How good/poor are we???

When I look at our squad, I just don't think we're very good these days.

Our players that have real class and would get in to most prem teams can be named on one hand, Krul, Debuchy, Remy (not even our player). After that we are very workmanlike (often without the work ).

We need to sell Colo, he simply doesn't have the interest anymore. Everytime he's injured he goes back to Argentina to recover, that's hardly going to motivate him to get himself fit as quickly as possible. Williamson and Taylor are not long term options if we want to be a top half team. As for Santon I'm afraid he's just not very good, well not at defending anyway and as we don't have a left footed midfield we just don't have any balance to our team.

If I was Pardew I'd start from the back, Krul as our long term keeper, Debuchy at RB, Haidara/Dummett at LB and Mbiwa at CB. Keep Taylor and Williamson as back up and sign an agressive no nonsense CB.

In midfield we have Gouffran, Sissoko, Anita, Tiote & Ben Arfa. All of whom offer something different. I wouldn't sell any of them, we need strength in depth in this area. I'd say we'd then need to add a ball playing CM and another wide player. Grenier and Cabella being obvious targets due our interest in them in January.

Upfront Shola, Cisse and Remy won't be with us. And arguably none of them should be. Cisse and Shola because they aren't good enough and Remy because he's too good. So that leaves a permanent move for De Jong for 6m and from what I've seen of him I think he offers a nice option. Fairly physical but good at linking the play. After that we need a minimum of two more strikers to be signed on permanent deals to offer anywhere near the required goal threat.

So with arguably 1x CB, 2X MF (one wide, once central) and 3x CF (two if De Jong is signed) needed I think we have a very worrying summer ahead. I mean to get those 6 players signed we'd be looking at 30m plus and Mike ain't known for his active transfer policy.

If you then take in to account that Colo, Obertan, Gosling, Ben Arfa, Marveaux, Shola and Cise could all be off. We have already have a very thin squad. We could be losing 7 and replacing with 6 meaning we're pretty much back to square one, although with a slightly more talented team.

Going to be our biggest summer since Ashley has been our owner IMO. Even bigger than the summer after our relegation.

 

I agree with most of this, though i think HBA is a luxury we can't afford on the wages he is on. I'd add him to the list to be replaced, hopefully by Cabella. I can't make my mind up about Cisse. He's obviously got it or he wouldn't have had the record he had two years ago. Then again, how long do you give him to get it back?

 

I agree! Although i dont think Dummet will make the grade we need to test how good Haidara is (perfect timing is now untill the end of the season). Id try and sell Sissoko he is piss poor! We also need a pedigree signing not just replacments.

 

I said at the start of the season we had a mid table squad. Losing Cabaye and not replacing him obviously drags the overall quality level down a little further. The problems I expected to materialise like Colo being injured a lot due to age have come to fruition unfortunately. Comfortably our best defender but rarely available. Santon still struggling to defend well. Being brutal I see it like this:

GK

Krul - Decent but no world beater. Like to retain but if an AC Milan or the like come calling you couldn't blame him for fancying it and if the money is right I could see him go.
Eliott - Not of the required standard even as back up IMO

Def

Colo - Time to move on. High earner and never available. I When he is I think he can be relied on to give 100% (I don't buy the not interested scenario)
Willo - Solid option to have around
Saylor - As above although I don't think he'll ever be first XI quality
Mbiwa - Who knows. He has good days and bad days. Prone to very rash decisions and when he is bad, he is really bad. He seems a bit thick too and doesn't read situation overly well.
Young CB's - We have Streete and Mbabu. Who knows, both have been well thought of at various stages.
Left backs - I think Haidara and Dummett are at a simlar level. Haidara better in attack, Dummett better in defence. Both worth perservering with as they are young. Neither is top class.
Santon - Not a left full back. I'd keep him though as he is versatile. Whether he would be happy to be our utility man a la Raylor is another question altogether.
Debuchy - Quality but I see him leaving in the summer for Arsenal or PSG. Better than us at present unfortunately.

Overall and looking ahead, we are well short in the defensive ranks in terms of quality. The best two are likely to go in the summer IMO in Debuchy and Colo. This would leave us seriously exposed, understaffed and lacking class. We'd need at least one quality centre back and a right back (again........)

Utility

Raylor - unlikely to come back
Tavernier - Having a really good loan spell, still has possibilities

Midfield - Traditionally been our strongest area in recent years due to the Cabaye/Tiote axis. One half is gone and I still think the other may go in the summer.

Tiote - Looks back to his best this season and has been very very good overall.
Anita - I like him, I think he is a good player to have and is very tidy in everything he does. He can't be your playmaker as he can't unlock a defence but he has a good engine, technique, attitude. A good balance for Tiote and a playmaker.
Sissoko - I don't know what to make of this fella. Should be a blockbusting box to box midfield centrally. Just gets lost in there and subsequently looks best on the right. Had some cracking games out there. Seems incredibly lazy at other times. Overall I'd keep him because if you get the right players in the team in terms of mental strength you can probably carry his lazy games.
Gouffran - No world beater but a good solid player to have. Like Debuchy he tries his heart out. Now and again he will switch off and lose his man but overall a good squad option. Chips in with his fair share.
HBA - Probably the most naturally gifted player we have. However still plays schoolboy football and I'd offload as quickly as possible. Nowt to do with pardew for me or the various other excuses made for him, he just not all that. As much a danger to your team losing possesion as he is a threat to the opposition.
Remy - I include him here because I think he looked a much better player on the left wing. I don't consider him a central striker as such. I think he will be set for elsewhere, we just don't have much to offer an obviously talented ambitious player like him. Should be plenty of takers.
Marveaux - Weak willed, injury prone and needs off loaded asap. Has talent, but just ill suited to the league.
Sammy - He'll never cut it for me.
Obertan - No comment needed
Gosling - No comment needed
Jonas - have to assume will be on his way
Young players - Kemen - looks canny prospect but who knows, Ferguson - has struggled badly on loan and is not progressing, Bigi - still worth perservering with, Abeid - had a really good loan spell in Greece, worth looking at again, Vuckic - struggling a little on loan, never been convinced, extremely lazy, Newton - doing well again but time is running out

Overall numbers aplenty across the various age groups. Lack of quality and balance though. You certainly need at least two wide men once Remy departs, and a playmaker. Loads to offload too. Massive rebuilding job should be done if you were going to take bull by the horns. We won't and will plod on.

Strikers

Shola - Let it end
Cisse - Just a husk of his former self, get rid
LDJ - I've liked what I have seen. If you got the right players around him I think he'd be ideal in a lone front man role. Looking forward to see him and Remy link up. I think he'd fancy the move too. Be handy i he could get his bro over for the playmaker role!
Young players - Campbell - I still think he is worth persevering with. He is small and struggled a little. His loan spell has not been breathtaking but done ok. Adam Armstrong - Looks an obvious talent, I'd like to see him and Campbell used as 4th and 5th choice striker.

Overall if we signed LDJ and sold Cisse, released Shola, I'd see us needing 2 strikers. Never going to happen. I'd not be that uncomfortable signing LDJ and one other. If the unthinkable happens and Remy signed, I could see us fudging it by having him, LDJ and the two younguns. No point wishing. We just refuse to stock up correctly in this area and I firmly believe its because the biggest premiums in football are reserved for strikers. Hence we never have many!

I'll be honest I think the big picture for next year is pretty bleak. I think we need a big injection of cash and signings but won't get it. I think we may end up with a squad which has an air of "hover above relegation" about it. I wouldn't want to be the manager!

 

Unfortunately I see no over eventuality unless MA sells up between now and the end of the season. To be honest even if we were to buy the number of players required, next season could still be iffy due to the time it takes a team to gel.

 

Cisse, Remy and LDJ in a 3 pronged attack is the future.

I've seen it !

 

Did you make a note of the lottery numbers while you were there?

 

I think it's the management

Our class players I would deem as:

Krul
Debuchy
Colo
Tiote
HBA
Sissoko

That makes six so only a Mackem can count them on one hand.

That's not a bad bunch at all, but depleted of course by the departure of Cabs.

Stack them up against the best 6 from other mid table teams and we are up there with the best.

That for me is a good foundation to kick on.

 

Where is Anita? Our best player!

 

He would spoil the Mackem joke mate, but honestly he is on the cusp. A few more games and he would be there for sure

 

To me we should start all games with him, Tiote, Krul, and Debuchy. Sissoko is pointless and unless HBA can start to link up with others then he is also pointless

 

We will have to disagree with Sissoko mate.
He's our engine room IMHO and will get better and better.
We will see the best of him next season.

 

Only if Pards has left us!

 

Aye, ain't that the truth.
It makes me wonder... Are the likes of HBA being Pardewed?

 

Think they all are! As well as our poor coaching!

 

I note that Clarky and Terry Mac are alleged to have gone their separate ways.... And we are looking for more coaches... Just saying...

 

I used to love seeing Mac's barnet sat next to Kev!

 

Could do a hell of a lot worse than either of them. True B&W's.

 

We've just agreed to sign another purple player in the summer - Tinky Winky.

 

Your namesake fella.... No sorry that's micro winky..