SPECULATION - Bridcutt

[paddy20]

Bridcutt is available from Sunderland. Great midfielder and one we were always looking at. Reckon he would be a great acquisition for about £1.5m. Wages may be the issue though

[Coppelled_Streets]

Always liked him but he's supposed to be a local lad with a grudge against the club isn't he? Or was that just a load of bollocks spouted when we were linked with him before he went to S'land?

[RG30]

Whitley boy.

[SCIAG]

Local boy, which will help. Poached by Chelsea at a young age so no idea why he'd have a grudge. He'll know Clarke from Chelsea.

Very good player, an improvement on Norwood, but this is the last position we need to strengthen and he doesn't really fit with Clarke's style of play.

If we're going to spend £1.5m on a player, my preferences would be striker, left wing, attacking midfield, goalkeeper, left back, right back, centre back, right wing, central midfield. Literally the last position to strengthen. We've got five Championship-quality midfielders plus Akpan and youngsters.

[Coppelled_Streets]

Local boy, which will help. Poached by Chelsea at a young age so no idea why he'd have a grudge. He'll know Clarke from Chelsea.

Very good player, an improvement on Norwood, but this is the last position we need to strengthen and he doesn't really fit with Clarke's style of play.

If we're going to spend £1.5m on a player, my preferences would be striker, left wing, attacking midfield, goalkeeper, left back, right back, centre back, right wing, central midfield. Literally the last position to strengthen. We've got five Championship-quality midfielders plus Akpan and youngsters.

We're strong in numbers in that position, but quality? You did mention Akpan.. If we could get the two strikers we allegedly want, then I'd be happy to get Bridcutt too, but only if we can shift Akpan.

[Ian Royal]

We could keep buying midfielders, or we could actually improve the team in areas where it's rather more desperately needed.

[TheBaldOne]

Him and Williams could work pretty well I think. Reckon Quinn may be used more on the left wing as well, so it's a yes for me.

[SCIAG]

Local boy, which will help. Poached by Chelsea at a young age so no idea why he'd have a grudge. He'll know Clarke from Chelsea.

Very good player, an improvement on Norwood, but this is the last position we need to strengthen and he doesn't really fit with Clarke's style of play.

If we're going to spend £1.5m on a player, my preferences would be striker, left wing, attacking midfield, goalkeeper, left back, right back, centre back, right wing, central midfield. Literally the last position to strengthen. We've got five Championship-quality midfielders plus Akpan and youngsters.

We're strong in numbers in that position, but quality? You did mention Akpan.. If we could get the two strikers we allegedly want, then I'd be happy to get Bridcutt too, but only if we can shift Akpan.

If we sign two strikers, then we'll probably be playing 4-4-2. We'd then have Williams, Quinn, Norwood, Kuhl, and Tshibola all probably ahead of Akpan, and competing for two spots. Plenty of quality. I think Bridcutt would be our best midfielder if we signed him, but I don't think he would particularly improve the side.

[Sutekh]

Unless someone leaves we will not be signing any more midfielders.

Club is now looking at 2 strikers and full back cover apparently.

[paddy20]

We could keep buying midfielders, or we could actually improve the team in areas where it's rather more desperately needed.

Don't think we are that strong in midfield. If either Quinn or Williams are injured. Neither Akpan or Norwood have been that good. I think we need another quality midfielder, one more striker and an improved offer for Kelly.

[Ian Royal]

So you're worried about midfield if a player or two gets injured but think McCleary, HRK, Blackman, Fosu and Stacey are fine to cover both wings?

Really?

[RustyRoyal]

If we get left back cover then Obita could be pushed up to the left wing for cover and I'm sure Samuel could do a job in a more advanced position out on the right. Besides we don't know how good this Semedo kid is.

Imo wingers are one of the less urgent areas of weakness in our squad and I'd be more worried about an injury crisis in the middle.

Yes from me.

[Nameless]

If half a dozen players aren't enough to cover 2 midfield places then are 4 players enough to cover 2 centre back places ?
If we had 3 or 4 midfielders injured at once then the loan system would come into play. I think adding a 7th central midfielder would be belt, braces and another belt when in other positions only a length of twine covers our embarrassment

[The Rouge]

So you're worried about midfield if a player or two gets injured but think McCleary, HRK, Blackman, Fosu and Stacey are fine to cover both wings?

Really?

I thought Quinn often plays left mid (or right) rather than centre - have I got that wrong?

[Nameless]

There's a world of difference between playing on the left side of midfield and being a left winger

[The Rouge]

Ah OK, so you insist on the tactics of playing 2 out and out wingers - I'll let Steve Clarke know.

[Nameless]

It's been good for us historically !

But I'd just rather if we are using wingers we don't fiddle around with players who just don't do that job.

[Ian Royal]

So you're worried about midfield if a player or two gets injured but think McCleary, HRK, Blackman, Fosu and Stacey are fine to cover both wings?

Really?

I thought Quinn often plays left mid (or right) rather than centre - have I got that wrong?

I believe he's central but can play left sided. From what I've seen of our play in pre-season (highlights) that's not going to suit our attacking aims.