January 2022 Transfer Window

[hammerman11]

it is refreshing to see us be professional with no jack leaks or ex whu spouting our business to all and sundry. I have no idea and nor does anyone else.
However I do know we need a few in and in this window. moyes can get us top 4 but fatigue will do us if we dont have additions

[Bubbles Fortuna]

I know this wasn't directed at me, but when people post things like this, you know there's no answer that will satisfy you?

It's when people say things like "it's not difficult Dave. Just sign a forward."

Well, who? It clearly is difficult.

[Aztec Hammer]

Now more than ever, I am convinced that the right January additions are critical to the future of the club.

There have been a few times in the past where we have been sitting well at the turn of the year, and then did not show the necessary ambition to sustain a push. But for the most part, we were perhaps in a bit of a false position to begin with, whether due to a purple patch or the brilliance of a singular player like Payet.

But this time, more than any other I can remember, three things are blindingly apparent:

- how good we already are
- how special we could be with the right additions
- how dangerous a game we are playing with the lack of depth that could flatline our season with a key injury

We've proven over the last year and a half, nearly two years that we are one of the best teams in the division. We missed out on the CL last season because of the Rice/Antonio/Ogbonna injury. We're in the same position now pretty much, maybe even a bit better as it's a year further down the line of development and the team proving it wasn't a fluke. We can't make the same mistake.

[Puff Daddy]

It's when people say things like "it's not difficult Dave. Just sign a forward."

Well, who? It clearly is difficult.

It ony becomes difficult if you either have no money, or a chairman reluctant to spend any

[S-H]

Look at the way he's holding that shirt FFS!

Bullet well and truly dodged..

[Heysel76]

It ony becomes difficult if you either have no money, or a chairman reluctant to spend any

....or the players you want aren't available mid-season!

[HammerAl]

We’re only two or three additions (not necessarily starters) away from being one of the top 25 teams in Europe.

Really is mad when you think about it.

[El brooko79]

It ony becomes difficult if you either have no money, or a chairman reluctant to spend any

Or clubs are asking ridiculous amounts for players.

[Diogenes]

It ony becomes difficult if you either have no money, or a chairman reluctant to spend any

No it isn't though is it.
Everything we have heard, from in and outside the Club, it isn't about a reluctance to spend but identifying the right players who are available and can be persuaded to sign up (in January). The market in general is very, very quiet and those that have been signed up are not (and should not be IMO) on our wish list.

[Puff Daddy]

Or clubs are asking ridiculous amounts for players.

Other clubs appear to.navigate their way around this

[steveyrockstar]

Other clubs appear to.navigate their way around this

Yeah, by massively over-paying on fees and wages. I'm looking at you Villa...

[Aztec Hammer]

I think it's a dangerous game to assume Zouma won't get injured again this season. I understand not signing defenders for the sake of it, and if Lloyd Kelly is the one we want, but can't get yet, that it might not be the smartest move to sign someone for the sake of it, but what it comes down to for me is that I don't think we can win the Europa with a pairing of Dawson and Diop. I'm not sure we can with a pairing of Zouma and Dawson, but definitely not the former. We do need a CB, and if he really wants Kelly, then maybe the right loan deal is the play here. Though I don't think a permanent CB now and Kelly in the summer would be overkill anyway.

Same applies with striker. We can't consider Bowen a backup striker really because that takes him out of RW, which is where he is so dynamite. We need a striker, and contrary to belief, there are options out there even in January. Moyes and Newman just have to be a bit brave, pick the guy and trust him. Sometimes it feels like Moyes overthinks the striker position. I love the bloke but it shouldn't take two years to identify the right one.

[YorksHammer]

Look at the way he's holding that shirt FFS!

Bullet well and truly dodged..

Christ, last time I held a shirt like that my child had just been sick all over it!

[dasnutnock3]

Personally, I see our priorities:

1) Sign a CF to eventually take over from Beast.
2) Get a loan CH in for the rest of the season.
3) Identify Cresswell's long-term replacement.
4) Augment the forwards with another goalscorer, different type to Antonio, perhaps with more mobility. Lingard would have been the obvious candidate, based on what he brought us last term, but if he wants 200k a week as I've seen reported, that's not going to work.

[Aztec Hammer]

Personally, I see our priorities:

1) Sign a CF to eventually take over from Beast.
2) Get a loan CH in for the rest of the season.
3) Identify Cresswell's long-term replacement.
4) Augment the forwards with another goalscorer, different type to Antonio, perhaps with more mobility. Lingard would have been the obvious candidate, based on what he brought us last term, but if he wants 200k a week as I've seen reported, that's not going to work.

1. Alex Isak
2. Abdou Diallo
3. Aaron Hickey
4. Arthur Cabral

[Croydon]

We will drop down the table with Dawson and Diop as our starting CBs. If Antonio loses form or worse we will drop down the table.

Yes we have a great team with a strong work ethic at it's core, but we need reinforcements in this window.

As for who? That's up to the guys who get paid millions to discover.

[whammo]

1. Alex Isak
2. Abdou Diallo
3. Aaron Hickey
4. Arthur Cabral

job done

[paulhs1]

El Ghazi from Villa to Everton on loan.

I know we were linked earlier in the window

[El brooko79]

Other clubs appear to.navigate their way around this

Some clubs can over-pay. We can't.
We have money to buy a striker I'm sure. But not to pay 50% over the odds. See previous transfer disasters

[Wilko1304]

Look at the way he's holding that shirt FFS!

Bullet well and truly dodged..

Those brittle old bones can barely lift a shirt!

(His instagram dig at Benitez, and the comments from players who have been there that support him, are an interesting read, btw)