Transfer Rumours Sissoko - AC Milan + Abdennour

I'm not sure about that mind. They have spent more than many (myself included expected). However the top 6 spend what we have this summer every summer just about. They buy the best players. We can't operate in that market and I'd never judge us against it. It would be crazy, but equally its not right to compare our one window of spending with them.

They buy a different calibre of players and invest year on year.

I am pleased with our work and if we get Thauvin then its good spend. I'd argue we've largely spent the money not very wisely but its a case of each to their own. Some may think Colo and Haidara are good enough, or you can get away with a poor defence if you are great going forward. I do not sit in that camp. Indeed I question the wisdom of messrs McClaren, Carr and Charnley. I find it incredible that Mbemba is our solution to the most glaring issue we've had for the last 5-10 years. Perhaps we are not finished, and if we do add a CB and LB, then I think you'd have to say well done to the club. If we got quality in those areas, we would have done everything that was required plus a little extra if Thauvin is better than Cabella.

As it stands right now though we have handicapped the coaching staff by not sorting out our achillies heel. That for me is not the best and tempers any enthusiasm for the money we have spent. I don't believe the club have got their head round squad building. Get a solid base in place is the only way to go and should always be the starting point.

 

I agree we have strengthened but I am concerned that we haven't yet dealt properly with our ability to leak goals. We had a tendency to concede early goals particularly in away games and then find it very hard to get back into the game as the home team has their backs up and the crowd behind them. There was no evidence against Swansea that anything has changed.

 

Get rid of him, and buy a good winger and CB.

 

That's just it though. McLaren pushed for Colo's new deal, he's come out and said that. So on that basis we have to trust our manager's judgement. He obviously feels Colo is good enough, we know Janmaat is very good and Mbemba looks a player too. All mid table teams will have a weak area, ours is LB, if we didn't have a weakness we'd be more than a mid table team.

We've outspent Southampton, Swansea, West Ham, Everton, Spurs, Palace, Arsenal, Chelsea, Stoke and out spent them by a fair whack. All teams that finished above us last season. It's been a top 6 window from us in that respect. Given our budget, if McLaren had wanted more defenders we'd have signed them, that much is obvious. If another defender doesn't arrive it's because Steve doesn't think we need one and preferred Thauvin or Gini instead of an additional defender. We haven't handicapped the management, they've decided what we have is good enough.

As I say, if a LB or CB arrive then we couldn't have possibly done anymore as a club to support the coaching team in this window.

 

I don't trust his judgement though if he thinks Colo is good enough. I suppose it depends what you want to achieve though? I'm simply going off his stated ambition of top 10.

Maybe with competition Colo would improve, but to be honest he is a bit of a fairy. He gets beasted in every single game we play, and is appalling in the air. His pace seems non existent and he has a habit of now just letting players drift past him with ease. I rate Janmaat but I also well aware that he is suspect defensively. I can forgive that because he isn't horrendous defensively and offers plenty going forward. His all round game is very good. Mbemba looks a great signing. However when you have had the same sub standard defence for more than 5 years, one young lad isn't really going to cut it. The less said about Haidara and the rest the better.

If Steve is really saying he thinks we needed Gini (who I think is a great signing) and Thauvin more than defenders, then frankly, he is a moron. Everybody and their granny knows where our main issues lie. The same place as the last 5 years. Anyone who has supported us, watched us, coached us etc etc knows we have a terrible defence. Not just a poorly coached defence, but poor players. McClaren can't coach them to be good, they just aren't. He can help them but that is all, and to be fair Pardew did ok in that regard. Personally if we don't sign defenders I don't think it has anything to do with what McClaren wants, I doubt he has that much say. Either that or he has very specific targets. he has seen enough football to know that our defence is a joke. Indeed you only have to look at his mannerisms with the goals we conceded in friendlies and opening fixtures to know he is aware we have a big issue.

As I say I would forget comparing to the likes of Spurs, Chelsea, Arsenal (all of whom might still outspend us). Those clubs operate in different markets, different calibre of players and have been investing year or year for a long time. We may have had a big splurge this summer, but its a drop in the ocean for all except maybe Spurs, who seem to offset a lot with big sales. I think it is admirable we have outspent the others, as I say I have no quibble the club have invested. We just haven't spent wisely, but that said I personally don't think we are done. I think we may well get the 2 defenders we badly need.

Each to their own. If you think the management have that much say, then fair enough. There is yet to be any evidence to suggest this regardless of "board" positions etc. It comes down to one of two categories for me, neither is appealing.

Either

1. We have handicapped the coaching staff by not getting the defence in order

or (and much more scary)

2. McClaren has the input and thinks the defence is ok which to be honest would scare the life out of me regards his competence

More hopefully I think there is still work to be done and 2 defenders will arrive. They really need to if we are to get anywhere near his stated ambition.

 

Can't go quite that far.

Let's say Colo is up to the job and is simply suffering the results of a lack of pre-season. I don't think it's true but let's say it is. That still means going into a season with two adequate CBs, one adequate RB and no adeqaute LB. That is, at it's best, our defence is borderline adequate. If any injuries or suspensions occur, then it slips below that standard.

While I do not rate him highly, I don't think McLaren is stupid enough to have not noticed this problem or to have underestimated the potential it has to ruin his second, and quite possibly last, chance to establish a reputation as a premiership manager. I therefore think that at least one, and perhaps 2, journeymen defenders will be acquired this window. Perhaps funded by Sissoko.

 

I don't have a problem letting Sissoko go but am concerned that we have a defence comprising 2 fullbacks with a distinct lack of positional sense and one centre-back who has never been commanding in the air and is now susceptible to pace. I think you can live with the latter, if you think he brings leadership skills, which McLaren obviously does, as long as you have full backs who can cover his weaknesses. Ours seem barely able to do their own defending at the moment and I think this is where we need to strengthen. Janmaat looks good going forward but appears brainless - his sending off on Saturday was nothing short of madness. I mean by all means getting sent off for two mistimed lunges on a tricky winger but his last foul was just a deliberate attempt to hold up play over 70m from our goal.
I think if we don't get this sorted and reshape the midfield so that it provides adequate cover on the flanks when we are defending or when the full backs go bombing forward then I don't think we will be challenging for top 10. Not quite sure the best option for that at the moment but I know that Perez always put in a great shift down the flanks, both going forward and tracking back, and would like to see him played there again.

 

Abdennour rumours are picking up pace!

He was nowhere to be seen for Monaco last night, despite Monaco having a very important qualifying game for the Champions league, Strange for him to be left out of such a vital game.

La Province, the same media outlet that first announced the Thauvin deal have said that Newcastle will put all their efforts into siging the defender after the Thauvin deal was completed.

Different reports have been on Twitter reporting that we are close, but i wont belive anything until I see him walking up the step s and out to St James, uttering the words "Wow, its Amazing!" like the rest of our completed deals.

if a deal was done, it would take out net spend over the £70Million mark, it would be a right middle finger up to anyone doubting mike ashleys speach at west ham

 

La Provence are reporting that we are 'close' to a deal for Abedennour. They reported we were close to signing Thauvin last week. He is reportedly keen even though he's after CL football. Why? Because apparently we have told him that is our aim.

 

70 million no chance our spending is done. We might sell sissoko in fact im sure of it snd then perhaps use the money ob a defender or two. Id be happy with that in all honesty

 

Sissoko is more miss than hit. A decent price with two defenders coming would be perfect.

 

This isn't a situation like with Cabaye. Sissoko isn't so essential to what we're doing, and it seems Wijnaldum has that CAM position nailed. Far better to use Sissoko's inflated reputation to our advantage and plug the gaps where they're needed. Unsure that we'll get another top CB to sit on the bench, unless we're planning to play 3 at the back or something. But decent cover for RB and a starter for LB would suit me just fine. Either that or get Abdennour and push Mbemba out on the left, but can't see why you'd want to.

 

In the hugely unlikely scenario that we signed Abdennour, I wouldn't be too surprised to see him partner Mbemba at CB and Colo pushed up to play DM alongside Colback/Anita.

 

If he comes in, im actually looking at our strongest starting line up and thinking its right up there with the likes of Southampton, Swansea, Tottenham and not a million miles behind Liverpool.

However, saying that, the coaching, management and tactics need to be right. Im still no convinced we have the depth that some of those teams have, but if we keep the majority of the squad fit then we really could compete.

Gk - Krul, Darlow, Elliot, Woodman - Elliot could go for all I care
RB - Janmaat, S Taylor,Mbemba - The later two could cover for a game or two max
CB - Mbemba, Abdennour, Colo, Taylor, Lacelles
LM- Haidara, Dummett
DMC, Colback, Anita, Tiote, sissoko, Wiji
LM/AML - Thauvin, Perez, Obertan, Aarons, Marveux, C roberts, Goufran
AMC - Wiji, De Jong, Perez, Sissoko, Thauvin
RM/AMR - Sissoko, Thauvin, Perez, Obertan, Aarons, Marveux, C roberts, Goufran
St - Mitro, Cisse, Perez, Armstrong, Riv

That's my squad from left being strongest to right being alternatives/back up covering suspensions/injuries

 

Sissoko is ****! If you opened up his skull you would find the clearest air on earth.

 

I am actually starting to feel quite good about this transfer window. So far no players have left. And if we do sign Abdennour then I am very happy with the progress we would have made.

 

Theres time yet but i wish our opening fixtures were not so brutal because we will be in a relegation battke before iur first winnable game then its Chelsea and man city ffs

 

I'd probably have Dummett before Haidara (it's a difficult choice!). Abdennour rated slightly ahead of Mbemba on the opinion of football experts and the interest of Barca in his signature. Colo added to the DM options. Aarons promoted to 2nd choice AML behind Thauvin (or 1st choice if Thauvin is selected for AMR). Perez 2nd choice AMC behind Wiji (De Jong not considered until he has proven himself again after so many bad injuries). AMR Sissoko if he continues good form. Otherwise Thauvin, allowing him to cut in and shoot on left foot similar to HBA in our mini good spell).

Our squad is transitional, clearly stronger than last season, however the defence is so weak it could see us sucked into relegation contention despite the new faces elsewhere. Horrible gamble if we do not sign Abdennour or another similarly decent CB, and ideally a more savoury LB option.

 

I thought Thauvin was a right footed left winger, a la Chrissy Waddle?

Pretty much bang on although I cannot see Sissoko staying, personally; I know what Steve has said, but how many times has that ploy been used to get extra coin? AC have money again and he'd be superb in Italian football, like Pogba has turned out to be. If we do keep him, we need to go 4-3-3 - Sissoko - Tiote - Wijnaldum CM would be very useful, Colback if Tiote can't rediscover himself. The front three can be so changeable - you could go Perez, Mitro, Thauvin. Or Aarons. Or SDJ. Playing this 4-5-1 with 2 DM's is leaving out someone far more talented unnecessarily.

I think LB is more pressing than CB in the PL. Even the very best CB's can struggle in the Premier League, like £20m players Mangala or Sakho. There's simply no guarantees there. LB seems slightly easier - look at low-cost players (relatively) such as Azpilicueta, Pieters or Bertrand. I'd love to see Abdennour come in, but I think LB remains my biggest concern. As has been said, we have to trust to Steve - if he doesn't bring one in, we have to assume he sees something in Dummett and Haidara, or enough to last until January.

 

If we get this Abdennour and a left back then we are laughing. Even if we just got one or the other its still good business despite skewed priorities. The concern is if we are done and we are going in with this defence