Squad strength?

[edge]

we need three players to go on, winger , midfielder and an attacker and you could add a centre back to that list to be really sure of competing for champions lg, if not it will be 6 th to 8th due to squad size tiredness, kicking in , if we gambled and it came off we are in the clover ,even if it didn't we need them any way to cover are ageing squad members and loan players at the end of the season, its a game of wait and see if we grasp he opportunity or not, we will find out soon enough

 

[chriswho]

Sadly, of all times for us to play MOST of a game with 10 men, this holiday period is the worst. The fixtures come quickly, the weather is often cold and rainy, and if you have a small squad, playing a game with 10 men can take a lot out of you and you can end up with injuries and tired players.

Giving Distin and Jags a rest during this period was likely going to be a need anyway. Playing the Sunderland game short handed probably played it's hand in injuring both.

 

[dholliday]

His targets now won't change massively by the summer. He'll know which players are about and who he wants to improve us.

The only time clubs get ripped off is when they leave it last minute.

You can pick up good players with contracts running out very, very cheap if you play it right. The whole landscape could change by next season. The RS, Utd, Spurs and Southampton could all spend 40-80m each next season to get the CL. We need to strike while the irons hot.

It's a bit risky, this...and I'd like us to take risks to really push on. It's not always gonna happen if the manager isn't feeling it.

If Martinez does something like this:

Out:

Jela
Heitinga


In:

McGeady
Finnbogason
+ 1 squad player of around 2-3m value
+ confirming Barry on a permanent contract


Would most of us be happy with that? It's certainly not classed as spending big and taking risks, but it will improve our squad.

I would be happy with that on the condition that we'll spend big in the summer.

 

[steken1]

Dave -- you can look at this 3 ways...

A -- We spend now and go all out for champions league. Comes off great, doesn't come off then we're likely going to be overpaying for players in this window and dare I say it could probably sign better in the summer when more are available.

B -- Use the position of strength to sign young players with massive potential in this window with more of a long term view of not only this season improving the squad with youth but with one eye on next season after they've bedded in.

C -- Cry about Kenwright not backing the manager...


The decision is B for me -- I'd use the position we're in now to sign a couple of McCarthy and Stones types who have been the best signings we've made for quite some time I believe.

Zat, your Saville-like dedication to yoof is a bit disturbing.

 

[Brennan]

I'd be happy with Heitinga and Jela out and two players in, because the players most likely going out have barely featured for us this season, so it would effectively be increasing the used squad size by two players.

 

[dholliday]

I'd be happy with Heitinga and Jela out and two players in, because the players most likely going out have barely featured for us this season, so it would effectively be increasing the used squad size by two players.

it'll be like a new signing...literally.

 

[potato]

Let me introduce you to

and

and

go get them martinez!!

 

[davek]

Martinez on radio talking about how stretched we are. Thinks it wont get as bad as it has been today.

 

[Aidey9]

Well, 4 points from the last 9 with three of the easiest fixtures we'll get; we couldn't handle the losses of Jagielka, Distin, and the suspensions of Howard and Barry for one game.

We'll merely replace two squad players with another two in the window it looks like. Ok, it's been a difficult period over Christmas, but we're looking at 6th here realistically aren't we?

Hmmm, Martinez really needs to pull something out of the bag this window. With limited funds it'll be hard but we need more than like for like when it comes to squad building.

For me we definitely need another striker, something different to Lukaku and Jelavic. Jela isnt even certain to stay yet either!. Can we really afford to go out and sign someone like Batshuayi for over £6m when we need about 3 new players atleast?.

We also need a CM definitely of the Gibson mould, someone that can pass and make us tick. But we also need creativity in midfield somewhere, either centrally or out wide. It's nice to be linked to names such as M'Vila and Fernando, but are they really what we want right now?. Maybe, cos if we get an injury to the likes of either Barry or McCarthy were fcuked.

McGeady after all might be a good option amongst the squad. Without Deulofeu we haven't really got anyone who will try and beat men and open things up that way and atleast McGeady tries that.

We have a really strong first 11 when everyone is fit, but get injuries and suspensions and we do suffer. gonna be an important month for us this and i just hope Martinez gets in the required personnel to give us that boost to kick on!.

Were still in the mix for CL but after dropping points today and against Sunderland, it's going to be very tough but if we bring in the right types of player, who knows?.

 

[steken1]

It's a bit risky, this...and I'd like us to take risks to really push on. It's not always gonna happen if the manager isn't feeling it.

If Martinez does something like this:

Out:

Jela
Heitinga


In:

McGeady
Finnbogason
+ 1 squad player of around 2-3m value
+ confirming Barry on a permanent contract


Would most of us be happy with that? It's certainly not classed as spending big and taking risks, but it will improve our squad.

I would be happy with that on the condition that we'll spend big in the summer.

Where's the risk? We know what we need to compete at the right end. We can either buy them now and possibly pay a little bit more, have a chance of hitting the jackpot, OR we can wait until the summer to save a few million and get blew out of the water anyway.

 

[dholliday]

Where's the risk? We know what we need to compete at the right end. We can either buy them now and possibly pay a little bit more, have a chance of hitting the jackpot, OR we can wait until the summer to save a few million and get blew out of the water anyway.

The risk is we overspend now, but don't make Europe. Then have not much left for the summer window (without selling one of our best players).

The safe option: not overspend, not make Europe. Use the big money in the summer. Keep our best players. Make Europe at the end of the 14/15 season.


It's a balancing act, as ever. I don't think we should be ready with big criticism if we don't spend big this window.

 

[Nealroy]

I think that losing Deulefeu has killed our momentum the most so far. For a run of games there we had three/four players who the opposition would need to make a plan for and we could rotate them so to keep them guessing. Losing Del has made us just that little bit more predictable. On the upside im starting to think the addition of even a Mcgeedy-level wide option might be enough to re fill that gap.

I think we can all see we need someone to rotate with Lukaku as well. What we do there is really going to depend on what is available. Lets hope RM can pull something out of the bag.

 

[davek]

Hmmm, Martinez really needs to pull something out of the bag this window. With limited funds it'll be hard but we need more than like for like when it comes to squad building.

For me we definitely need another striker, something different to Lukaku and Jelavic. Jela isnt even certain to stay yet either!. Can we really afford to go out and sign someone like Batshuayi for over £6m when we need about 3 new players atleast?.

We also need a CM definitely of the Gibson mould, someone that can pass and make us tick. But we also need creativity in midfield somewhere, either centrally or out wide. It's nice to be linked to names such as M'Vila and Fernando, but are they really what we want right now?. Maybe, cos if we get an injury to the likes of either Barry or McCarthy were fcuked.

McGeady after all might be a good option amongst the squad. Without Deulofeu we haven't really got anyone who will try and beat men and open things up that way and atleast McGeady tries that.

We have a really strong first 11 when everyone is fit, but get injuries and suspensions and we do suffer. gonna be an important month for us this and i just hope Martinez gets in the required personnel to give us that boost to kick on!.

Were still in the mix for CL but after dropping points today and against Sunderland, it's going to be very tough but if we bring in the right types of player, who knows?.

Box to box CM who can weigh in with a few goals and allows Martinez to vary the Barry/McCarthy combo according to opposition, a striker to help Lukaku out and a winger. All need to be capable of going straight into the fray - no time for 'learning on the job youngsters' - we have that already we could turn to.

 

[edge]

got a feeling we are going to pull something out of the bag here and get a decent forward in to boost the troops

 

[Brennan]

The risk is we overspend now, but don't make Europe. Then have not much left for the summer window (without selling one of our best players).

The safe option: not overspend, not make Europe. Use the big money in the summer. Keep our best players. Make Europe at the end of the 14/15 season.


It's a balancing act, as ever. I don't think we should be ready with big criticism if we don't spend big this window.

Don't really see how that's the safe option tbh.

Spurs will improve big team as the season goes on, Liverpool and United will continue to spend a lot over the next two windows. We may never be this close to the top 4 next season. We have the chance to kick on now and make a real go of it.