Looking at a lot of these boards, we are speculating about players not linked to ourselves (me included) and yeah its a good laugh, but I want to see your opinions on the players we've officially been linked with (i.e. recognised by the safc website.) For the record, I have said this on a number of other boards, but IMO, we need defenders primarily (CB and LB/RB and a top class centre forward) Looking at our currently (realistic IMO) mentioned targets: O'shea, Brown, Gibson, Pobregnyak, Demel, Dann, Long, Ferguson, Vaughan (still a freebie), DJ campbell, Welbeck and Onuoha O'Shea for me is No. 1 priority, followed by Dann/ another top CB. Beyond that I'd definately take Pobregnyak OR Long for around 7million (not 10!!!!) I would also say choose one between Vaughan, Ferguson and Gibson. If we could get DJ as a third choice/ Gyan replacement if injury (God forbid) strikes, that would be a shrewd move. Onuoha for 6million for me would also be great but I reckon someone else will get him Therefore for me I would sign: - O'Shea £3M Dann £10M Vaughan FREE Pobregnyak £7M DJ Campbell £1.25M Onuoha £6M Therefore we'd spend £27.25M (so Darren Bent's fee + a little bit from our Ellis) and our team would be Westwood O'Shea Bramble Dann Bardsley Larsson Gardner Catts Sessegnon Gyan Pobregnyak Subs: Mignolet, Wickham, Colback, Richardson, Campbell, Onuoha, Vaughan As well as: - Ji, Ferdinand, Steed, Elmo and Gordon, Turner and Meyler when fit. NOW THAT'S A TEAM
Still would like to see us go and get Nzogbia (he'll bring balance to the force) a left back and a centre back dann, r.johnson, j.evans would do for me. capped off with an experienced forward.
Please tell me why we would buy Ned, then stick him on the bench? Seems a bit pointless to me. Surely he would fit into the c/b where you put Dann,,,,,,,,,another non-starter in terms of us getting him.
I do like your thinking but having no left footer on the left flank is criminal and unfortunately its just as unbalanced as last year. With those two big lads upfront you will need more service than just Larsson so we should be looking for a good left winger also. Sessegnon can play there but he would just be a stop gap (as I think he prefers and is more effective in a slightly more central role) until we found someone in the Etherington/N'Zogbia mould.
I wouldnt rule out Bruce putting Whickham on the left sometimes as he is a lefty. I would also expect a few more loans next season after Bruce's comments the other week.
I don't think having Sess on the left is a problem, he skins people for fun so cutting inside to cross at pace isn't a problem to him. We need one lefty though, so either Ricco or a proper left back is needed. There's talk Fiorentina will let Gilardino go, and he says he fancies England, he's on low wages as he had a contract clause that meant they dropped if Fiorentina fell out of the Champions League, which they did, miserably, this year. Now he ain't quick, and he scores an average rather than spectacular amount of goals, but he's a strong lad, and his link up play is truly exceptional. He may be an option, however unlikely, at around £10 million.
I am sorry but I disagree, for starters I think that team is weaker than this one: Gordon Onouha bramble turner ricco Elmo Catts Hendo Welbeck Bent Gyan Which is what we had last season Bardo is not a left back he is a right back. Sess best position is behind the striker. We need balance, you either need a forward Thinking lb or a natural left winger in the side. Our season fell apart when we had neither of these. As soon as we started playing Steed and bardo on the left our season collapsed. IMO We need Oshea for cover, Bardo and Ricco would be my starting full backs. A left winger like Kranjcar would be nice but welbeck would do a great job there. A centre back, Samba or Exans would be my choice but Onouha would be fine, looks like it will be Brown. A quality centre forward, I would love Defoe. Maybe even Santa Cruz? Line up like this: Migg Bardo Bramble Brown Ricco Larsson catts Gardener Sess Gyan Wellbeck You can then go to plan B 442 with Wickham and Gyan up top and Wellbeck or Sess lw.
I like the idea of going 451/433 with Sess and a left winger. Dont agree with Brown in the middle. We definately still need a centre back asap!! What confuses me is that Bardsley was our player of season at left back? So clearly he did well in that position regardless of what foot hes got. (Point noted with the left winger comment tho) If we could get N'Zog/Etherington that would be amazing but Ricco did well attacking from midfield last season. Hes a lefty and I reckon could do a similar job to Sess on the right. Still reckon Westwood will start and I have pretty high hopes for him, if not Id be more than happy to get Mig back in net Westwood O'Shea Bramble *CB* (Turner when fit) Bardsley Larsson Catts Gardener Sess Gyan N'Zog
I would be happy if the below was our team for the liverpool game. -----------------------Westwood------------------------ Brown------------Bramble--------O`Shea-----------Bardo Larsson----------Gardner-------Sess-------------Kranjcar ------------------Gyan--------Welbeck----------------- Wickham Ricco Elmo Turner Dong Mig Catts
