January 2018 transfer window thread.

[Brisan123]

As people may have gathered, i believe we should be targeting a left back in this window.

As has been shown so far this season, we cannot rely on Leighton to cover this position on his own.

Yes , i realise that we have only 15 competitive games left this season, probably 12 by the the time Leighton gets back fully fit and fingers crossed he stays fit for the remaining games.

But, while we continue to play Martina at left back, don't expect to see us turning defence into attack quickly, because , if you watch us defending, we have 2, players assisting Martina on the left side of our defence. So when we do look to break out and hit teams on the break, we, straight away ,have 2/3 players out of position. This is why we see the long ball up to DCL, who then tries to hold it up while the support arrives.

I don't want us to panic buy one. We should not be in the position of panic buying one. Surely everybody involved with the day to day management of the 1st team knows that we need cover in this position.

As i have said before, when we failed to sign a left sided defender in the summer ( which we all recognised was needed), our DOF/ scouting network, should, by now, have identified possible targets to pursue in this transfer window.

And maybe for a variety of reason our first or second choice is not available in this window but may be available come the summer

 

[trueblue10]

I thought him and Carroll would have worked well together.

Carroll in the treatment room and Chichoritto on the bench? How was that ever going to work?

 

[trueblue10]

And maybe for a variety of reason our first or second choice is not available in this window but may be available come the summer

Agreed.

But if the club know and accept this scenario, then we should be working towards a possible loan signing until the end of the season or failing that bringing back one of loanies .

There really is no viable excuse to be continuing with Martina as our only left back cover at the end of this transfer window.

 

[Big Fat Sam]

Really desperately hope Allardyce is actively looking to offload one of Jagielka and Williams now, and the other in the summer. Surely Stekelenberg must be leaving this window, and Besic too. Lennon looks like a goer, and Niasse appears to have several clubs sniffing after him and the first decent offer we get we'll likely accept.

Mirallas
Barkley
Williams
Stekelenberg
Besic
Lennon
Niasse

That's a LOT of deadwood removed from the squad, and around 300k a week saved in wages. Just need to rid ourselves of Martina, Schneiderlin and McCarthy then, once we plug the gaps in the squad, we should be able to feel positive about next season.

 

[blueblue]

Agreed.

But if the club know and accept this scenario, then we should be working towards a possible loan signing until the end of the season or failing that bringing back one of loanies .

There really is no viable excuse to be continuing with Martina as our only left back cover at the end of this transfer window.

The window doesn't close today,
Let's wait and see what happens.
The players you would like to sign are generally the players clubs do not want to sell.

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

Really desperately hope Allardyce is actively looking to offload one of Jagielka and Williams now, and the other in the summer. Surely Stekelenberg must be leaving this window, and Besic too. Lennon looks like a goer, and Niasse appears to have several clubs sniffing after him and the first decent offer we get we'll likely accept.

Mirallas
Barkley
Williams
Stekelenberg
Besic
Lennon
Niasse

That's a LOT of deadwood removed from the squad, and around 300k a week saved in wages. Just need to rid ourselves of Martina, Schneiderlin and McCarthy then, once we plug the gaps in the squad, we should be able to feel positive about next season.

Lennon isn't deadwood

He's earned his keep

 

[matty1878]

Really desperately hope Allardyce is actively looking to offload one of Jagielka and Williams now, and the other in the summer. Surely Stekelenberg must be leaving this window, and Besic too. Lennon looks like a goer, and Niasse appears to have several clubs sniffing after him and the first decent offer we get we'll likely accept.

Mirallas
Barkley
Williams
Stekelenberg
Besic
Lennon
Niasse

That's a LOT of deadwood removed from the squad, and around 300k a week saved in wages. Just need to rid ourselves of Martina, Schneiderlin and McCarthy then, once we plug the gaps in the squad, we should be able to feel positive about next season.

If FS is here nxt season there’s f all to be positive about.

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

Are we being linked with any defenders lads?

 

[Nymzee]

If FS is here nxt season there’s f all to be positive about.

Happy Friday, Matty

 

[matty1878]

Happy Friday, Matty

and you mate!

 

[cjuk87]

I think the club are aware a LB is needed, it's not something only we see. But maybe the choice is buy a second rate one now, or wait until summer for our top targets? This isn't football manager, many teams struggle to get their number 1 target in Jan because no club wants to lose their best LB

 

[People75]

Really desperately hope Allardyce is actively looking to offload one of Jagielka and Williams now, and the other in the summer. Surely Stekelenberg must be leaving this window, and Besic too. Lennon looks like a goer, and Niasse appears to have several clubs sniffing after him and the first decent offer we get we'll likely accept.

Mirallas
Barkley
Williams
Stekelenberg
Besic
Lennon
Niasse

That's a LOT of deadwood removed from the squad, and around 300k a week saved in wages. Just need to rid ourselves of Martina, Schneiderlin and McCarthy then, once we plug the gaps in the squad, we should be able to feel positive about next season.

True true.

And we need some proper replacements, for some of these players.
That would be the way to conduct things.

 

[granter79]

If FS is here nxt season there’s f all to be positive about.

happy Friday Matty

 

[Eggs]

Agreed.

But if the club know and accept this scenario, then we should be working towards a possible loan signing until the end of the season or failing that bringing back one of loanies .

There really is no viable excuse to be continuing with Martina as our only left back cover at the end of this transfer window.

...the indication is that we are looking to bring back Galloway.

 

[Big Fat Sam]

If FS is here nxt season there’s f all to be positive about.

If he keeps us in the top half and manages to clears out 75% of the deadwood that other managers may have decided to keep at the club, and leaves at the end of the season, he'll have done a great job for me. He'll have set us up very nicely for the next manager.