Summer 2013 Transfer Rumour Thread - Mk4

I've seen enough from Ramirez to convince me that we'll all be singing his praises this time next year. I'll be very surprised if he doesn't step up in a big way this season. As for Rodriguez, he doesn't have anything to prove, he just has to pick up where he left off last season.

 

AM I really the only person who thinks another CB is also a good idea. JF and JH looked better in the latter part of the season, and Yoshida some times looks good and other times looks like someone has just passed him the hottest potato in the world... and ignoring Mr Nasty Dan's comments about questioning Lovren, I have always said I wanted us to sign two CBs this summer. It would mean shifting one or two of the others out, but to progress we need to replace one of JF or JH, no matter how much I like them and what they have been a part of.

Ideally, I'd like: Striker/CB/AMC or player that could do that and wide role. In that order.

 

Agree on Ramirez.

With Jay Rod, just add 'plus goals' and I'll agree too.

 

Same but can't see us signing 3 more players.

 

I was sitting in my little blue sky world.

 

I agree with FLT as well. At the start of the summer I wanted, in order of importance:

1 CB (possibly 2, depending on Forren... so 2)
Striker or possibly a wide player to free up Rodriguez
Central midfielder
Cover for both full back positions

I've changed my mind somewhat. I'm now happy with our options at full back but I think we need a striker and someone to play in the 3 attacking midfield positions. I can't see another CB coming in so I'll accept that won't happen but I think we need at least one of the other two.

 

I agree that we need another CB. Jose and Jos just aren't good enough, we need better cover.

 

I also can't see how people are justifying that we could get into Europe next season. We haven't strengthened anywhere near enough and it's pretty much the same team that was in a relegation scrap last year. I know we are ambitious but people are getting ahead of themselves, there's a long long way to go before we have enough quality for Europe. Top 10 is more realistic but again I still think we need to strengthen. With our current team we will stay up, with another striker and possibly another CB we will compete for top 10.

Remember how much Swansea strengthened last year, we need to be on that sort of level and at the moment I don't think we are. We can do it, but as I said I still think there's a long way to go before we can start getting too confident.

 

That's a bit harsh - they are sufficient as cover. We need to concentrate on bringing in a striker.

 

Still plenty of time so no one slit their wrists yet.

 

I agree with this also.

Yoshida didn't overly impress me that much last season. I actually would probably prefer Hooiveld to Yoshida. Controversial I know, but whilst Yoshida reads the game a lot better and makes more crucial interceptions, Hooiveld (towards the end of the season at least) showed much more composure on the ball.

Mistakes like the one that he made at the confederations cup never seem far away. I just can never seem to trust Yoshida when the ball is on the floor, it always makes me nervous.

 

I still can't figure out what exactly Fonte's done wrong.

 

Yoshida was our best and most consistent central defender last season. If he cuts out the occasional sloppy pass he's certainly good enough to keep his place in the team. He's also pretty young for a defender so I'm sure he'll continue to improve.

 

True. Pochettino doesn't seem to fancy him at all!

 

He's a bit wreckless sometimes, and yes he's a fairly solid defender, but I just don't think he's good enough for this level. I suppose he is a good back up option, but we can certainly improve.

 

I think he's definitely better than Hooiveid, as much as I love the big lump. Jose's positioning is good, he's quick enough and can pass. I feel safe with him at the back.

 

I agree that we need a striker primarily but I don't think Lovren alone is the solution to our defensive problems. I do think we need another decent CB, as an injury to either Maya or Dejan leaves us uncomfortably short at the back.

 

I certainly wouldn't moan about bringing another CB in!

 

I agree, I'd take Fonte over Hooiveld any day, I just feel we could do with another CB as cover, it's not so much a neccesity.

 

I couldn't agree with you more! I know we beat some good sides last year but we also lost against some poor sides. I believe that we beat Man City, Liverpool and Chelsea because they allowed us to play our way because they came to win and we surprised them. Too many other teams showed us more respect, came for a draw and we couldn't break them down.

Generally, I think some players exceeded what I was expecting ie Puncheon but some didn't - Fonte, Lallana, Ramirez, Mayuka and Fox. Unfortunately, I don't think we have improved enough if we don't sign anybody else and we will suffer the 2nd season syndrome.