If we get a CB I'd actually be pretty happy with this window. Don't see where the General is coming from when he says we "Failed" in the summer. We got in 6 pretty solid signings, nothing spectacular but it improved the squad. Now we have a new RB and it seems just a matter of time before we get Naismith. That'll leave the rest of the window to focus on a CB and offloading the fringe players. I can't believe how much everybody is losing their mind over these transfers! Most of it is self perpetuated rumours about potential offers that might have come in. I must have read the Afobe/Grabban saga about 10 times over the last few pages!
Yes let's not forget we added (amongst others) Brady, Jarvis and Mulumbu last time out who have given us some genuine improvement and competition for places. I'm not particularly fussed about another striker. I think Jerome and Mmmbok are very capable of getting the goals we need assuming the service levels are good enough and in Naismith, I see a potential alternative, or more likely further competition for Wes. With Grabban and Lafferty plus Hooper and RvW out on loan as well, given our "one up top" tactics, I'd be surprised if we're not trying to offload a few strikers rather than buy in new ones this window. I'll be excited to see the Naismith deal come through but CB for me is still the priority. Really pleased that Bennett has grabbed his opportunity, but we really are one serious injury or suspension away from an awkward defensive situation. I've no doubt McNally and AN are on the case and refuse to buy into this hysteria that it's a failed Jan window - It's the 11th for crying out loud.
Sorry if already been posted, but Twitter is amock with rumours of another/real bid for Grabban from Bournemouth! Tin hat time me thinks! Edit: a quick look round Twitter is not only suggesting £8m+ but that most Bournemouth fans don't want him!
Safe to return? Really don't understand why fans are turning on each other. We are in title winning form! I think AN made a bit of a mistake saying "we are going to get our business done early" kind of made a rod for his own back. Jarvis I am happy we have got. He's a grafter with good crossing and dribbling skills. Pinto I only know a little about, But it's great to have another defensive option, especially one with Champions League, Europa league, and title winning experience. Also adding more pace and flair to the team. It sounds like Naismith is stumbling over the line in the next few days. He's a Premiership quality forward. Lots of experience, and again a total grafter. All 3 look like adding workrate and quality to our squad. (With Pinto being the only possible risk of unknown). It's not been an explosion of exciting signing, but then, I didn't really expect there to be. If we get those 3 player, the CB is the only one I'm crying out for. An out and out striker with a good goal scoring record would be very very nice (and needed). but if that doesn't come this window, and we get the other 4. I'd be satisfied. Just really need to put some money aside for that CB. Of the Quality of Nkoulou/Koulibaly/Ranocchia.
Everton need the money from the sale of Naismith to help fund their bid for Yarmalenko, the Ukrainian winger, according to this snippet: http://www.norwich.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=429763
Yea, that story has been going around for a few days. He is one hell of a player. would be a inspired signing if they can lure him.
My reference to failure is; We started the season with only 3/4 CB options. Martin and Bassong not really good enough as a pairing, Bennett a great injury prone unknown (though I am so pleased for him to be playing well and getting games) and Wisdom a loan unknown. Couple this with recent rumour/revelation that we did try to sign a CB in the summer but failed, I would call that failure! We also didn't sign a striker when at least the rumour mill would indicate that it was high on the priority list. Afobe or Gayle? Yes we loaned Mbokani and he is a tidy player but it certainly appears that AN wanted more than that but we failed! With respect to the 6 we did sign, the question is how much did we really strengthen our starting XI? Brady - Absolutely, a great signing that turned into something of a saga Mulumbu - Not judging by his lack of impact, I know he picked up his injury at a frustrating time, but little game time since his return to fitness suggests not Mbokani - Arguably yes. but it's marginal, Jerome is still often prefered Wisdom - No but a necessary squad edition given our porcity of defensive options Dorrans - No no no, for a start we had him on loan already, but I'm not sure any of us really wanted it upgraded to a full deal. Jarvis - A great last minute addition though few of us saw it as such at the time. So the starting XI was strengthened a small amount but relative to the competition and what our seeming goals were not very much at all. Again if we are to believe the rumours that we had a a £10M+ bid rejected for a defender and that we were close to getting Gayle it suggests we had a significant by our standards budget that remained unspent and both a CB and striker eluded us. Is that success? My question is with others improving not just their squad but their starting XI, why should we be content with modest squad improvements? We are being left behind. Had we have got a CB, a striker like Gayle or Afobe, or both a CB and a striker in the summer then it would have represented a relative success, good for us but still not maybe as good as others and I would have been fairly happy with one, both a striker and CB and I would have been very happy assuming they were of the calibre to be starting games. but neither! Like I say I think that represents a failure. And all this "losing our minds" is just nonsense in my book. We maybe frustrated by the business so far following the possibly ill advised statment that we would get our business done early. And the window will only be truely judged at it's end, but once again seeing other clubs making significant gains in quality while we do not is not what any of us would hope for. Jarvis when fit will be a good signing but was already here, Pinto may prove to be an improvement on what we have, I look forward to finding out and Naismith is in all probability an improvement and I trust that both he and Pinto will fit better into the managers system than our current squad. But given our deficiencies at the back I won't be close to satisfied until a starting XI quality CB comes in as we all know it is an area that has plenty of room for improvement. Bah!
Agree, would like another striker too, especially if Hooper, Lafferty and Grabban are all on the way out.
Guys, guys - call me a hypocrite but this seems to be a pointless argument right? 1) we all want our club to make quality signings 2) we all know our club runs on a budget and so we may get outbid on well known players 3) we all know the priority is signing a CB 4) we all agree that McNally has done some incredible things for the club but is not infallible and has made some mistakes (in a business where big mistakes are frequent) 5) we all want Grabban to be sold (I think) but not necessarily if it might strengthen a true rival for relegation I don't think there are any other big points than this - correct me if I'm wrong. So we can blame the board, overly high fan expectations, Neil or the passing of Jupiter through Orion, but the fact is it only shows our own pre-existing prejudices and so we don't get anywhere. If it's about tactics, players, substitutions or transfer targets I'm all for healthy debates, but this seems truly futile until we know who we have or haven't signed at the end of the window An excellent point that Neil made a mistake saying we'd get our transfer business done early though
Sorry I had fifty plus unread messages this morning on this thread so a few people made some good points but by the time I got to the end I couldn't remember who said what or who is on whose side!
On the true relegation rival point - I know I was one of those who brought up about maybe not wanting to strengthen Bournemouth, but I do think we are in a good position re relegation and Bournemouth, with their rich owner, is not one of those we should worry about. I think we should take the money if it's actually offered. It might be the board only want to sanction sale of Grabban if and once Naismith is in, which makes sense.
It's following my new years resolution to post more like my not606 hero Rob (don't tell him I said that!) Bah!
Well, your resolution has failed somewhat dismally! You said in just over one line what could easily have been extended to last several paragraphs!! **leg-pull alert, Rob **
