What we need . .

[Scott]

is a striker that can finish

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHvxoCoeSso

 

and to PLAY _{a little more}MORE DIRECT!!

[londonblue]

and a Left back (potentially)

 

and a 2nd choice striker to go with Costa and Romelu

 

and a CM 

 

and a more cheerful Jose

[Eligius]

Rodriguez

 

Remy

 

Koke

[Jonty]

Costa and reinvest the funds we get from Luiz's sale (which is looking very likely) into a quality CM, and that is all we need.

 

and bring Courtois, Bertrand and Lukaku back.

Edited May 13, 2014 by Jonty

[Scott Harris]

Costa and reinvest the funds we get from Luiz's sale (which is looking very likely) into a quality CM, and that is all we need.

 

and bring Courtois, Bertrand and Lukaku back.

 

I think we should go in for a LB as well. It looks very unlikely that Cole will be signing on another year and i don't really like us playing with Ivanovic there full time. I think he does a solid job defensively but going forward he is very easy to deal with half of the time.

[Jonty]

I think we should go in for a LB as well. It looks very unlikely that Cole will be signing on another year and i don't really like us playing with Ivanovic there full time. I think he does a solid job defensively but going forward he is very easy to deal with half of the time.

 

My comment was on the basis that Ashley stay another year, he's quite evidently capable enough.

[turnyitb]

I think we should go in for a LB as well. It looks very unlikely that Cole will be signing on another year and i don't really like us playing with Ivanovic there full time. I think he does a solid job defensively but going forward he is very easy to deal with half of the time.

I'm not aware that Ivanovic has played L.B that often.

[Zola]

I agree, Costa on his own ain't enough. We need someone who can shoot well from distance.

[venom2011]

I agree, Costa on his own ain't enough. We need someone who can shoot well from distance.

His name is Barkley, Ross Barkley.

I'd be very happy with Costa, Remy (after Arsenal medical), Barkley, and a LB. Sell Luiz, Mikel, Ba and loan Torres. Done and done.

[Guest RFC_CFC]

His name is Barkley, Ross Barkley.

I'd be very happy with Costa, Remy (after Arsenal medical), Barkley, and a LB. Sell Luiz, Mikel, Ba and loan Torres. Done and done.

What if any Barkley deal was dependant on Lukaku moving there?

[Bobbywoodhogan]

What if any Barkley deal was dependant on Lukaku moving there?

I'd say aw hell no to that, if Barkley has a good world cup then Everton are gonna double what he's worth now so if we want him (and I'm not sure we do tbh) then this deal needs to be done before then.

Tbh I think people are writing off Oscar far too early, the lads only in his early 20s.

Edited May 13, 2014 by Bobbywoodhogan

[paraphil]

Costa deal looks done.  Lavezzi may have been good also.

Edited May 13, 2014 by paraphil

[Guest RFC_CFC]

I'd say aw hell no to that, if Barkley has a good world cup then Everton are gonna double what he's worth now so if we want him (and I'm not sure we do tbh) then this deal needs to be done before then.

Tbh I think people are writing off Oscar far too early, the lads only in his early 20s.

He'd play as one of the midfield two if moving here so Oscar wouldn't be an issue although I do think he's not nearly as good as we all though he was.

We desperatelt need some midfield strength and someone who can drive and chip in...Barkley could be that man...then again so could Van Ginkel but the others we have are not up to it.

[Bobbywoodhogan]

He'd play as one of the midfield two if moving here so Oscar wouldn't be an issue although I do think he's not nearly as good as we all though he was.

We desperatelt need some midfield strength and someone who can drive and chip in...Barkley could be that man...then again so could Van Ginkel but the others we have are not up to it.

Oh I thought he was attacking mid for some reason, Oscar had a great first half of the season, I think he's a good player and deserves another shot next season.

Well we never really got to see what Van Ginkel could offer so it'll be interesting to see how good he is.

[dkw]

We need a bully, a flat track bully who will score against the lesser teams. We have proven we can turn beat any top team with Jose's knowhow, now we need the players able to do do the job against the others.

[Bobbywoodhogan]

If only we had another in his prime Michael Essien

[Guest RFC_CFC]

Oh I thought he was attacking mid for some reason, Oscar had a great first half of the season, I think he's a good player and deserves another shot next season.

Well we never really got to see what Van Ginkel could offer so it'll be interesting to see how good he is.

Think he can do both.

As you said a prime Essien is what we need but those kind of players are few and far between.

With Costa and a real class central mid I really think we can be something special...just hope we can find one.

[Bobbywoodhogan]

Think he can do both.

As you said a prime Essien is what we need but those kind of players are few and far between.

With Costa and a real class central mid I really think we can be something special...just hope we can find one.

Guess we'll have to wait and see, I hope they don't think Paulinho is that player because I'm not convinced

[Guest RFC_CFC]

Guess we'll have to wait and see, I hope they don't think Paulinho is that player because I'm not convinced

He seemed to have a good reputation before he came to England, I read several bits saying he was the better player than Fernandinho. Maybe the games I have seen he's not been at it but he doesn't look that great and certainly not as good as City's brazilian.

I'll be praying for an Essien/Ballack type...although I don't think they exist in the game these days!

[Bobbywoodhogan]

He seemed to have a good reputation before he came to England, I read several bits saying he was the better player than Fernandinho. Maybe the games I have seen he's not been at it but he doesn't look that great and certainly not as good as City's brazilian.

I'll be praying for an Essien/Ballack type...although I don't think they exist in the game these days!

There's a real lack of talent for the amounts of money these days

[bluedave]

We need an athletic forward to spearhead our attack. Somebody who can stand up to and batter the more physical sides and has confidence in front of goal. If only we had somebody like that already on our books.

 

I really don't see the need to splash big money on new players this year. A new partner for Matic? How about giving Van Ginkel a chance. Oscar has all the attributes to do a great job there as well.

[Gem]

Not relevant to this season's short-comings but I still think we let Ballack go a season too early, we were left short in that area and never really replaced him with the sort of player who had a similar skill he possessed. With him leaving and Essien's injury it has always been left to Frank to be the driving force and I think our lack of... experience? Dare I say quality? Has cost us dear this season, perhaps even more than not having a prolific striker. It was only when Matic arrived that we looked half decent in that area (Ramires' form also contributing)... So although a striker is a priority I would say a midfield partner for Matic must also be considered a requirement. We would have to spend big because we need the best of the best... You're never really going to find another Ballack or even Essien at the moment but we need someone... robust, powerful, influential in there.

Barkley has of course been thrown around and I think everyone would be extremely happy with that but is it really possible? I'd break the bank, it's what we need... Never mind a LB (Berty, PVA) - our defensive record this season speaks for itself... as does our results against 'lesser' opposition. A new LB isn't going to help that (unless his crosses are out of this world).

Dare I mention the other JM name? Sod it - let him play, see what he can do next to whoever else we get in the middle. Matic holding with Josh just in front, like we used to play:

---------Maka--------

-Essien------Lampard-

--------Matic--------

-McEachran------????-

As much as I love him unless Rambo's temperament and ability improves then he is a liability... pains me so much to say that as he was our best player for a short while, somewhere he has just fallen away. Luiz will give us a hefty sum and with Cahill's improvement it really wouldn't be that much of a loss... it's a shame because of his character and he is a very good player but would he seriously be missed? That much? If Barcelona came in and bid for Cahill would you be more gutted? I would!

What's this thread about again... Gone off subject a bit I think.......

[Guest RFC_CFC]

Doubt we will play JM, he will be sold.

He is not exactly lighting the world up at his current club.

[AnIrishTrueBlue]

We really need a midfielder and Costa. One in, one to go.

[PloKoon13]

Dare I mention the other JM name? Sod it - let him play, see what he can do next to whoever else we get in the middle. Matic holding with Josh just in front, like we used to play:

---------Maka--------

-Essien------Lampard-

--------Matic--------

-McEachran------????-

As much as I love him unless Rambo's temperament and ability improves then he is a liability... pains me so much to say that as he was our best player for a short while, somewhere he has just fallen away. Luiz will give us a hefty sum and with Cahill's improvement it really wouldn't be that much of a loss... it's a shame because of his character and he is a very good player but would he seriously be missed? That much? If Barcelona came in and bid for Cahill would you be more gutted? I would!

 

Good post Gem, but I think Ramires would be just fine in a 3; his discipline issues and various weaknesses in touch and passing would be mitigated by a third centre mid next to him. Plus if we were serious about giving McEachran a run in the team I think his strength, pace and stamina would complement Josh's physical weakness. Even Lampard (assuming he is sticking around) would probably be able to do a job in a midfield three. If we were going to return to a 4-3-3 there would even be an argument for sticking Oscar in there too (although I would say he is a better and more natural fit as the #10 - Eidur managed it though).

 

Completely agree with you about Luiz though. Considering the excellent form of JT and Cahill, as well as Ivanovic's ability to fill in and Zouma, Kalas, Omeruo, Chalobah (etc.) coming through he seems more and more dispensable. I think we should be bleeding Barca for every penny we can get for him.