I think it's absolutely right to say now is our best chance to move on. I think Levy needs to balance this against his ever constant quest to do good business.

Harry is desperate for a striker - and it looks like we might struggle to get one of the top-top ones....

I think we should sell Pav, get Berbatov and Bellamy in.

They are realistic signings that would come here - give us 2 pace options, and Berbatov will hit it off with Bellamy anyway.

Imagine Defoe, Bellamy and Berbatov upfront!

Berbatov back would be great... but has there been even a sniff of this as a rumour?

Berbatov would 'realistically' want to come to us? Is that the same Berbatov who basically went on strike instead of play for us exactly 2 years ago because he was so desperate to leave?

We can improve within our wage and financial structure - it's not as if it's stingy or capped at uncompetitive rates. We've shown that we can improve on the field while running a decent financial show off it - the two aren't mutually exclusive. In fact, it's easier to argue that success on the field contributes enormously to the financial side of things. Bringing in someone above the wage cap would relinquish the team structure under which all current players were signed, and the only way to rebound from that would be to raise everyones rate...

We're at a point now where the pool of players we might want to sign is small because we've already got so much quality and not many unfilled positions/roles. We even have top class back-up in most positions. Our young players are also likely to improve, therefore moving onwards and upwards is potentially built-in as long as we can keep the core together.

So decent players who are better than we already have, not already on astronomical and unsustainable wages, and likely to sign for us are few and far between. Thankfully, that pool of potential signings matches our need - we're at the enviable point of needing to only pick up one big or two top class players per window.

But that doesn't mean we have to rip up the wage structure to get Drogba or Torres. There are players like Suarez who'd come with a big price tag but moderate wages (like Modric). We've shown a willingness to pay top dollar on transfer fees before and there's no evidence to suggest that wouldn't continue. Suarez may not be the answer, but he's the type of player we could realistically aim for and who could be the key to the next step.

I'd also be in favor of Bellamy because of the quality he provides as the left-sided attacker, freeing Bale to be the left-back and Modric to move centrally. Other than that, I'm happy enough with what we've got. I think right-back is the only other relatively weak area, but think Kaboul could make it as a progressive full back with pace.

I'd argue for keeping Pav and releasing Keane. And I agree on trying to get Bellamy in because he'd fill the Keane opening but also offers a left-sided attacking option we could benefit from. That would leave room for a marquee striker (which immediately discounts Raul).

Berbatov won't leave United and I suspect he and Ferguson are determined to prove the doubters wrong. I expect Berba and Nani to have big seasons up there - Berbatov has had a year to settle in under Rooney's shadow while Phelan mentioned the penny had dropped for Nani and expected him to emerge fully from Ronaldo's shadow.

Other than Suarez at Ajax (and Bellamy), I'm struggling to pick a potential signing better than what we've got but realistic in terms of wages and willingness to come to us. Is Asamoah Gyan any good at club level. He impressed me at the world cup as a lone striker who led the line and had a good finish. But you'd be wary of buying based on a world cup...and ending up with the likes of Guivarc'h & El-Hadji Diouf.

Like the thought's and the public statements from Harry here, mainly that this is our chance and we really have a chance. Will be good enthusiasm and motivation for the lad's but will of course mean weaker teams will try to play to they're top level against us as they know we mean business etc.

Suprised so many people feel we are weak at RB when Corluka is very secure in my eyes, he can be dodgy but he is one of the later players in the squad I would look to replace. RB backup in Kaboul, Naughton etc is fine, I feel secure with RB for sure. LB is my concern after securing a top prolific striker. Benny A&E saying that he has no love for football and that it is just a job doesn't sit well for me. Of course the LB concern is based around Bale and whether or not he will remain as a LM this season and on or revert back to LB.

I'm happy with Cudicini as the backup keeper but it appear's we are keen to sign a rival / backup for Gomes in what looks like Pletikosa.
But for me a top striker such as Dzeko or Suarez and I could happily not see any other positions strengthened.

So he's secure but also dodgy?! Based on watching most of his games last season, he's a crap passer of the ball, can't cross (won't cross), can't run properly (very flat footed) and hasn't got a decent footballing brain. Apart from that he's great!

Agree with you Dan RB looks fine to me. Striker, attacking left mid or a goal scoring midfielder and a class cb. This would give us a great chance to secure our place among the elite.
We already have a squad who can challenge for fourth now we need a squad who can challenge for 1st.

I wouldn't worry about the flanks at all. Concentrate all power on the forwards. We do have problems with that, of course, as Suarez would really be an attempted Defoe upgrade, when most of the fans want a Crouch/Pav upgrade.

I'm very satisfied with the squad thus far, but if he wants to built in with 3 players and not upset the balance please hurry Harry

I'm not a big Corluka fan, he's ok but I hope Kaboul replaces him at RB for most games

I'm not happy with Cudicini as back up for Gomes so think we need another GK, but accept this will be difficult

we need another striker for sure - and that striker should have a profile that allows us to play the 'lone striker' option - in whatever the preferred formation is

I'd also like another left sided player

so ideally three players in for me (plus sandro)

I couldn't disagree with you more. For a player that most think is slow he bosses most left wingers, meaning he must have a footballing brain.

He doesn't get forward as much when Lennon is on the pitch, which is a good thing, but he does cross. He also overlaps very well. That crap passer bit in your reply, well, it's just wrong.

What absolute rubbish.

I reckon Vedran Corluka is the Peter Crouch of the defenders. Because he doesn't fit people's preconceived notions of what makes a good fullback [striker], they blind themselves to how effective he is.

Solid defender with great positional sense and ball control. Brilliant working relationship with Lennon, who always looks at his most comfortable when he has Corluka behind him. Not quite as slow as he looks, partly because he's extremely tall for a fullback and has a long stride. The only time I'd want to drop Corluka to the bench is when we can't field a really quick winger in front of him.

We have no need for any more right backs. Let's spend money only where we have a genuine weak spot in the squad, which basically means a tall, physical striker who can score goals. Other than that, let's not disrupt the team.

Haha! Your crazy.....haha!

Ok I'm sorry but that is such crap - he doesn't have to think about football 24/7 to be a proper pro, which he most certainly is. He was Cameroon's best player at the world cup as well. He is our top LB and despite Bale's hurricane of a season's end it's BAE that I would like to see at LB, much more solid as a defender.
So LB is just dandy for me.

A match against Villa a couple of seasons ago. Chimbonda was playing at RB probably to counter against the pace of A.Young. Young tore him to pieces for half an hour. Corluka was brought on and that was the last we saw of Young for the rest of the game.

The perception is that Corluka is not quick. Even if that is so he has enough about his game to compensate.

I think that was Zokora.