Squad strength?

[Aidey9]

Let me introduce you to

and

and

go get them martinez!!

Shaqiri would be awesome, but is that really realistic, im not sure. Martinez does rate him, tried to buy him at Wigan but then got beat to the punch by Bayern of all clubs, tough choice......

You've lost me on the other 2, a Juve player and is that Besiktas?.

 

[potato]

id love us to sign a slotter

 

[dholliday]

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.

McGeady
Finnbogason
+ 1 squad player of around 2-3m value

The first two are covered, but the established CM you're talking about won't be had for 2-3m (unless we're really lucky).

I'd love Mata, myself. Think he'd fit very well into our game, and is clearly not happy at Chelsea.

 

[potato]

Shaqiri would be awesome, but is that really realistic, im not sure. Martinez does rate him, tried to buy him at Wigan but then got beat to the punch by Bayern of all clubs, tough choice......

You've lost me on the other 2, a Juve player and is that Besiktas?.

Mitrovic, plays for Anderlecht, used to play for Partizan.

 

[mezzrow]

Be fair mate; didn't we all have these mentally pencilled in the win column given the results we've been getting prior to Christmas?

Ah, dave. There's where you have found the fault in the matter. This is the Premier League.

Some gooners had three penciled in when we came calling as well. Especially after they scored. If I had to bet, I'd put my money on fifth/sixth right now. That said, the football we watch is so immeasurably superior to what we've seen in the worst moments of recent years that I'm not that arsed.

Inches away from 3 - 1 to us. One boneheaded pen away from 1 - 0 to them. It's a funny game. At work, I explain to my "soccer" friends at work when I'm not having much fun grappling with something impossible - "this is like playing at Stoke in the rain." So, there you are.

Enjoy the ride - put the pencil down.

 

[dholliday]

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.

Agree with your point, but like I said it's the safe option as it protects any requirement to sell Ross in the summer.

 

[potato]

and marchisio.

 

[steken1]

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.

I think it'd be criminal myself. I'm really struggling to understand your conservatism(is that even a word???)

 

[davek]

The first two are covered, but the established CM you're talking about won't be had for 2-3m (unless we're really lucky).

I'd love Mata, myself. Think he'd fit very well into our game, and is clearly not happy at Chelsea.

We can dream. We should be all over Mourinho for De Bruyn. I think the lad wants the Bundesliga switch though.

 

[Brennan]

We can dream. We should be all over Mourinho for De Bruyn. I think the lad wants the Bundesliga switch though.

Can't have another Prem loan and there's zero chance he'd sell him to us.

 

[Aidey9]

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.

I agree, but listening to Martinez the other week, he's looking to bring people in short term, so to me that would mean youngsters just to help out. You dont make signings like, for example, M'Vila for the short term do you?!.

I really do hope he looks at the long term when looking to buy, players that will help now and in the future cos like someone as said earlier, they will cover in the future for our loan players.

But we need something different in CM to Barry & McCarthy. Both great players but we need someone for in there who will give us more going forward in a creative/goalscoring manner.

We definitely need a striker, no doubt about it but who?. Batshuayi, Finnbogason?. I heard talk we wanted Jordan Ayew on loan which wouldnt be bad but we need an out an out striker. Bafetimbi Gomis wouldnt be bad for me, contract running out, try get him on the cheap this month possibly?.

And i wouldnt mind another option out wide, a proper wide player that likes to beat men and his a serious goal threat, god knows who though off the top of my head?!.

 

[caught]

We've most missed being able to bring Deulofeu from the bench, I think. Osman's been pretty effective when used as a tactical sub, but Jelavic and Naismith will rarely offer much.

Any team is going to be stretched when you lose both of your first choice CBs. We've actually coped very well with that: Alcaraz has had two solid games and Stones is a real prospect. We're light in CM and attack, so that has to be addressed. In an ideal world we'd have Fernando and Batshuayi brought in and Deulofeu back before the end of the month. I guess we'll see.

 

[davek]

Ah, dave. There's where you have found the fault in the matter. This is the Premier League.

Some gooners had three penciled in when we came calling as well. Especially after they scored. If I had to bet, I'd put my money on fifth/sixth right now. That said, the football we watch is so immeasurably superior to what we've seen in the worst moments of recent years that I'm not that arsed.

Inches away from 3 - 1 to us. One boneheaded pen away from 1 - 0 to them. It's a funny game. At work, I explain to my "soccer" friends at work when I'm not having much fun grappling with something impossible - "this is like playing at Stoke in the rain." So, there you are.

Enjoy the ride - put the pencil down.

I dont think we need to succumb to that sort of fatalism. Our destiny is in our hands if resources are found.

There's no leap for this club off the pitch either via a new stadium scheme success or a billionaire...THIS is our only realistic way of crashing through to another level - on the pitch.

We have the manager of his generation at Everton...of that I am utterly convinced. We cant waste his time here with us. We need that breakthrough moment and we are capable of making it with a bit of investment into this squad.

 

[Aidey9]

and marchisio.

Think your being very ambitious with those picks pal!. Shaqiri on loan maybe but i think some good clubs would certainly be interested IF he was available.

Mitrovic ive heard of and is at Anderlecht. I think he'd be possible but would he be ready to make a contribution to the cause straight away, not sure, would need time.

And sorry, but Marchisio is just a no go!.

 

[dholliday]

I think it'd be criminal myself. I'm really struggling to understand your conservatism(is that even a word???)

aye, it's a word

See the point I made earlier. I don't want to risk a situation where we might be tempted to sell Barkley in the summer.