I think we’d be in a better position to get a quality striker in the summer permanently than now. Send Bedia packing, get another striker in on loan, try to stay up then get a better quality one in the summer. I’d also give Pedro an extra year or two. I’ve noticed something about our shape under Sellés which is that it’s a 4-3-3 on paper but the way we press and the way Pedro drops deep in possession as a false 9 it looks more like a 4-3-1-2 with the two wingers making runs in behind and playing off Pedro, especially when you consider Burstow isn’t a natural winger but a striker. If we can get another quick winger to play off Pedro and make runs in behind, that would be good. Barry would be perfect for that as he can play winger and striker. Pedro doesn’t have the pace anymore to run in behind and he’s not a target man but he has loads of technical ability and is one of the best players on the ball at the club so he can play as a false 9 or even as a number 10.
I keep forgetting that Bedia has 3. I just can't give him that one against Watford - a handball that actually slowed down a goalbound shot. While poor old Mehlem who hit the shot leaves us with 0 league goals to his name.
Don’t think we need someone super good for the striker this window. Ol’ Joao needs a break every so often for the rest of this season. Makes me think the striker is the permanent though, why would someone come here on loan if they’re not the guaranteed striker?
There's no chance we're signing Darling or Barry There will have to be a real lowering of expectations given our current predicament.
If Barry is a permanent I think that thins the pool of who could go for him. I’m not saying we are a favourite mind but I bet that would help given the guaranteed game time we could give him
He ain't joining a club who could be playing in L1 next season. I really wouldn't be expecting much in the way of player's with calibre coming in this winter. It'll be players to scrap and get us over the line. Probably a similar calibre to what we signed under Adkins,
But he did join a L1 club this season in Stockport. Not even a promotion favourite; they're having a good season but they weren't expected to be near the top. He'll go where the money is and where he feels he'll be first choice. I wonder if the wide player is Harvey Knibbs; he's in form at the moment for Reading and there seemed to be some suggestion that despite this apparent clause with Selles about signing Reading players, we could still do it as they need the money. A permanent signing could very well be somebody Selles knows about and fits his style (given that our squad is full of players that don't), so it would make sense that it's going to be a Reading or Southampton player. Will Smallbone on loan would help cover Mehlem's departure and would add actual quality and a bit of experience alongside Puerta and Simons. Depending on wages, other Southampton players who haven't played much and could be heading out on loan include Kamaldeen Sulemana (who I was really impressed with when he played against us last season), Ryan Fraser, Ben Brereton Diaz, Nathan Wood, Charlie Taylor and Paul Onuachu. Not saying they'd all be great signings, but there's plenty of experienced heads in Southampton's squad that aren't playing and Saints might want off their books to help get players in. EDIT: Somebody mentioned a potential Leeds player, they're actively trying to get rid of Bamford, wonder if that's somebody we might be able to get on the cheap.
I think there was interest in Bamford in the summer, he’d be a good signing. Wages the big issue though, I’d guess.
I’d take Bamford like a shot but he is made of glass these days. With our luck he’d get crocked on his first training session with a 6 month injury.
He’s worth a punt. Realistically what proven striker in the English leagues are we going to get? Andre Grey is the only other one I can think about
I’m not sure why, but I really dislike Bamford and I find it astounding that he managed to get a £70k a week contract.
Sulemena is a brilliant direct tricky player. Just his fitness and keeping him on the pitch seems to be the issue at the moment. Smallborne is also quality.