Poll Which position do we need to strengthen in January?
- Thread starter rurikbird
- Start date
- Latest activity Latest activity:
Prefix for Poll Threads
- Status
I voted Striker/ Backup Striker because although we have 2 incredible strikers starting, we don't have any real threat off the bench or a way to change the game. I think that would be best way to spend funds in January, with a DM closely behind. For other roles like attacking CMs, I think if we were pushed to need to do so, we could play Alberto/ Moses or recall Suso.
We have Aspas though. If we buy a player who's good enough to start he won't come cheap
If Suarez and Sturridge can't do it then no-one can - certainly an inferior off the bench won't !
Unless you are thinking Carroll / Crouchy 😉
There will be days when Studge or Suarez aren't on it 100%, and we might need someone to come on.. Or we might want to have 3 up top if say we find ourselves 2-2 vs Hull away from home with 10 minutes left and want to throw the sink at them.
If we are top 2 or 3 in January it's because we're not that fucking bad. By January we will have played away to Arsenal, Spurs, Man City & Chelsea. That's as hard as it gets. If we're still in with a shout after all that, then it's fair to say that the current side is holding up it's side of the bargain.
Now there's the temptation then to want to add 'top class quality player X' to the side because a) they'd want to come to us given the position we'd be in, b) we'd get the backing/support from the owners, c) we might feel we need to add something extra.
I'd disagree with that.
Have a look at all the United sides that have won the title over the last 10-15 years; they've all succeeded due to the consistency the same team has been allowed to accrue over the course of a 9 month season, and Ferguson never ever went and bought someone in January to supplement that. Certainly not anyone who markedly replaced the structure or fabric of the team.
Remember the Newcastle side that Keegan had 12 points clear on New Year's Day? He went and bought Batty and Asprilla in January to 'add the final piece to the jigsaw'. It failed. Both great players at the time, but they broke up what had got Newcastle to that point in the first place. Batty wasn't the type of midfielder they needed at the time, he was the controlling slow type in amongst a side that went hell for leather. He was their own kryptonite. They should have stuck with what they had.
I'm not saying we will be top 2 or 3 by January. But if we are, and if we've gone to all those away grounds and come out of it alive, then you've got to back the players that have done it for you, cos they're clearly capable. Adding in a new midfielder or whatever would fuck it all up.
Now there's the temptation then to want to add 'top class quality player X' to the side because a) they'd want to come to us given the position we'd be in, b) we'd get the backing/support from the owners, c) we might feel we need to add something extra.
I'd disagree with that.
Have a look at all the United sides that have won the title over the last 10-15 years; they've all succeeded due to the consistency the same team has been allowed to accrue over the course of a 9 month season, and Ferguson never ever went and bought someone in January to supplement that. Certainly not anyone who markedly replaced the structure or fabric of the team.
Remember the Newcastle side that Keegan had 12 points clear on New Year's Day? He went and bought Batty and Asprilla in January to 'add the final piece to the jigsaw'. It failed. Both great players at the time, but they broke up what had got Newcastle to that point in the first place. Batty wasn't the type of midfielder they needed at the time, he was the controlling slow type in amongst a side that went hell for leather. He was their own kryptonite. They should have stuck with what they had.
I'm not saying we will be top 2 or 3 by January. But if we are, and if we've gone to all those away grounds and come out of it alive, then you've got to back the players that have done it for you, cos they're clearly capable. Adding in a new midfielder or whatever would fuck it all up.
T
the_khl
Guest
We desperately need to bolster the AM spot come January no matter our position in the league.
When Coutinho doesn't play we revert to a completely different style of play. That is the sign of a massive gap in the squad. One player should NEVER be the reasoning for a complete change in system.
I do agree however that's probably the only position we have got to address come January, especially if we are still up there.
PS A case could be made to withdraw Suso instead as new back-up for Coutinho. I would like that.
When Coutinho doesn't play we revert to a completely different style of play. That is the sign of a massive gap in the squad. One player should NEVER be the reasoning for a complete change in system.
I do agree however that's probably the only position we have got to address come January, especially if we are still up there.
PS A case could be made to withdraw Suso instead as new back-up for Coutinho. I would like that.
I am surprised almost nobody voted for wing-forwards. We have NOBODY in that department since Downing left, only Aspas who is struggling to adjust and Moses who 1) doesn't belong to us and 2) doesn't seem overly motivated. Can't we use a a quality, goalscoring winger? Is everybody so satisfied with the job Henderson is doing at RW?
Ryan makes an excellent point, by the way. I wouldn't mess with the "engine room" mid-season, especially if we're doing well. Attacking options are another matter.
Ryan makes an excellent point, by the way. I wouldn't mess with the "engine room" mid-season, especially if we're doing well. Attacking options are another matter.
We added Coutinho and Sturridge last Jan to a team that had already improved on Dalglish's shambles and it didn't backfire, it improved us.
I think it's about about adding the right players, not just players.
e.g I wouldn't see any harm in adding a decent LB version of Johnson in the window, I think they'd improve us.
Even if I agree with all that, it wouldn't apply if the player in question is someone like Alonso or Modric.
Central midfield playmaker is who I voted for, and I can't imagine that sort of player ever making our side worse.
I voted same.
But Ryan makes a fair point, if we see a progress in terms of our performances and we are able to maintain our league position then in a way the January window becomes a bit more difficult because you there is a stick or twist dilemma. One way to mitigate any potential risk of disruption is by easing that player into the team and not making him an automatic starter but then there might be other pressures and distractions that come with that strategy too.
As always, it might simply come down to who is available.
We need something in midfield, whether that's competition for Lucas, or just someone with a bit more authority on the ball. And as said elsewhere, we probably need to bring in healthy competition for Enrique.
I'm guessing Rodgers still wants an attacker of sorts, which is why we ended up with Moses and a "better than nothing" loan signing.
I'm guessing Rodgers still wants an attacker of sorts, which is why we ended up with Moses and a "better than nothing" loan signing.
same here.
Ryan has a very good point. But we desperatly need some competition for Lucas and to add some real quality in midfield. That wont fuck up what we've got going.
We also need another attacking midfielder that can play anywhere in attack. Just look at how dependant we are of Coutinho. That wont fuck us up either. Sterling can go out on loan and we can add some creativity and goals from midfield.
Its a long season and we will be hit by some injuries. If Rafa could go back and change not buying a striker or selling Keane in January 2009, I reckon he'd do it in a heartbeat.
We also need another attacking midfielder that can play anywhere in attack. Just look at how dependant we are of Coutinho. That wont fuck us up either. Sterling can go out on loan and we can add some creativity and goals from midfield.
Its a long season and we will be hit by some injuries. If Rafa could go back and change not buying a striker or selling Keane in January 2009, I reckon he'd do it in a heartbeat.
I'm hoping Allen comes good and effectively provides competition for Lucas/Hendo/SG. A LB who isn't Cissokho might also be cool.
OK, so the consensus is that we most need a CM. 11 votes for a box-to-box CM and 10 for a playmaker. Here is the thing: we have a pretty good box-to-box midfielder in the team. His name is Jordan Henderson. This season he is mostly playing on the wing. So wouldn't it make more sense to buy a proper RW and move Henderson to the middle? Just curious.
By the way we have a playmaker type CM too. His name is Joe.
By the way we have a playmaker type CM too. His name is Joe.
Well, yeah, but we can take that attitude towards every position. We have wingers - their names are Victor, Jordan and Raheem. I wouldn't say no to a top class wide man but if we're talking another cheap Aspas-esque punt, I'd rather we gave Ibe and Sterling more of a chance to see whether they can cut it.
I get what you're saying but in terms of the playmaker at least, but we need one that actually makes it onto the pitch and affects the game. If Allen can force his way into the side and start to justify that 15M price tag it'll be huge for us.
Brad Smith is highly rated i think
- Status
