Transfer season obviously, and numerous stories to sell papers and ad space!
benkovic is being mentioned again, and although he looked a classy defender, he also looked injury prone. Not what we need right now. A lot of folk in the media saying we need a CB, and folk here probably wouldn’t disagree, but if it wasn’t for injuries, we’re well covered. I’d say we need to shift before we buy, or go with a quality loan for the 9 that will actually be on the pitch to help. We have Jullien and Ajer, bucked up by jozo and now bitton. We also have Elhamed who looks well accomplished there, when fit (that’s why you got him for that price Neil). Frimpong looks like he could cover RB if Elhamed played CB, but he’s also injured. Obviously jozo is injured, goes without saying as that’s been a couple of weeks he’s played. I’d be up for shifting him on giving his injury issues. Like rogic, he just isn’t fit often enough to keep around, and it’s not as if he’s immense to be worth keeping.
wingers are currently being mentioned. Elyounoussi on the left and Forrest on the right seem to be our first picks, but Elyounoussi is injured, probably longer than he was fit at this stage? We have cover in Johnston for him, who’s also injured, long term now by sounds of it. Hayes could cover left, but he splits opinion, I like him myself. Nothing fancy, but then he hardly gets a game. Boli could also cover that along with taylor, depending if we play 3 or 4 at the back. A lot of mention in the past about eddy playing there, but hard to imagine he’ll no be up front now. Lennon seems to be shifting towards a 3-5-2 rather than the 4-2-3-1. Griff could probably play there. Personally I think there’s scope for going 4-3-3.If everyone was fit, there’s loads of players to play a few formations.
right wing there’s Forrest, Christie can play there and then there shved, well who knows what the story is there. There also arzani, and I reckon Frimpong is suited there.The way we play, we could have wingers swap wings without any real issues. And there’s also oko flex and dembele, surely they’re old enough now for game time if injuries are opening spaces? Hard to imagine they’re not far off where Frimpong is at?
strikers seem covered now, and midfield now looks like it’s a done deal now (I’ve now lost the will to finish writing this) By changing formation the AM seems to now be fairly redundant, but we have ntcham Christie and forrrst, not to mention a striker dripping back to take it up if needed in a 1 up front.
basically, I don’t think we’re bringing in anyone tomorrow. Certainly no experienced players that will improve the first team anyway. I hope I’m pleasantly surprised though. Thinking it through, we’ve got loads of players at the club the now, and a fair chunk are on the treatment table. The sensible option would be 2/3 real quality loans to push for the 9 while folk are injured, unless we’re punting folk. Id love to see us buy an absolute beast for the midfield who would scare the living daylights out of the opposition, but hard to imagine anyone coming in now Soro has arrived. Wanyama looks like paper talk now.
gibbering over
you know what, now I come to think about it. Championship winning teams are all about the strength in depth. I hope the fucking board are bringing in 4 folk tomorrow to get the 9, then the March to 10!