Do we Need Anyone Else?

[david in sweden]

Glad we've bought Lee (cos the other Lee B. who is out of it now)...and that JP has been given another chance, BUT...

 

I've still got the same shopping list I had in January 2011...

 

WE still need.......another BIG striker, another tough CB and a QUALITY back-up goalie to cover for KD...just in case.

 

(Is Shay Given still a regular at ..wherever it was he moved to ?)

[NickG]

Need? Not really.

 

We have a decent squad, it has performed well for over half the season. It has additions and players returning from injuries. There is a loan window opening shortly to deal with unpredictable injuries.

 

 

I think we roughly need two for each position (although sure we used to have decent seasons without the need for four centre backs??!!)

 

Davis

Richardson

Jos

Fonte

Fox

Puncheon

Cork

Schneiderlin

Lallana

Lambert

Lee

 

Is a pretty good notional first team (although waiting to see Lee).

 

That leaves us with a reserve team of

 

Bart

Butterfield

Martin

Jaidi

Harding

Falque

Chaplow

Hammond

De Ridder

Guly

Connolly

 

I have included Jaidi as he was given a new contract for this season, and says he is nearly back to full fitness so hopefully up to being a 3rd choice CB. If he is not we are weak at CB.

 

I haven't included Barnard or any youth players. Nor has Holmes made it into the 2nd 11.

 

You also have some adaptable players there who could easily do a job in other positions, Lallana - either wing or forward, Guly RM, Chaplow/Cork RM etc

 

 

That is a decent squad and probably the only thing I would see as possibly needed is a very quick forward / winger - even as sub.

 

 

Should we sign anyone else? Yes if we can clearly improve the first 11, possibly if they would improve the 2nd 11. I do think too many changes would be risky for team spirit - like Leicester's start to the season.

 

Someone like Hooper, clearly good enough for first 11 and character Adkins knows fits the bill, so to answer OP, No we don't need anyone else but being greedy always good to see top players sign

[david in sweden]

Shay Given? We should sign one of the premier leagues top goalkeepers?

 

It was a question Adrian, I asked if he was still a regular with ..whoever he's with now?

 

If we are thinking " Prem. football " we see the majority of those clubs have one, if not two international keepers.

If we continue to call KD our number one, please don't tell me we don't need someone other than Bart or Forescast as our no.2 Prem goalie.

[Jackie@home]

Shay Given's first choice for Aston Villa. The best chance you have of getting a keeper from a Premiership club is one that has been waiting patiently for ages to get in the first team, but gives up waiting. Still, I don't think it's a priority for this season - if Kelv gets injured, we should bring in a loan signing.

[Saint Fan CaM]

We would be stupid not to bring in a good big CB - preferably with a decent left foot. Jos has made a big difference to the defence.

[Aardvark]

Need? Not really.

 

We have a decent squad, it has performed well for over half the season. It has additions and players returning from injuries. There is a loan window opening shortly to deal with unpredictable injuries.

 

 

I think we roughly need two for each position (although sure we used to have decent seasons without the need for four centre backs??!!)

 

Davis

Richardson

Jos

Fonte

Fox

Puncheon

Cork

Schneiderlin

Lallana

Lambert

Lee

 

Is a pretty good notional first team (although waiting to see Lee).

 

That leaves us with a reserve team of

 

Bart

Butterfield

Martin

Jaidi

Harding

Falque

ChaplowHammond

De Ridder

Guly

Connolly

 

I have included Jaidi as he was given a new contract for this season, and says he is nearly back to full fitness so hopefully up to being a 3rd choice CB. If he is not we are weak at CB.

 

I haven't included Barnard or any youth players. Nor has Holmes made it into the 2nd 11.

 

You also have some adaptable players there who could easily do a job in other positions, Lallana - either wing or forward, Guly RM, Chaplow/Cork RM etc

 

 

That is a decent squad and probably the only thing I would see as possibly needed is a very quick forward / winger - even as sub.

 

 

Should we sign anyone else? Yes if we can clearly improve the first 11, possibly if they would improve the 2nd 11. I do think too many changes would be risky for team spirit - like Leicester's start to the season.

 

Someone like Hooper, clearly good enough for first 11 and character Adkins knows fits the bill, so to answer OP, No we don't need anyone else but being greedy always good to see top players sign

 

I think you may get a bit of flack on here if you think Chaplow would only make the reserve team!

[ART]

The French Sports Radios have been mentioning overnight a number of Swiss internationals being sized up for moves before the end of the month. It's high time Nicola started using his Swiss connections to capture a gem or two.

[Window Cleaner]

I think you may get a bit of flack on here if you think Chaplow would only make the reserve team!

 

depends who else is available on the RM/LM slots, because as a CM Chaplow is a disaster waiting to happen,you need players who can tackle and obstruct without getting a shedload of cards.Barnsley showed us about that.If Punch hits anything like form and AL

stays fit I don't see many starts for Chappers really.

[david in sweden]

I don't think the NC/NA combination will buy someone "for the sake of it " - even though they obviously realise that Hooper would be a huge asset, and would pay big money for him.....Maybe not a striker, but as of today, we def. need another CB for extra cover.

 

if ..we end up going up to the Prem.... because our squad is large enough to last the 46 games ....then we don't have to bother.

Adkins can praise his "strong squad principle" but, if we hit another batch of big injuries, we struggle...and those early season efforts will have gone to waste.

Edited 28 January, 2012 by david in sweden

[david in sweden]

The French Sports Radios have been mentioning overnight a number of Swiss internationals being sized up for moves before the end of the month. It's high time Nicola started using his Swiss connections to capture a gem or two.

 

that sounds delighfully tempting, ART...was there mention of specific clubs ? ....or players ?

 

Which " unsettled " Swiss players are we likly to hear about ?

[NickG]

Need? Not really.

 

We have a decent squad, it has performed well for over half the season. It has additions and players returning from injuries. There is a loan window opening shortly to deal with unpredictable injuries.

 

 

I think we roughly need two for each position (although sure we used to have decent seasons without the need for four centre backs??!!)

 

Davis

Richardson

Jos

Fonte

Fox

Puncheon

Cork

Schneiderlin

Lallana

Lambert

Lee

 

Is a pretty good notional first team (although waiting to see Lee).

 

That leaves us with a reserve team of

 

Bart

Butterfield

Martin

Jaidi

Harding

Falque

Chaplow

Hammond

De Ridder

Guly

Connolly

 

I have included Jaidi as he was given a new contract for this season, and says he is nearly back to full fitness so hopefully up to being a 3rd choice CB. If he is not we are weak at CB.

 

I haven't included Barnard or any youth players. Nor has Holmes made it into the 2nd 11.

 

You also have some adaptable players there who could easily do a job in other positions, Lallana - either wing or forward, Guly RM, Chaplow/Cork RM etc

 

 

That is a decent squad and probably the only thing I would see as possibly needed is a very quick forward / winger - even as sub.

 

 

Should we sign anyone else? Yes if we can clearly improve the first 11, possibly if they would improve the 2nd 11. I do think too many changes would be risky for team spirit - like Leicester's start to the season.

 

Someone like Hooper, clearly good enough for first 11 and character Adkins knows fits the bill, so to answer OP, No we don't need anyone else but being greedy always good to see top players sign

 

Jaidi back in squad

 

Lee Barnard back as well

 

Stephens, Shaw, Ward-Prowse, Reeves all involved today.

 

Depending on Fonte, Lallana and Jos's fitness think that is pretty good squad - especially with loan window opening soon.

 

 

As quality yes, but no need to panic and decent window so far.

[Cestrian Saint]

I'll be happy if the loan move for Danny Collins comes off, although I still think we should have made an enquiry for Kilgallon at Sunderland.

[Ivan Katalinic's 'tache]

Wonder if Barney's return from injury means we'll abandon our striker search? Maybe we were waiting to assess his fitness before confirming any deal for Sharp?

[ART]

that sounds delighfully tempting, ART...was there mention of specific clubs ? ....or players ?

 

Which " unsettled " Swiss players are we likly to hear about ?

Names and clubs were being mentioned but with me listening during the night I'm unable to recall them next morning.