With the transfer window fast approaching, what would be acceptable to you all? I'll start by saying that I won't be to fussed if we let Big Vic go. Don't think he's been the same player since Morgan left and the transfer fiasco/request when the season had started. Always felt Morgan made him look a better player, and don't think he's the right kind of player to start our build up play through, hence why we are so slow at present??? Oh, and would love to see a striker come in (Austin), and a more powerful direct CM.
I'd imagine that the window will consist of us selling no one except for perhaps Gaston/Juanmi, and bringing in no one or close to it.
I would love Austin. Don't think we will buy for any other position as we already have lost of players in other positions even if they aren't good enough or aren't playing well enough or are setlling in. I think the club gambled on JRod being fit for the season and didn't bring in another front man.
We need a long term understudy/replacement for fonte. He is getting older and can't be expected to play every league and cup game. Yoshida is acceptable back up for a game but not up to taking over his position. Caulker can go back to QPR. We may need a new RB too. A striker would be fantastic but need someone who can offer something different to Pelle.
in terms of a young understudy for Fonte, haven't we got Stephens, Turnbull and McCarthy coming through? i would like to see a better right back and an absolute top drawer central midfielder come in. Dont see the point in Charlie Austin.
Can't see Turnbull or Stephens coming in any time soon. We need an established quality CB to compete with Fonte/VVD now. What if there is a long term injury to fonte? (Which seems very possible). Agree on the RB. Agree on the central midfielder- classie and romeu can't begin to fill morgans boots.
Re Austin, there must be a damned good reason why no-one (bar a half-hearted attempt by WHU) tried to sign him last summer. I'd be very surprised indeed if we had any interest in him whatsoever. Vin
Right now if I become manager in an ideal world I'd be looking to do the following: - Keep Mane and Wanyama. - Look to sell Martina. - Cancel Caulker's loan and get another centre back on loan. - Sign a right back to compete with Cedric for the right back spot. - Sign a back up left back for Bertrand. We need a better option than Targett if Bertrand gets injured imo. I'm sure Bertrand has to be number one permanently, or he will look to leave, so there's no point signing someone to compete with him. Ideally the right back signed to compete with Cedric can also play left back to a good standard (and therefore cover left back). - Sign a player with pace to burn that can play on the wing. - Sign another centre forward to compete with Pelle for the centre forward spot. - Sign another keeper on loan to compete with Stekelenburg and hopefully displace him as number 1 until the end of the season. Then sign that keeper permanently at the end of the season. We are going to need to sign a keeper at the end of the season, to be at the very least back-up to Forster. Who knows if Forster will ever get to his best after such a serious injury, so we need to bear in mind that whichever keeper we sign at the end of the season is potentially going to be our long term number one. - I'd look to play Reed more and use Ramirez from the bench. This in a way would be like the squad having two new signings, considering Koeman doesn't use them.
Agree with most of this, however I'm happy with Targett as back up. Bertrand played all but three games (?) last season and Targett did well when he came in. He struggled at the start of this season, but as cover he's ok and can improve with age. On the keeper, I wont be signing another one unless we see an issue with Forster (he'll be playing by the end of the season, so we'll know how he is) On CB I'd see how Gardos returns from his injury, but agree with sending Caulker back.
Gillet from Anderlecht. Cracking RB that Cedric can learn from. Older (at 31) than our usual signings, but his contract runs out end of this season so would be cheap (about the same as a Martina). Can also play further up the field and capable in DM. He's an attacking threat, 6ft 1, and he's Belgian, which is a critical component for all successful PL teams, as you know!
We need to sign a keeper permanently at the end of the season. Unless you want Davis and Gazzaniga as back ups and competition to Forster when he returns from a long term injury! Stekelenburg isn't our keeper, he's on loan. If we bring in another keeper on loan then we have two options on who to sign at the end of the season who have already played for us (and the option of signing a keeper that hasn't played for us instead). We are also making the team stronger immediately if that keeper displaces Stekelenburg as number 1 for the time being. Gardos is out for the season most likely. He would be fine as a squad player if he wasn't injured. That's why I would bring in another CB on loan until the end of the season as well as ditching Caulker.
Yes. He would cover loads of positions and compete with Cedric. Surely he could cover left back too considering his versatility, even though I don't think he's played there.
