If you can ultimately sign one type of player before the window closes, what do you want? Personally I think too much credence is being given by Bilic to this ‘winger and centre midfielder’ ideology he has. If Louza is as close as we are lead to believe, I really don’t think a CM changes our fortunes. So my one wish is a totally dominant centre-back. One who can control the backline and marshall the whole lot of them. One who b0llocks the full-backs for not doing the basics and lays into Sierralta when he goes walkabout like he did yesterday for their 2nd goal. Signing Whiteman or O’Brien or whoever is all well and good - but we are laughable at the back. And we can have the talent in other areas to improve - but we don’t in defence. The whole team is a house of cards built on that backline and it’ll let the rest down time and time again. If Bilic was going to spend all December and January moaning about our business, I find it somewhat shocking that he’s decided we were good enough at the back when all the evidence says otherwise. How he hasn’t singled out the centre-back department as the single biggest weakness, when he was a top level CB himself, is beyond parody.
I think for me it's either an out and out goalscorer or a competent goalkeeper. The latter shades it if I had to choose one over the other. I think a lot of our problems start from the back, with Flapmann commanding no respect or confidence from his defence.
Hoedt has never shown that in his career to date. Porteous perhaps somewhere down the line - but not in the immediacy. Once again, I think the club aren’t showing that area the concern it’s long needed.
A modern day Guedioura. A physically imposing, big engine box to box midfielder that can also pass, tackle, carry the ball forward and has a thunder ******* of a shot. Look at the video below and tell me this team isn't crying out for this... he was basically the complete Championship midfielder.
Selling Sarr, cancelling Kamara’s & Hause’s loan deals, signing Dennis from Forest along with a capable left-back (no idea who) & Ramsay on loan from Liverpool seeing as Ferreira has hamstrings like the majority of our squad!! Maybe replace Hause with another CB (Hoedt?) and go 3 at the back with Sema at LWB? None of the above will happen anyway.
A box to box midfielder, winger and most of all a commanding central defender. I would also like to see Sarr sold I have written off this season - I am more concerned with our summer transfer strategy tbh
Udinese gave us 16m and lent him back because we had a cash flow issue - not because in anyway he is worth that So the thought that we can say - have im back is risible Unless we repay what was in essence a loan -which i suspect requires the sale of Sarr Whilst in rules and regs terms it looks like one thing - in commercial reality terms it is something different
A box-to-box midfielder with a very good engine, someone to help with defence to attack transitions, so a good passer with decent technique.
You think that should be the one priority? A backup player? And wouldn't the above be what Kone is supposed to be?
Udinese paid 16m so he is now their player, he returns to them permanently at the end of the season and there is no reason why the loan can not be cancelled earlier. Sign a replacement left back who doesn't have **** for brains and send him packing back to Italy. I like Morris but he is not the answer.
These things cost money. Which is why we’re dragging back past-it players who left years ago from far flung places for free.
Do you seriously think they divvied up 16m and loaned him back to us as part of a commercial arrangement? This is an intercompany loan - little Pozzo isn't going to be able to say to Big papa Pozzo - have him back but we will keep the dosh I agree that Morris is back up not first choice but forget freeing up a squad place by sending Kamara to a place he has never been to- the only way that happens is if Udinese need / want him
Someone like Capoue who can crunch in tackles and also spray diagonal balls around for wingers to run on to.
Haha I just jumped in without reading it …. I think I’d go for the box to box midfielder- we need some energy and urgency
100% a left back. As @Burnsy said our defence especially centrally is shocking. But plenty have balled me out for constantly saying this, even when they somehow managed to break a Championship record. I was constantly critical. Pathetic finishing from the opposition was the reason and nothing else.
Almost brings a tear to the eye. How much better we were there as team compared to now. That side would wipe the floor with the current bunch in a friendly I bet.
