Think it's time...

[Minsk]

Interesting that up until the transfer deadline Adkins also thought we needed a striker in (so he obviously had major concerns about our strike force and cover for them). Along with a centre half it appeared to be our main priority and with the bids for Rodrigues it also appeared that we were willing to spend big.

 

Given our decent start, he may of course have changed his mind, but by the same token it may still be a key area for him to strengthen.

 

If anything, given our fantastic start I would imagine it may have even hardened Adkins' resolve to bolster our forward line as if we are to capitalise on this great start then I would argue De Ridder (more of a wide man) & Forte (not up to it???) aren't best suited to play up front and there are question marks over Barnard (injury, off the field issues and ability at this level).

 

An injury or suspension to the main two/three (Lambert, Connolly & Guly) and we start to look a little lightweight.

 

As Adkins alluded to in that interview, getting the right person in isn't easy, but I don' think he would have spent all summer looking to strengthen his options if he also didn't have doubts.

 

Bringing in a permanent signing is completely different to getting in some premier league youth player (or one unable to make his parent club's squad) on loan for a few months, which is what was mentioned in the OP.

 

It would be completely demoralising to whoever was pushed out by such a signing, and bad for overall morale.

 

You say there are question marks over Barnard, and to some extent I agree, but surely there would be question marks over whoever we bring in? Unless it is someone like Wellbeck, which is not going to happen.

 

Of course we would look lightweight if we had a few injuries up front, which team wouldn't? And if we were to suffer such a fate then that would be the time to bring someone in on loan. You can only have so many fit players on the books you know. or would you rather we had a dozen strikers, a dozen CBs, a dozen fullbacks, etc, on our books, just in case?

 

I am still waiting for one of those who want us to bring a loanee in to say who it should be and who should be dropped from our first team squad, as they are deemed not good enough for it.

 

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying we shouldn't improve our squad. I would certainly love us to sign a player whio would give us power and pace up front in January. If we could get him now with a view to making permanent in January all the better. But I am against bringing in a Man Utd/Chelski/Citeh/Any Other team's untried youth players of has beens just for the sake of it.

[um pahars]

Bringing in a permanent signing is completely different to getting in some premier league youth player (or one unable to make his parent club's squad) on loan for a few months, which is what was mentioned in the OP.

 

I totally agree and have always felt it is generally better to bring someone in permanently than just a loan, as like you I do worry that too many players without an affinity to the Club may be detrimental. Transient loanees or journeymen aren't really my cup of tea, but on the odd occasion when done well, loanees can most certainly do a job.

 

It would be completely demoralising to whoever was pushed out by such a signing, and bad for overall morale.

 

I do agree that there might be a difference between being displaced by a loanee than say a permanent signing, but football is a tough wolrd and on occasions like this then the manager has to earn his corn.

 

Aaron Martin might feel aggrieved with the arrival of Jos, but then again Dan Harding might feel just as put out with the arrival of Fox. I would argue a decent manager and a decent pro should be able to handle these things (if not then I might question their mental toughness anyway!!). But I also accept it could be something that upsets the apple cart.

 

Of course we would look lightweight if we had a few injuries up front, which team wouldn't? And if we were to suffer such a fate then that would be the time to bring someone in on loan. You can only have so many fit players on the books you know. or would you rather we had a dozen strikers, a dozen CBs, a dozen fullbacks, etc, on our books, just in case?

 

I don't think anyone is going even half as far as you suggest above, instead they are merely suggesting that in a couple of key areas we might be lightweight, something Adkins must have been considering when he spent all summer looking for a centre half and another forward.

 

I am still waiting for one of those who want us to bring a loanee in to say who it should be and who should be dropped from our first team squad, as they are deemed not good enough for it.

 

I'd say that's what the manager gets paid for!!!!!

 

Personally, I think it would have to be someone happy to be third choice (behind Lambert & Connolly), who would be coming off the bench or fitting in if one of those two got a knock or suspension. Of course it might be an impossible task as players coming in on loan might be looking for a start, but it might also be possible to tempt someone who has been frozen out that they are at least going to be on the bench.

 

Or (and happy to be shouted down) if someone really decent came available, I would consider even dropping Connolly!!!!!!

[Dalek2003]

Um Pahars, best views on this thread. Sums it up with perfection.

[scotty]

Um Pahars, best views on this thread. Sums it up with perfection.

 

Dont agree with much of Um Pahars comments tbf, but I could at least see where he was coming from until he mentioned dropping Connolly.

[westofshannonsaint]

I don't see the panic about getting a forward - as others have said we have scored 25 so far - and that's from 10 different players.

 

defence is more of an issue for me. We still need to fill the no5 shirt, how long will Seaborn be out for? & have only conceded 1 less goal than p*mpey!

 

Why are we talking about filling a position now that we already knew needed filling back in May ? Would it not have been worthwhile paying a little bit over the odds to get to the Premier League ?

 

your right & your wrong. We have all seen the gaps in the team that need to be filled (even me, on the west coast of Ireland). but it is important to bring in the right one or 2 players. we have a large enough squad already, we don't really need to panic buy & it's not that bad a thing to be a little stretched - it allows youth room to come through.

 

I would rather (especially following our start) we wait for the right players than signing for the sake of it & ending up with a bloated/unaffordable squad. Along with that I would rather not see anymore puncheons/big time charlies.

 

I totally agree and have always felt it is generally better to bring someone in permanently than just a loan, as like you I do worry that too many players without an affinity to the Club may be detrimental. Transient loanees or journeymen aren't really my cup of tea, but on the odd occasion when done well, loanees can most certainly do a job.

 

over the last couple of years we have done very well in the loan market & we seem to like 'try before you buy'... i think we'll have 2 new faces in before January.

[up and away]

I don't see the panic about getting a forward - as others have said we have scored 25 so far - and that's from 10 different players.

 

defence is more of an issue for me. We still need to fill the no5 shirt, how long will Seaborn be out for? & have only conceded 1 less goal than p*mpey!

 

 

 

your right & your wrong. We have all seen the gaps in the team that need to be filled (even me, on the west coast of Ireland). but it is important to bring in the right one or 2 players. we have a large enough squad already, we don't really need to panic buy & it's not that bad a thing to be a little stretched - it allows youth room to come through.

 

I would rather (especially following our start) we wait for the right players than signing for the sake of it & ending up with a bloated/unaffordable squad. Along with that I would rather not see anymore puncheons/big time charlies.

 

 

 

over the last couple of years we have done very well in the loan market & we seem to like 'try before you buy'... i think we'll have 2 new faces in before January.

 

Lallana is the real key, he makes us tick. Lose him and we will have great difficulty in replacing him and the threat we carry. The easy alternative would be that striker with pace allowing us a different way of playing where all our current good players can contribute.

[Badger]

I don't see the panic about getting a forward - as others have said we have scored 25 so far - and that's from 10 different players.

 

defence is more of an issue for me. We still need to fill the no5 shirt, how long will Seaborn be out for? & have only conceded 1 less goal than p*mpey!

 

 

 

... i think we'll have 2 new faces in before January.

 

Some interesting points.

 

Forward - despite our current scoring record,I fear we are too thin on options and an injury to Lambert or Lallana might bugger us.

 

Defence - hadn't realised our goals conceded was near the skates level of things although not the first time in our history we've conceded plenty but scored a lot more.

 

But who in the back four would you look to replace,and who would you sign for the No5 shirt ? Individually we might be hard pressed to improve on them. The FB's give me concern although Richardson was impressive on Saturday.Fox ? Not likely to replace him after spending £1.8m,although I'm not convinced that defensively he is better than Harding.

 

I have been concerned over the GK's for some while.Davies made a couple of good saves on Saturday,but for a period at 0-0 looked a bit shaky.

 

As for new faces,I expect we might have two by the end of January,but not before it.

[Ekelund24]

I think this a completely subjective area, after Cardiff I said we could do with three players in through the spine of the team, but that was mainly due to the poor performance throughout the team. It was the worst I have seen Connolly play and the midfield lacked something from previous games (this could possibly be Hammond!!) Maybe I was a little harsh on Jos as well as I felt that between him and Fonte no one was taking control! Still think we need a a pacy forward to exploit some of the high lines teams use to contain Lallana and Lambert, although Guly and Chaplow are great at timing runs in the box.

 

I think if we do loan players in it will only be to improve on a good squad to take it to another level

[um pahars]

Dont agree with much of Um Pahars comments tbf, but I could at least see where he was coming from until he mentioned dropping Connolly.

 

There was a caveat on the Connolly bit in that the incoming player had to be really decent and it was in the context of saying who would you replace.

 

If, for example Craig Bellamy of a couple of years ago came available and it was a goer, then I would have him starting above Connolly.

 

Connolly isn't going to be a force in a couple of years time (bu thanks for everything he's done), so don't think it would affect us long term, and I would be dropping him over Sir Rickie (if I really had to!!!).

[um pahars]

Lallana is the real key, he makes us tick. Lose him and we will have great difficulty in replacing him and the threat we carry. The easy alternative would be that striker with pace allowing us a different way of playing where all our current good players can contribute.

 

IMHO you only have to look at the period when he was out injured to see how much he makes our team tick.