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Author Topic: The Squad - Upgrades/Additions Needed?  (Read 5653 times)

Offline kippaxvilla2

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The Squad - Upgrades/Additions Needed?
« on: December 01, 2020, 01:34:01 PM »
Where do we need to upgrade to move the squad forward?  Also where do we need extra cover of quality?  Quite a bit still needed I think anyway.   When I refer to upgrades I mean players that need to be replaced in the first team potentially.

Martinez, Heaton, Steer - Okay no upgrades or additions needed.
Cash, Elmo - Not this season maybe next if Elmo goes.
Targett, Taylor - Taylor upgrade needed to start games.  Targett as back up.
Mings, Konsa, Engels, - Mings upgrade needed to start games.  Mings as back up.
McGinn, Hourihane, Luiz, Nakamba - upgrades for McGinn and Hourihane needed.  Maybe Ramsey as the Hourihane long term replacement.
Barkey, Grealish, Traore, Trez El Ghazi - upgrade on  Trez needed. Replacement cover for El Ghazi.
Watkins, Davis, Wesley - At least one replacement of Davis needed.

I am trying to jump on the positive bandwagon started by Paulie.  Wouldn't it be lovely if we can upgrade these areas in the next two windows.

« Last Edit: December 01, 2020, 01:49:33 PM by kippaxvilla2 »

Offline TelfordVilla

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Re: The Squad - Upgrades/Additions Needed?
« Reply #1 on: December 01, 2020, 01:41:02 PM »
Trez, hologram and taylor need immediate replacements. The rest can wait until the summer.

Offline kippaxvilla2

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Re: The Squad - Upgrades/Additions Needed?
« Reply #2 on: December 01, 2020, 01:49:55 PM »
Bloody hell I forgot about Trez and El Ghazi - now added.

Offline sickbeggar

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Re: The Squad - Upgrades/Additions Needed?
« Reply #3 on: December 01, 2020, 01:59:18 PM »
You've pretty much covered it I think. No reserves worthy of the name to allow us to replace any of the non-performers is the main problem. Watkins getting crocked is a worry. That and defensive re-inforcements could possibly be looked at in January although what will be available as an upgrade/better than the reserves is debatable.

Offline eamonn

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Re: The Squad - Upgrades/Additions Needed?
« Reply #4 on: December 01, 2020, 02:05:20 PM »
Barkley will have to be replaced too, he's only on-loan.

Offline SoccerHQ

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Re: The Squad - Upgrades/Additions Needed?
« Reply #5 on: December 01, 2020, 02:07:49 PM »
Barkley will have to be replaced too, he's only on-loan.

I think owners might push the boat out to get him here permanently. Talk is we might ask Chelsea to name their price in January.

Last night AEM was our final attacking change and also doubled up as our back up CB on the bench so I think that suggests areas where we desperately need some fresh faces.

Hause has been out for a while now and Engels disappeared from 18 again so really they aren't long term options.

Think if we can move Taylor out in January we'll get another left back in aswell.

Offline chrisw1

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Re: The Squad - Upgrades/Additions Needed?
« Reply #6 on: December 01, 2020, 02:36:31 PM »
Trez, hologram and taylor need immediate replacements. The rest can wait until the summer.
Stop calling him hologram.  It's just not funny and we'd be a Championship side if it wasn't for his contribution.

Offline Risso

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Re: The Squad - Upgrades/Additions Needed?
« Reply #7 on: December 01, 2020, 03:06:44 PM »
Martinez, Heaton, Steer - As good a selection of keepers as you could reasonably expect.

Cash, Elmo - Guilbert should be added here, I'd have confidence in him if anything happens to Cash or Elmo.  Right back is the least of our problems I reckon.

Targett, Taylor - Targett is OK on his day and links well at times with Jack, if he doesn't become more consistent though would like an improvement in the summer. Taylor nowhere near good enough.

Mings, Konsa, Engels, - Konsa easily good enough and improving all the time.  Mings not good enough, and needs an upgrade urgently.  God knows what's happened with Engels, but it hasn't worked, so could do with a utility defender to replace him.

McGinn, Hourihane, Luiz, Nakamba - I agree, McGinn and Hourihane not good enough for where we want to be.  Would cash in on McGinn while thhere might still be buyers for him.  I really like Luiz but we'll probably HAVE to replace him.  Nakamba isn't good enough.

Barkley, Grealish, Traore, Trez El Ghazi - Trez and El Ghazi nowhere near productive enough.  Not enough time to decide on Traore yet, but I can't see what he has that will make him a successful wide attacking player in the Premier League.  It's certainly not pace or intent to beat players.  I hope we get Barkley permanently.  Jack obviously a godlike genius.

Watkins, Davis, Wesley - Watkins has started well, and I'd take a short term loanee in January while we wait to see if Wesley can come back and add to our options up front.  Davis isn't good or reliable enough, get rid.

In terms of priorities, I'd be looking for somebody better to partner Konsa, and a more athletic and reliable alternative to McGinn.  Another attacking option up front, even if a short term loan in January would be ideal.

Offline fredm

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Re: The Squad - Upgrades/Additions Needed?
« Reply #8 on: December 01, 2020, 04:13:49 PM »
I think the likes of Mings would up their game if they knew there was a replacement who was quite capable of filling the position sat on the bench.  At the moment the first eleven virtually picks itself and they are swanning along in the comfort zone.  So any decent addition to the squad of sufficient quality to hold down a position would strengthen the entire team.

Offline Mister E

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Re: The Squad - Upgrades/Additions Needed?
« Reply #9 on: December 01, 2020, 04:26:52 PM »
We definitely need a  physically-imposing central MF, to allow Luiz to become the playmaker that he can be.

Offline Mister E

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Re: The Squad - Upgrades/Additions Needed?
« Reply #10 on: December 01, 2020, 04:28:44 PM »
I'd like to see Ramsey given some gametime between now and the transfer window; he may answer some our questions, particularly those concerning McGinn.

Offline Axl Rose

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Re: The Squad - Upgrades/Additions Needed?
« Reply #11 on: December 01, 2020, 04:36:20 PM »
Players to replace Mings and McGinn. Massively overrated twosome. Neither as good as they think they are. A spell on the sidelines/some competition for their shirts would be ideal.

Offline Axl Rose

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Re: The Squad - Upgrades/Additions Needed?
« Reply #12 on: December 01, 2020, 04:39:47 PM »
Trez, hologram and taylor need immediate replacements. The rest can wait until the summer.
Stop calling him hologram.  It's just not funny and we'd be a Championship side if it wasn't for his contribution.

I find it a little bit funny.

You never know, another player might have come up with the goods and allowed us to escape the Championship. You have form for liking mediocre midfield players, as I remember a similar defence of Westwood.

Offline Abbeyfealeavfc

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Re: The Squad - Upgrades/Additions Needed?
« Reply #13 on: December 01, 2020, 05:01:29 PM »
I see school's out for TriflingVilla again!

Offline algy

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Re: The Squad - Upgrades/Additions Needed?
« Reply #14 on: December 01, 2020, 05:07:23 PM »
For me, in rough order of priority

January:
- Replacement for Davis.  I rate him highly, but he's far too injury prone.  Either a young striker, or a player on a short term loan if it looks like our top target won't be available until the summer
- Replacement for Nakamba.  At the moment, McGinn can't be dropped despite being not-that-great.  A stronger player than Marv would allow that to happen.
- Flog Guilbert, assuming he's still not rated by Smith.
- Try to move Lansbury on, even if it means subsidising a portion of his wages

Summer:
- Retain Dougie
- Retain Barkley
- Replacement for Engels
- Replacement for Neil Taylor
- Replacement for Hause
- Replacement for Elmo
- Replacement for AEG
- Replacement for Hourihane

In roughly that order of priority.  I'd not be that bothered if we went in to 2021/2 with El Ghazi & Hourihane still at the club, but very much on the list of players to replace.  I like Conor, he's got a good attitude and has done the club well in his time.  Where we're going - he'd be fine in domestic cup games, and the odd league match.

El Ghazi - I think we could do with replacing - he's just not good enough - but is low enough in the pecking order that I'd not be massively concerned as long as he's restricted to mostly appearing in cup games.

Elmo - I could live with Elmo being given a year's extension if there's no obvious replacement available, but he's coming to the end of his career and we need to look to replace him sooner rather than later.

The others - shouldn't be anywhere near the squad of an established, top half club.
« Last Edit: December 01, 2020, 05:09:28 PM by algy »

 


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