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| Get out and stay out! |
Was last season successful? Yes and no: It was great to have a run in the Champions League and although we finished 5th, I look back at so many games and think if only we scored more goals! We’ve got a very good squad (a very big squad as well) so this summer I think we’ll see lots of outs and hopefully a few quality ins!
Goalkeepers
Sell Gomes! I cannot understand why people want to keep him! It must be some sort of daft sentiment because he is a “fans favourite”. He has made so many errors, that only the inbred can keep count on their fingers, so why on earth would we keep him? Brad Friedel is a good signing on a free transfer but at 40 he’s no long term replacement. I would sell Gomes and Ben Alnwick (yet amazingly he’s just signed a new deal?!) and buy Martin Stekelenburg from Ajax.
Defenders
We’ve got more centre backs than Jonathan Woodgate has had injuries so it’s an area that needs some trimming. We need four centre backs (and King) so for me they would be Michael Dawson, William Gallas, Younus Kaboul and A.N Other, with Sebastian Bassong being sold, and Khumalo being loaned out. I would (if there’s still time) buy Gary Cahill, failing that Chris Samba or Hangeland, all of whom are dominant Premier league experienced centre backs. With four Right backs at the club, two need to go and the two weakest for me are Naughton and Hutton so get them sold. Left back is fine, Assou-Ekotto is a top notch full back and Danny Rose’s performances at the end of the season were very promising.
Midfielders
In the midfield we have Lennon who is a great player but desperately needs some classy competition to keep him on his toes. David Bentley has come back but he really is a waste of space. So hopefully we can sell him and get someone that would provide a different approach: Charles N’Zogbia, Marko Marin, Joe Cole?? Left Midfield we have Bale, Pienaar and Kranjcar, and as much as it pains me to say Kranjcar is going to be the one leaving (well done Harry!).
Centrally we’ve finally got something to be proud of Modric, Sandro, and Huddlestone are all quality footballers. However I think one more body is needed as Palacios couldn’t even pass a 'fit and proper person' test (niche joke there). The ideal player would be a midfield enforcer and talisman, Scott Parker, Lassana Diarra or Arturo Vidal all fit that mould.
Forwards
This is the most important area to strengthen this summer. Roman Pavlyuchenko may have been our best striker last year but he’s still awful he can shoot but that’s about it. The man is a scorer of great goals rather than a great scorer of goals...sold, along with Robbie Keane.
I would keep Crouch and Defoe, and play them in a 4-4-2 formation in Europe as they both offer something unique (you can decide what that is), leaving Van der Vaart and a new striker to be first choice in a league formation of 4-4-1-1. That striker for me needs to be the complete player, who can play up top alone, someone who can link with VDV and score goals. Dimitar Berbatov would be ideal, I love the man but doubt he would be welcomed back the way he behaved before. A short term solution would be Didier Drogba. But with both players their current clubs would have to help with wages as they would annihilate our wage structure. A longer term option could be Fernando Llorente, incredible in the air and a clinical finisher, but is he mobile enough? We still own Giovani dos Santos and I would keep him as 5th choice, I just want him to be given a chance because up until now we haven’t been able to see what he can really do. ( If you don’t already read 101gg religiously you are missing out!)
If we manage to strenthen these areas whilst keeping hold of our key players this season really could be one to cherish.
Josh
Jermaine Defoe should be kept I agree but more than once I have thought Crouch is worse than Pavlyuchenko
ReplyDeleteDisagree with a few points.
ReplyDeleteCan't sell Gomes, he's by far the best goalkeeper at the club. Friedel is excellent but already 40 years old. Gomes definitely should be your #1.
Agree with the defence section, although don't think Danny Rose is as good as he's being hyped up to be. Decent player, but won't ever be more than a squad player IMO.
Midfield wise I think Gio should be challenging Lennon for the Right wing position. Kranjcar much better than 3rd choice and should leave definitely for his own career. Pienaar and Bale sufficient cover for left wing.
Regarding your striker options, VDV must play. He's your main goal threat and is a truly world class player. Pav is in my opinion your best striker along with Defoe, so Crouch should be shown the door and you should go in for a younger striker e.g. Llorente.
My opinions anyway..
I agree that Crouch can look worse than Pav in most areas, but with Crouch he has the unique feature of his aerial 'ability', whereas Pav is average in all departments (no innuendo intended)
ReplyDeleteAs for Gomes v Friedel, has there ever been a point in the past few seasons when you though Gomes was better than Friedel? If so you should be his agent. Friedel wins it hands down and for that reason would be my #1, yes he's 40 but we shouldn't have signed him if we thought that was going to be a problem.