Do you think CBs are needed? I would say it's our strongest area. Woolfy has been superb and probably our best player over the Xmas period...some of those draws could've been losses without him. Burgess has been great, Edmundson came in yesterday and was superb all 3 I think are of decent quality at this level. Add Tuanzebe who clearly has quality plus Baggott and if needs be Clarke, Donacien and Ball who can all play there I would say we are well stocked although this might be tested in January. For me key priority areas are strikers, as highlighted by Hirsts absence, and another wide tricky winger. Also not convinced by our full back positions, no one has nailed RB and we've looked vulnerable down that side all season. And not sure we have an able deputy for Davis, again highlighted the past couple of games. They're our priority areas however a long term replacement for Morsy would be good but we do have okay cover in that area. Over the summer i do think we had players on our books with the right profiles to fill those roles and in some ways have weakened ourselves. Leigh was a great natural back up to Davis last season and feel we haven't really replaced him. Edwards was great coming on late in games last season and again have not really replaced that wide left position. Whilst maybe not of the level required Ahadme's profile is most similar to Hirst out of all the strikers we have. I think it is also interesting where McKenna sees El Mizouni's long term future who's doing well in League One
Why isn’t he in the West Brom side? And why do we want to sign a winger on loan? Will he play up front?
I agree with PTC here. I think we all know that one or two centre-forwards are the priority in this window, particularly with Hirst expected to be out for a few months. Ladapo and Jackson don't offer enough, so we desperately need one striker (I'd argue possibly even two) through the door as soon as possible. Another full back would also be wise business. As PTC says, right-back looks a position that could do with strengthening. Clarke is playing better, but is he first team material in a promotion pushing side? Back-up for left back would also be ideal, particularly with Williams covering more at right back and going through a dip in form. I think we'd benefit by bringing in a winger/attacking midfielder. We're finding it tough to break down teams lately and, for me, there's a question mark over Hutchinson. If we're able to bring in a significant upgrade on what we've got, that would be brilliant business (even if this is just a loan). Obviously FFP is going to be a factor here. We might need to trim what is already quite a light squad to free up finances if we want to make three or four signings. I'm not sure if there is going to be much of a market for our players that look expendable (e.g., Ladapo and Jackson). Focus the transfer budget on signing a centre-forward. If we then need to dip into the loan market to bring in a second striker that's fair enough. I'd then look to sign one player to support at full-back and bring in one player on loan to provide competition down the flanks.
Think you hit on a lot of good points there Nuggets. It's an interesting transfer window and interesting time in terms of our form. We've had a dip and any team who plays the games we've played and had the injury/illness/suspensions we've had would struggle, look at the PL title challengers...when does a top team win the league without their best players...most teams who win stuff have their best players available. We are now seeing this through the prism of a promotion challenge in which we are in one of the 2 key positions. I'm sure it wouldn't be quite so important to strengthen or quite so critical of our 2nd string if we were in mid table for example.
I said I felt we needed a winger that can cross a ball with acuracy and not just a hit and hope. We also need 2 number 9's and if possible, at least one of them an upgrade on Hirst, not just a gap filler!! I would let both Jackson and Ladapo go or rather I would sell them. Can't see the need for defensive reinforcements, we are well covered at cb, yes our RBs are not the greatest but they can do a job and I would rather strengthen up top than in defence, it has to be our priority!! CM is the only other one I think we may need to look at, Morsy is great but we need a similar type of player to cover for him or compete with him, we have nobody similar and when he is out....we are doomed!!
Well, I don't rate him, tooooo inconsistent, yes he has flair but 9 times out of 10 his final ball is pants.
I agree the past few games the crosses in the box haven't been the best but I also think movement in the box has been pretty poor. Without Hirst we lack someone with that movement to create space for others and get on the end of crosses (an area I think he can still improve on).
Sarmiento looks designed to be a like for like upgrade (we hope) for Scarlett. Loans are never ideal but it's quite low risk, and TWTD saying it's with a view to extension for a season if we're promoted. Defense is an odd situation, I think we have the personnel but leaking cheap goals has been a constant thorn in our side. Whereas - at least at one point in the season - we were top of the scoring charts.
Anyone think Kieffer Moore could do a job for us, he's apparently gonna be available. He is better than anything we have got available, I think, with Leif supplying the crosses....he could be a real handful
If you could get Stanfield and Moore in, I think that would be a great bit of business, 2 totally different strikers, then you have more of a plan b and a different option with low block playing sides!!
Tho not a prolific goal scorer for Bnmth, I am sure KM could coach him and as you say, if we have another player ascwell as Leif wen he's fit, who can get decent crosses in, he could be a real handful at this level. Is he available?
Haven’t kept tabs on him lately - I’ve been too focussed on us. I was annoyed when we let him go but isn’t he past his best now?
You couldn’t really ask for a more like for like stand in for Hirst. Sarmiento is a done deal - very disappointed in that one. Smacks of the summer where, with the exception of signing Hirst, we failed to sign anyone who would be a regular starter for us. The very last thing we need is another winger on loan. We must sign a couple of permanent strikers.
