Deano’s wishlist - the Jan transfer speculation/guaranteed nonsense thread

[newryvillain]

Whatever happened to Jacob Bedeau? He was highly thought of when he arrived - is he still at the club even?

[ozzjim]

Sawyers looks an obvious move if we don't go up and Jack goes. We are missing Jack and Taylor at the moment, because Hutton and Elmo are then out of position. If this Barbet can play both roles to the left of the defence it immediately helps us no end. Get Elphick back in too and we are at least playing players in position again. After that this window for me a proper mobile holding midfielder that can pick a pass. Hourihane is trying, but not up to the task, Whelan is desperately past it now, and Jedinak is shot. I would happily swap all 3 for 1 player that could competently sit in and be athletic enough to get round the pitch. The lad at Chelsea on loan might be a decent shout in there. Young but looks a hell of a player.

[tomd2103]

Hourihane has played that role much better than I expected

Except against forest where it was a disaster

I agree we need a new player there but I'm not sure it's the most pressing concern.

Agree about that Matt.  Centre half and left back are definitely more of a priority. 

[eamonn]

Hourihane has played that role much better than I expected

Except against forest where it was a disaster

I agree we need a new player there but I'm not sure it's the most pressing concern.

In what way has Hourihane done better than expected?  He's a passenger with a left foot like Hitz.

[Matt Collins]

He was excellent against boro for example. Hes passed it better than expected. It was him moving the ball quickly from that position that enabled us to overload twice against blues to get those first half goals

[eamonn]

That's true and he played an important part in the slick move for our first goal against Leeds but he still hides too much, lacks pace to drive us on and without the ball is poor.

[Matt Collins]

Yeah I'm not a huge fan. There's a reason someone with his productivity is never linked with the Premier league. And him PLUS whelan is too stodgy to play Smiths way

But he's been better than I thought he would be under Smith

[SoccerHQ]

He was excellent against boro for example. Hes passed it better than expected. It was him moving the ball quickly from that position that enabled us to overload twice against blues to get those first half goals

Boro is snail pace team, we generally match up very well against them as conceding no goals in our last five matches show.

We need better midfield against teams who can actually run and pass. Not just Leeds and Forest but Stoke outplayed us in that department.

[Matt Collins]

I agree without grealish its too pedestrian. We're well stocked in midfield but too many aren't suited to Smith

Ideally we'd have a proper deep lying playmaker and an alternative to grealish. I just think that's a job for the summer. The priority has to be the defence

I thought he was good v West brom too though

[SoccerHQ]

I agree without grealish its too pedestrian. We're well stocked in midfield but too many aren't suited to Smith

Ideally we'd have a proper deep lying playmaker and an alternative to grealish. I just think that's a job for the summer. The priority has to be the defence

I thought he was good v West brom too though

Again West Brom only played two in central midfield and obviously Barry and Livermore aren't good to get up and down the pitch for 90 minutes.

Just like last season against fast paced midfielders our own can't handle it.

Think we saw right at end of last season Hourihane's strengths and weaknesses. Home leg v Boro he was superb but at back of my mind I was dreading just him and Jedinak against Fulham's lot and so it proved.

[Matt Collins]

I agree. I was watching the Fulham game from up in the gods. The difference between their midfield and the stodginess of ours was so clear

But thats why I'm saying the way he's passing it is better than I expected. I think the deeper role suits him as he gets more time on the ball

[RussellC]

I think Hourihane is fine in that position when we have possession of the ball, it's when we don't that he's found wanting, especially against the teams that play fast, attacking football. The ideal player to go in there would be a 28 year-old Stan Petrov, so if we could find a replica of that it would be great!

[Matt Collins]

Agree petrov would be fantastic in that role

[Malandro]

According to a Spanish journalist , this is our new defensive midfielder. From Celta.

[XXVilla]

I always thought he’d be a good fit for us