First day back

[johnson]

ALL of the players linked with us/signed, are internationals. 3 play for better nations than England. Coates plays, fairly regular for Uruguay who, beat us in Brazil, Lombaerts is a regular for Belgium, who'd easily tear England apart, and Lens plays regular for Holland, who again, would beat England.

Matthews is a Welsh international, do believe he's their first choice RB. While it's only Wales, they are currently top of their Euro 2016 group ahead of Belgium.

I never said they were not good signings

But we need a lot more, nowhere enough really with the squad we have

Our biggest issue is attacking, we will only have signed 1 player to address that, thats where our focus should be.

Need to keep hold.

Sell, can get better in. Been very poor.

 

[RodneySAFC]

Yeah but we do need a few centre mids, people like gomez are OK but can't have the starting many games if we want to move up the table

We need good quality options, I am not saying anything controversial here, but IMO if the likes of Bridcutt, Gomez, Graham and co are starting games then we have issues.

We will only have solidified our defence, which was the best part of our team already based on how we stayed up, the main issues like in midfield and upfront, no point denying that,

So you're saying Gomez works as a squad player, which everyone on this board will agree to. Currently our midfield sets up as a trio of; Gomez/Rodwell, Catts, Larsson.

Only 1 of those positions needs seriously sorting out. While I'd personally replace Larsson, there's no need to right now. Especially if Rodwell can find form and consistency. So to reiterate, 1 CM is needed. Just the 1.

 

[Laidback Jack]

Need to keep hold.

Not for me. Injury prone and failed to settle. Still think we could get some money back. Last year of his contract too.

 

[johnson]

So you're saying Gomez works as a squad player, which everyone on this board will agree to. Currently our midfield sets up as a trio of; Gomez/Rodwell, Catts, Larsson.

Only 1 of those positions needs seriously sorting out. While I'd personally replace Larsson, there's no need to right now. Especially if Rodwell can find form and consistency. So to reiterate, 1 CM is needed. Just the 1.

I disagree, people said the same last season and it didn't work out

I am a big Larsson fan,voted for him as player of the year, but not sure you want him starting every game like.

I get what you are saying but if we are going to spend money this is where I would focus it on, centre mid and the wings.

 

[xmfd]

I'd settle for Van Winkel if he's as good as they say, no more CMs needed. We've got Catts, Gomez, Larsson, Bridcutt, Rodwell already. Would be happy to sell Bridcutt and Gomez if it meant we could bring in another CM like, but it won't happen imo

 

[RodneySAFC]

I disagree, people said the same last season and it didn't work out

I am a big Larsson fan,voted for him as player of the year, but not sure you want him starting every game like.

I get what you are saying but if we are going to spend money this is where I would focus it on, centre mid and the wings.

If we had a blank cheque then I'd replace every single player in the team. No one is beyond recompense. But we don't, and as we've seen replacing too many can rock the boat. While DA is a vastly experienced coach, even he couldn't contend with a dressing room that resembled a QPR one, which it would if you ditch too many and replace too many. We need to identify the key positions for this summers business. So far that's been RB, CB, CM, LW, RW, and ST. CM, LW, RW, ST require us to sell players. Larsson is utterly limited, he's a hard worker but he's even worse than Catts in the final third for me, too ponderous, and slow on the ball. But he's a HUGE character in the dressing room, and a long term servant of the club(Long term in terms of whose actually there in terms of playing staff) replacing him right now would be akin to PDC replacing - well trying to - Catts.

While I know you're not a Giacc fan, even you can't deny that he's talented, and been unfortunate with injuries, in the right set up, and used correctly, he could be like a new signing this season, he's creative, direct, and skilful. He can, and does change games, I'd be focused on getting a CM that'll cost £15M, and offloading Bridcutt, if an offer comes in for Gomez, then yes, he goes too. We can then cope with the squad we have, it's about time we trust Honeyman and Agnew to step up and offer cover for Catts, Larsson, Rodwell, Giacc, and a new player. Out wide DW needs to feature during pre-season, I'd even use Mavrias as he was touted, and known for being quick and direct, if we can use him from the bench against tiring defences it could work, that goes for both. If neither are up to standard then ditch them. I'd be ditching Fletcher over Graham out of the strikers, ideally both, but Graham has experience and determination, and improved vastly back end of the season. Wickham and Defoe are without doubt our best strikers. Neither should be even considered for leaving. Anyone saying otherwise needs to remove their head from their arse. DA played CW every single game from the moment he joined. Perhaps CW could be in line to play centrally under DA, who is a manager that should make CW improve rapidly. The biggest issue we have with the wingers and strikers, is AJ.

 

[Plank]

Whee's yer sauce Plernk lad, reliable? Or potential RAOS?

raos

 

[Freddie the Greek]

ALL of the players linked with us/signed, are internationals. 3 play for better nations than England. Coates plays, fairly regular for Uruguay who, beat us in Brazil, Lombaerts is a regular for Belgium, who'd easily tear England apart, and Lens plays regular for Holland, who again, would beat England.

Matthews is a Welsh international, do believe he's their first choice RB. While it's only Wales, they are currently top of their Euro 2016 group ahead of Belgium.

I understand your comments about signing players from better countries than England. But out of those 4 there's only possibly Lombaerts who would start for England (haven't saw a lot of him, just thinking how desperate England are at CB). We're not signing the new Cole/Terry/Walcott here.

But that's just to balance that argument up, they will be good signings for us.

 

[bu-bu-buchanon]

If we had a blank cheque then I'd replace every single player in the team. No one is beyond recompense. But we don't, and as we've seen replacing too many can rock the boat. While DA is a vastly experienced coach, even he couldn't contend with a dressing room that resembled a QPR one, which it would if you ditch too many and replace too many. We need to identify the key positions for this summers business. So far that's been RB, CB, CM, LW, RW, and ST. CM, LW, RW, ST require us to sell players. Larsson is utterly limited, he's a hard worker but he's even worse than Catts in the final third for me, too ponderous, and slow on the ball. But he's a HUGE character in the dressing room, and a long term servant of the club(Long term in terms of whose actually there in terms of playing staff) replacing him right now would be akin to PDC replacing - well trying to - Catts.

While I know you're not a Giacc fan, even you can't deny that he's talented, and been unfortunate with injuries, in the right set up, and used correctly, he could be like a new signing this season, he's creative, direct, and skilful. He can, and does change games, I'd be focused on getting a CM that'll cost £15M, and offloading Bridcutt, if an offer comes in for Gomez, then yes, he goes too. We can then cope with the squad we have, it's about time we trust Honeyman and Agnew to step up and offer cover for Catts, Larsson, Rodwell, Giacc, and a new player. Out wide DW needs to feature during pre-season, I'd even use Mavrias as he was touted, and known for being quick and direct, if we can use him from the bench against tiring defences it could work, that goes for both. If neither are up to standard then ditch them. I'd be ditching Fletcher over Graham out of the strikers, ideally both, but Graham has experience and determination, and improved vastly back end of the season. Wickham and Defoe are without doubt our best strikers. Neither should be even considered for leaving. Anyone saying otherwise needs to remove their head from their arse. DA played CW every single game from the moment he joined. Perhaps CW could be in line to play centrally under DA, who is a manager that should make CW improve rapidly. The biggest issue we have with the wingers and strikers, is AJ.

Canny long post for this time of night but hard to disagree with much of that. Good post

 

[xmfd]

Defoe Wickham Johnson/Lens
Rodwell Cattermole Larsson
PVA Coates Lombarts Matthews
Pantillimon​

Reckon that'll be our team for Leicester away

 

[bu-bu-buchanon]

Defoe Wickham Johnson/Lens
Rodwell Cattermole Larsson
PVA Coates Lombarts Matthews
Pantillimon​

Reckon that'll be our team for Leicester away

I'd like to see a new midfielder in there to be honest.

 

[Freddie the Greek]

Defoe Wickham Johnson/Lens
Rodwell Cattermole Larsson
PVA Coates Lombarts Matthews
Pantillimon​

Reckon that'll be our team for Leicester away

If fit, O'Shea is a nailed on starter.

 

[sunderlandloyal]

Defoe Wickham Johnson/Lens
Rodwell Cattermole Larsson
PVA Coates Lombarts Matthews
Pantillimon​

Reckon that'll be our team for Leicester away

Not a chance will O'Shea be dropped. He'll be first choice for at least another season.

 

[Plank]

Hardly anyone on here will have seen lombaerts play, or matthews or lens

People getting excited like they do every summer ( i am not saying theyre shit before anyone gets upset )

ive never seen any mate and will wait until i see them in a sunlun strip before giving my thoughts on here m8, ill make a thread agter they play

 

[xmfd]

I'd like to see a new midfielder in there to be honest.

So would I. That young lad from Chelsea sounds ideal, someone creative and good on the ball, kind of player we've been crying out for. Rodwell might step up though if given a chance, he was very highly rated a couple of seasons back don't forget. Hope he stays fit over the pre season

 

[RodneySAFC]

I understand your comments about signing players from better countries than England. But out of those 4 there's only possibly Lombaerts who would start for England (haven't saw a lot of him, just thinking how desperate England are at CB). We're not signing the new Cole/Terry/Walcott here.

But that's just to balance that argument up, they will be good signings for us.

I agree, world beaters they aren't, but set up with complimentary players all working together, and they're very good players.

Arguably, Coates is better than Smalling. So on that, both Lombaerts and Coates would play for England, but then again a corpse is better than bloody Chris Smalling!

 

[Freddie the Greek]

I agree, world beaters they aren't, but set up with complimentary players all working together, and they're very good players.

Arguably, Coates is better than Smalling. So on that, both Lombaerts and Coates would play for England, but then again a corpse is better than bloody Chris Smalling!

I think we have to not get ahead of ourselves here. Aye Coates done well toward the end of the season but to say he's arguably better than Smalling is way too early. He still has a lot to prove. Smalling isn't great but he had some improved performances for Man U last season.

 

[The Situation]

A quality midfielder that can spray the ball

This is the big one for me. It has been a need for far too long now and regardless of what else we do in the transfer market, we're never going to really push on until we get that creative central midfielder. Hopefully Advocaat can be the one to finally get it addressed.

 

[Clatts]

Canny long post for this time of night but hard to disagree with much of that. Good post

A line in between paragraphs and I'd have read it anarl!

 

[raven_5]

So you're saying Gomez works as a squad player, which everyone on this board will agree to. Currently our midfield sets up as a trio of; Gomez/Rodwell, Catts, Larsson.

Only 1 of those positions needs seriously sorting out. While I'd personally replace Larsson, there's no need to right now. Especially if Rodwell can find form and consistency. So to reiterate, 1 CM is needed. Just the 1.

Not really. We should get someone better than Larsson and Catts is injury prone anyway, so we need 2 CM's, one loan and one permanent.