I was concerned about signings when I heard Mbokani wasn't going to go through. It's clear the club invested too much time in that one as our main striker (not necessarily their fault) and as a result haven't been left with enough time to find a second choice. And players get more expensive by the day - I wouldn't be surprised if had we bid £10m for Afobe back in early July that Wolves would have snapped it up and gone and invested. Unfortunately, I really can't see them selling now for any price. As Dave says though, the flip side is that each match in the league I feel we've shown improvement (plenty still to go though) and having been worried looking at other teams' signings I am getting increasingly confident we can compete even with the squad we've got. Identify any holes early for the January transfer window I think.
Including Grabban? Not a bit concerned what would happen if Bassong and/or Jerome picked up a long term injury?
Yes. but if you've made contingency plans, and got adequate cover (of the right calibre) it's not such a blow to lose a hugely influential player like Bassong or Jerome. I don't believe we have.
Hopefully we'll not get another season like the one we lost a load of midfielders long term, (E. Benno, Pilks and a few others I've forgotten, we ended up playing RvW with a career-threatening injudy because we were so short of cover. Fate wouldn't be so cruel as to see us suffer like that again surely
Seeing as we can't recall him before January, if the club feel we need any more cover, it can't be far off arriving. As we are currently a little short of centre backs, I don't see what the club gain from agreeing a move now unless it was financially beneficial for us. If we waited until the loan window to get rid, we're in a much weaker bargaining position because the interested club know the player hasn't made our 25 man squad, so know we gain absolutely nothing from having him at Colney.
I agree Dave. The midfield is the core of the modern game and we are particularly strong in that area. I was particularly pleased with how well Odjidja-Ofoe played on Tuesday and he was another of the 'missing through injury' last year. You have to decide on your priorities as it's impossibleto cover every contingency. Lambert went with only two GKs in the PL and attacked to make up for a shaky defence. AN seems to consider options the priority. Whittaker can play RB or LB, Wisdom can play RB or CB, as can Martin and Brady can play LW or LB and so on. With a full squad, any player coming means another going out. If Hooper leaves, then we will need another striker, but I'm not convinced we absolutely have to replace Turner given the options we have. It's going to be an interesting final five days.
I doubt we'll go with two keepers now we have signed Kean. There's going to be a decision to make on the 2nd about who makes the squad. Someone is going to miss out, I'd struggle to call who that would be. Toffolo and Brady provide all the LB cover we need. Wisdom and Russ and eBenno cover right back. We're missing a CB that's all.
Agreed on squad size, and Turners someone Iv been waiting for us to offload for a few seasons. The reason I ask about wages, is that it is more to put into a package to get this striker and defender we need. Just wondered if we shipped him out to get down to our 25 man squad, or if we killed 2 birds with 1 stone.
As usual Alex Neil response to Grabban is perfect. Blunt, decisive, firm and unquestionable. Don't F**k with him. That's what I want from our manager.
i think our squad has enough to stay up this time Only sign something which is a true improvement by ANs judgement not ours and slowly develop if we do indeed stay up I don't get all those who are "concerned" did not hear any concerns on Wembley Way!!!! I think our squad is much better than the one we went down with and the manager is 100x better!
I see we've had an £8.9M bid for Koulibaly rejected - http://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwic...alidou_koulibaly_rejected_by_napoli_1_4210719. Maybe AN does see defence as a problem if we're willing to bid that sort of money!!!!
Another impressive target for a good wedge of money. Don't think he's up there with Nkoulou quality. He is however much more the physical player with the height we need. 6'5 powerhouse should deal better with corners and free-kicks. Wonder if we would go to £10 Mil, seems so much for us.
I'd feel more comfortable with another quality CB in the ranks. More so than finding this elusive striker I have to say.
