I would say that if supporters can't trust this board to do the right thing, within time of a transfer window ending, then they won't or can't trust anyone. I have absolutely no problem with this transfer window activity.
Just to make it clear, I am not moaning and I am not worrying but I can be a bit disappointed can't I.
You can, but I don't see how you can be. Even if we don't get a Cork replacement our midfield is strong enough. All it leaves is us light up front. But if you look at how light our squad was last season you can see we are doing things right.
Argos do waterproof bedding protectors - I just thought I'd throw that out there as there seem to be a few people about with nervous bladder syndrome due to lack of signings. Half the country thought we'd get relegated so keep the faith and enjoy the ride as we've exceeded expectations so far, and I see no reason why we can't continue to do so.
To be honest, several players have come on leaps and bounds this season. This is a much stronger squad than last. With Elia and Mane supporting Pelle up front, we might be a little light on options, but there are several combinations we can play. Plus don't forget Tadic is more an attacking threat than a defensive player, even though he's visibly improved in that area since the season start. It looks like we'll have JayRod back before Shane Long, so that little selection headache will take care of itself. Personally, I think were going to be fine, and especially so when everyone is back.
In both seasons though we hit a run where players were injured/fatigued, and we absolutely bottomed out for a time. That's where having depth is useful...if players go off the boil (they do) or miss matches (they will) you have options.
I am not worrying I am merely stating that you do not see many of the other top clubs doing much business either in or out and unfortunately we do not have the depth of other teams. Like Schad said, we have hit brick walls due to fatigue or injuries in the past - that happens in football, for instance Spurs have been lucky so far this year, however I think it would be prudent to have kept Cork to the summer and I do trust the board but it is not to say that we will sign a few players that may not turn out the way we would have hoped and a player that is tried and tested is more valuable in the short-term. I see where you and many are coming from, nevertheless I have a different angle on it but it is my opinion and only time will tell if it was right or wrong, same with yours, but you don't have to dismiss it.
Those are fairly significant exceptions though, and I'd add RB...if we lose Pelle, Forster or Clyne, particularly the first two, we're in some trouble. Even at other positions, our options aren't terribly numerous; if we have a player injured, and someone isn't performing well (witness our troubles in December when Pelle and Mane weren't at the top of their respective games) we generally end up running out much the same team and hope they recover form.
Yoshida's pretty bad at RB, as he cannot get forward. Toby's out injured for a while longer, and we really need him at CB. McCarthy hasn't seen the pitch, and you yourself have said that he's more a CB than a RB. I mean, yeah, they can kinda sorta cover, but those are pretty unideal options.
But they are still options. There is no point in buying too many players in Jan, the prices are crazy. I think we are fine at rb until the summer, were I expect us to go back in for Byram.
Right back doesnt concern me, keeper concerns me a bit and striker concerns me massively. An injury to him and we play who through the middle? The only option even close to him in terms of playing style is Gallagher who is a youngster with not much experience and coming back from a long term injury.
Insofar as every team has the option of playing someone out of position, sure. But it'd be nice to have quality depth rather than emergency depth. As for buying in January, the reason given in the summer was that we were saving some money then to do so; prices are going to be crazy again in the summer as well, because we're likely going to be selling a few players and teams will know we have cash.
On RB, we also have the option if plying three at the back and then a RM is also an option. On other attacking players, we brought in Elia due to Mane's absence; he's back so now Elia covers Long. I'd have liked a striker, but we have the option if playing Elia and Mane down the middle too. That's a pretty scary and pacey proposition for any defence. Different approach but still tasty. My biggest expectation is that if/when we don't finish top 4, the doom monsters will be out bemoaning the board and Ron.
Yeah of course, I'm not one of them but will be disappointed if we don't sign a striker, as the position we are in this year, and as the current squad stands, we're one serious injury to Pelle away from dropping like a stone. And (this won't be popular) I don't think for a second we will be in this position next January so think we should definitely sign a striker.
Massive shame if we don't get CL now, but none of us can moan about the season we are having. We don't know how hard the board is trying to sign players....you can't always get what you want. If we don't sign a striker, it is more likely that we couldn't get one we wanted than that they never tried at all.
Let me be clear that I will not moan regardless of what happens this season. I wouldn't call not getting CL a 'massive shame' either, as I still don't think we'll make it. What would be a massive shame after the first 22 games we've had, is not carrying our record of improving our league position every since the Liebherr take over.
