What would be a good window in terms of player recruitment?
For me the priorities have to be as follows:
1. A creative midfielder - With Pogba set to get surgery on his ankle and our only creative force there after being Andreas this has to be the top target. Could see us improve against sides that sit deep.
Suggestions: Eriksen, Havertz
2. A "Michael Carrick" - We have two decent deep lying midfielders (one is now injured for a few months) who give us a lot of energy and can win the ball, but we are missing the ability to get the ball to the forwards
Suggestions: Haven't a clue
3. A winger who can play on either side - Both Dan James and Rashford need some relief and have been over used this season due to our lack of depth.
Suggestions: Sancho probably fits the bill here
This is what we NEED I feel to get us to push on towards the end of the season. Of course it's not what we will get. I'd be happy with 1, delighted with 1 and 2 and over the moon with all three. Does anybody feel there are other priorities in terms of PLAYER recruitment.
January signings
posted on 3/1/20
comment by rosso is done with this (U17054)
posted 2 hours, 57 minutes ago
With the squad maxed-out, we need to remember we’re playing a game of one-in, one-out.
I can only see potentially leaving this window Pogba, Pereira (at a stretch), Matic and one of Jones or Rojo. If the latter left, we’d probably need to think about reinforcement at CB given the injury issues that Jones, Bailly and now Axel have/have had.
If Pogba, Pereira or Matic leaves, we’ll need a CM replacement, without doubt.
I don’t think Mata or Lingard are going anywhere either permanently or on loan until the summer at the earliest, so I can’t see a number ten coming in before then.
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Are we actually capacity? Our squad seems thin as it is ti me.
posted on 3/1/20
comment by Ji Sung Park's Cousin - Ole's joy Manticore (U2958)
posted 1 hour, 7 minutes ago
comment by rosso is done with this (U17054)
posted 59 minutes ago
comment by Ji Sung Park's Cousin - Ole's joy Manticore (U2958)
posted 7 seconds ago
Eriksen and Sancho would be an immense January window, but think the chances are next to zero.
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Bring those two in and whom would you bin from the squad, given that two would have to be dropped from the PL reg list?
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That's not for me to worry about!
I think we could lose Rojo though, for starters... Williams is now LB back up and Tuanzebe should be way ahead of him in CB, once back from injury.
With those two signings, i'd be hoping to ship out Mata or Lingard, but that is easier said than done.. But, like I said, not my problem.
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My worry is that we’re already in a ridiculous position where keeping both Jones and Rojo or otherwise, we could quite easily spend most of the season with only two or three CBs fit. One of those two leaves and another CB should be replacing them in the squad.
I cannot see Mata or Lingard being forcibly moved on (because neither will want to leave) this window.
It’s a real and a serious issue the management will have to deal with if they want to bring in attacking players, that’s all I’m saying.
posted on 3/1/20
comment by Robb 2.0 (U22311)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by rosso is done with this (U17054)
posted 40 seconds ago
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 1 hour, 3 minutes ago
The practical problem isn't that there aren't players we'd like to upgrade, but managing to move on the ones we don't want.
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This is a large part of my point.
And cannot simply bin off Jones and Rojo and bring in two attackers when we’re already medium-term short of fit centrebacks and midfielders.
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We can certainly afford to bin one of them off
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Again, bin off Jones and we currently have two centrebacks fit with four competitions to play in.
Bailly is a crock, TFM is out for a while more and injury prone, Rojo is injury prone, and Tuanzebe has had his fair share.
Smalling won’t be back until the summer if he’s back at all.
If a CB leaves, one has to join.
posted on 3/1/20
comment by -bloodred- (U1222)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by rosso is done with this (U17054)
posted 2 hours, 57 minutes ago
With the squad maxed-out, we need to remember we’re playing a game of one-in, one-out.
I can only see potentially leaving this window Pogba, Pereira (at a stretch), Matic and one of Jones or Rojo. If the latter left, we’d probably need to think about reinforcement at CB given the injury issues that Jones, Bailly and now Axel have/have had.
If Pogba, Pereira or Matic leaves, we’ll need a CM replacement, without doubt.
I don’t think Mata or Lingard are going anywhere either permanently or on loan until the summer at the earliest, so I can’t see a number ten coming in before then.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Are we actually capacity? Our squad seems thin as it is ti me.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
25/25 registered.
posted on 3/1/20
comment by rosso is done with this (U17054)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by -bloodred- (U1222)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by rosso is done with this (U17054)
posted 2 hours, 57 minutes ago
With the squad maxed-out, we need to remember we’re playing a game of one-in, one-out.
I can only see potentially leaving this window Pogba, Pereira (at a stretch), Matic and one of Jones or Rojo. If the latter left, we’d probably need to think about reinforcement at CB given the injury issues that Jones, Bailly and now Axel have/have had.
If Pogba, Pereira or Matic leaves, we’ll need a CM replacement, without doubt.
I don’t think Mata or Lingard are going anywhere either permanently or on loan until the summer at the earliest, so I can’t see a number ten coming in before then.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Are we actually capacity? Our squad seems thin as it is ti me.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
25/25 registered.
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So we are.
Just checked though - one of those players is Demetri Mitchell who I'm sure will be replaced if need be. Not many others are likely to leave.
posted on 3/1/20
comment by -bloodred- (U1222)
posted 10 minutes ago
Are we actually capacity? Our squad seems thin as it is ti me.
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How dare you question Rosso on this, his most favourite of topics!
posted on 3/1/20
comment by rosso is done with this (U17054)
posted 16 minutes ago
comment by Robb 2.0 (U22311)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by rosso is done with this (U17054)
posted 40 seconds ago
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 1 hour, 3 minutes ago
The practical problem isn't that there aren't players we'd like to upgrade, but managing to move on the ones we don't want.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This is a large part of my point.
And cannot simply bin off Jones and Rojo and bring in two attackers when we’re already medium-term short of fit centrebacks and midfielders.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We can certainly afford to bin one of them off
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Again, bin off Jones and we currently have two centrebacks fit with four competitions to play in.
Bailly is a crock, TFM is out for a while more and injury prone, Rojo is injury prone, and Tuanzebe has had his fair share.
Smalling won’t be back until the summer if he’s back at all.
If a CB leaves, one has to join.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Bin off Rojo then
We need reinforcements in the squad further up the pitch than we need 5/6 centre backs
posted on 3/1/20
comment by Ji Sung Park's Cousin - Ole's joy Manticore (U2958)
posted 11 minutes ago
comment by -bloodred- (U1222)
posted 10 minutes ago
Are we actually capacity? Our squad seems thin as it is ti me.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
How dare you question Rosso on this, his most favourite of topics!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
posted on 3/1/20
comment by Robb 2.0 (U22311)
posted 25 minutes ago
comment by rosso is done with this (U17054)
posted 16 minutes ago
comment by Robb 2.0 (U22311)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by rosso is done with this (U17054)
posted 40 seconds ago
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 1 hour, 3 minutes ago
The practical problem isn't that there aren't players we'd like to upgrade, but managing to move on the ones we don't want.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This is a large part of my point.
And cannot simply bin off Jones and Rojo and bring in two attackers when we’re already medium-term short of fit centrebacks and midfielders.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We can certainly afford to bin one of them off
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Again, bin off Jones and we currently have two centrebacks fit with four competitions to play in.
Bailly is a crock, TFM is out for a while more and injury prone, Rojo is injury prone, and Tuanzebe has had his fair share.
Smalling won’t be back until the summer if he’s back at all.
If a CB leaves, one has to join.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Bin off Rojo then
We need reinforcements in the squad further up the pitch than we need 5/6 centre backs
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Again, easier said than done. If there isn't someone who wants to do a deal, it's down to whether the commercial overlords are willing to write off his wages for the remainder of his contract on top of the transfer fee & wages of the new player.
I think we'd all like these deals to happen.
posted on 3/1/20
There are clubs who want Rojo and as far as I’m aware he was ready to go to Everton in the summer before the plug was pulled
With the carrot of CL football with the right signings you’d hope that the club would be happy to make some sacrifices when it comes to someone like Rojo