The title says it all. What playing personnel do you guys think we need to bring in? Personally, I think we need another fullback (right-sided), a creative centre-midfielder to take over/rotate with Murphy and a partner for Bobby Z. I'm also hoping we keep hold of a certain goalkeeper... Discuss.
I think we should get: -RB -3rd Choice GK (Stockdale will go on loan in my opinion) -CAM (If Demps goes) -STRIKER -A player who can play the (2nd Striker?) role like the position Gera used to play (that came in use a few times last term) -CB (if Halliche goes on loan maybe we should loan one in to cover Just in case!)
I'd agree with your assessment of positions, and add a younger pacey winger. Of the ones we've been linked to Jeffren and Gradel both sound good. Depending on how Jol rates the up-and-coming youngsters, we also need a back-up for Zamora. Unless Peniket or Trotta are expected to be up to speed this season we should buy a reserve targetman. I've seen nothing of those two, but I'd rather see one of them given a few chances when we need to rest Bobby. That said, I'm speaking from ignorance, so maybe we will need to sign someone. Same question applies to Murphy's replacement. If we've got youngsters who are ready to dip in and out of the squad then I'm not sure we need someone. If they aren't then we've already missed some of the more obvious candidates - O'Hara, Adam, and (a more likely one for us to have got if we'd moved quicker) Vaughan from Blackpool. I'm not so sure that Sidwell can't take more creative responsibility in Murphy's absence, or even try Simon Davies in the centre. Long term we need to replace Danny, short term we could be okay. As for right backs, I wrote some weeks ago suggesting Onoura from Man City, who played right back for Sunderland but is apparently more of a centre back. He'd cost five or six million, which may be a bit steep. If Spurs would sell Kyle Walker, I'd happily move for him (but I bet they won't), and the two or three million I've seen quoted for Hutton could be a reasonable fee. But, Walker apart, I'm mostly responding to rumours that are already out there rather than suggesting new names. The rumours linking us to El Hamdaoui sounded plausible and he sounds like he'd be a good partner for Bobby. But I suspect most of the players we end up signing are going to be like him - one's that most of us haven't heard of until the rumours linking us to them. I bet we get a rignt back and midfielder who fit that description, rather than the names any of us are bandying about.
Onouha would be a good shout at right back, he is in that group at city along with the likes of adebayor, bellamy, santa cruz, jo, bridge and given who Mancini is keen to offload but struggling to find clubs for them, so could be the answer for us. I have suggested before that we should go for hutton if available and could potentially represent value for money. On the topic of tottenham players, how about someone like kranjcar as a creative midfielder? Is pretty versatile though maybe not the replacement for murphy, adam would have been my dream choice but is too late as you say captain and always unrealistic. Really can't decide about strikers, a target man back up would be useful but could we get anyone decent who would be happy to often be on the bench? The same applies to a potential pacy striker who could replace AJ, I think we may have to hope jol has an eye for a european bargain as proven premier league players such as this will surely be out of our price range. Maybe we should stick with what we have, see how dalla valle and co step up then reassess in january?
So today's Beeb gossip column says we're interested in Mexican striker Aldo de Nigris. I know nothing about him, but if there's any truth about this one lets hope he's more Hernandez than Salcido... Also, the ominous Keane link has resurfaced.
Indeed Bidley, entirely take your sentiments. The other guy you mention, Aldo de Nigris, sounds useful (at £3.5m) and could be a good partner/cover for Bobby. Also agree with the Captain's points. I suspect though that that's it at the back and Jol will now concentrate on width and up front. Also because he is cash limited, especially wages) he will mainly look abroad. Both de Nigris and Jeffren fit that criteria. Personally I'm more that happy with our squad - except the two you already know my feelings about (AJ because he doesn't fit Bobby and Salcido because he doesn't fit). We could do with more competition/cover in a couple of positions though. Sometimes we can be a bit predictable and adding the two mentioned above, together with Dembele, don't let's forget him, and Dempsey and, to a degree, now Riise I think gives Jol the options that he wants. Yes, we need to give the youngsters a chance and I think the boss will do that too, albeit sparingly in the prem. Yes, we need to think about replacing Danny but that's more for this time next year (or January for a time to bed in?) Beyond that the two things I'd really, really like are - 1. a proper reserve team playing proper games - giving the youngsters a chance to show their worth and get experience from more senior players. But I won' get that. 2. a strong Euro squad to take us all the way. Remember 8 of the 25 in the tournament proper have to be 'home grown'.
"However, Blackpool could miss out on Ince as Fulham are hoping to lure the midfielder to Craven Cottage on a permanent deal." Sky say we and Blackpool are interested in Paul Ince's son Tom currently a midfielder in Liverpool reserves.
I don't know enough about Ince junior to comment. If he can play like his dad, he could be a good signing. If he has an attitude like his dad, he could be a bad signing.
