With our first move in the window resulting in a seemingly cultured, left footed attacking midfielder and since being linked to several players from our Belgium brothers - where do you think we need to strengthen the most? Do we make moves in the middle of the park? Which for long periods has been our achilles heel, though the emergence of Jordan Cousins, teamed with the resurgence of Dale Stephens has done much to steady the ship there, but both wings still causing us problems and we haven't been able to find much consistency there. Do we need competition for Wilson? Or do we focus on the left side to replace the outgoing Stewart? We haven't been keeping clean sheets this season - but if we can keep a back four of Wiggins/Morro/Wood/Solly will that change? Alnwick seems to be making the number 1 spot his own, but the Belgium press has us linked with French goalkeeper http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yohann_Thuram-Ulien Or is it up top - where we have only scored more goals than the 3 teams currently occupying the relegation zone? Yann is regaining fitness and form, Church works his socks off but not the most convincing of finishers and with Sordell currently injured and linked with a return to Bolton does that leave us light? We have Smith back from AFC Wimbledon and Piggot flirting with the first team, but in a relegation battle do we need bodies with more experience for the fight?
just depth really. a new striker (micky maynard is available for loan) and some wingers cort must be due back soon
I think that if we could put this Squad out (depending who we bring in) we could have a very strong year next season Hamer / Alnwick Solly - Morrison - (CB) - Wiggins Wilson - Cousins - Stephens - (LM) Kermorgant - (ST) Bench Hamer / Alnwick - (Versatile RB / LB) - Wood - Jackson - (Versatile RM / LM) - Church - (ST) Gonna be interesting keeping an eye on the O/S this arvo as they've announced on twitter there will be an Interview with Powell being put up about the takeover etc...
Morrison really needs someone next to him who will lead. He has the qualities to be that player one day, but for the next couple of years I would like to see someone more experienced at this or a higher level next to him. Wood seems to be a calming influence for him, but if we are to push up the league we will need to invest there IMO. Him and Dervite can be a car crash at times.
Agree with your first team except I think Stephens will leave and we have no obvious replacement. Hopefully Poyet will be ready next season to partner with Cousins, but that is very speculative at this stage. Sign a veteran to bridge the gap for a season. Someone like Gower, but better and more robust. Need a back-up RB. Preferably one still eligible for u21s as we have nothing coming through there in the near future. Fox or Holmes-Dennis should be good enough to cover LB next season. Dervite is still young for a CB (at 25). If he can iron out the panicky moments he would be good. Worth keeping if he is willing to stay and compete with Wood. Depends on our resources, but I don't see CB as a top priority. Think we should leave Jackson out of our plans. If he stays and is fit enough to contribute, that's a bonus. We need two more strikers. Most clubs have four, five, or six genuine contenders for a first-team spot. Maybe only one if either Smith or Pigott takes another step forward. Most of all we need a LM. One who can both defend and attack like Wilson does on the right. No wingers !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In practice this is all fantasy because RD will just send all the players who are not pulling their weight at his other clubs to Charlton, and CP will have to make use of them as best he can. So look for an influx of Frimpongs, Jonssons, Ephraims and Hulses, except these new ones won't be able to speak much English.
Mmmm, i don't get it. This is pretty much the best we have at the moment and look where we are ? I thought it's clear we need atleast a little fresh blood. As for Dervite, i think if a player hasn't sorted out nervy type issues at 25 then it's probably set in stone, he would have been playing football since his early teens.
I think we need a right back, as cover for Solly, a centre half, a left sided midfielder and two forwards one nippy and one target man.
I agree with this. Might be too much for a January transfer window, but a centre back, left winger and a striker are a must.
The hair-netted Astrid and the two players rumoured to be joining from Standard fill three of those slots. Pigott and/or Smith may have to satisfy the second additional striker role (depending how much money RD wishes to spend). Centre-half is trickier because we don't have a vacancy. We already have three players competing for two spots (discounting Cort, Lennon and Feely). It is a bit risky tinkering with your back four mid-season and our goals against record is not too bad. To be reasonably certain of a new player improving on what we already have, we might have to pay a large sum. Not sure if RD is up for that.
Plus Cousins is probably as good a Centre back as he is a Defensive midfielder...... I was never happy with him at Right back but that is where he played for England youth...... Diego Poyet is as good a Defensive midfielder as Cousins So we could try Cousins at CB with Poyet at DM
I know someone who knows Dale Stephens well, and he has told me that DS definitely plans to move his young family back up North this summer. I don't recall his contract situation, but don't expect him to sign another one with us.
