If we are still in the hunt come January...

[Tee]

.... and Rafa had a bit of money to spend, who do you think we should go for?

How about someone proven in the PL to just keep things steady... dare I say it but how about Gaz Baz? I personally think January could be the ideal time to get in someone like him.

Alternatively there is still a lack of genuine width down the right - Valencia from Wigan anyone?

Could be a critical January transfer window this time.

[red g]

valencia will be a fortune i reckon, i think injuries will dictate who we need to bring in, if everyone remains fit i dont see the need to bring anyone in, dont think we are light in any particular area. I would only look to see back up players brought in jan as the first team will still be on a roll

[Chrono]

I think Aimar on the cheap would be a decent option. Allows Stevie a rest and is a tough little character to play the killer pass in the Deco sense.

[Shaggy]

I imagine Barry, Heskey and Valencia will come under consideration. I know Barrett played down the Ivanhoe link but I'd be surprised if Rafa doesn't at least 'have a look'.

Agreed with red g though - I'm not convinced we need to bring anyone in, although they do say the best time to strengthen is when you're on top.

[Dessy]

I don't think we're desperately short in any areas at the moment, however, we could still do with a little cover at RB (Degen ) and if there were to be a 'natural' right sided midfield/attacker available then maybe a deal could be done with say Pennant going the other way if it were Valencia for instance?

[bobbyfallon]

not going to be too many top players about in january though.

still dream of a villa - torres partnership

[Resu]

Isn`t the word that we don`t have any money in january? So to get someone in we`ll have to sell.
If we want to strengthen the squad we probably have to sell 2-3 players to get someone decent in. Players we could be looking to: Pennant, Itjande, and maybe some of the youngsters (Martin, Hobbs). I don`t think Alonso is for sale right now (it would be crazy if he is).
So I can`t see us having the money to go for real quality in january.
I`m not convinced about the LB position (Dossena has yet to show his worth but that can change, and Aurelio is a injury waiting to happend). The same goes for RB. Arbeloa is looking good, but do we have anybody to cover for him? Degen is injury prone and with Skrtel out it Carra can`t play there ever game as Hyypia needs rest between games.
When it comes to the RW position Kuyt is doing very well.A player good enough to replace him will be very expensive, and players like that don`t move that often in january. We don`t need back-up at RW as we have Pennant and El Zhar.
The one position I think we could use back-up is LW. If Riera gets injured we only have Babel, and I would like to see him move up front.
I don`t really think we need to get someone in to keep things steady. A player of the caliper we need to strength the squad from day one would cost a lot and could be disruptive to the squad. Things are looking good right now and unless someone gets a really bad injury I don`t see the point in any big signings.

[Kenneth]

Sell Keane while he still has some value? Harry might take him back to Spurs.

[Gaz]

I wouldn't consider Barry now unless we're willing to let Alonso go and given his current form we'd be mad to do that. RW is still a position that needs filling with an out and out winger IMO, Kuyt is doing a good job there but if he gets injured we're pretty weak in that area

[slimbimjim]

I wouldn't consider Barry now unless we're willing to let Alonso go and given his current form we'd be mad to do that. RW is still a position that needs filling with an out and out winger IMO, Kuyt is doing a good job there but if he gets injured we're pretty weak in that area

Plus we need someone stronger than Benny if we need skill in that area.

Pennant is not at the right level and Benny is a bit lightweight.

Joaquin anyone?

[frank the tank]

I imagine Barry, Heskey and Valencia will come under consideration. I know Barrett played down the Ivanhoe link but I'd be surprised if Rafa doesn't at least 'have a look'.

Agreed with red g though - I'm not convinced we need to bring anyone in, although they do say the best time to strengthen is when you're on top.

who says that????

ask anyone from the newcastle team or backroom of the team that added Asprilla and Batty to it in 97 and i reckon they would disagree...

we have an amazing team spirit right now and also a squad where every player is fighting hard to get into the team.....

for example, if we did buy heskey, what do you think that would do to the morale of Babel - who is obviously working hard to break into the team.... it would get him a little down and then maybe his buddy kuyt would agree that it is a wrong situation and all of a sudden you have 2 players that are slightly peeved..... then all of a sudden maybe carra and gerrard are friends with heskey and tell the dutchies to go fcuk themselves.... all of a sudden you have a disrupted squad.....

similarly, to buy barry would be a kick in the stones to maybe alonso - it would say to xabi that we still want barry over him and his morale would inevitably drop.... as would lucas'

you can see from the way all our players celebrate the winning goals (against manCity was a prime example) that our team are playing and working hard for each other.........

in my opinion, we should only sign another player if there was a major (3 months or greater) to one of our key players - like gerrard, torres, mascher, carra or especially kuyt - simply because i dont think pennant is on his game anyway because he knows that he is probably on the way out and if something was to happen to dirk, then it is possible that we would be light on the right wing (although gerrard and babel could play well there - as could benny!)...........otherwise, continuity is what is required at this moment in time....

one furthur point is, we are unlikely to be able to sign anybody of notable quality in jan anyway. Any player we are likely to be able to sign would only be a player not wanted by his current club....and if that is the case, then why would we want him??? I don't think a player like barry would be able to leave villa (or even want to leave them) if they were in 4th spot and pushing for a champions league position themselves.....

[Reece]

I reckon we might go for that Polish chap Kuba [not even going to attempt surname] for the right wing.

[slimbimjim]

I reckon we might go for that Polish chap Kuba [not even going to attempt surname] for the right wing.

Yeah he looks pretty good hey.

[Reece]

Yeah he looks pretty good hey.

To be honest I haven't really seen anything of him, just a feeling I get from us being linked with him a few times

[slimbimjim]

one furthur point is, we are unlikely to be able to sign anybody of notable quality in jan anyway. Any player we are likely to be able to sign would only be a player not wanted by his current club....and if that is the case, then why would we want him???

There could be a good player available from a club that makes an early exit from the CL and needs the money or the player isn't confident in the club's ability to compete.

I'm sure Rafa has his little list which included Skrtel at one point