2024 January transfer window - hopes, needs, expectations and rumours.

[frank black]

1…Back up keeper please!

2…Dont sell Dougie

3…Cover/Replace Cash

4…Striker if an opportunity arises.

[rooboy316]

1…Back up keeper please!

2…Dont sell Dougie

3…Cover/Replace Cash

4…Striker if an opportunity arises.

Spot on. I think 2 is highly unlikely. 4 would be ace, particularly if it’s an upgrade or at least challenges Ollie as a potential starter. I’m happy to be patient to get the right guy at the right price there, so a loan as a stop gap also works.

[tomd2103]

I think Buendia is better suited to the 10 role that McGinn and Zaniolo (Ramsey) are playing rather than Diaby’s second striker position.

Diaby plays the 10 role really.  From what I see, McGinn, Zaniolo and Ramsey play in an 'inverted' wide position really and Buendia did play in that role at times last season. 

McGinn and Ramsey play it really well, but it doesn't really suit others we have in the squad.

[Monty]

I think Buendia is better suited to the 10 role that McGinn and Zaniolo (Ramsey) are playing rather than Diaby’s second striker position.

Diaby plays the 10 role really.  From what I see, McGinn, Zaniolo and Ramsey play in an 'inverted' wide position really and Buendia did play in that role at times last season. 

McGinn and Ramsey play it really well, but it doesn't really suit others we have in the squad.

I would say the others either aren't yet used to it or we haven't quite found the right way to fit them in. It's a complicated role, pretty much unique in football from what I watch - one (usually McGinn) plays a kind of hybrid role moving into central midfield, the other stays wide until at certain moments (fuck if I know what they are!) they're meant to push up and create effectively a front three. They're two distinct roles.

[Drummond]

I don't think we need someone to challenge Watkins, but a very good replacement.

It's about strength in depth and the way he's going there aren't many I'd rather have.

[danno]

It probably won't be in January, but next summer Mings and Carlos will both be 31. I know its not championship manager but I think we should be looking for a promising centre back.

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

It probably won't be in January, but next summer Mings and Carlos will both be 31. I know its not championship manager but I think we should be looking for a promising centre back.

We’ve got one in Feeney.

[tomd2103]

I think Buendia is better suited to the 10 role that McGinn and Zaniolo (Ramsey) are playing rather than Diaby’s second striker position.

Diaby plays the 10 role really.  From what I see, McGinn, Zaniolo and Ramsey play in an 'inverted' wide position really and Buendia did play in that role at times last season. 

McGinn and Ramsey play it really well, but it doesn't really suit others we have in the squad.

I would say the others either aren't yet used to it or we haven't quite found the right way to fit them in. It's a complicated role, pretty much unique in football from what I watch - one (usually McGinn) plays a kind of hybrid role moving into central midfield, the other stays wide until at certain moments (fuck if I know what they are!) they're meant to push up and create effectively a front three. They're two distinct roles.

Totally agree.  McGinn and Ramsey are so suited to those roles and have been really good in them since Emery's arrival.  It also requires defensive responsibilities and I think that's where Zaniolo.and Buendia have struggled a bit. 

I can only see us improving further when Ramsey comes back.

[Monty]

We've seen Bailey have moments when we've switched it around, having McGinn come off the left and the left-footer cut in from the right, so it might be worth trying that with Zaniolo too. However, it doesn't really suit McGinn who's in the form of his life at the minute, and so the best combo remains Ramsey-SJM.

It'll be interesting to see if for certain games or times of games he feels happy playing two 'false' strikers as it were, giving Ollie a rest and maybe playing two of Diaby, Bailey and Zaniolo. Wouldn't put it past him.

[Toronto Villa]

We miss the direct running of JJ. He’d have comfortably got to double figures in goals this year in this side had he been fit from the start. Nobody else really does what he does of our CM squad members.

[nigel]

It probably won't be in January, but next summer Mings and Carlos will both be 31. I know its not championship manager but I think we should be looking for a promising centre back.

Konsa and Torres are both 26, so it’s feasible for them to be our starting pair for a few years.
I suppose Mings and Carlos still have a couple of years at the top end

So no harm in looking for the next generation to go with Feeney

[tom jennings III]

1…Back up keeper please!

2…Dont sell Dougie

3…Cover/Replace Cash

4…Striker if an opportunity arises.

This is exactly it for me, although unless Emery has a young Spanish striker lined up as a hidden gem I think 4 is very unlikely.

[tomd2103]

We miss the direct running of JJ. He’d have comfortably got to double figures in goals this year in this side had he been fit from the start. Nobody else really does what he does of our CM squad members.

I agree TV.  I think this could have been his big break out season if he'd carried along the trajectory he was going.  He was really good in the run-in last season and had added goals to his game as well. 

Such a shame he got a lengthy injury.

[jwarry]

We miss the direct running of JJ. He’d have comfortably got to double figures in goals this year in this side had he been fit from the start. Nobody else really does what he does of our CM squad members.

Yes, thanks England 😡

[chrisw1]

1…Back up keeper please!

2…Dont sell Dougie

3…Cover/Replace Cash

4…Striker if an opportunity arises.

Spot on. I think 2 is highly unlikely. 4 would be ace, particularly if it’s an upgrade or at least challenges Ollie as a potential starter. I’m happy to be patient to get the right guy at the right price there, so a loan as a stop gap also works.

I no longer feel it is realistic to upgrade Ollie.  I've been a critic of his in the past, but right now I just don't think it's realistic to find a better striker who would contemplate a club of our stature.  He is absolutely crucial to how we play and much as there are strikers who I admire in the PL, the only one I'd swap him for would be Haaland (with Son & Salah too old)