Bruce has said he's now happy with the squad and there'll be no more additions before January. I'm surprised that we're not bringing in another striker, an injury or two and we've no quality back-up.
Reckon he's tried and been unsuccessful. It's obvious we need someone there, but now of course he has to work with what he's got, and to say we're short up top may not exactly give them the vote of confidence. I'm sure we'll recruit in Jan.
What a manager says,and what he does,are often two different things. Iv'e heard we'll sign a striker before the weekend. Just grapevine stuff but....
He always says that's it for now but follows up with "if a player becomes available who will strengthen the team then of course we will try and do something" in other words he is always looking so we will see.
He did cover himself by saying 'as long as there's no further injuries', so the door remains slightly ajar.
It's not like we have a proper striker shortage. We've still got Prossy and McLean waiting in the wings. We definitely haven't seen the best of Prossy yet and McLean might not be top quality but he can do a job.
The same kid who told me about Dudgeon having a career threatening injury before it came out in the media, told me this morning we might bring in a defender from Portsmouth still, Im guessing at Carl Wilkinson.
If you're talking about their left back, it's Carl Dickinson and he's not a Portsmouth player, he's on loan from Watford, so it wouldn't be him(and he's the only left back they've got).
Maybe he feels that either what is out there and available is no better than what we have and or if he were to bring a striker in they would expect to play . Simmo and Aluko are doing the business at the moment and he has backup all be it sparce . So touch wood we don't pick up any injuries .
I reckon SB will be looking to do some Christmas shopping next month in time for the January transfer window opening - especially if Aluko will be at the African Nations Cup
apologies havnt been up long, but yes he's the one i presumed it to be. im aware hes there on loan, but whats the rules when his loan ends? Might not even be him just told were looking at a pompey defender.
I know you can appeal for special dispensation (is that the right word?) but has there ever been a case where that's been successful?
I just had a quick search and it seems that the FA will give special dispensation to a player who has been out on an emergency loan(much to the annoyance of FIFA), as during an emergency loan the player remains contracted to the parent club. Nicky Shorey played for Villa, then went on an emergency loan to Forest for nine games, but was still allowed to sign and play for Fulham, as the FA say the emergency loan didn't count. The same things happened Asmir Begovic who moved to Stoke from Blackburn, while also going out on an emergency loan in between.
I think we'll look to buy a striker in January (while possibly seeing Mclean leave) at a guess Cameron Jerome or Fraizer Campbell. If we get promoted I wouldn't be surprise to see both of them at the club. I'm sure there was an interview with the Allams which pretty much said they thought we didn't make the play-offs because we didn't strengthen up top like the teams above us did in January. In terms of while Aluko is a away of if we do get an injury up top. Bringing in Meyler has given us the option to shift Koren or Quinn behind the striker much like Aluko does. If we lose Aluko, id imagine Koren would slip in behind. If we lose Simpson I'd like to see big Nick come in.
I know Brucie feels we haven't got a massive squad but I do worry what this years wage bill will be and how much we're gonna lose come the end of this financial year next July. Hope the debt stays a soft debt with the Allams in the way the burgeoning one with Bolton's owner is !!