| January Transfer Targets 17:35 - Dec 28 with 2288 views | NeverSayDie |
I have no doubt we are already well down the line with several conversations, but who do you think we are looking at? or maybe could/should be looking at?
My thoughts are that we have to sign another body in each of the following positions; RB/RWB, RM/RW, CF/ST, CM/CDM, so at least 4 players. I think the tricky bit for this window is trying to figure out the profile of player that is occupying the mind of our management team, in the past it's been fairly easy to identify a McKenna transfer target, but given our Premier League status and league position, perhaps that "future ceiling" aspect might be replaced by a "experienced at the level" approach? Realistically, it's probably a mix of the two.
My two cents on who we are probably looking at, or could/should be looking at:
RB/RWB - Amar Dedic from Salzburg has been linked numerous times and continues to be rumoured almost daily, I know nothing about him, but imagine there's something in this link due to its unwillingness to die.
RM/RW - Hakim Ziyech, Miguel Almiron, Kwame Poku, all viable targets with the first two being a complete departure from the usual McK target, but both offering the invaluable experience and a sprinkling of magic that's much needed at this level to create those big chances, versus Poku who we've been linked with previously and offers that more traditional McKenna target of future potential, but very raw and untested at the level.
CM/CDM - Ben Sheaf, Edo Kayambe, Chukwuemeka; have a few CM's on the books, but all have injury issues and we've regularly suffered with selection here, only one seems capable of playing a full 90 minutes. The firsttwo names I've mentioned are both traditional McKenna targets, both good physical specimens that display high energy levels and neither have struggled with injury to my knowledge. Kayambe is also very good at set pieces and scores a few too, also he's a lefty, I love a lefty in the middle, think it makes life hard for the opposition. Chukwuemeka we’ve been linked with before, similar to the first two, but potentially with a higher ceiling, not getting minutes, but would cost a fortune and they’d want to sell and I’m not sure we’d pay what they want.
CF/ST - Latte Lath, Evan Ferguson, it's well known we made a sizeable offer for Lath on deadline day so it would be surprising if we hadn't revisited talks there. Ferguson we've made an approach for previously and is now well down the pecking order at Brighton and not getting minutes, a loan suits us perfectly and Brighton I'm sure would prefer him to be getting minutes without selling, I'd be amazed if we weren't kicking the door down on that one.
[Post edited 28 Dec 2024 17:40]
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| January Transfer Targets on 17:48 - Dec 28 with 2170 views | BlueinBrum |
If KP is getting back to fitness (which he seemed to be last night, thought he played well and think that’s his first full match for us?) I wonder if we’ll wait for the CDM til the summer - I.e. to see which league we will be in and whether we will have Cajuste staying. Other three positions completely agree, with CF being the clear priority of the three, albeit all three important. |  | | |
| January Transfer Targets on 17:52 - Dec 28 with 2145 views | bournemouthblue |
You'd certainly hope so, I know January can be a bit odd, one big transfer goes off and it creates a snowball effect
I just hope we can act early and strengthen us sooner rather than later |  |
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| January Transfer Targets on 01:14 - Dec 29 with 1683 views | NeverSayDie |
| January Transfer Targets on 17:48 - Dec 28 by BlueinBrum |
If KP is getting back to fitness (which he seemed to be last night, thought he played well and think that’s his first full match for us?) I wonder if we’ll wait for the CDM til the summer - I.e. to see which league we will be in and whether we will have Cajuste staying. Other three positions completely agree, with CF being the clear priority of the three, albeit all three important. |
I don’t think CM/CDM was ever perceived to be a problem, especially with Cajuste and Phillips added, but the reality has been that we’ve really struggled for availability in there and it has proven detrimental to date. I don’t for one second think we, as a club, will be thinking about anything other than staying up this season and we shouldn’t, it’s well within scope to do so, if January recruitment is effective, but if that being the mindset, I don’t think we have any option but to add another central midfielder ASAP, too many of the existing squad are injury prone and as I said in the OP, we only have 1 who can play 90 minutes, which simply isn’t where we want, or need to be.
Just had a Look at the minutes our CM’s have played and Cajuste, Phillips and Taylor combined have played just1656 minutes this season, out of a total of 1660 minutes for the squad (18 games of 90 minutes, but of course there’s been more than 90 with the additional minutes) that’s an absolutely shocking return and it’s not like these are fringe players, 2 of these ought to be starting 11 players. | | | |
| January Transfer Targets on 09:47 - Dec 30 with 1181 views | Bellevue_Blue |
I'm broadly in agreement with those 4 positions. I also wouldn't be adverse to adding another CAM who can also play left/ right. The two that spring to mind would be James McAtee and Finn Azaz who can also play left.
RWB is also vitally important IMO because I think we are so solid in that 5, just lacking the attacking impetus. Ben Johnson is a nice squad player but I'm not sure I've seen him run test the opposing full back once.
If we can get Ferguson on loan that will free up some funds for the others. |  | | |
| January Transfer Targets on 13:12 - Dec 30 with 881 views | Chocorange |
| January Transfer Targets on 01:14 - Dec 29 by NeverSayDie |
I don’t think CM/CDM was ever perceived to be a problem, especially with Cajuste and Phillips added, but the reality has been that we’ve really struggled for availability in there and it has proven detrimental to date. I don’t for one second think we, as a club, will be thinking about anything other than staying up this season and we shouldn’t, it’s well within scope to do so, if January recruitment is effective, but if that being the mindset, I don’t think we have any option but to add another central midfielder ASAP, too many of the existing squad are injury prone and as I said in the OP, we only have 1 who can play 90 minutes, which simply isn’t where we want, or need to be.
Just had a Look at the minutes our CM’s have played and Cajuste, Phillips and Taylor combined have played just1656 minutes this season, out of a total of 1660 minutes for the squad (18 games of 90 minutes, but of course there’s been more than 90 with the additional minutes) that’s an absolutely shocking return and it’s not like these are fringe players, 2 of these ought to be starting 11 players. |
McKenna chooses to freshen up the midfield , so one of the CM’s will come off in games.
It’s been 4 attacking players plus one midfielder in every game for seasons now , even with Llongo/Taylor last season.
So not a shocking amount of minutes fir those 3 when you consider we only play two defensive mids.
Unless we are going to change shape dramatically, and with all our midfielders now fit and not under threat of suspension, there is little need to do anything with the mid.
Striker and right wing and right back all far more needed , maybe even a number ten as we are one of the lowest scoring teams in the division.
Recently most teams mark Delap and stop our threat.
Could see Delap being used on right as he played there for Hull last season with a new striker of Hirst when fit up top. |  | | |
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