All I want for 'January' is...

[Dan Ashcroft]

1) Llorente, Benzema or Gomez

2) Diarra

3) The full resurrection of the L'oreal Jesus

4) 6 points from Villa and Newcastle

 

[llamafarmer]

A number 9. A bloody good one

 

[Dan Ashcroft]

I'll be disappointed if we sign Parker or Young.

Would be like writing to Santa for an Xbox 360 and unwrapping an old PC that only runs Windows 95.

 

[bubble07]

see sig

 

[DJS]

see sig

Hutton > Johnson.

 

[ShelfSide18]

We need a top striker, that to everyone is quite clear, someone who matches quality with bollocks and determination that scores enough goals and providing a foil for our awesome forward line in Bale/Modric/Lennon/VDV/Kranjcar.

Unfortunately, whilst Crouch is the best striker we have to get the best out of those players, he just doesn't have the all round quality and goal threat that we really need in order to stay at the top table, despite being the most determined, hard working striker we have who sees the ball a vast amount more than the others.

Pavs is an enigma, but as much as he sometimes finds that moment of genuine quality he just flatters to deceive, and isn't wired properly upstairs to be a consistent performer for us. It's disappointing, because if he had the determination and mindset of Crouchy, we'd have a real top player on our hands.

Defoe for me just isn't good enough, and I don't like saying that because I love his love for the club, and think he's got a great attitude. But we can't keep carrying a guy who is lucky if he touches the ball more than 10 times a match and offers us very little to the team dynamic - he might be our best goalscorer, but top teams need strikers who contribute to the team scoring more goals, and Defoe just doesn't do this. He also has a questionable big match temperament, and rarely ever finds the net away from WHL. It's a shame for me to write this, but for me he just isn't the player he is often touted as being.

So yeah, a top striker and I'd be made up, and I guess we'll be seeing the end of Keano, O Hara and possibly Bentley, maybe GDS.

 

[Davo99]

CB - Woodgate retirement or Bassong - leaving King, Gallas, Dawson, Kaboul, Woodgate/Bassong ... we can't keep 6 CBs happy

This is nonsense.

Gallas, King and Woodgate haven't got long. Selling Bassong would be a massive mistake.

 

[gregga]

What would you like to see happen in the January transfer window?
(Couldn't see a thread on this already, but if there is please feel free to move/delete this)

In:

CM - Diarra or Parker - we can't always play Modric and Huddlestone away from home, need a more combative option

Diarra - younger with potential to be (if not already) a better player than Parker, but questions about availability, high wages a concern too

Parker - expensive but more likely available, add to fighting (team) spirit with his never die attitude, but little sell on value for Levy

CF - Benzema or Carroll - our forward line is currently not of the same quality in comparison to our rivals, too inconsistent, especially considering the amount of chances we create

Benzema - unfortunately showing his true quality at Real Madrid and with Higuain injured, seems unlikely especially considering wage demands and competition from other more established Champions League teams

Carroll - reported in the papers today, seems like a shrewd Harry signing, meeting Levy's requirements being English, young, not on big wages, giving him sell on value. Has the potential to be world class in my opinion, both a goalscorer and link up play both in the air, but also on the floor, only concern would be the bright lights of London and his reputation, cliched but if anyone can, Harry can.

(LB - experienced cover for Assou-Ekotto ... as I don't want Bale playing at LB) ... Any ideas?

Out:

O'Hara - unfortunately not good enough for the first team

Dos Santos - time to sell him on and recoup some of his transfer fee

Keane - self explanatory

More likely in the summer rather than January:

Palacios - if a new tough tackling CM is bought in... who can pass, then his days are surely numbered (especially with the emergence of Sandro)

Pavlyuchenko - we don't need 4 strikers + Van Der Vaart, Harry won't sell Crouch as he "gives us another option" or Defoe

Bentley - lack of opportunity and Levy would like to sell him whilst he still retains some of his value - replaced by Ashley Young (seems to have been a target for a long time now, still hasn't signed a new contract ... could even happen in January)

CB - Woodgate retirement or Bassong - leaving King, Gallas, Dawson, Kaboul, Woodgate/Bassong ... we can't keep 6 CBs happy

I don't think we need a cm - we shouldn't sell O'Hara as he is good enough back-up along with Sandro.

Wilson deserves more time and has looked better in the last couple of games.

Keane and GDS need to go, that's a given. We simply have to buy a quality striker this January otherwise we can kiss 4th goodbye. Any one of Benzema/Llorente/Suarez/Lukaku will do for me. Carroll is more of a risk but I would still be pleased if we signed him.

 

[sunnydelight786]

For us to qualify for the CL again.....

If Santa is being even more generous then a top class striker (highly unlikely in Jan), a LB to rival Disco Benny and a fit Ledley King....!!!

 

[Darrkespur]

It's fairly obvious what we need and I'll go for the same - a big striker who can hold the ball up AND score, as that's something that we lack, apart from Pav about three minutes per match. Most of the names mentioned on here would be good, from Llorente, Benzema and Lukaku to Carroll and Suarez. I don't actually think Carroll would be that much of a step down from those players IF he can keep playing the way he has been this season. He's been Drogba-like unstoppable in several of the games I've seen him in. Pretty much every part of his game is an upgrade on Crouch, and as Crouch has been first choice for a lot of the season, that makes him a massive upgrade for the team as a whole.

We need someone up front with the strength and guile to hold the ball up when needed, but also to score a lot more of the chances our midfield creates.

On the out front, Keane has to go, and I wouldn't be averse to selling Crouch if we got someone in the above bracket in instead. Crouch is useful but limited, and we really need someone with more of an all-round game. Defoe and Pav would be very useful alongside such a striker when the game calls for it, but ideally we want someone who will be able to play ahead of VDV in a 451.

Pienaar for Krancjar would give us more balance in midfield, and if we sell Bentley I wouldn't be surprised to see a young Croatian appear.

 

[nedley]

In

Mario Gomez, Lassana Diarra and David Beckham

Out

Keane, D Santos, Bentley and O'Hara

 

[rabbikeane]

Bongani Khumalo already signed
Wilson Palacios <> Charles N'Zogbia swap
Sign Lassana Diarra
Sign Luc Castaignos
Call back Danny Rose and coach him in fullback position
Sell Naughton, O'Hara, Keane

 

[edson]

The way we play Stefan Kiessling would be a good buy.

 

[walworthyid]

People wanting to sell Palacios need to leave the pipe alone.......

Outs:
Keane, Bentley, O'Hara, GDS, Crouch (if a replacement could be found), Pav (if we get a top quality replacement)

Ins:
Parker/Diarra, proper striker

In reality I believe that we are that close to a serious title challenge. We are not really weak in any department apart from striker and having an away option that gives greater defensive cover without too much loss in creativity.

 

[Davo99]

Bongani Khumalo already signed
Wilson Palacios <> Charles N'Zogbia swap
Sign Lassana Diarra
Sign Luc Castaignos
Call back Danny Rose and coach him in fullback position
Sell Naughton, O'Hara, Keane

:shrug:

 

[LukaKranjcar]

Anyone else reckon Santa Cruz could be a decent enough signing, providing Citeh play ball?

 

[Kendall]

Sell - O'Hara, Bentley, Keane, Giovani, Palacios, Crouch

Buy - Carroll or Dzeko, Diarra & a left back.

 

[tommyt]

February.

:grin:

 

[brett.spurs]

Why does everyone want a left back? We already have 2 of the best in the league :shrug:

 

[dontcallme]

Why does everyone want a left back? We already have 2 of the best in the league :shrug:

I guess people want Bale to stay as a winger and not change his role based on BAE's availability.

I don't want much movement in January.

Sell Keane and look for a new striker.

Benzema, Carroll or Dzeko will be fine.