Jan 1st is here and interested on which positions and individuals we might bring in. here's some thoughts Goalkeeper My guess is we're looking for a replacement for Willy , not just a second stringer but someone who is a serious upgrade and could oust or really shake up Kepa. Kepas' position is dodgy unless he steps his form up big time. Can't see anything except ground work being started in Jan. Defenders We have great potential in our defenders, but even with Rudi, we lack that dominating player. Possible bag packing time for Christensen, Alonso and or Emerson, and Dave moving on maybe next season. Nathan Ake looks a sensible ,reliable and solid buy back. Don't know who, but a left back is a priority and must be close to top of our list. Ben Stillwell?? Anyones' guess. Midfield Isco would be a good incomer, and Pedro, Barkley and Drinkwater could be sold in January. Jadon Sancho might seriously disrupt the future financial dealings with our youngsters if he comes to us for a huge salary. CHOs' contract, which was a ridiculous decision by the Club, is already biting us in the bum with negotiations for Tammy Abraham now stalled. Paying 120 - 180 a week to CHO, a player who has done absolutely zero and is now warming the bench, was the brain snap of the decade. If we want Jadon Sancho, we should sell CHO, though there wouldn't be many buyers. I think we have ****ed ourselves and are stuck with CHO though Sancho is miles better.. CHO should become a very good player, Sancho already is. Dumb, dumb from Marina. Strikers We've got a potential star in Abraham, a liability in Giroud and god knows what in Batman, cause Frank never gives him a fair go. Would love to get Timo Werner and see Batman get some game time. Can't work out what's the plans up front. Franks' major weakness is always playing his favourites. Timo Werner might think twice about how much game time he'd get, ditto for any other striker. Summary Left back, CD, and striker badly needed. Midfielder and GK less so.
If at the start of the season someone told us we would be 4th I would’ve taken that with both hands; problems we have at the moment is leadership at the back and creativity in the middle esp when we come up against pub teams at the Bridge. Another striker could be a bonus and an incentive to Abraham to up his game although Frank for reasons best known to himself is against rotation of his forwards - Kante seems to coming in for criticism, my theory is that he’s been holding the fort for some time with limited assistance in the middle of the paddock if we managed to get hold of a reliable newcomer that could take the pressure off Kante and improve his game. Reinforcements are definitely needed if we are to hold off the challenge from Utd & Spuds for 4th place - key battlegrounds will be the bread n butter games ( ie Bournemouth, Watford, Burnley) we keep haemorrhaging points at the present rate it might be prudent to start packing our bags for Europa next season.
We do keep haemorrhaging points, especially at home against so called "weaker teams" which is a problem. This season our home performances have been shocking, whilst our away performances have been very good. Luckily, Spurs and United also keep dropping points, having both lost in this last round of games, we drew yet still ended up increasing our cushion by a point. If we can shore up our home performances so we get a little bit more consistency at the Bridge, we will be golden for a top 4 place. We shouldn't be losing at home to teams like West Ham and Southampton, not if we have any champions league aspirations. I agree though, centre back, left back, striker and maybe a keeper. Ake, Chilwell and Werner would be good signings for CB, LB and ST respectively. Though I doubt Chilwell will leave Leicester right now, unless we tempt him with an ungodly pay rise, and there is too much of that **** going around as it is. Chilwell is a more realistic summer signing for next season. Ake and Werner are totally getable in the January window imo.
Agree ,and with Ake and Werner we'd probably have enough troops to hang on for 4th place. For all his great work, Frank is not helping himself by ignoring players like Batman and Pulisic, even Giroud who do have the ability to change things round and make it harder for the Bus parkers at the Bridge. Everyone knows how to stifle Tammy, just monster our midfield so he gets no decent service. That also stops attempts from all 3 front men, and the midfield. Only when teams have a go are we able to play our best football. I'd like to see Isco in January if it's possible, trouble is, everyman and his dog is coming apparently.