Do we really need more midfielders next year?

Seeing as Gosling and Ben Arfa are back next season I personally think we need to focus all our transfer budget on 2 strikers (and maybe a CB).

You will probably agree when I say our midfield is the strongest part of our team by quite a way. Some people say we will need a winger or two next year but I disagree. Have a look at our options:

Right hand side: Barton, Gosling, Raylor
Left hand side: Jonas, Ben Arfa, Ferguson

Barton has proved he is a very solid RM.
After some interregation of Everton fans I found out Gosling can play RM.
Raylor isn't great but did an OK job there against Bolton before he got sent off.

Gutierrez is a good left winger. Can also cover the right.
Ben Arfa will play out on the left when needed.
I beleive Ferguson is a very competent LM and is only getting better.

Surely with these players we will never be short of people to play out wide. Worst case scenario if we ran out of wide options we could just play a 4-3-2-1 with Nolan and Ben Arfa off a lone striker. IMO we need to invest in other areas of the team before even considering more midfielders. We already have enough quality (Tiote, Ben Arfa, Nolan, Barton etc) and enough strength in depth (Guthrie, Gosling, Raylor etc).

Thoughts?

 

We definitely need a RW. Like you say Barton has been terrific on the right, but his natural position is CM which is why he cant stretch the game like Guti can. Also I think Barton often leaves Simmo exposed when he drifts into CM.

 

But if you bring Barton into CM you probably have to drop Nolan or Tiote

 

Thats why I think HBA will end up playing as a winger despite what Pardew says.

Edit: Pardew may just buy a RW so that he can come off the bench to stretch a game.

 

my midfield for next season would be
Barton-Nolan-Tiote-Guti
-------Ben Arfa--------

with one striker. That leaves Ireland, Guthrie, Gosling, Smith, and Raylor as the established players in squad
If we sell smith i think thats a good size

 

Yes we do. After Jonas, Ben Arfa, Barton, Tiote and Nolan we haven't got much quality.

I don't think i would relish the idea of Guthrie and Raylor as back up. they're not good enough for the push into the top 10 and beyond.

We need a couple of new signings in attack and mid, and perhaps another CB.

 

I know it shouldnt be main focus of the article, but we will need a LB if Jose leaves, Ferguson is apt cover if he stays IMO, and we could do with cover for RB.

 

Tash you forgot Ireland (who atmitatly would be a new signing) and Gosling. Guthrie in my mind has just proven he's capable and Raylor has actually looked alright whenever he's played apart from that rad card

 

Oh yeah forgot about them.

Well i haven't seen owt of Gosling and not enough of Ireland yet, but if they prove themselves, then i'll settle for 1 more mid, 2 strikers and a CB.

 

Good point but for arguments sake assume Jose stays. Anyway, if we sell Jose we'll just use money from his sale to get a replacement surely. And maybe RB cover for around 2-3 million

 

Ireland and Gosling are top quality players.

 

right wing,right back cover,left back cover (2 LBs if jose goes) 2 strikers and a quality centre back

 

What about this? -> one out and out striker, one striker who can also play on the wing (such as Gervinho), and one player who can cover LB and RB (like Ferreira but maybe a bit younger). This way you can spend more on each player and therefore be more sure of getting quality. Also leaves loads of money for one more midfielder like Ireland/Kranjcar and proper cover for Tiote. Also leaves more money available for wages so we dont have to offer them all peanuts.

 

This. Replace with Vargas .. although agree with the rest.

 

excellent idea. Although i see Gosling as a DM (and cover for Tiote)

 

Something like this:

Target Man - 10mill
Striker/Winger - 10mill
LB/RB cover - 4/5mill

And maybe a CB if there is any budget left.

 

Yep, our bench is nowhere near strong enough to be improving on this year, and with alot of cash we may aswell improve on the midfield we have!