.
bloody dominoes.
No I've not been told anything of the sort. Nor have I asked, but yeah, nothing about Banega from this end.
I forgot about Stephens. I'm getting a little concerned as to whether he's made any progress since we signed him. I suspect we'll get another central midfielder in, whether it's Banega or someone slightly more realistic, and more cover for those attacking midfielders as well. We should hopefully be more comfortable rotating than we were last season.
Agreed. Like Wanyama, Banega is interesting because he also allows us to throw a couple different looks out there, depending on the opposition. In games against the bottom half of the table, you can have Schneiderlin/Banega/Ramirez through the middle, which is a pretty scary trio. Against teams where the denial of space is crucial, Schneiderlin/Cork/Banega is enough ball-winning goodness that they'd make Barca think about hoofing it.
Also, like Wanyama, I'm not going to picture him in a Saints shirt until there are fewer than 30 pictures of he and Cortese, because I won't believe it.
Crook said our budget is £30m didn't he.
If this were to come off, 11m (if 8+2 is right for lovren) left to add some variation up front.
or is that 9m in euros... gotta go back and check now.
ok, 12m odd left.
I heard 10m euros up front with add ons last place I checked. Nobody is going to know for sure. I'm going to be conservative.Lovren cost 8m euros up front with a potential 2m euros in add-ons. so about £9m overall if you count the add ons.
Am I crazy for preferring Wanyama to Banega? I genuinely think he's better.
I dunno. I'd murder a child for either.
Joe Kinnear - Newcastle United's Director of Football. Uh huh.
Am I crazy for preferring Wanyama to Banega? I genuinely think he's better.
I forgot about Stephens. I'm getting a little concerned as to whether he's made any progress since we signed him. I suspect we'll get another central midfielder in, whether it's Banega or someone slightly more realistic, and more cover for those attacking midfielders as well. We should hopefully be more comfortable rotating than we were last season.