I've been pondering this for a while now. Just to clarify, nobody can be any happier than me at the minute with our progress, this is not a doom & gloom post but as we fast approach January and the transfer window, what do you think we need to improve on? Do we need a player in all 3 positions??? Defender with aerial threat to replace Hobbs? Hard Man midfielder to replace McKenna or whoever? Tall, Pacey YOUNG GOAL SCORER? Which are needed the most? Are you worried about our lack of goals? Lack of experienced players? Lack of strength in depth? Lack of Height throughout the side been one of the Championships smallest teams??? Where do you see our weaknesses?
not to bothered about, tall, pacey or young..just a goal scorer.. somebody who if the ball bounces down off the crossbar in the 93rd minute, 9 yards from goal, wont blast it in to row z...
We could do with a more prolific striker and we don't have much in the way of cover at the back, but we've got central midfielders coming out our ears, unless we see outgoings in January, I doubt we'll see too much happen outside the extension of the Brady and Waggy deals, possibly another striker and another defender.
OLM sums it up there. Defensive cover is essential, if we have injuries we are threadbare at the back. Maybe one more striker, but to get a big pacy goalscorer will cost £2-3m. Koren in the centre-mid is our "playmaker" and with Stewart and Brady on the wings we should be flying.....
Dawson and McShane have both been injured for much of this season, if we lost any of our remaining back four, we'd be looking at kids to replace them. If we're looking for promotion, then we need to do better than have replacements that have never played in a single English league game.
quite simple in my opinion. we've got a strong, reliable defense. a good midfield with pacy, tricky wingers.. and we're creating enough chances to win games.. for me the answer is buy 1 striker for a good few million.. someone to put the chances away and help us get promoted.
Think you could be right about us needing to spend a few quid on a decent striker. How about James Beatie??? Or a forward who can score goals with his head !!! I still do we think we lack general aggression in our game. Is it only me that seems concerned with our Height or lack of aerial threat ALL over the pitch?
If we're looking for a prolific goal scorer, it's probably best to not go for a 33 year old who's scored two goals in the past three seasons.
Just a suggestion, ticks a few boxes for me, Proven at Prem Level, experienced, strong, can HEAD a ball
I'm not too concerned with how the goals are scored, merely that they end up in the back of the net, with that in mind, I'd go for Sylvan Ebanks-Blake on loan.
Gerrard, Butterfield, Rhodes. Our biggest weakness is our squad depth and our lack of goals. If it is not addressed in Jan it will come back to haunt us in the run in.
Defence is Ok, lack of cover could be an issue in the event of an injury. With Daws and Macca out, injuries would mean throwing one of the kids in, could they cope ?, the young lads who are currently playing havent done too bad have they? If NP can find a proven deffender (not a has been) on a budget, then would be usefull to have in the tool box as cover (I do of course realize that we have to give the young uns a chance when practical) Midfeild has improved with Koren playing inside, got loads of lads who can play midfeild so maybe ok in that department. Also more of the squad returning after injuries suggests that we are pretty decent in that dept. Strikers, at the start of the season our strikers IMO, where given a bit of a honeymoon. They were not given good service, due to weaknesses in other dept, I thought that when we get the midfeild working and get the backs getting forward a bit the goals will come. Well they havent, our strikers are getting a fair crack of the whip now to ply their trade, were not talking about them skinning three or four defenders on and scoring world class goals. more of doing the simple things well. We have all seen some terrible decisions made by them,at times not instinctive enough, taking a poor first touch, short by half yard, etc. If Matty hit the form that we all know he,s capable of then its happier days and who knows he might get Mclean scoring and a goal fest every game. And thats the crux "IF" and "WHEN". NP has done well to get the squad where it is and we are truly in the mix. All we are missing now is goals so its plain to see in my mind that we need a proven goal scorer at this level now to give us our best chance to get in the playoff/auto places. So could we please have a new striker Mr Allam
Do we need a player in all 3 positions??? Defence and striker Defender with aerial threat to replace Hobbs? McShane and Dawson can still do us good service, they have both proven that they come back from injury with fire in their bellies; but we are desperate for A CB with height. Hard Man midfielder to replace McKenna or whoever? Oli - say no more Tall, Pacey YOUNG GOAL SCORER? Danny Hylton (Aldershot) Danny Carlton (Morecame) SE-Blake - a good call Bilel Mohsni (Southend) - take a look at this guy, he is an interesting charactor who can play CB or striker and at 6' 3" he could be a decent gamble at the right price! Which are needed the most? All Are you worried about our lack of goals? Lack of experienced players? Yes - it's a long season Lack of strength in depth? Same Lack of Height throughout the side been one of the Championships smallest teams??? Our Achilles Heel! Where do you see our weaknesses? You've called them!
Cheers buddy, glad to see I share the same outlook with a like minded City Fan !!! I agree on your Oli point too but bet NP ships him off !!!
