I'm mindful that we have a large squad with a lot of quality...and not many MAJOR injuries.. so... if it ain't broke do we really need to fix it? I remember some of the rhythm was lost when we added Tino to the ranks in January back in the day and maybe we should step cautiously this January... ? Maybe keeping our powder dry for the Summer could be a good thing?
I'd rather save money then purchase unnecessary players. The squad we have is both good and big enough. Any money available for Jan should be saved for summer to try and add some real class in
Ideally, leave it till the summer when we can get better Prem league quality players in (assuming we are getting promoted) shift out the Championship only quality players etc etc that said..if we are losing our way by January ...spend, spend, spend!
If we're looking good for promotion, there's a small possibility that some prem class players would be available to purchase with them joining in the Summer or who we could loan back to their parent club until pre-season. Our squad should get promoted this season bar any major injury worries so only buy if they will be good enough for the PL and we want to get them to Gel with the rest of the team early
I'm sure we brought in Andy Cole half way through a promotion season if there is quality out there, lets have it
How many of those have there ever been? Plus football wasn't quite as ruined then it was still in the process of being ruined
It simply comes down to quality. It is more difficult to get an Andy Cole type. Largely because there is less movement between lower league clubs and championship clubs nowadays as they all hold out for PL interest/money. The PL clubs are quite happy to hoover up. That said we may be a small exception to the rule looking at our summer work with likes of Ritchie. I wouldn't rush out to do something but if a left back and number 10 came up of requisite quality then I'd say do it. Look at those who have made the step in recent years from lower leagues to PL and its obvious there is quality lurking further down if you are willing to give them a chance. Cresswell, Jagielka, Williams, Lallana, Clyne, Ings, Trippier, Holgate, Fonte, Austin, Bryam, Antonio, Stones, Ledley, Vardy etc etc have all operated at Championship or lower and been picked up. If someone turned round and said you could do Creswell, Antonio and Lallana for instance (picking 3 positions I'd like) then I'd snap their fecking hands off - so I wouldn't rule it out. Its have we got the scouting in place to pick up the next Creswell, Antonio and Lallana is the question. It just depends on what is possible. In terms of left backs say someone said Charlie Taylor of Leeds was possible for instance, I'd probably say yeah lets get it done.
not many I know, but the thing is Keegan had seen something in Andy Cole that no one else had maybe Rafa can do the same who knows, we'll find out sooner or later
I quite like Cresswell, far better left back than we've had for many a year. Lallana is good player for me. Happily have him any day of the week, look at him under Klopp. Clyne is a very very solid full back as is Trippier. Fonte, Williams and Jagielka are no nonsense leaders we could badly have done with in recent years. Stones is overrated by has massive potential if brought on correctly. Austin has proven he can do it in the PL. I like Antonio, very useful and versatile player. There is some good quality PL quality squad players there plus some first team stars for PL clubs. If any of that quality was available in Jan I'd jump in. However if you are a lower club and Newcastle come calling in Jan, when you know there is PL interest then you are gonna sit it out unless there is a contract issue like Charlie Taylor. You are gonna maximise your asset. Don't forget Dele Alli came from down there too. We've done it before successfully with Dyer, Jenas and Bellamy. We just need to be selective.
Nah mate all vastly overrated like most players in the Premiership. I agree with what you're saying though.
Cole's first game was in March, played 11 league games, was amazing, but the hard work had been done by then. Routledge and Williamson were good buy in January last time we were down here, Fitz Hall and Pancrate less so.
I don't see any reason to strengthen unless we get some premiership quality players ready for next season.
If we sign anyone in Jan benitez will be a big factor in their signing so I could forsee a Pl player ready to come to our club as we look nailed on for promotion. it would give them extra bedding in time and be part of the squad before next season. I'd also take judge in Jan if we go back in for him.
Agree with the majority, only spend in Jan if they are E.P.L. standard if not save the money for a class CB, CM and Winger in summer.
If a very good player that Rafa wants is available and we can only get him in January than yes sign him, if not wait until the summer, already 8 points ahead of 3rd, so should be in a strong powerful position to get promoted.
Strengthen from a position of strength. I can't see Rafa, sitting twaddling his thumbs come January. More likely he'll be building for next season.
Who is dead wood in this team? Tiote? Who else? Gamez is not doing what we hoped yet - does he have a chance this season?
