How many players are we really short?

I agree i just think we need one decent quality centre back to cover colo. In the summer a new lb, switch santon over and our team will be glorious.

 

A full squad capable of what? I think we only need a backup centre back to have a 'full squad' thats capable of finishing 10th-7th each season. Although
im still very concerned that if Krul gets injured, if Harper wasnt available, i have seen anything from Elliot yet that would put me at ease. He always seems prone to the odd unfortunate mistake at a crucial time.

I think we're a few off that for having a 'full squad' capable of competing on all fronts, i.e. League Cup, FA Cup, Europe and pushing the 'top 6' all the way in the longer term. I think we'd need to sell a few/release a few for this though and get improved replacements. Another striker to push the front two along with Best maybe. Another winger to push Gutierrez (replace him in the long run) and Ben Arfa, as Marveaux has problems with fitness and i wanted to give Obertan time but i cant see him improving his end product. I think we'd probably need some sort of defensive midfield cover as i dont see Vuckic, Gosling or Abeid doing that job and Cabaye is better used elsewhere. A centreback to take over from Coloccini eventually is needed.

 

- A back-up 'keeper. Haven't seen much of Elliot but it seems to be he regularly makes mistakes, and we need someone reliable if Krul is injured.

- A right centre-back (Douglas?) who could cover without a significant loss of quality when Taylor isn't fit.

- A left centre-back who can also play left-back (Pieters, Vertonghen?) who could cover Colo in the middle when he is injured but could then play at left-back in a full-strength team with Santon on the right.

- A non-African holding midfielder, because as has been pointed out, Tiote and Abeid will both be away at AFCON and we don't have any other cover in that position (Smith won't be here and doesn't count anyway).

- A classy non-African striker for when the Dembas go away. Needs to be better than Besty and Shola.

 

Incidentally, the 5 positions I picked out are positions that would need to be filled to constantly challenge around 4th/5th/6th/7th every season.