realistic transfer improvements

[Tree13]

Surely the focus needs to be LM, number 10 back up and maybe a centre back.

Mirallas will be Pienaar's long term replacement on the left. He's much more effective there than on the right. We've needed at RM / RW since before we bought Mirallas - Coleman often played that position prior to Kev's arrival FFS.

Agree re the no.10 - Sigurdsson would have been a good pickup. Osman will do for this season, as he can still do a job coming off the bench for 20 minutes or so. But he's not a viable alternative to start a game anymore, because he is positionally one-dimensional and lacks stamina and strength. He's at his best against tiring opponents, but I can't see him still being able to contribute, even in that limited way, in 18 months' time.

Centre back is obvious. Distin and Jags are both at the tail end of their careers, and Alcaraz is at best a solid backup. Happy to use this season to see if Browning or Galloway can make the step up to third-choice CB next August (assuming Jags and Stones will be first choice and the Milkman will stay on as 4th choice). If both of them need to go out on loan next August however, then I would like to see us bring in a left-footed player in the 24-28 years age bracket on loan, sell Alcaraz for a couple mill and keep Distin as 4th choice.

 

[Tree13]

TH has been a good, at times excellent, goalie, but I think we need to start the search for his replacement sooner rather than later.

Would you take Ruddy back from Norwich? I thought he looked good for them in the Prem. Plenty of other alternatives out there of course, but for some inexplicable reason I wonder if Ruddy might be a good option.

 

[Tree13]

Would love Gerry back too.

100% this.

We could definitely have used Gerry the last few weeks when Coleman, Pienaar and Barkley were out.

 

[AndyC]

Would you take Ruddy back from Norwich? I thought he looked good for them in the Prem. Plenty of other alternatives out there of course, but for some inexplicable reason I wonder if Ruddy might be a good option.

Not sure on Ruddy, would like to think he'd jump at the chance to come back if offered.

 

[sageyefc]

Would you take Ruddy back from Norwich? I thought he looked good for them in the Prem. Plenty of other alternatives out there of course, but for some inexplicable reason I wonder if Ruddy might be a good option.

To many mistakes in him, plus english premium on price. Germanys the future for goalkeepers

 

[Kiwi]

Solely from the free market next summer we could fill a few holes.
Reid or Schar as CB
Yarmolenko, Konoplyanka, Milner or Ayew as LW
Cleverly as CAM.
Lichtsteiner as RB.

 

[sageyefc]

Solely from the free market next summer we could fill a few holes.
Reid or Schar as CB
Yarmolenko, Konoplyanka, Milner or Ayew as LW
Cleverly as CAM.
Lichtsteiner as RB.

Id have everyone of them apart from cleverly

 

[Tree13]

Solely from the free market next summer we could fill a few holes.
Reid or Schar as CB
Yarmolenko, Konoplyanka, Milner or Ayew as LW
Cleverly as CAM.
Lichtsteiner as RB.

Would take Reid.
Milner I think is better as a CM, so unless we're shipping Barry off to the MLS for a couple mill I don't see it. Delph is a consideration at CM too.
Not seen Yarmolenko or Konoplyanka play (unless FIFA 14 counts), but I think we need a RM / RW more than a left sided player at this point. Atsu and McGeady are underwhelming and an upgrade on the right would allow Mirallas to succeed Pienaar on the left.
Cleverley on a free, with wages representative of his achievements to date rather than the media's inflated opinion of his potential? Yes, give him a try.... Cleverley for actual money? Don't be absurd.
Lichtsteiner is unknown to me.

Trouble is, every club in Europe will be scouring the free agent market too.

 

[BlueToff]

Id have everyone of them apart from cleverly

he's the one we'll get

 

[Steve Wigan]

In patches

I only did it cos in general everything Irvine touches as a manager falls apart

And your evidence for that is............? I think before WBA he had one managerial job? Is that what you mean by 'everything' ? He was excellent as assistant to our previous manager, at least trying to get him to try 'proper football'.

 

[TomDixie]

If we can get another wide attacking player in January, that should be our priority.

 

[EverBlue86]

Perisic would be my number 1 target in the summer but if that was a no go i would try go for that konoplyanka in January, will be a free agent in the summer so could imagine us picking him up on the cheap say £4 mil or so. It's okay waiting for him to become free but that's what 20 or so other clubs will be doing

 

[Mouth of Martinez]

Have put a page up related to this at martinezmouth.blogspot.com have a read as it'll be too big to put on here

 

[BlueToff]

Have put a page up related to this at martinezmouth.blogspot.com have a read as it'll be too big to put on here

decent read mate nice one - but just one thing - Ricard Rodriguez is a left back

 

[EverBlue86]

My issue with this summer's dealings were we never really bulked out the squad for the europa, would have liked to have seen us use the loan market a bit more and atsu may aswell and not joined when you consider the lack of game time he has had alongside the ACON coming up