ZazaPenaltyRunup wrote: ↑Fri Jan 21, 2022 11:54 am
Out of all of these I'd put Phillips + Tawkowski at the bottom of my list. Most of the others are starters – and I'd rather have a Bundesliga starter than a 4th best Liverpool or 2nd best Burnley CB.
Mentality-wise, if we want to push Top 6 and ultimately Top 4 we should be able to go in and buy any of these players, pay a little extra and they should be bought into the project. Obviously, we've spent a long time debating Caleta-Car, Szalai etc but a lot of those other players are the right age, right profile and would welcome partnering Zouma for a Europa League run and Premier League challenge.
I'm hoping that our lack of info means we're doing the right kind of due diligence and the right kind of approaches. Newman needs time to set up his scouts + department so we won't have this problem in 1-2 years, but short-term I'm sure Moyes has full awareness of players across Europe's top leagues who can help us in the right areas.
Too much focus on Kral and not enough on Soucek when we think about signings from abroad. Loan-to-buy for Kral is infinitely better than straight purchase for Kral and I think we all know it. Here's hoping any serious offers are for players we are 110% sure of.
Completely agree mate. I'm sure there are a few on that list who are unattainable, Schlotterbeck comes to mind as he is headed for Bayern I reckon. But what you say about needing to pay a little extra if you have to, to bring them into the project and push for constant Europe and maybe even CL is spot on.
It's painfully obvious where we are being held back and it's in defence, particularly at CB as we only have one player who is good enough for what we are apparently trying to achieve.
Nat Phillips is a decent defender and I believe he is an upgrade on Dawson and Diop, but he isn't the one to push us on. Spending confidently and well on another defender, like we did with Zouma, is imperative.
Puff Daddy wrote: ↑Fri Jan 21, 2022 11:28 am
He showed great anticipation and movement off the ball, especially for the second of thise goals, but I also noticed pretty lousy goalkeeping for two of those goals. Keeper beaten on his near post.Dont think he would've scored these goals against most PL keepers
There's been loads of goals in the premier league where the keeper has been beaten at the near post. I remember more than one goal that fabianski has let in like that. I also recall Bowen scoring a goal for us like that. I also know that Bowen and Benrahma both frequently attempt near post shots. That's just off the top of my head. It's not something that's confined to the Championship.
Sometimes feels like we are in a time warp - can almost hear Johnny Lyall trotting out his time honoured phrase about searching for the "right player at the right price". It's the right idea of course and preferable to some of rubbish we've signed in GSB times. However, you also need to reach a point where you actually make signings.
This is (at least) the 3rd window we have needed a decent striker. At some point, waiting for the perfect player/deal means the time may pass and that player/deal is no longer the perfect one. Net result is no add or upgrade. Surely the job of any scouting and management team is to find players who can be bought (and will come) that will improve us? Any of us can put lists of players together that would strengthen the team but who won't come, cost too much or whose club wont sell. There's no skill in that. Their job is to find the ones that can be closed. I can understand that in any one window that might be tricky but across 2 or even 3 it shouldn't be.
We need LCB, CF and LB. It beggars belief there isn't a deal to be done for at least one of those that wouldn't strengthen the team now and going forward. Have to hope this is just playing the long game so far as this window is concerned and there will be meaningful action as it ends.
Aztec Hammer wrote: ↑Fri Jan 21, 2022 12:01 pm
Nat Phillips is a decent defender and I believe he is an upgrade on Dawson and Diop, but he isn't the one to push us on. Spending confidently and well on another defender, like we did with Zouma, is imperative.
I always place a huge – maybe even outsized – weight on what a player's current supporters think about them. And I don't think I've ever seen any Liverpool supporter say a bad word about him. It makes me think he'd be more than adequate for us. It's only the right-footed thing that would give me pause at present, but even that criteria might have to be jettisoned when it gets down to the last few days.
(Similarly, I'm not sure I've ever seen a Czech person rave about Hlozek. I'm not saying none of them do, but I've never seen it. If you see someone making grandiose claims for his ability it's usually a Bundesliga or Prem fan).
I love Antonio and he has had his purple patch this season and then the odd decent game.
But.
In many games in the last few months he has been so poor at holding the ball up or linking up play that our defence has been under far more pressure because of it. We need someone to be able to hold the ball up, not let it bounce against you while CB is on your back, then fall on floor OR do such a bad touch that it goes back to the DM who is rushing in to help CB. It happens so often that other teams clearly see it and do the same as the previous teams.
He still has his bright moments but just having someone who is 7/10 at holding it up or linking up play would mean we are under attack FAR less.
I know we need a CB but we seriously need this issue fixed as its one of the main factors we are conceding so many.
SiO wrote: ↑Fri Jan 21, 2022 12:24 pm
I read this more like David Brent..... "Winnersh"
Can we sign Senesi?
Oh, I dunno, you'd better ask the boss." "David, can I sign Senesi and stay in bed all day?" "Yes, you can, David. Both me. I'm not - that's not me in bed with another bloke called David.
Aztec Hammer wrote: ↑Fri Jan 21, 2022 12:30 pm
Can we sign Senesi?
Oh, I dunno, you'd better ask the boss." "David, can I sign Senesi and stay in bed all day?" "Yes, you can, David. Both me. I'm not - that's not me in bed with another bloke called David.
I am Legend wrote: ↑Fri Jan 21, 2022 12:28 pm
I love Antonio and he has had his purple patch this season and then the odd decent game.
But.
In many games in the last few months he has been so poor at holding the ball up or linking up play that our defence has been under far more pressure because of it. We need someone to be able to hold the ball up, not let it bounce against you while CB is on your back, then fall on floor OR do such a bad touch that it goes back to the DM who is rushing in to help CB. It happens so often that other teams clearly see it and do the same as the previous teams.
He still has his bright moments but just having someone who is 7/10 at holding it up or linking up play would mean we are under attack FAR less.
I know we need a CB but we seriously need this issue fixed as its one of the main factors we are conceding so many.
That is because the poor sod is knackered, but still we do stuff all about it. Sorry, but this one is on Moyes
GPW wrote: ↑Fri Jan 21, 2022 12:09 pm
Sometimes feels like we are in a time warp - can almost hear Johnny Lyall trotting out his time honoured phrase about searching for the "right player at the right price". It's the right idea of course and preferable to some of rubbish we've signed in GSB times. However, you also need to reach a point where you actually make signings.
This is (at least) the 3rd window we have needed a decent striker. At some point, waiting for the perfect player/deal means the time may pass and that player/deal is no longer the perfect one. Net result is no add or upgrade. Surely the job of any scouting and management team is to find players who can be bought (and will come) that will improve us? Any of us can put lists of players together that would strengthen the team but who won't come, cost too much or whose club wont sell. There's no skill in that. Their job is to find the ones that can be closed. I can understand that in any one window that might be tricky but across 2 or even 3 it shouldn't be.
We need LCB, CF and LB. It beggars belief there isn't a deal to be done for at least one of those that wouldn't strengthen the team now and going forward. Have to hope this is just playing the long game so far as this window is concerned and there will be meaningful action as it ends.
Brilliant post especially the tragic Lyall reference, couldn’t believe as it took place just how such a talented and astute manager simply lost the plot, worse still the ‘perfect’ player he waited so long to get as things deteriorated, was in reality a disaster in the end and not a cheap one either, sadly but inevitably it got him sacked. Whatever one thinks of the present circumstances that event still haunts me and I literally shivered when you raised it. It proved to me that people you think or have demonstrated that they know what they are doing aren’t inevitably always going to do so.
GPW wrote: ↑Fri Jan 21, 2022 12:09 pm
Sometimes feels like we are in a time warp - can almost hear Johnny Lyall trotting out his time honoured phrase about searching for the "right player at the right price". It's the right idea of course and preferable to some of rubbish we've signed in GSB times. However, you also need to reach a point where you actually make signings.
This is (at least) the 3rd window we have needed a decent striker. At some point, waiting for the perfect player/deal means the time may pass and that player/deal is no longer the perfect one. Net result is no add or upgrade. Surely the job of any scouting and management team is to find players who can be bought (and will come) that will improve us? Any of us can put lists of players together that would strengthen the team but who won't come, cost too much or whose club wont sell. There's no skill in that. Their job is to find the ones that can be closed. I can understand that in any one window that might be tricky but across 2 or even 3 it shouldn't be.
We need LCB, CF and LB. It beggars belief there isn't a deal to be done for at least one of those that wouldn't strengthen the team now and going forward. Have to hope this is just playing the long game so far as this window is concerned and there will be meaningful action as it ends.
This is it. Most people thought the following was stupid money;
Sterling £55M
Walker £50M
Cancelo £60M
Dias £50M
Stones £40M
When you want a player to immediately step in, improve the team, and make the purchase of a new player worthwhile, it's often more expensive than you'd ideally like.
Some reports saying that were balking at the price for the Czech striker and also for the Blackburn guy. So I don't think there will be a much needed striker in this window. It's hard work sometimes supporting the old ammers, how do spurs and arsenal do it when there finances ain't great.
WestcliffHammer wrote: ↑Fri Jan 21, 2022 1:15 pm
Ben Brereton and Nat Phillips next level targets. Blackburn won't sell their top scorer 2 weeks before the window closes.
Bet they would if we threw a pile of wedge on the table.
Billy Bonds boots wrote: ↑Fri Jan 21, 2022 1:11 pm
Some reports saying that were balking at the price for the Czech striker and also for the Blackburn guy. So I don't think there will be a much needed striker in this window. It's hard work sometimes supporting the old ammers, how do spurs and arsenal do it when there finances ain't great.
Which basically translates as they wouldn't accept £5m spread over 25 years. Of course they're won't be a striker there never was going to be a striker if you want a striker you have to be prepared to pay more than tuppence
Macca1973 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 21, 2022 11:32 am
Antonio hasn't been atrocious but he has been poor, I don't think anyone can argue otherwise. His touch, passing and finishing has been off for weeks.
We'll never know whether Moyes would have dropped him though would we as by his own admission he has tried unsuccessfully to recruit competition for nearly 2 years.
When does this become a failure laid at Moyes' door? If we don't sign a striker this window? No doubt the usual suspects will say 'wait until the summer window'. They said exactly the same when Haller was sold, we waited all summer and we're still waiting......
Have to say that 2 goals in 13 games in a team pushing for top 4 and desperate to achieve top 6 would in almost any other circumstance lead to an early sub, rest or replacement for a few games at the very least. Shows how far we have to go if it’s deemed acceptable. Trouble is, though I accept there is nuance and a balance to be had you have to make the most of your present situation and especially the opportunity rather than persistently ignoring or delaying it in the hope of obtaining someone better for an uncertain opportunity at some point in the future. 2 years is certainly getting very close to or arguably well beyond an acceptable delay during perhaps a period that offers our best chance of breaking top 4. The real problem however that we have to confront is we are and increasingly so, competing with teams who will go for short term options or risks knowing they can also go for their desired ‘perfect’ player later as and when he (they) become available. Which again brings you back to taking full advantage of your immediate opportunity. The right balance is a slippery pole to grasp sadly but can’t be ignored.
ZazaPenaltyRunup wrote: ↑Fri Jan 21, 2022 1:10 pm
This is it. Most people thought the following was stupid money;
Sterling £55M
Walker £50M
Cancelo £60M
Dias £50M
Stones £40M
When you want a player to immediately step in, improve the team, and make the purchase of a new player worthwhile, it's often more expensive than you'd ideally like.
Also, City are able to pay that up front.
Sullivan on the other hand offers an endless list of clauses...