I don't want 5 or 6 signings in January...

[Morse]

...just one would be nice.

 

The thing is, we have seen it time and time again at other clubs and also with ours. A big influx of players always rocks the boat and its immediate effect can be very unsettling.

 

We have hit a rich vein of form in the Premiership and we are doing fine in Europe, so let's concentrate on winning matches and accumulating players to fit in with Rafas long term vision for the club.

 

Arsenal haven't bought, Manure may only purchase one. Let Charlton and West Ham panic buy and see what happens.

 

Lucas Neill? Would have been fine but never mind.

Gareth Bale? Yes please, but probably go to Spurs or Mancs.

Mascherano? Would be nice but who will be dropped? Momo is coming back too...is he needed? Back-up more likely.

 

Perhaps we need another striker...Villa in the summer!

[sean]

I don't want too many signings in the Summer as I feel that's why we started poorly this term.

[Stevie H]

I don't want too many signings in the Summer as I feel that's why we started poorly this term.

 

is the right answer. mancs added one midfielder and hit the ground running.

[matty]

I don't want too many signings in the Summer as I feel that's why we started poorly this term.

 

 

There's an echo in here.

 

One very good signing now, one very good signing in Summer.

[Cobs]

I don't want too many signings in the Summer as I feel that's why we started poorly this term.

don't think it had anything to do with it myself

 

 

the form of established players was our problem, not the newbies.

[Gravy]

5 or 6 signings???? I wouldn't worry about that too much if I were you. It's looking doubtful for 1.

[impware]

I know what you mean about unsettling the team and I worried at the start of the season it might take us a couple of months to integrate the new players.

 

What's interesting is that while it looks like we might only bring in 1 first teamer (Mascherano - Fifa permitting) the Rafalution of the youngsters is proceeding quickly. The title of the post got me thinking of the number of youngsters coming in and it's adding up quickly to 5 or 6; Insua, Leto, Brouwer, Ajdarevic, Padelli, with possibly Andras Simon too.

 

Trying to integrate that lot, our reserves will have no chance of winning a game between now and summer

[Leo No.8]

I agree, I'd like to see Mascherano come in during this window just because I think he's a fantastic footballer who could improve us, then I'd like to see two top class players brought in during the summer to compete for the first team, no more. I'm sure a couple of younger prospects will be signed as well, Leto already being one to arrive then and Insua starting the settling in process now.

 

I'd definitely like to see us bring in Alves as one of those key signings who would provide an option at both right back and right midfield. He really makes sense not only because Rafa likes him and his form has been superb this season, but because we'd have cover for Finnan and an alternative to Pennant who has blown hot and cold. He'd also function well on the right of the 3-4-3 Rafa has used succesfully against lesser opposition and I feel has a game suited to England.

 

The other I'm not sure. Up front I'm happy with Kuyt, Bellamy and Crouch as they are all good players who give us different options. Robbie will probably be off in the summer, so if we want 4 strikers we may need one more. Brouwer may have been signed with this in mind, or Lindfield may improve enough to have some involvement with the first team - I don't think you can keep four senior strikers happy, so if we splashed out on someone like Villa I'd expect one of the others to leave - probably Crouch.

 

In defence Aurelio is starting to look like he may have a future here at left-back rotating with Riise, and if Alves comes in we have two top quality right-backs, plus I'd like to see Sami stay another season as an alternative to Agger and Carragher who have now become first choices, so then again I feel we're still well covered.

 

Kewell's contuning injury problems and the fact that Gonzalez is till raw mean a brilliant left winger would probably have the biggest effect on the side overall but there just aren't many of them around. I couldn't even think of one who is available in all honesty. It was hard enough thinking of three great left wingers in the world let alone one we could actually get...

[Knox_Harrington]

One signing in the summer is a very noble aim but we're going to need a cover right back, a ball carrier left or right, possibly a left mid as well depending on Kewell's fitness and one forward assuming Crouch stays and two if he doesn't.

 

While Alves can tick two of those boxes even allowing for him still points to two or three signings.

[beejay]

Having Kewell & Sissoko back will be like having 2 big signings.

 

We have brought in several kids and it would be great if 1 or 2 of these (or Hammill, Anderson, Lingfield) is in 1st team contention by the start of next season.

 

Mascherano, full back cover and a ball carrying midfielder would do us I reckon. Maybe another striker if Rafa decides Robbie can't go on for another season.

[Leo No.8]

One signing in the summer is a very noble aim but we're going to need a cover right back, a ball carrier left or right, possibly a left mid as well depending on Kewell's fitness and one forward assuming Crouch stays and two if he doesn't.

 

While Alves can tick two of those boxes even allowing for him still points to two or three signings.

 

See the way Knox said exactly what I did in about a tenth of the words....

[Magic8Ball]

I agree, I'd like to see Mascherano come in during this window just because I think he's a fantastic footballer who could improve us, then I'd like to see two top class players brought in during the summer to compete for the first team, no more. I'm sure a couple of younger prospects will be signed as well, Leto already being one to arrive then and Insua starting the settling in process now.

 

I'd definitely like to see us bring in Alves as one of those key signings who would provide an option at both right back and right midfield. He really makes sense not only because Rafa likes him and his form has been superb this season, but because we'd have cover for Finnan and an alternative to Pennant who has blown hot and cold. He'd also function well on the right of the 3-4-3 Rafa has used succesfully against lesser opposition and I feel has a game suited to England.

 

The other I'm not sure. Up front I'm happy with Kuyt, Bellamy and Crouch as they are all good players who give us different options. Robbie will probably be off in the summer, so if we want 4 strikers we may need one more. Brouwer may have been signed with this in mind, or Lindfield may improve enough to have some involvement with the first team - I don't think you can keep four senior strikers happy, so if we splashed out on someone like Villa I'd expect one of the others to leave - probably Crouch.

 

In defence Aurelio is starting to look like he may have a future here at left-back rotating with Riise, and if Alves comes in we have two top quality right-backs, plus I'd like to see Sami stay another season as an alternative to Agger and Carragher who have now become first choices, so then again I feel we're still well covered.

 

Kewell's contuning injury problems and the fact that Gonzalez is till raw mean a brilliant left winger would probably have the biggest effect on the side overall but there just aren't many of them around. I couldn't even think of one who is available in all honesty. It was hard enough thinking of three great left wingers in the world let alone one we could actually get...

 

I know its not likely the type of players I would like before next season starts

 

Mascherano, Poulsen, Alves and a RB

 

It would allow us to play an attacking 433 or a defensive 451 with every combination in between - Frankly I think it would just about make use unstoppable

[Knox_Harrington]

Mascherano, Poulsen, Alves and a RB

You want us to buy two defensive centre mids when we already have Alonso (and to a certain extent Sissoko) and a lad who can play both right mid and right back as well as another right back?

[sean]

You want us to buy two defensive centre mids when we already have Alonso (and to a certain extent Sissoko) and a lad who can play both right mid and right back as well as another right back?

 

 

Feck it, buy 'em all, we're minted.

[Stevie H]

Feck it, buy 'em all, we're minted.

no ambition. we're so loaded we could clone blinker.

[yellow jumper]

alves can't come without pennant going, particularily if we get mascherano.

 

we've got plenty of options down the left even accounting for the sale of warnock, and aurelio/riise looked handy in tandem against chelsea, do think there's still some question marks over both starting positions down that flank though.

[jimmylibel]

One signing in the summer is a very noble aim but we're going to need a cover right back, a ball carrier left or right, possibly a left mid as well depending on Kewell's fitness and one forward assuming Crouch stays and two if he doesn't.

 

While Alves can tick two of those boxes even allowing for him still points to two or three signings.

 

Agree with all that and am already wondering who can fit into those slots.

[Eskimo]

Still think we are 3-4 players short and when I say that I don't mean 3-4 stoopidly priced players i.e. £20m+, although 1 or 2 would be nice I'd just like to see Rafa being able to go that extra mile, when needed, and sign players in the 10m to 15m range rather than having to shop around in the lower reaches, Alves in the summer was a classic example.

 

Also I agree with Cobs it wasn't so much the new players that were to blame for our poor start but a mixture of poor form shown from our senior established players coupled with the odd injury here and there.

[Kahnee]

5 or 6 signings???? I wouldn't worry about that too much if I were you. It's looking doubtful for 1.

 

So that's an entire first XI on its way in then

[Rory Fitzgerald]

I don't want too many signings in the Summer as I feel that's why we started poorly this term.

 

Sean, I was thinking about this one. The members that were added were:

 

Kuyt and Bellamy replaced Morientes and Ciise

 

Agger came in last January but has been playing more since the Summer

 

Pennant and Gonzalez have come in because we had no right side option and Kewell was injury prone whilst Garcia never offered Rafa a true left winger option if he was looking for pace on that side.

 

Given that I feel that all the additions were quite necessary in the Summer. I know exactly where you are comming from and my question would be this

 

- Do we need any critical additions to the squad in the Summer ??

 

If not, then we can go ahead as the Mancs did

[sean]

no ambition. we're so loaded we could clone blinker.

 

 

Cheap imitations of Regi? jesus man.

[pipnasty]

IF Rafa believes that Gonzalez is going to be our first choice left sided player, then at this stage in his development, I think there may be problems with bringing in anything other than back-up for him. We have seen what happened to Le Tallec and Pongolle and it could be argued that part of the problem with them is that they weren't played enough and this was part of the reason why their confidence seemed shot to pieces sometimes. I can't see Kewell staying due to his injury problems over the past few years but a stay fit Harry would be perfect for us.

 

Rafa has shown faith in both Gonzalez and Pennant and played them into form where a lesser manager may have bowed to pressure and dropped them.

 

So, for me, we are looking at cover for left midfield, another striker (Crouch to leave) and cover for right back and , depending on how Aurelio plays in the coming months, possibly a new left back.

[Poolfrog]

...just one would be nice.

 

The thing is, we have seen it time and time again at other clubs and also with ours. A big influx of players always rocks the boat and its immediate effect can be very unsettling.

 

We have hit a rich vein of form in the Premiership and we are doing fine in Europe, so let's concentrate on winning matches and accumulating players to fit in with Rafas long term vision for the club.

 

Arsenal haven't bought, Manure may only purchase one. Let Charlton and West Ham panic buy and see what happens.

 

Lucas Neill? Would have been fine but never mind.

Gareth Bale? Yes please, but probably go to Spurs or Mancs.

Mascherano? Would be nice but who will be dropped? Momo is coming back too...is he needed? Back-up more likely.

 

Perhaps we need another striker...Villa in the summer!

You're not going to get them anyway. Rafa has said categorically - as have the other top managers - that he won't be making big signings. All the top players are cup-tied for Europe, so all the big clubs do their main business in the summer

[Gilps]

One signing in the summer is a very noble aim but we're going to need a cover right back, a ball carrier left or right, possibly a left mid as well depending on Kewell's fitness and one forward assuming Crouch stays and two if he doesn't.

 

While Alves can tick two of those boxes even allowing for him still points to two or three signings.

 

We'll need all those and potentially a centre half if Sami decides he wants off, hich that Finnish interview suggests is not entirely beyond the realms of possibility.

 

If Crouch was to go along with Fowler, do you think there's any chance of one big signing up front and taking back Sinama as the 4th choice (assuming he'd accept it)?

[Stevie H]

We'll need all those and potentially a centre half if Sami decides he wants off, hich that Finnish interview suggests is not entirely beyond the realms of possibility.

 

If Crouch was to go along with Fowler, do you think there's any chance of one big signing up front and taking back Sinama as the 4th choice (assuming he'd accept it)?

i don't think rafa rates sinama. think he's on loan for shop window, not first XI experience.