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What Will January Bring


Gemmel

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First off, I don't think many will be surprised if we lose Gaston in January, which I am personally disappointed about, but that's football. Ironically, I would guess, that it's that type of player who is top of our shopping list, but without knowing the finances, it is difficult to guess the level of player we can go after...... Although it will be considerably easier to attract the better players if we can maintain our form and league position.

 

Over and above that, I can't see us making many more changes, unless we suffer injuries, but I doubt if Cortese will have a quiet New Year. The footballing world seems to have woken up regarding Morgan and the reported bid from Arsenal at the end of the last window, suggests they might come knocking again. MP's interview said that Lambert will start other matches from the bench, which might encourage the likes of fat sam to have a punt. Anyone that has followed Lovern will be banging down their chairmans door and then of course Luke Shaw will be linked with all of the big four. I would assume that Clyne has picked up his fair share of admirers as well.

 

So I think we might see one in and one out and hope that the players who do attract interest from bigger clubs, don't have their heads turned.

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cant see much happening.

maybe gaston out on loan

deffo need another left back, always thought fox was adequate but the swansea game, he was horrific

 

I would go for, another LB/promote someone from u21

gaston out loan/sold and another wide player brought in

 

cant see much being spent

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I don't fear other clubs coming in for our better players. They could have left at other times, why leave when we are looking the best we have for decades and do not need to sell?

 

Another attacking player, like a Lennon, would be excellent. I still feel we need better backup at left back, yet the club seems to have set it's stall out with Fox as the fall back.

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I don't fear other clubs coming in for our better players. They could have left at other times, why leave when we are looking the best we have for decades and do not need to sell?

 

Another attacking player, like a Lennon, would be excellent. I still feel we need better backup at left back, yet the club seems to have set it's stall out with Fox as the fall back.

 

i don't think it's that simple. There is an issue clearly in bringing in a player who is happy to be back up. On top of that, if the coaching staff think Targett could come through in the next couple of years then they won't want to block his path with a more experienced player on premier league wages. I think we all know for sure now that it has to be Clyne at left back and Chambers in at right back if Shaw is missing. I'd be surprised of fox ever played a premier league match for us again

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i don't think it's that simple. There is an issue clearly in bringing in a player who is happy to be back up. On top of that, if the coaching staff think Targett could come through in the next couple of years then they won't want to block his path with a more experienced player on premier league wages. I think we all know for sure now that it has to be Clyne at left back and Chambers in at right back if Shaw is missing. I'd be surprised of fox ever played a premier league match for us again

 

Agree with this. Assuming we keep hold of players we don't need any additions amongst the back 7, so it's the front 4 that will get looked at. Depending on whether gaston goes (I like him, but he's not even on the bench so you have to wonder) it will be one or two I think. Depending on our and Valencia's respective positions we might go back in for ever benega and I'd love for us to get a quality wide player. Still, a lot of games before January and if we start dropping, our ability to attract players will lessen so probably best just to focus on the football for now.

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i don't think it's that simple. There is an issue clearly in bringing in a player who is happy to be back up. On top of that, if the coaching staff think Targett could come through in the next couple of years then they won't want to block his path with a more experienced player on premier league wages. I think we all know for sure now that it has to be Clyne at left back and Chambers in at right back if Shaw is missing. I'd be surprised of fox ever played a premier league match for us again

 

You are right, it isn't simply a case of buy a new backup. But then, this has been done to death.... I stand by my assertion that Wayne Bridge would have been the best choice for that role.

 

Fox is however continuing to get game time ahead of the switch you suggest. I agree with your idea and I feel we should be giving Chambers the game time at RB with Clyne at LB if Shaw is out. The remonstrations from Lovren in the Swansea game tell me that the squad know he isn't up to it so I would expect more effort in bringing in someone to cover the position better. There is no certainty that Targett will be able to come through, not every academy player will be a world beater regardless of initial promise.

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In order of priority :

 

The Gash out. 'Nuff said

 

Wide Player in. We are lacking options

 

Another striker in. We are still lacking bite. Not convinced we play to Osvaldos strengths

 

Another LB in. We are one Shaw injury away from Danny Fox

 

Another CB brought in. Lovren needs back up if we are to maintain our position of best defence in the country. Strong defence makes up for mis-firing attack

 

Another GK in. Boruc is a hero, but we are f**ked if he is injured.

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I'd be tempted to put Yoshida in ahead of Fox as backup LB. I do feel we need backup for Boruc though, although finding someone who is happy to be on the bench all season if Boruc stays clear of injuries would be a challenge. Assuming we don't get injuries it's going to take a serious amount of money to improve on the players we already have.

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In order of priority :

 

The Gash out. 'Nuff said

 

Wide Player in. We are lacking options

 

Another striker in. We are still lacking bite. Not convinced we play to Osvaldos strengths

 

Another LB in. We are one Shaw injury away from Danny Fox

 

Another CB brought in. Lovren needs back up if we are to maintain our position of best defence in the country. Strong defence makes up for mis-firing attack

 

Another GK in. Boruc is a hero, but we are f**ked if he is injured.

 

Basically. You want us to sign another 5 players...

 

Is this setting up another meltdown saying we are crap etc?

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Agree with Alpine that a wide player with bags of pace, would be ideal. Whilst cover in the other positions would be nice to have, I do not think we would get ouside players of sufficient quality just to make the bench now and then. I think we have enough in the background to see us through barring serious injuries.

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Whilst I agree that I would like to see a pacey, skilful attacking player come in, I would stop short of calling them a 'wide' player. We need something is more than a wide player, someone who is comfortable playing in any of the front 3 positions behind the striker, happy to play infield as well as sometimes getting wide. Our full backs provide the widest part of our game and our attacking play is generally fairly narrow, so what we need is a clever player who can pick the locks on opponents defences with a bit of skill/pace/trickery, as well as good team interplay.

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Whilst I agree that I would like to see a pacey, skilful attacking player come in, I would stop short of calling them a 'wide' player. We need something is more than a wide player, someone who is comfortable playing in any of the front 3 positions behind the striker, happy to play infield as well as sometimes getting wide. Our full backs provide the widest part of our game and our attacking play is generally fairly narrow, so what we need is a clever player who can pick the locks on opponents defences with a bit of skill/pace/trickery, as well as good team interplay.

 

Agree completely, Minty.

 

In no way is it realistic, but a Coutinho / Oxlade-Chamberlain type would be perfect.

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There is an argument for adding pace in the final third, but also an argument for just adding out and out creativity, someone that can play the No.10 role, but also join in the high pressing significantly. How many players out there can do that? And would be available in January?

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By wide man I mean an attacking midfielder or forward player with real pace should we need to change things, though we havnt exactly 'needed' one yet this season so you may be right.

 

I suppose we have Isgrove waiting in the wings

 

This is a good point. I can't see us bringing in another attacking midfielder, unless they're exceptional, as we won't want to block the youth players. Isgrove is highly rated by the management so I'm happy to have him in the team if injuries get that bad.

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There is an argument for adding pace in the final third, but also an argument for just adding out and out creativity, someone that can play the No.10 role, but also join in the high pressing significantly. How many players out there can do that? And would be available in January?

 

Juan Mata for all 3? ;)

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It will depend on whether a deal pops up. I wouldn't want to let Ramirez go unless there's a suitable replacement available, which is not always the case in January.

 

I'd be happy with a stronger backup in goal and more certainty at left back, be that via transfers or movement within the club.

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Why all the stuff about wide men and pace--they're history. And as for clubs coming to raid us in January --that's history too. Who would leave us now? only people who have no chance of making the team, Ramirez may be one of them. Nice to feel so secure , new feeling for Saints fans, well done NC

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actually do not mind an uneventful window, our squad looks very settled and happy. however if Ramirez starts to moan and demand a move then hopefully we can use his money to get in a good replacement. other than that, if any experienced keeper don't mind coming in to back up boruc... given or friedel perhaps? if not, hang on to our players, achieve a good top 8 finish, then we'll further strengthen next summer

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Personally I would offer Dnipro the £15m they are asking for Yevhen Konoplyanka and possibly sell Gaston to help finance the deal if his head isnt in it here.

 

To have the depth to be serious about CL football we will need a better option at LB than Fox, even if he only plays 5 games it could cost us vital points. Same with KD, we need a decent back up keeper. It may be time to admit defeat with Gazzaniga, I don't know having not seen him train or play recently.

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I wonder if going for Oxlaide Chamberlain might be a possibility, with the signing of Ozil, the emergence of Ramsey, you have basically have 4 spots behind Giroud with Ozil, Wilshere, Ramsey, Walcott, Podolski, Cazorla, even Gnabri comepting with him.

 

Maybe a return (initially on loan ) to his old club?

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We won't be buying any back up players.

 

Think we know the club policy is to buy players better than we already have.

 

Excellent point. Everyone bought under Poch was brought in to be a first team starter. Not all will make it ~ but that is the basic premise. No "back up" purchase players. The back up players are the ones that get replaced by the new players. And the previous back up players get sold, loaned or released.

 

But what about the "squad" players we currently have who are not quite up to 1st team starters and have age /limited upward growth potential against them? The likes of Fox, KD, Jos, Guly etc?

 

The difficulty in situations like these is summed up best by the left back dilemma. To be honest can anyone see a new full back displacing Luke Shaw? Not really. Yes maybe a free signing experienced mega star like Ashely Cole on the remotest of chances in a year or two because he is unlikely to be dropped for anyone else # nor would we spend £15m+ on another young LB whilst he is still around..so i do not see a LB being bought who would replace Luke Shaw and relegate him to "back-up" . And that means in turn our back up player Fox could be released.

 

So in this instance does Poch sell / release Fox and take a risk with an even younger understudy? Doubt that strongly. We already got CC for that. Or does he work out that the Fox you know is better than the Fox you don't? For now - yes that is what he is doing - maybe not in January though. I think he is being pragmatic on that.If an experienced (ie who will accept being on the bench if he is paid well enough) top (probably foreign) left back becomes available then we may pick one up a player from a mid to upper Primera league or Seria A ;-). These will have tactical awareness and professional understanding. If Luke is ill then there will not be such a noticeable drop in quality on the left flank accordingly when the new player plays. And the pressure on Luke to perform is stronger. And yes, Fox could be sold.

 

By the same token I also don't think you can just dump KD because he might not be quite good enough either. He is club captain and our spirit is down to the likes of him being around.He delivers points by virtue of his presence and pressure of Boruc. His experience is already there as his understanding that he is understudy. Very very unlikely to get better than KD happy to be on the bench every week.

Edited by Giordano
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I wonder if going for Oxlaide Chamberlain might be a possibility, with the signing of Ozil, the emergence of Ramsey, you have basically have 4 spots behind Giroud with Ozil, Wilshere, Ramsey, Walcott, Podolski, Cazorla, even Gnabri comepting with him.

 

Maybe a return (initially on loan ) to his old club?

 

And rosicky and arteta. And United wonder why they might be left behind. I would happily take any one from that list off arsenals hands. Certainly preferable to Ashley young, though I don't think he's quite as bad as some make out. He would improve our squad and offer an option we simply don't have. Plus his diving with srl penalty and free kick abilities? Got to be worth a couple of goals!

 

Seriously, he needs to play and play well to get back in the England fold so we might get him and with a serious motivation to perform.

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Anyone how Banega has got on this season? He is the one I still want. A replacement for Gaston. Imagine hin and Osvaldo in the same team!

 

Inconsistent in an extremely inconsistent Valencia team though. Flashes of brilliance mixed with bad spells during the games.

Think a change of club would do him good.

 

Pretty sure he will move somewhere if not in january definitely in the summer.

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In order of priority :

 

The Gash out. 'Nuff said

 

Wide Player in. We are lacking options

 

Another striker in. We are still lacking bite. Not convinced we play to Osvaldos strengths

 

Another LB in. We are one Shaw injury away from Danny Fox

 

Another CB brought in. Lovren needs back up if we are to maintain our position of best defence in the country. Strong defence makes up for mis-firing attack

 

Another GK in. Boruc is a hero, but we are f**ked if he is injured.

Blimey, I know we plummeted 2 places down the league over the weekend but that is a tad pessimistic, even for you!

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