29 Jun 2016 06:11:15
Who do we want and who will we get.
29 Jun 2016 06:56:31
There is some itch on you Pb78. Seems your very excited. There will be a million story's of signings in the next 6 weeks or so and very few of them story's will actually happen. With the squad we have imho a keeper, striker for competition with Lukaku and a right back for competition with Coleman are priority.
Maybe a left winger and an attacking midfielder for competition with Barkley thrown in for good measure.
Who the players are doesn't bother me. I'd rather look at strengthening certain positions rather than looking at a player to sign. Some good defensive midfielders linked which is good but imho we are well covered in that position.
Can't wait until next season. Think it will be another 3 weeks before transfer's really kick off.
29 Jun 2016 08:47:19
as far as attacking midfeilders go id like to see us use Dowell and Tarasaj as competition for barkley imho
we have many young deffernders who 'could' play RB, like Holgate, Pennington, Kenny and Browning.
i agree with you about the midfield, Besic, Barry, McCarthy, Connolly, Davies and who can forget gibson?
Could throw cleverly in there but i'm unsure how Koeman will want to use him (if at all. )
29 Jun 2016 09:23:47
We've needed a proper left mid since Peanuts got injured, all we really need is a keeper LM and second striker everything else is covered. So any signings in any other position would be a luxury.
29 Jun 2016 11:48:40
thik your right there Sa90, but with Lennon, Mirallas and Del boy surely one could shift to the left. i recall Del boy stating he would prefer/ he aspires, to play as a central attack midfielder. i think his crossing would be wasted if he playys central but hey ho.
In regards tot he keeper we've apparnetly offered Mandanda a 3-year contact, more news in supposed to be released later today but although i hope we get the lad i don't think itll happen so soon.
i think we either rely on Niasse to partner Lukaku (whihc doesn't seem to eb a popular choice among fans) and replace Kone with a young talent to play rotation (niang possibly)
OR
we play Niasse as the rotation striker and go out and make our marque siging a high profile striker.
(we could always sell niasse but id like to see him play under RK first)
29 Jun 2016 11:54:00
Agree 100% sa90, I've been saying the same for weeks.
29 Jun 2016 12:55:54
sa90 - agree completely except for 1 position. I think CM/ DM is the most urgent to fill.
It's unbelievable the reliance we have had on a 35 year old Gareth Barry in the past few seasons. His legs are going and the game slows right down every time the attack goes through him. Yes he was one of our best players last season but we surely can't rely on him being 100% for 38 games a season now?
I like McCarthy but agree with reservations that he doesn't provide enough quality, and would also put Besic in this category. Gibson is too injury prone and it is too soon for Davies. We need a top quality CM to control games. I would love Schneiderlin if some of the rumours are correct.
Keeper happy with Mandanda or Stekelenburg, LW - Grosicki and Wijnaldum have been linked and either would be interesting. Then just a back up CF and we are done!
29 Jun 2016 13:23:35
If the rumours are to be believed, then we will be getting Mandanda (Free) , Schneiderlin (£25m) and Grosicki (£10m) . This would plug all of the gaps in the first team and leave plenty over for a supposed marquee signing, who I can only assume, based on the other acquisitions, is a striker.
29 Jun 2016 14:51:16
There are younger players who can fill in at RB if Coleman gets injured and they could do a job. But the point is its too comfortable for Coleman. There is no one pushing him for his place. There is pretty much a player to push the first pick in all other positions bar RB.
All seem to be in agreement with a new striker and keeper. I mentioned LW as a follow on if we can. Reason being I think we have a brilliant player in Mirallas to play there. RM didn't play him. He was better than the recognition he got in the last 2 years. If he gets a proper chance this season imho there might be no need to bring in someone new as there is Lennon, Del boy, Cleverly etc who can play there.
I agree with Greg about the new signing and Dowell for attacking midfield. I hadn't thought of those. Barkley needs to be challenged though.
Nothing worse than a player who isn't pushed into to playing well to keep his place.
Interesting points from southern_toffee about CM and I agree with the vast majority of it. Barry was relied on too much and is waning. McCarthy will have to step up big time. Him along with a pick from Besic, Gibson, Cleverly and even Barkley should be strong enough imo. If we sign Schneiderlin all the better as I rate him but I'd hold out as surely 2 out of them 5 will rise to the top and do good.
Its all about opinions and makes an interesting read for me anyway.
29 Jun 2016 16:14:16
NBTB - I think a lot of thinking is based on using 2 holding mids and a no10. I actually think this is a little outdated and doesn't suit our current squad (Barkley not a natural 10 and McCarthy not a natural holder) .
My view is we should play 3 centre mids and not a traditional 'no10', with 1/ 2 more defensive minded and the other more attack minded. This is what a lot of big clubs are starting to do (Barca - Busquets/ Rakitic/ Iniesta; Real - Kroos/ Casemiro/ Modric; City - Fernando/ Fernandinho/ Yaya; Bayern - Vidal/ Alonso/ Thiago; Atletico - Koke/ Tiago/ Gabi) . RK even used it at Southampton with Wanyama, Davis and Ward-Prowse. With this formation the main support to striker is from wings. RK used Mane and Long for this. More 4-3-3 than 4-2-3-1.
With this set up it will put Barkley in a more natural position (no8) to attack from deep, but also leaves us with 6 cm options including Gibson who will probably be injured. Hence why I think a starter ahead of Barry is so important. Schneiderlin / McCarthy and Barkley would make a very strong midfield 3.
This is also why I think we could do with another LW as none of our current batch (Kev and Gerry as exceptions when firing) can provide adequate support to Rom.
{Ed025's Note - for me ST we need a better option than macca in midfield, the lad does run his socks off but "busy doing nothing" is how i would describe his game, its just my personal opinion but for me we need better quality mate..
29 Jun 2016 16:35:26
Difficult to disagree Ed, he certainly had an extremely poor Euros. I think we need someone in to control a game (Schneiderlin with luck) alongside Barkley as 2 of a midfield 3. Then I think/ hope that between McCarthy, besic, cleverley and Barry we have 1 other to make a strong midfield 3.
Then sign a LW with Tarashaj and Dowell back up, with Deulofeu / Mirallas on the right.
{Ed025's Note - all the guys you mention there ST are good players but just not game changers, it should be interesting to see who ronnie brings in mate..