What do we need in the January Sales?

[andrew1957]

Having watched virtually all our recent games live I am now of the opinion that we are one decent striker away from being in with a great chance of at least play offs. I would love to see Sir John take a risk and splash out on even a loan until the end of the season. A relatively small outlay on a proven striker could well provide a dividend of millions if we get promoted. Any of Bothroyd, Roberts, DJ Campbell, Sharp, Ched Evans and there are probably others would fit the bill.

However if Kebe goes there would be a dilemma as to whether we relied on the youngsters coming through or bought in a ready made replacement.

Apart from that I think we can muddle through with the current batch of defenders. If Khumalo goes we would need a CB to replace him as just having three (one unproven) would be a big risk. If Khulamo stays (and that will depend upon whether we can get Spurs to palm him off on someone else) then I cannot see us buying or loaning in another CB unless we had real injury issues.

Also I just cannot see us splashing out on a creative CM as we are playing a rigid 4-4-2 these days and we simply could not fit in a Gylfi like player without changing the formation again and Brian will not do that at this stage of the season IMO. We have Legs, Karacan Tabb and Gunnar to play in the defensive midfield two, so we are fairly well covered. If desperate we can also call on Taylor (when his loan expires) or D’Ath.

Apart from that I cannot see us doing much business despite all the rumours.

[Ian Royal]

He might still be the most creative, but he's still struggling to get in games, and I'd imagine the majority of those assists and certainly his goals, that have him in the top 'creative players' come from his earlier games not more recently.

The impact of Mills not being in the side could be interesting though, he certainly added more width down the left which could well have helped Le Fondre find and make the most of space.

Depends on whether you consider Cardiff, Ipswich (A), P'boro, West Ham and Watford as earlier games. It's a fair point on the whole though and he did obviously have a barren patch a little while ago. But I think it's pretty likely if that we improve in the way you (and I) would like, he'll perform better and be involved in more goals.

He looks to me to be the striker with the most quality. Although if things are going his way and he doesn't get much service he doesn't have a lot of impact. But then we expected that, and him to only be a goalscorer anyway, didn't we?

Andrew: I think we could easily fit in a creative midfielder. Play one of Church, Hunt, ALF (preferably ALF) and put the creative midfielder behind them in the hole - obviously has to be the right sort of creative midfielder. Leave the rest of the team as it is with slightly different instructions.

[Mr Angry]

Andrew: I think we could easily fit in a creative midfielder. Play one of Church, Hunt, ALF (preferably ALF) and put the creative midfielder behind them in the hole - obviously has to be the right sort of creative midfielder. Leave the rest of the team as it is with slightly different instructions.

I asked Brian Howard a couple of weeks ago whether the Manager would be prepared to adopt a 451 formation with a single striker, 2 defensive midfielders (Legs and Jem) and a creative midfielder "in the hole" behind the striker (aka - "the Sigi role"); his reply was that yes he would BUT he didn't feel he had the right strikers to be able to play that formation at this time (you need a target man who can hold the ball up - that really isn't ALF's strength), whereas if Shane was still at the club, he would have played exactly that formation.

[Hoop Blah]

I agree that we don't have the right forwards to play 1 up front well, although it doesn't need to be a someone who holds the ball up. They do need to be able to win and keep possession of course but a forward who likes to play with his back to goal and hold up the ball (a Kevin Davies for example) is only one way to do it.

We saw with Nicky Forster that there's more than one way to play it effectively but none of our forwards are good enough in possession, strong enough or quick enough to do it. They're all just a bit too average and a bit too similar unfortunately. I do think that's an error on McDermotts part over his time in charge, he's failed to bring in different options which is something I'd love to see him address this window (perhaps that's what Sheppard is an attempt to do?).

[Mr Angry]

I agree that we don't have the right forwards to play 1 up front well, although it doesn't need to be a someone who holds the ball up. They do need to be able to win and keep possession of course but a forward who likes to play with his back to goal and hold up the ball (a Kevin Davies for example) is only one way to do it.

We saw with Nicky Forster that there's more than one way to play it effectively but none of our forwards are good enough in possession, strong enough or quick enough to do it. They're all just a bit too average and a bit too similar unfortunately. I do think that's an error on McDermotts part over his time in charge, he's failed to bring in different options which is something I'd love to see him address this window (perhaps that's what Sheppard is an attempt to do?).

That was what I said to Brian Howard in the chat we had; I think that McDermott tried to bring in such a player - Manset - but it hasn't worked out for the lad.

[Extended-Phenotype]

Bollocks. Real life isn’t Football Manager. 4-5-1 does not require a target man. In fact, the majority of teams who play 4-5-1 successfully, do not play direct football.

The reason we might avoid 4-5-1 is not the fault of the strikers, it’s the fault of the team. Our long-ball style of play dictates a target-man, not the formation.

If we addressed our style, maybe we’d open up a few more options and maybe our strikers would score more goals.

Unfortunately Jem Karacan is utterly braindead and most of the time we have to bypass midfield to get the ball forward.

Let’s concentrate on what the real problem is instead of reading ‘Formations for Dummies’ and talking piss.

[Hoop Blah]

Bollocks. Real life isn’t Football Manager. 4-5-1 does not require a target man. In fact, the majority of teams who play 4-5-1 successfully, do not play direct football.

You do need a forward who can keep the ball or run in behind and create for themselves whilst also not relying on others to feed off so much.

I don't think we really have that. We also don't give our forwards much of a chance at winning and keeping the ball from the way we play it up to them. I totally agree that our style of football doesn't help us in that respect.

[FiNeRaIn]

Unfortunately Jem Karacan is utterly braindead and most of the time we have to bypass midfield to get the ball forward.

Our midfield is the problem, yet all the fans on the team board think its the strikers. Our midfield doesn't function properly, the passing is the worst i've seen since following reading in 97, they rarely control games and the two wingers often go missing. Strikers need consistent service and if they aren't getting themselves into the positions and are not taking chances then you can point the finger of blame.

[Wycombe Royal]

Unfortunately Jem Karacan is utterly braindead and most of the time we have to bypass midfield to get the ball forward.

Our midfield is the problem, yet all the fans on the team board think its the strikers. Our midfield doesn't function properly, the passing is the worst i've seen since following reading in 97, they rarely control games and the two wingers often go missing. Strikers need consistent service and if they aren't getting themselves into the positions and are not taking chances then you can point the finger of blame.

Nail on head. We play with two central midfielders who are basically "battlers". They are superb at harassing the oppositon and breaking down their attacking moves. But offensively for us they offer very little, except for short balls out to the wide players.

Our wide players this season have been far too inconsistent and rarely provide quality balls into the penalty areas.

[FiNeRaIn]

They are superb at harassing the oppositon and breaking down their attacking moves. But offensively for us they offer very little, except for short balls out to the wide players.

Our wide players this season have been far too inconsistent and rarely provide quality balls into the penalty areas.

To an extent yes, but the balls are often slow to get out to the wing and never into the space in front of them. Its a MASSIVE peeve of mine seeing players pass it to where someone stood...slowly so they have to wait for the ball. By the time the ball gets there the players marking them having ran over and got tight to them. Give Jobi or Jimmy a ball played a few yards in front of them so they can get momentum with running at players and they are at their best. Too often our centre mids are absolutely pedestrian at getting the ball out there and countless times its played in the air in a hoof fashion.

[Extended-Phenotype]

...OR you need a forward to run onto a through-ball, get into the box, spin off the shoulder, take the ball with feet.

ALF can do that pretty well. What he can’t do is receive a random pitch long pass, beating two CB’s and then hold the ball up for two hours while Jem Karacan mulls over moving into the oppositions half.

Keep the ball on the floor more and maybe we have the scope to play something else other than 4-4-2, and watch the worlds least productive midfield.

[Snowball]

...OR you need a forward to run onto a through-ball, get into the box, spin off the shoulder, take the ball with feet.

ALF can do that pretty well. What he can’t do is receive a random pitch long pass, beating two CB’s and then hold the ball up for two hours while Jem Karacan mulls over moving into the oppositions half.

Keep the ball on the floor more and maybe we have the scope to play something else other than 4-4-2, and watch the worlds least productive midfield.

Of course Jem's reticence has nothing to do with team orders

[Mr Angry]

Bollocks. Real life isn’t Football Manager. 4-5-1 does not require a target man. In fact, the majority of teams who play 4-5-1 successfully, do not play direct football.

The reason we might avoid 4-5-1 is not the fault of the strikers, it’s the fault of the team. Our long-ball style of play dictates a target-man, not the formation.

If we addressed our style, maybe we’d open up a few more options and maybe our strikers would score more goals.

Unfortunately Jem Karacan is utterly braindead and most of the time we have to bypass midfield to get the ball forward.

Let’s concentrate on what the real problem is instead of reading ‘Formations for Dummies’ and talking piss.

Maybe you should read the whole of the post before responding........

[Extended-Phenotype]

Bollocks. Real life isn’t Football Manager. 4-5-1 does not require a target man. In fact, the majority of teams who play 4-5-1 successfully, do not play direct football.

The reason we might avoid 4-5-1 is not the fault of the strikers, it’s the fault of the team. Our long-ball style of play dictates a target-man, not the formation.

If we addressed our style, maybe we’d open up a few more options and maybe our strikers would score more goals.

Unfortunately Jem Karacan is utterly braindead and most of the time we have to bypass midfield to get the ball forward.

Let’s concentrate on what the real problem is instead of reading ‘Formations for Dummies’ and talking piss.

Maybe you should read the whole of the post before responding........

Where’s the fun in that? I prefer just steaming in and shouting. It doesn't happen often, but there is nothing quite like being randomly right.

So yeah, stick your target man.

[1871 Royal]

A winger (cross between kebe and little would be perfect)
A cm (cross between leigertwood and gylfi would be perfect)

Sooooo

Ronaldo and Xavi Alonso then ..... perfect. Look forward to that!

Stranger things have happened! ....

FiNeRaIn wrote ... no they haven't.


*cough*

[rfc2001]

Instead of persisting with church, why don't we persist with ALF. He is the better player. Swap hunt and church every other game!!

[Big Ern]

Bollocks. Real life isn’t Football Manager.

Bugger...In which case I know nuffink.

[Bath Hoops]

I doubt that Leicester would let him go but I'd go for Andy King, impressive midfielder who isnt unsimilar to Siggi and always been impressed when he plays. We need someone creative in the midfield as well as chipping in with a few goals, he'd certainly provide both. Maidenhead born lad as well maybe tempted with a move back to Berkshire

[Mr Angry]

With 3 weeks to go before the transfer window opens up, realistically (ie: NOT a 50 goal a season striker!!) what sort of additional players do we need to add to the squad?

I'll start with the following:

1. A creative &/or goal-scoring midfield player.
2. A winger to replace Kebe (who is likely to be moving on)
3. Central defensive cover

With 2 days left, the creative midfielder is in, Kebe now ISN'T going, the 2 new strikers are an added bonus, which just leaves the central defensive cover; I can't imagine (as was suggested to me on Saturday) that Brian would be happy filling in with either Bryn or Harte at the centre of defence, so I'd expect someone coiming in - possibly only on a loan till the end of the play-offs - as cover before the close of the window.

I'd be surprised if we got in any more strikers or midfielders.