The 4 needed in January

[linkenholtroyal]

I was just reading an article by JLow on the results of his survey on who reading should sign in January. It was concluded that the supporters wanted a wide player, Centre Back Cover and LB cover. Also with our striker issues maybe someone who can make an impact in that position aswell is something that was not needed at that point.
So how d you do it with no money and a limited amount of wages the option is still free transfers and Loans realistically with maybe one player costing a fee.
So for each of the above I would go
Wide Player - Andre Green (19 year old pacey winger will run at defences ex Aston Villa) Free Transfer
Centre Back cover - Jozo Simunovic (26 year old centre back ex Celtic) Free Transfer
LB cover - Harry Pickering (21 yr old pacey LB can cross currently Crewe) circa 1 million
CF cover - Adama Diomande (30 yr old striker last played in MLS ex Hull. a bit of a brute and can hold the ball up for support) Free transfer 6 month contract with chance of extension anyone?

But more important than all of this is sorting out the contracts of Mcintyre, Richards and Southwood to lose any of these for nothing at the end of the season would be a tragedy. they are the future of the club if kept.

[John Smith]

We need a new goalkeeper and urgently! The rest can wait.

[Hendo]

We need a new goalkeeper and urgently! The rest can wait.

Why?

a) there isn't anything wrong with Rafael, he is a fine 'keeper for this level
b) if we did want to bin off Rafael, Southwood should be given a shot before we get a new 'keeper in
c) it could be worse, we could have that clown Samba that Forest have

[South Coast Royal]

I was just reading an article by JLow on the results of his survey on who reading should sign in January. It was concluded that the supporters wanted a wide player, Centre Back Cover and LB cover. Also with our striker issues maybe someone who can make an impact in that position aswell is something that was not needed at that point.
So how d you do it with no money and a limited amount of wages the option is still free transfers and Loans realistically with maybe one player costing a fee.
So for each of the above I would go
Wide Player - Andre Green (19 year old pacey winger will run at defences ex Aston Villa) Free Transfer
Centre Back cover - Jozo Simunovic (26 year old centre back ex Celtic) Free Transfer
LB cover - Harry Pickering (21 yr old pacey LB can cross currently Crewe) circa 1 million
CF cover - Adama Diomande (30 yr old striker last played in MLS ex Hull. a bit of a brute and can hold the ball up for support) Free transfer 6 month contract with chance of extension anyone?

But more important than all of this is sorting out the contracts of Mcintyre, Richards and Southwood to lose any of these for nothing at the end of the season would be a tragedy. they are the future of the club if kept.

Good bit of research and suggestions there Linkenholt.
Middlesboro have shown by taking Whatmore off the scrap heap that money does not have to be the over-riding issue and that there are players out there capable of doing a job.

I like the idea of a lump of a central striker, especially with Joao's injury record, as the system wouldn't have to change whereas at the moment there is just the option of a completely different player in Baldock.

[URZZZZ]

Norwood wasn't in the squad for United last game - not going to happen but would be a different player to Laurent and Rinomhota and perhaps a different option against teams that play deep

As mentioned before, could be an idea to sign 1/2 wingers as another dimension to the game, heck I'd even take Popa back

Difficult one up top as Joao always seems susceptible to picking up knocks and Puscas has been out a while. I think Baldock's work external to the pitch is valuable but not sure that's enough to justify what's probably a relatively higher wage so possibly look at another striker

[linkenholtroyal]

I was just reading an article by JLow on the results of his survey on who reading should sign in January. It was concluded that the supporters wanted a wide player, Centre Back Cover and LB cover. Also with our striker issues maybe someone who can make an impact in that position aswell is something that was not needed at that point.
So how d you do it with no money and a limited amount of wages the option is still free transfers and Loans realistically with maybe one player costing a fee.
So for each of the above I would go
Wide Player - Andre Green (19 year old pacey winger will run at defences ex Aston Villa) Free Transfer
Centre Back cover - Jozo Simunovic (26 year old centre back ex Celtic) Free Transfer
LB cover - Harry Pickering (21 yr old pacey LB can cross currently Crewe) circa 1 million
CF cover - Adama Diomande (30 yr old striker last played in MLS ex Hull. a bit of a brute and can hold the ball up for support) Free transfer 6 month contract with chance of extension anyone?

But more important than all of this is sorting out the contracts of Mcintyre, Richards and Southwood to lose any of these for nothing at the end of the season would be a tragedy. they are the future of the club if kept.

Good bit of research and suggestions there Linkenholt.
Middlesboro have shown by taking Whatmore off the scrap heap that money does not have to be the over-riding issue and that there are players out there capable of doing a job.

I like the idea of a lump of a central striker, especially with Joao's injury record, as the system wouldn't have to change whereas at the moment there is just the option of a completely different player in Baldock.

Thanks South Coast I was thinking the Jason Roberts effect, an aging player who could do a job and would take a 6 month punt, Diomande fits the mould the club plays in to hold the ball up and bring the style players into play. I hope we don't spend stupid money on another striker when we have many options already and not address other areas.

[WoodleyRoyal]

dont think we need cb cover personally.

Moore
Morrison
Gibson
Holmes
Mcintyre

[Hound]

We've looked at Piggott at AFC W before, and I think he'd be worth a look again. Not sure his contract situation atm though. A Joao-light is probably our priority I think.

IF Semedo is being viewed as an attacking player, then we might need to do something to cover Rino/Laurent

I'm not that bothered about bringing anyone in specifically - I think we'll just have to make a call come January on the ability of the players fitness wise to see us through the rest of the season. Ie, what extent can we rely on Swift, Joao, Meite, Puscas etc to get through the rest of the season.

[Pepe the Horseman]

dont think we need cb cover personally.

Moore
Morrison
Gibson
Holmes
Mcintyre

Agreed. Would say we need LB cover, but worth seeing how Gibson gets on in the next few weeks.

[Sutekh]

Priority has to be a Joao “clone” and a pacey direct winger.

[Hound]

'pacey winger' Riquelme has managed a grand total of 112 mins this season. Maybe we can bring him back

[URZZZZ]

'pacey winger' Riquelme has managed a grand total of 112 mins this season. Maybe we can bring him back

Just because it's not working for him there doesn't mean he wouldn't have worked out here tbf

Stanislas, Brooks and Danjuma have all had decent seasons, found it difficult to get in and as someone who's young and not used to the division, he clearly needs more of a sustained run, something he may have been afforded here given Meite's, Swift's and Ejaria's various injuries

[South Coast Royal]

'pacey winger' Riquelme has managed a grand total of 112 mins this season. Maybe we can bring him back

As URRRZZ said, they do have some fair options already.

He came on for 20 minutes in their 5-0 thrashing of Huddersfield along with another winger who is still at school and is just 16 (memories of Lawrie Sanchez).
Interesting, having discussed elsewhere about how many Academy players were in the squad the other day for us-Bournemouth had 6 on Saturday.

It does feel that, apart from some of the big clubs, most other clubs are focusing on giving their home-growns more of a chance.

[skipper]

How is Daniel Sturridge a free transfer?

I mean... at 31, he could probably do a job in the Chump... and must be looking for a place to play... surely he'd come for a relatively small pay packet? (Compared to what he's normally on)

[Hound]

'pacey winger' Riquelme has managed a grand total of 112 mins this season. Maybe we can bring him back

Just because it's not working for him there doesn't mean he wouldn't have worked out here tbf

Stanislas, Brooks and Danjuma have all had decent seasons, found it difficult to get in and as someone who's young and not used to the division, he clearly needs more of a sustained run, something he may have been afforded here given Meite's, Swift's and Ejaria's various injuries

I was being serious. Pauno obvs fancied him

and yes reading back, it looks like i was being sarcastic

[Zip]

dont think we need cb cover personally.

Moore
Morrison
Gibson
Holmes
Mcintyre

Agreed.

[WoodleyRoyal]

How is Daniel Sturridge a free transfer?

I mean... at 31, he could probably do a job in the Chump... and must be looking for a place to play... surely he'd come for a relatively small pay packet? (Compared to what he's normally on)

Good shout, what’s his injury record like over the last couple of years though? I forgot he even still existed!! Must be a reason no one else has taken him.

[Pepe the Horseman]

How is Daniel Sturridge a free transfer?

I mean... at 31, he could probably do a job in the Chump... and must be looking for a place to play... surely he'd come for a relatively small pay packet? (Compared to what he's normally on)

Good shout, what’s his injury record like over the last couple of years though? I forgot he even still existed!! Must be a reason no one else has taken him.

Wages, attitude, injuries I expect. Same as Wilshire.

[John Smith]

We need a new goalkeeper and urgently! The rest can wait.

Why?

a) there isn't anything wrong with Rafael, he is a fine 'keeper for this level
b) if we did want to bin off Rafael, Southwood should be given a shot before we get a new 'keeper in
c) it could be worse, we could have that clown Samba that Forest have

There’s a lot wrong with Rafael, he’s poor and was totally at fault for our defeats vs. Coventry and Birmingham.

Southwood could be given a chance but we can do better with a proven keeper.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Sydney van Hooijdonk