Squad strength?

[davek]

We have hardly any injuries at the moment and we are playing well. The few we have are well covered.
Martinez has started using the obvious plan B of not playing two DM's against the likes of Stoke... albeit once we are down a goal.
And we are still looking better than any opponent we encounter.
We are not stretched as a squad at all to be honest, and I hope Martinez is just saying this to try to squeeze the chairman that he's so very very impressed with, for some of the money he should have from his first transfer window.
You wouldn't even of mentioned this if we hadn't of been unlucky in a couple of recent games.

Unbelievable.

With the influx of the increased tv revenues being their a lot where frustrated it wasnt spent in the summer, now playing devils advocate, and by no ways a defense of kenwright who im not a fan of in the slightest see archives on that), i will say that with the managerial change and lets face it a lot on here expected a small to big dip in our position this year at the least, i can understand why not dipping into that money was a smart business move until it was seen how we'd adapt and if we'd slip down the league.

However its patently obvious that we are stronger than ever now, not gonna be embroiled into any relegation type battles for the foreseeable future, NOW with those facts their, the reason to not spend the money that we know is incoming is no longer a valid one, ANY money not spent from the summer dealings should be added to a decent percentage of the estimated place finish money from the tv deals and used to strengthen the first team and squad depth this window as the choice is clear.

Finishing in the champions league would effectively give us right back any large investment made this window, if we invest and dont qualify then all we have done is spent a substantial amount of the summer budget, which may mean a relatively quiet sumer but with a lot of dealings done in January we would not need to have a large influx in the summer if were not in the extra games of the CL anyways

Exactly. We need to shuffle forward cash to this point. Our competitors will invest and we cant benefit from sitting still.

 

[paulbefc]

We should be getting, at the very least, 6th with this squad.

Around mid-to-late Jan we'll see Jags, Distin and Deulofeu back. From there, with our January additions, we should be alright.

 

[Neiler]

I thought we had enough going into the Xmas period to be honest and to be fair anyone who has come in has done well - Robles, Stones, Oviedo Alcopop.

Worryingly though i think we have lost a creative edge, more comes from the energy of Coleman, McCarthy and Barry thenit does from some of our creative type players - whether its fatiuge or they generally need a kick up the arse, i would be looking at compitition for the likes of Pienaar and Belg Kev, really should be producing more product then they are.

 

[paulbefc]

Last season our first choice XI got about 2 outings in the league all season. Two of our biggest names in Mirallas and Gibson missed a third of the season each.

This season we've had our first choice XI out many times already. Our squad is miles better than last year and we brought no one in in January last year either.

 

[bluestevon]

I thought we had enough going into the Xmas period to be honest and to be fair anyone who has come in has done well - Robles, Stones, Oviedo Alcopop.

Worryingly though i think we have lost a creative edge, more comes from the energy of Coleman, McCarthy and Barry thenit does from some of our creative type players - whether its fatiuge or they generally need a kick up the arse, i would be looking at compitition for the likes of Pienaar and Belg Kev, really should be producing more product then they are.

Honestly mate i agree but i think its the fact that we don't actually have a genuine creative playmaker type to quote a oft used stereotype, Barkley may well develop that side of his game but atm it isn't their, we need a Trevor Steven type in their who will score a lot from midfield and provide a lot of assists, be it from wide or central.

 

[Christiffa25]

I thought we had enough going into the Xmas period to be honest and to be fair anyone who has come in has done well - Robles, Stones, Oviedo Alcopop.

Worryingly though i think we have lost a creative edge, more comes from the energy of Coleman, McCarthy and Barry thenit does from some of our creative type players - whether its fatiuge or they generally need a kick up the arse, i would be looking at compitition for the likes of Pienaar and Belg Kev, really should be producing more product then they are.

Do you not think that lesser opponents like stoke are parking the bus and have specific tactics to stifle our more creative players? It's not always a player being off form.

It's funny tho, it's that moment of class that often wins you those types of games. Miralass hit the woodwork twice yesterday... You also need that bit of luck!

 

[griffla]

I'd take one of a CM and/or a striker this jan window.
Alkaraz, Stones and Heittinga should be able to cover for the two CB's for a couple of weeks
Pienaar, Mirallas, Naismith, Oviedo and Osman should be able to cover the two wings whilst Deu gets better
Barkley can swap with most of the above as well if he needs a rest but that shouldn't be an issue from now on.
Lukaku has survived the new years rush and now gets a game a week so should get better again, Jelavic has been alright when he's come on, hitting the woodwork and getting in some good positions, but that would be a good position to improve on.
Whatever we get will be a bonus added to a squad more than capable of covering injuries now that the games are one a week again.

Isn't Heitinga off to another club any minute now? So our 'cover' at centre back is our 2 fit centre backs? Lets pray Alcaraz doesn't get injured then. Pienaar and Mirallas are our wingers, their cover (Naismith, Oviedo and Osman) aren't good enough for us to get 4th, tho Bry is an amazing reserve left back and a decent emergency option wide left. Jelavić being alright when he comes on (no goals) isn't going to be good enough for us to finish 4th.
Injuries can hit at anytime, Wigan's entire defence got injured last year and it screwed them over. We can't afford a squad the size of spurs/chelsea/man city but we are down to the bare bones (for a team wanting top4). Roberto & the team have been amazing so far but we'll need a couple of really clever additions if we want to achieve our goal.

 

[Neiler]

Do you not think that lesser opponents like stoke are parking the bus and have specific tactics to stifle our more creative players? It's not always a player being off form.

It's funny tho, it's that moment of class that often wins you those types of games. Miralass hit the woodwork twice yesterday... You also need that bit of luck!

Kev is having one of those seasons that he seems to hit the woodword every game, i think both he and Pienaar tend to flag a bit and dont have the mental toughness of the likes of Barry and MCCarthy, varience is good as is compitition - at times ive seen both seem less than interested. Teams are going to park the bus against us and in many ways that been our downfall against the Palaces, Sunderlands, Stokes, West Broms etc. You need to have a plan b coming of the bench like Deulfeu provided,someone to run at weary defenders parking the bus. As a front three behind Lukaku we need more assists and goals tbh, Mirallis and Barkely stats are quite good, Pienaar for me has been a let down.

For me the left wide area we need strengthing even by 1, with Deulofeu hopefully back soon.

 

[maddison]

Isn't Heitinga off to another club any minute now? So our 'cover' at centre back is our 2 fit centre backs? Lets pray Alcaraz doesn't get injured then. Pienaar and Mirallas are our wingers, their cover (Naismith, Oviedo and Osman) aren't good enough for us to get 4th, tho Bry is an amazing reserve left back and a decent emergency option wide left. Jelavić being alright when he comes on (no goals) isn't going to be good enough for us to finish 4th.
Injuries can hit at anytime, Wigan's entire defence got injured last year and it screwed them over. We can't afford a squad the size of spurs/chelsea/man city but we are down to the bare bones (for a team wanting top4). Roberto & the team have been amazing so far but we'll need a couple of really clever additions if we want to achieve our goal.

Nope, looks like he's playing Jedi mind tricks again. He's blown off West Ham because it's not a good career move, obviously bench warming is a far better career option! :blink:

 

[applecrumble]

Best headline of the day

Transfer no go leaves West Ham’s defence in the SHeitinga

 

[Yeldah]

Isn't Heitinga off to another club any minute now? So our 'cover' at centre back is our 2 fit centre backs? Lets pray Alcaraz doesn't get injured then. Pienaar and Mirallas are our wingers, their cover (Naismith, Oviedo and Osman) aren't good enough for us to get 4th, tho Bry is an amazing reserve left back and a decent emergency option wide left. Jelavić being alright when he comes on (no goals) isn't going to be good enough for us to finish 4th.
Injuries can hit at anytime, Wigan's entire defence got injured last year and it screwed them over. We can't afford a squad the size of spurs/chelsea/man city but we are down to the bare bones (for a team wanting top4). Roberto & the team have been amazing so far but we'll need a couple of really clever additions if we want to achieve our goal.

I have a feeling Roberto sees it a tad differently...maybe something like this...

Heitinga is shyte, so let's get rid...Milkman will be back for Norwich, with Jags about a week, maybe two after that [they were never going to play in the Cup match anyway]. In an extreme emergency, we can deploy Hibbert at centre back, and even bring Duffy back from his loan spell, which would still in both cases be better than Heitinga playing there...so both of them back before the Derby and 65K per week off the wage bill as a bonus...something like that...

 

[davek]

If we take the cup game against QPR lightly we'll be out. They're doing well in the Championship.

We cant afford to think we can rest players on top of the injured we have to do without.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

This past week or so has probably put a slightly more realistic slant on our position. Chelsea and City I think are two that stand apart from the rest, with City going to coast the league this year I think. Arsenal are still average imo, with Man Utd in transition and Spurs struggling post Bale. Liverpool are very, very reliant upon a striker who's in the form of his life.

Given the investment all of the clubs just mentioned have made, we should struggle against them really. That we're giving it a good go, whilst also playing good football is a testament to Martinez and the players. Lets just give things our best shot and see where it takes us.

 

[GwladysStreetHero]

We can't break teams down who sit back simple as that

 

[davek]

This past week or so has probably put a slightly more realistic slant on our position. Chelsea and City I think are two that stand apart from the rest, with City going to coast the league this year I think. Arsenal are still average imo, with Man Utd in transition and Spurs struggling post Bale. Liverpool are very, very reliant upon a striker who's in the form of his life.

Given the investment all of the clubs just mentioned have made, we should struggle against them really. That we're giving it a good go, whilst also playing good football is a testament to Martinez and the players. Lets just give things our best shot and see where it takes us.

Agree on Arsenal. They look pretty flaky to me. They need to have a productive window to stay in contention for top spot.

Our 'best shot', as you put, it is to back Martinez with some cash, bring in two more players than we lose (which should be four) and do that business early in the window, because we'll be running on fumes if another key player goes down.