who needs six new players now? eh? eh?

[mendesstormer]

So we need (and moreover we're actively chasing??) a CB, LB, RB, CM, LM, oh and a striker and perhaps a goalkeeper. Yah di yah di yah... Endless speculation in the media and by us (the fans) that we need this player and that player to come in and shore up this struggling team. Now who, after last night, when we 'destroyed' (Sky commentator's words, not mine) supposedly one of the best teams in Europe - OK not quite their best team, but I reckon it was 6 first-choice players for them against 8 or 9 for us) - who honestly still thinks we need wholesale changes in order to be successful? Granted, if King gets crocked again the whole house of cards will probably come tumbling down, but ... do we really need a major influx of new (and probably over-priced) players at this point? or wouldn't it be better for team and squad development to let this group of players work together for the rest of the season and see what they (with Ramos' expert guidance) can achieve? Then assess the situation in the summer, by all means. But really, if you keep papering over the cracks with new signings, I'd argue it actually hinders the development of the current squad.

 

[roguepsi]

Yes. Yes we do.

 

[dannythomas]

So we need (and moreover we're actively chasing??) a CB, LB, RB, CM, LM, oh and a striker and perhaps a goalkeeper. Yah di yah di yah... Endless speculation in the media and by us (the fans) that we need this player and that player to come in and shore up this struggling team. Now who, after last night, when we 'destroyed' (Sky commentator's words, not mine) supposedly one of the best teams in Europe - OK not quite their best team, but I reckon it was 6 first-choice players for them against 8 or 9 for us) - who honestly still thinks we need wholesale changes in order to be successful? Granted, if King gets crocked again the whole house of cards will probably come tumbling down, but ... do we really need a major influx of new (and probably over-priced) players at this point? or wouldn't it be better for team and squad development to let this group of players work together for the rest of the season and see what they (with Ramos' expert guidance) can achieve? Then assess the situation in the summer, by all means. But really, if you keep papering over the cracks with new signings, I'd argue it actually hinders the development of the current squad.

I understand the point but as you say if King gets injured again then where are we ? I think an influx of 3 or 4 players in positions that we lack strength in depth ( CD, full back and a quality midfielder ) could only benefit us. That does not mean those players ( even Tiago ) would walk straight into the team.

 

[mendesstormer]

I understand the point but as you say if King gets injured again then where are we ? I think an influx of 3 or 4 players in positions that we lack strength in depth ( CD, full back and a quality midfielder ) could only benefit us. That does not mean those players ( even Tiago ) would walk straight into the team.

I really don't think so. Get in one top quality experienced CB if available. Then let the current squad show what they're capable of. They've just proved they can do it. What did we have last night? A capable, solid goalkeeper; a strong, well-organised defence; an effective, hard-working, fast-breaking midfield; a creative dangerous attack; above all, a team with real spirit, able and willing to fight and play for each other. Show me the weakness in that line-up.

 

[TheBlueRooster]

It's seems funny but today we don't seem to have been linked to any new signings apart from Hutton (who I seem to remember won Big Brother and has only played in minor celebrity matches). Are the British press so stunned at our performance that they've forgotten to link us with with anyone today.

 

[AngerManagement]

I really don't think so. Get in one top quality experienced CB if available. Then let the current squad show what they're capable of. They've just proved they can do it. What did we have last night? A capable, solid goalkeeper; a strong, well-organised defence; an effective, hard-working, fast-breaking midfield; a creative dangerous attack; above all, a team with real spirit, able and willing to fight and play for each other. Show me the weakness in that line-up.

Last night there was no weakness, it was more or less a perfect game. If they played to that standard week in week out the for sure we would need no new signings.

Reality is its only one game and there have been plenty more games this season (and surely more to come) that show we do need a few more players.

King is great but when injuired we clearly need some experience to cover him, we dont really seem to have a settled CM partner for Jenas if we could bring one in who would stand out above what we have now we would benefit.

A Left footed winger would provide variation from Steed playing there (good for tactical switches)

Plus we have to legislate for any potential losses to our squad (If Robbo goes we will need a new keeper, if Berbs goes we may need another striker) As well as always being prepared to upgrade postions if we have the opportunity (LEe and Chimbonda perhaps, plus would provide cover and or competition for such postions)

What makes me laugh is that if for example we went out and got beat badly at Old Trafford in our next game there would be as many negative threads as there have been positive threads after last nights game.

The reality is we are neither a perfect time when we win well nor a shit team when we do not.

We are progressing but we still have work to do to rival the 'big 4', I think everyone would agree that we would still need to buy a few quality players to compete with the top four on a regular basis.

 

[leffe186]

I really don't think so. Get in one top quality experienced CB if available. Then let the current squad show what they're capable of. They've just proved they can do it. What did we have last night? A capable, solid goalkeeper; a strong, well-organised defence; an effective, hard-working, fast-breaking midfield; a creative dangerous attack; above all, a team with real spirit, able and willing to fight and play for each other. Show me the weakness in that line-up.

Lee Young-Pyo. He tries really hard but should be a back-up.

That said the point still holds - if one or two specific players get injured we've got issues. Lose King from the line-up or a full-back and we'd struggle for cover. Tiago would be viewed as an improvement on Tainio (who should stay as the reserve terrier in midfield) and Gilberto would come in for LYP. That will do for now.

 

[Krafty]

We still need some 'choice' signings, but its great to see Ramos getting so much out of our team, that we knew was good anyway, just never collectively performed to the top of their ability

 

[SpurSince57]

And yet at the weekend we made very heavy weather of it against an intrepid but basically not terribly good Sunderland, and previously struggled to put away a weakened Reading side over 180 minutes. Last night's performance (and hopefully a similar or better on Sunday) has to be seen in that perspective. Juande has stopped the rot, shored up the defence (helped no end by the Return of the King) and, maybe most importantly, got the team truly believing in itself again, but pretty obviously he feels we need reinforcements and hasn't bought the party line that what we had in August was good enough to break into the top four.

 

[rez9000]

I agree that we still need to strengthen.

Yes, last night was evidence of the strength we have, and I wouldn't want to take that away from the lads. But we do need some players, so that we can go on producing results like that. Arsenal themselves are an excellent example, even if they came unstuck last night. They have so much strength in depth that they can effectively compete on four fronts. No mean feat. They're still ****s but they do have a top drawer squad.

 

[TheBlueRooster]

We are progressing but we still have work to do to rival the 'big 4', I think everyone would agree that we would still need to buy a few quality players to compete with the top four on a regular basis.

My only fear is, is it possible to have a such a strong squad outside of the top four? We got Berbatov probably on the strength of our fifth placed finish now it looks as if we could lose him in the summer. If this is the case every time we take a step forward we take two back. Can we bring in players of top quality who are willing to wait to take their chance?

 

[The Apprentice]

Couldn't disagree more.

We need better quality players for certain positions. It's essential if we want to kick on and really challenge the big boys.

Don't let one faultless performance mask the deficiencies in our squad.

 

[Shanks]

As good as last night was, it was still a below par Arsenal that we beat.

As people have highlighted, we struggled against Reading recently, and against Sunderland. We do need more players, better players if you would.
Yes last night was great, awesome in fact, but it meant a lot more to us than them and they were playing really bad...

More players please and we can judge ramos at the end of next season, which is looking more and more exciting!

Although 3 cups would be nice this year