Just thought I'd try and get something ruminating in a dead period. Any thoughts?? I'd be in after Sjnieder as if my life depended on it. Can't get any striker we want, so how do we play rest of the season with what we've got ??? Midfield still a huge problem. Lamps gone to Gowings, Ashley Cole likely to go, JT on the edge. Seems we never catch up, no matter who we buy, we just can't seem to build. Bad planning where I sit, a result of short termism.
Think you boys should be looking at the likes of Hooper and Samaras at Celtic. They are on fire at the moment and have already established themselves on the biggest stage in Europe.
Just been on Sky that Chelsea are looking at bringing in Andy Carroll to partner Goldilocks up front. This would be awesome indeed.
For me we are in transition and the next couple of seasons will be about moving the likes of Lampard, Cole and (maybe JT) out of the first team/club and bringing on the youngsters supplemented by the odd signing. These youngsters need time to grow and adjust to the league but if the likes of Oscar, Hazard, Piazon, Bertrand, Lukaku, De Bruyne etc continue to improve, we will have a very good squad on our hands. Ultimately with the system we play we need 3 strikers. We have Torres, Ba and Moses (who can also play wing) now. That is enough for the rest of the season. We then have the option of bringing Lukaku back and either sticking with Torres or replacing him with say a Falcoa. Goal is fine as long as Courtois arrives in the summer. Defence probably OK for another season if we get Terry fit with maybe the need to bring in a replacement for Cole if he leaves. Van Aarnholt could possibly understudy Bertrand though. Midfield we need that play maker type. Therefore we either buy someone or if Luiz works there, perhaps buy a centre back. As much as I like Sneijder as a player, his wages would not make the risk worth it in my view. He hasn't been the same player he was 2 years ago and I wonder if this has another 'torres' written over it. We have to have more long termism and Moutinho for instance would be a much cheaper option, Erikson at Ajax is young and class, or Isco at Malaga perhaps? We've seen this season how devastating we can be, we just need a bit of time to click and a couple more leaders on the pitch (which we have missed when Drogs, JT and Lamps have all been off the pitch) So in short. If we only sign Ba this window and we can get Terry fit soon, we'll be able to push for top 4 and a trophy or 2.
Can't see a fault in your reasoning, though don't agree with your assesment of Sjneider. Class is forever. Terry is on the slide and will not make a jot of difference to our season. Just another sub.. Luiz is doing a magnificent job of being a midfield general, when he has no right to that title. Shows what a talent this boy is. Sjneider will cost well below Lamps in wages, and is under our 30 year impost. For me, a no brainer, but hey, we've got Roman as the ultimate no brainer. Thats really our problem, a well meaning dope in the box seat.
Pretty much agree with everything. I would bring Lukaku back though. A completely different option which we don't have.
I might be wrong but isn't Sneijder on around £200k per week wages - hence why no one will touch him ATM. If true and given our 50% tax bracket, he'd be on more than Lampard is now. Plus we've had our fingers burnt with players like Torres and Sheva who signed off the back of injuries etc and we're/are not the players we thought we were buying. If Roman wants to splash I wont complain but with a business hat on, I think it's not the best option - unless I'm wrong about wages or he'd take a cut (which he wont accept at Inter so unlikely for us). Food for thought though.
I look at our squad and wonder if we need to do anymore before summer! With Ba on board , JT fit and Lamps on board for the rest of the season we should, serious injuries apart, have what we need!
