The last time I posted a thread was on the first of September right after the transfer window closed when I was really unsatisfied by our business from the summer and other then egg on my face from saying Brady (our player of the season?) is [was] a massive waste of money, I stand by everything I said at the time.
I was deeply unsatisfied with our defence, having felt we should have signed at least one, maybe two new CBs to improve our team and a new RB because I felt Whittaker was hopeless and that if Wisdom couldn't displace him from the team than it is hardly an endorsement of his ability either. The fact we have kept just two clean sheets in half the season (against Swansea and Villa) has done nothing to change my mind and most of the goals we have conceded have not been unstoppable wonder goals but set-pieces, crosses and counter-attacks (I don't recall seeing a team as weak at defending as counter-attacks we are). The defence should be our number 1 priority this window. I know that quality players aren't easy to come by, but they don't need to be that great to improve our defence.
The other area I couldn't believe we didn't strengthen was out wide, where we have only three options, one of whom we want to play as LB, so maybe only 2. Jonny Howson is a grafter, but as a full back, you would much rather play against him then a pacy winger. The fact we are playing Howson on the right is surely a glaring sign we need more option on wide?!? Having pacy, direct wingers allows a team to have a threat on the counter-attack even when they aren't playing well, and playing a central midfielder out wide just isn't a viable long-term option.
I don't know what is happening with Ruddy, but Rudd knows what he is doing so as long as there someone competent on the bench I am not worried about our GK options. The same goes for central midfield options because we have plenty.
I think our strikers are about good enough for the time being although next summer we should be looking to improve here as well. Mbokani has done a good job thus far although I can't figure why he hasn't started more games. Jerome's finishing isn't the best but we could definitely stay up with him leading the line. I don't think Grabban has a future here for much longer and clearly Lafferty needs to be moved on for his own good. I can't see why we haven't given Lafferty a chance or why he hasn't complained about his poor treatment but it hurts me to see him wasting his career like this. So maybe we could use another striker just to make up the numbers but the defence has to be the priority.
All in all, we are reasonably placed to stay up this season although the quality of our recent performances has been a worry for me. We spent almost nothing in the last window and from all I've heard about the money in the PL and that we are "run as a co-operative with every spare penny going to the first team budget" we surely have a hefty warchest available for AN? We have a great chance of staying up and I'd hate to see us waste it so I really hope we try and get in some good defenders and maybe a quality winger.
I was deeply unsatisfied with our defence, having felt we should have signed at least one, maybe two new CBs to improve our team and a new RB because I felt Whittaker was hopeless and that if Wisdom couldn't displace him from the team than it is hardly an endorsement of his ability either. The fact we have kept just two clean sheets in half the season (against Swansea and Villa) has done nothing to change my mind and most of the goals we have conceded have not been unstoppable wonder goals but set-pieces, crosses and counter-attacks (I don't recall seeing a team as weak at defending as counter-attacks we are). The defence should be our number 1 priority this window. I know that quality players aren't easy to come by, but they don't need to be that great to improve our defence.
The other area I couldn't believe we didn't strengthen was out wide, where we have only three options, one of whom we want to play as LB, so maybe only 2. Jonny Howson is a grafter, but as a full back, you would much rather play against him then a pacy winger. The fact we are playing Howson on the right is surely a glaring sign we need more option on wide?!? Having pacy, direct wingers allows a team to have a threat on the counter-attack even when they aren't playing well, and playing a central midfielder out wide just isn't a viable long-term option.
I don't know what is happening with Ruddy, but Rudd knows what he is doing so as long as there someone competent on the bench I am not worried about our GK options. The same goes for central midfield options because we have plenty.
I think our strikers are about good enough for the time being although next summer we should be looking to improve here as well. Mbokani has done a good job thus far although I can't figure why he hasn't started more games. Jerome's finishing isn't the best but we could definitely stay up with him leading the line. I don't think Grabban has a future here for much longer and clearly Lafferty needs to be moved on for his own good. I can't see why we haven't given Lafferty a chance or why he hasn't complained about his poor treatment but it hurts me to see him wasting his career like this. So maybe we could use another striker just to make up the numbers but the defence has to be the priority.
All in all, we are reasonably placed to stay up this season although the quality of our recent performances has been a worry for me. We spent almost nothing in the last window and from all I've heard about the money in the PL and that we are "run as a co-operative with every spare penny going to the first team budget" we surely have a hefty warchest available for AN? We have a great chance of staying up and I'd hate to see us waste it so I really hope we try and get in some good defenders and maybe a quality winger.
Someone had to say it!
