Strengthening our squad

[The Birdman]

We will buy someone, Rafa has bought in January regularly mostly with one eye on strengthening the following season allowing them time to fit in (Mascher, Skrtel, Agger (I think??)

[nebbers]

You could argue that Rafa's January purchases have been our better players- Mascher, Skrtel, Agger. Fingers crossed...

[The_weatherman]

We will buy someone, Rafa has bought in January regularly mostly with one eye on strengthening the following season allowing them time to fit in (Mascher, Skrtel, Agger (I think??)

But we have not been in this position before, now is the time to focus on this season first and foremost, in previous seasons we have had the "luxury" of preparing for the next one in the middle of a season. There is no position that needs strengthening ASAP. We have good cover in most positions, Carra is playing well at right back and we have Aurelio and Insua at left back and Dossena in reserve (hopefully).

There seems to be good rythm in our play and we are getting better and better. I think we should restrict january purchases and save for a big one in the summer.

[Redspin]

Does anyone else agree with Alan Hansen that Rafa should strengthen the squad in order to win the Premier League? Note this is NOT a pop at Rafa, in him we trust, but feel like this could come back to bite us if we don't strengthen a bit.

No, since you ask

Aurelio, Arbeloa, Skrtel and Torres all about to come back from injury, so it's as good as signing new players

[Kenneth]

But we have not been in this position before, now is the time to focus on this season first and foremost, in previous seasons we have had the "luxury" of preparing for the next one in the middle of a season. There is no position that needs strengthening ASAP. We have good cover in most positions, Carra is playing well at right back and we have Aurelio and Insua at left back and Dossena in reserves (hopefully).

There seems to be good rythm in our play and we are getting better and better. I think we should restrict january purchases and save for a big one in the summer.

Agree really, but a RM would be a good move. Sell Pennant as he wouldn't be missed at all, seeing as he isn't playing.

[The Birdman]

Agree really, but a RM would be a good move. Sell Pennant as he wouldn't be missed at all, seeing as he isn't playing.

I'd go with that, another right sided player wouldn't go amiss.

[MrMichael]

I just think that needs to be a good right sided player rather than just another one.

As in offers something more/different from Kuyt, Benayoun, ElZhar and potentially Babel there.

I'd rather we didn't end up with another version of Pennant basically.

[mersey86]

You could argue that Rafa's January purchases have been our better players- Mascher, Skrtel, Agger. Fingers crossed...

Good point. If we could pull off a Skrtel/Agger-quality deal for an attacking midfielder, then I'd be very happy. But I doubt we'll do much in the market this time.

[dww]

I just think that needs to be a good right sided player rather than just another one.

As in offers something more/different from Kuyt, Benayoun, ElZhar and potentially Babel there.

I'd rather we didn't end up with another version of Pennant basically.

A number of points:

1/ If Babel sorts himself out I think a combination of him and El Zhar provide excellent options on the right. My feeling on Babel are well known but if Rafa has faith in him then I think we are more than adequately provided for.

2/ I think that Pennant had the potential to be an excellent player for us and I don't think he is/was as bad as some make out. I like his style of play but he is an idiot which is a problem under Rafa, especially if you are not a natural worker.

I'm not disagreeing in some senses in that I do think I can envisage an improvement on the right and I think ideally I would want a player to come in who delivers what Babel promises i.e. a pacy attacking player with an eye for goal who can play either side.

I just feel that if I wanted one change right now it would be to have someone added to the squad who allows us to change the way we are attacking teams. When we bought Crouch Rafa identified the need in the PL to have a tall player capable of holding up the ball. I really think this is what the squad lacks (and we don't even seem to have a young player we could take a gamble on). I'd settle for an intelligent forward who could allow us to bung on more attackers a la United in the last 10 minutes of tight games but would prefer a target man.

[The_weatherman]

Agree really, but a RM would be a good move. Sell Pennant as he wouldn't be missed at all, seeing as he isn't playing.

I just think that needs to be a good right sided player rather than just another one.

As in offers something more/different from Kuyt, Benayoun, ElZhar and potentially Babel there.

I'd rather we didn't end up with another version of Pennant basically.

Agree, but I think we won't see a right midfielder until the summer.

[Kenneth]

A number of points:

1/ If Babel sorts himself out I think a combination of him and El Zhar provide excellent options on the right. My feeling on Babel are well known but if Rafa has faith in him then I think we are more than adequately provided for.

2/ I think that Pennant had the potential to be an excellent player for us and I don't think he is/was as bad as some make out. I like his style of play but he is an idiot which is a problem under Rafa, especially if you are not a natural worker.

I'm not disagreeing in some senses in that I do think I can envisage an improvement on the right and I think ideally I would want a player to come in who delivers what Babel promises i.e. a pacy attacking player with an eye for goal who can play either side.

I just feel that if I wanted one change right now it would be to have someone added to the squad who allows us to change the way we are attacking teams. When we bought Crouch Rafa identified the need in the PL to have a tall player capable of holding up the ball. I really think this is what the squad lacks (and we don't even seem to have a young player we could take a gamble on). I'd settle for an intelligent forward who could allow us to bung on more attackers a la United in the last 10 minutes of tight games but would prefer a target man.

I agree, but he just isn't going to get a look-in for whatever reason.

[Exiled_red]

It's about getting the right player at the right price, players we've brought in in previous January transfer windows have tended to be good. If the right player is avaliable then we should sign them if not we shouldn't go chasing someone else just to sign someone.

[powerpack]

Does anyone else agree with Alan Hansen that Rafa should strengthen the squad in order to win the Premier League? Note this is NOT a pop at Rafa, in him we trust, but feel like this could come back to bite us if we don't strengthen a bit.

Just out of curiosity, those of you who said we didn't need to strengthen our squad in Jan, do you still stand by that? I'm not brimming with confidence to be honest

[Tee]

Just out of curiosity, those of you who said we didn't need to strengthen our squad in Jan, do you still stand by that? I'm not brimming with confidence to be honest

I agree with Hansen that the best time to strengthen is when you are doing well. So in that respect we should have brought in at least one quality player at the START of January.

Without Keane as back-up our forward line definitely is weaker than last season IMO. A loan signing like Saviola could have been very useful but we will never know now.

[red g]

Just out of curiosity, those of you who said we didn't need to strengthen our squad in Jan, do you still stand by that? I'm not brimming with confidence to be honest

but would yu have been happy bringing in someone around the lets say 5-7 million mark ie another pennant, bellamy.

Most people believe we have enough squad fillers we need genuine quality ok keane has gone but we want a new 20million man not a make do