Still think we need a couple of players in certain areas? (Not including goalies) What does everybody else think?
With Cooper out on loan we defo need another CB, along with a left winger and two goalies. If Bullard leaves heneeds reolacing but if not I'm happy with the midfield and attack.
cover for CB (but Macca can do that in this division) LW - Devitt? RW - until Cam Stewart returns maybe try Ghilas? Gulasci & Basso could be the keeper, Bullard may stay. let's see.
That'll do me. Our squad is considerably stronger than people are projecting it, although I still can't help thinking we'll use up more than two loan places (Gulacsi and Brady)... I suppose it leaves the door open for a couple of 'emergency loans' should we be lacking in certain areas and/or suffer long-term injuries to players. The advantages of being in the Football League
I reckon we need either a CB or a RB (but that would mean McShane being our cover at CB), to tie up the Brady move, and probably another winger as well unless Ghilas is different this year. Either side will do for the winger as Stewart once he's available can be moved over to right winger if we've signed a left winger. Based on current expectations (brackets are players not included as part of our budget): GK: Gulacsi/Basso LB: Dudgeon/Dawson CB1: Chester/(Kilbane)* CB2: Hobbs RB: Rosenior/(McShane) *Not saying I particularly like it, but while he's stuck here that's about the only use we have for him. LW: Brady/Stewart/Devitt CM1: Evans/Harper/(Olofinjana)/Barmby CM2: McKenna/(Bullard)/Cairney RW: Koren/(Ghilas)/(Garcia - maybe after Xmas) ST1: Fryatt/Adebola ST2: Simpson/McLean
Pique, Nigel De Jong, Walcott, Joe Hart and Drogba would do just nicely, think we could comfortably challenge for play offs then
Ayala now that Cooper has gone out on loan and Brady to cover for Stewart i would say. Goalies will be sorted soon.
Even with Stewart fit, I would suggest we still need 2 out and out wingers to choose from so that in certain situations we can play proper 4-4-2 with wingers on both sides. Garcia and Stewart are the only players who can do this and they're both out for a while, so we should bring in one (Brady) until they're both dfit, not just one. The 4 players Febbos suggested would be ideal (well, I'm guessing about Gulacsi obviously).
I don´t like playing two wingers it is too predictable and too often leaves outnumbered down the middle. Yes we need to get players wide but two players just stood there are easy to mark. We got away with it in the lower leagues despite at times being outplayed by inferior teams but at a higher level we need to out think and out play the opposition. Stewart when fit played better for us inside playing off a striker he was less effective on the wing where the full back knew where he was. We now have competition in midfield and attack but we lack competition at the back so in my view in addition to the keepers we need at least one centre back and a right back. That is not to say if the right player became available elsewhere we should not sign him. I think there will be many new arrivals and a few departures by the end of next month.
