21 hours ago, Dean said:

Is there nobody on here who thinks: maybe let’s not spend anything in the January transfer window and see what these young players and Lampard are really made of? During the summer many were clamouring for Lampard and for giving the young players a chance, even if that meant a poor season or even longer. We hit a rough patch for a few weeks and we should just give up on them?

We are a massive club, with deep pockets, if we take mount as an example, do we persist with mount on the hope that he develops into a world class player, even if he isnt performing and rsults are not good? Or do we bring in a top drawer attacking midfielder for the here and now, whilst still giving mount opportunities from the bench and in rotation? 

For me it has to be the second option, its what we shouldve always done, instead of spending on squad players.  

Giving youth a chance at a big club like ourselves, isnt just sticking with the kids, in the hope they will develop into world class players. I want to see us build a squad capable of competing for titles, supplemented with the best academy prospects, and if a young player starts outperforming his competition, then he is in the team on merit. 

We arent Tottenham or Dortmund, we dont need to rely on producing our own talent to compete, with the resources we have now, i think we should be aiming higher. 

This isnt meant to be a criticism of tomori, mount, james, abraham etc its just where i feel personally the club should be headed. 

2 hours ago, Osgoodwasgood said:

Absolutely not. The youngsters have done a great job and January is not a great time to be buying, rarely any real quality available. We have shown some frailties in recent weeks, but not necessarily from the younger players. I just feel we lack a bit of creativity and need some more aerial dominance in the side for set pieces at both ends of the pitch. Whether we can rectify that in this window remains to be seen but i dont want to see us waste money, id rather us wait and compliment the positives in the current side with decent signings in the summer.

For me Rudiger should help strengthen now he is back , left back could be stronger though is not dire. 

Attack wise is where I see the concern, Abraham needs help. We need another outlet.

 

I'm actually not as worried about our attack (particularly with Ruben still to return) as I am about our awful defence. Lewandowski could score a mountain against us over both legs the way we are going. 

That said I'm unsure as to whether solutions to any of our problems will be available in January. 

1 hour ago, Spiller86 said:

I'm actually not as worried about our attack (particularly with Ruben still to return) as I am about our awful defence. Lewandowski could score a mountain against us over both legs the way we are going. 

That said I'm unsure as to whether solutions to any of our problems will be available in January. 

I wasn't as worried about our attack a few games ago but our home results have had me a bit worried recently. Not with Tammy but with the wide and central players supporting him. I hope Ruben can offer us something different when he comes back.

Everyone will agree the defence needs sorting out, but i think our main priority is a top notch striker. We really have been playing awful recently but if we had that top goal scorer along side or rotating with tammy  given the amount of chances we should have put away, our points tally would have / will be so much better.

 

On 15/12/2019 at 10:11, Dean said:

Is there nobody on here who thinks: maybe let’s not spend anything in the January transfer window and see what these young players and Lampard are really made of? During the summer many were clamouring for Lampard and for giving the young players a chance, even if that meant a poor season or even longer. We hit a rough patch for a few weeks and we should just give up on them?

I like youth getting a chance, but I also think we shouldn't abandon the chance to buy top players when they are available. That would be entering Arsenal territory where Arsene Wenger just played youth because it was cool and didn't address the areas of the team that needed improving. 

If we have the chance to improve out squad in January I'd say we take it. There are a lot of senior players on the team that simply aren't good enough anymore and need to be replaced, and our youth players alone aren't enough to sustain us all season.

On 15/12/2019 at 09:11, Dean said:

Is there nobody on here who thinks: maybe let’s not spend anything in the January transfer window and see what these young players and Lampard are really made of? During the summer many were clamouring for Lampard and for giving the young players a chance, even if that meant a poor season or even longer. We hit a rough patch for a few weeks and we should just give up on them?

I'm all aboard the 'let this play out and see what we have train'. I think we know what we don't have at this point though. 

My apprehension is that we're so close to being a very dangerous side. Aside from United (which, wtf?) the lads have given the top teams all they wanted. The team is obviously missing a couple of difference makers.

We're never keeping our 4 CBs happy so to me at least 1 is as good as gone this summer. An upgrade there helps right now and doesn't have to hold anyone back apart from Zouma or Christensen, on of which will definitely be leaving this summer. 

The same goes for attacking midfield. Pedro is gone and the club don't look interested in renewing Willian. You can sign someone there and have 4 players for 3 places. 

16 minutes ago, TheChelseaBlues said:

I'm all aboard the 'let this play out and see what we have train'. I think we know what we don't have at this point though. 

My apprehension is that we're so close to being a very dangerous side. Aside from United (which, wtf?) the lads have given the top teams all they wanted. The team is obviously missing a couple of difference makers.

We're never keeping our 4 CBs happy so to me at least 1 is as good as gone this summer. An upgrade there helps right now and doesn't have to hold anyone back apart from Zouma or Christensen, on of which will definitely be leaving this summer. 

The same goes for attacking midfield. Pedro is gone and the club don't look interested in renewing Willian. You can sign someone there and have 4 players for 3 places. 

Fair comment as are the other replies. For the record, I think we should definitely strengthen the squad over time, just don’t think we should be charging into the Jan window, for reasons outlined, unless there are good fits at the right price. I think we’ll be ok if we don’t find the right players. Was also just observing the low tolerance for a bit of pain among some of us ?

We need a decent defender and an attacker ASAP if we want champions league football. 

Whatever transfer business we do I just really hope we do it as early as possible.

Surely it would be better to intagrate them into the team during January rather than buying a player just in time for February and then having Champions League knock out matches a couple of weeks later.

As much as I dislike Liverpool they have the right idea and look to buy in time for them to play as soon as possible.

They done it with VVD and he had his first goal by early January and they've done it again with their latest signing.

I'm personally more excited by a deal wrapped up early who could slowly get used to his new teamates than a deadline day transfer - I'd rather leave all that nonsense to Jim White & Sky Sports News.

To me it's just depriving yourself valuable playing time of a new recruit.

Edited December 26, 20196 yr by 2211

Recall Bakayoko from loan, have him play a two man pivot with Barkley.
Play Michy upfront with Kenedy and Piazon in support.
Recall Miazga too, have him feed long balls to Pullisic, who will be at LB. That American connection will be enough to guarantee us Top 3 at least. 

3 minutes ago, TomCFC85 said:

Recall Bakayoko from loan, have him play a two man pivot with Barkley.
Play Michy upfront with Kenedy and Piazon in support.
Recall Miazga too, have him feed long balls to Pullisic, who will be at LB. That American connection will be enough to guarantee us Top 3 at least. 

 

Just get Werner and we are good.

21 minutes ago, TomCFC85 said:

Recall Bakayoko from loan, have him play a two man pivot with Barkley.
Play Michy upfront with Kenedy and Piazon in support.
Recall Miazga too, have him feed long balls to Pullisic, who will be at LB. That American connection will be enough to guarantee us Top 3 at least. 

We’d win the league with that line up if we converted the table in to Australian. 

What about Adama Traore as a winger in January and then Sancho in summer also .. leave us with traore, cho, pulisic and sancho as wingers next season.

 

Traore’s end product seems to have really improved he was amazing against city last night and his speed And directness and brute strength to bully his way through would be so valuable At breaking down teams at home. He is absoutely built to take the premier league by storm and is showing immense improvement in the technical side of his game. 

On 26/12/2019 at 20:23, TomCFC85 said:

Recall Bakayoko from loan, have him play a two man pivot with Barkley.
Play Michy upfront with Kenedy and Piazon in support.
Recall Miazga too, have him feed long balls to Pullisic, who will be at LB. That American connection will be enough to guarantee us Top 3 at least. 

Well we're 1 day away and whats gonna happen. Straight in with a surprise couple of stella signings, a couple of average, or last minute basement deals.

What I see happening.

Ake and one of Werner/Dembele in January.

Sancho for the summer.

Pedro, Giroud and one of Alonso/Emerson sold with Ake in mind as cover for LB.

3 hours ago, Kev56 said:

Well we're 1 day away and whats gonna happen. Straight in with a surprise couple of stella signings, a couple of average, or last minute basement deals.

Wait until the last minute to hash out deals on Jan 30th or 31st most likely lol

On 28/12/2019 at 17:24, I Am Gay 4 Diegod said:

What about Adama Traore as a winger in January and then Sancho in summer also .. leave us with traore, cho, pulisic and sancho as wingers next season.

 

Traore’s end product seems to have really improved he was amazing against city last night and his speed And directness and brute strength to bully his way through would be so valuable At breaking down teams at home. He is absoutely built to take the premier league by storm and is showing immense improvement in the technical side of his game. 

Too inconsistent for me, I would avoid him. 

39 minutes ago, Slojo said:

Too inconsistent for me, I would avoid him. 

Before this season he was inconsistent, but this season he's the 2nd highest rated player in the league. 

35 minutes ago, coco said:

Before this season he was inconsistent, but this season he's the 2nd highest rated player in the league. 

I wouldn't fancy him when our team is playing in the oppositions half and they've got 11 men behind the ball, he seems to only thrive when there's aces of space for him to knock the ball on to. 

He is only 23 mind, but still I just don't think he's elite level, his stats aren't that good either. 

21 hours ago, Sheva said:

What I see happening.

Ake and one of Werner/Dembele in January.

Sancho for the summer.

Pedro, Giroud and one of Alonso/Emerson sold with Ake in mind as cover for LB.

Ake makes no sense when we already have 4 defenders in the squad. Hypothetically if we bought a CB in Jan we would have to lose 2CBs, as things stand Christensen who is 4th choice is not seeing any game time. Makes no sense adding a 5th one who can cover as a LB.

Do we need a LB in Jan? Absolutely; I just how our management is smart enough not to neglect that position and put all our eggs in the Chiwell basket. Digne sounds like a smart reasonable replacement for Emerson in Jan, and come summer if we lose Alonso we can buy a good option. 

11 minutes ago, ducavis said:

Ake makes no sense when we already have 4 defenders in the squad. Hypothetically if we bought a CB in Jan we would have to lose 2CBs, as things stand Christensen who is 4th choice is not seeing any game time. Makes no sense adding a 5th one who can cover as a LB.

Do we need a LB in Jan? Absolutely; I just how our management is smart enough not to neglect that position and put all our eggs in the Chiwell basket. Digne sounds like a smart reasonable replacement for Emerson in Jan, and come summer if we lose Alonso we can buy a good option. 

Ake is a 60m player we can buy for 40m. He would arguably be better than all our CB bar rudiger. I'd be surprised if we don't try and sign him. If we don't, city will. 

Not better than what we currently have