He would do a good job in both roles, also allows us to give Emerson more chances to develop. 

Is Emerson in the age of development? I think he just needs to play. He is a starter for Italy and Chelsea. Just recovering from injury and his form is down currently.

2 minutes ago, yorkleyblue said:

We've already been told all we need is Lewis Cooke, Callum Wilson and Grealish.  Genius transfer business right there.

tbf I would take Wilson as a back-up striker but i don't think he would come here for that role. I don't think Grealish is any better than what we have. 

CB, or even 2(I'd get rid of both Zouma and Christensen), LB and this should be it. I don't want Sancho or whoever, Pulisic - Mount - CHO is the future and it's a bright one. Michy is a decent back up for Tammy at the moment, so we are just fine. 

1 minute ago, evissy said:

10 minutes ago, Remodez said:

He would do a good job in both roles, also allows us to give Emerson more chances to develop. 

Is Emerson in the age of development? I think he just needs to play. He is a starter for Italy and Chelsea. Just recovering from injury and his form is down currently.

That's what I meant by development. He needs a run of games to prove himself, he's not really had that since he joined.

If he's not good enough by the end of the season then by all means sign Chillwell but he should be given a chance at least.

Hopefully the young players will see this news as a positive and play even better.

We need a world class central defender more than anything and maybe we should make a large bid for Koulibaly. He has a £150m release clause but they may take less.

I think we should go large on one or two world class players and see no point in spread buying 3 or 4 good players. The January window is notoriously sparse as far as world class players is concerned so maybe wait until the summer.

Mbappe maybe?

This adds a bit pressure for Frank as well. Now he can't hide behind not being able to sign. Not that he had or would but media will no doubt use that against him.

Would like to see Ian Maatsen be given more chances...looks a real prospect that lad...don't want Zaha though...too much money for a position that we have a lot of talent for already...plenty of good options in the Championship if we gamble a little like Leicester etc.

Pedro, Giroud, Alonso if a new left back is bought in.

Striker, Winger, left back. If a top class centre half was available I'd say go for him... 

I would be happy to see things stay as they are but we all know it won't happen with the window now open.

I can see Zaha and Ake being chased and two who are likely to come. Who's out there in terms of strikers...?

13 minutes ago, GhostOfDembaBa said:

Pedro, Giroud, Alonso if a new left back is bought in.

Striker, Winger, left back. If a top class centre half was available I'd say go for him... 

I would be happy to see things stay as they are but we all know it won't happen with the window now open.

I can see Zaha and Ake being chased and two who are likely to come. Who's out there in terms of strikers...?

I still think we don't need a striker. If we get a right winger (Sancho would be incredible) who can score goals, then michy is more than capable enough as backup. No one out there is better than him who would join. No club needs 3 strikers. 

Left back can wait until summer and chilwell makes sense. 

Ake we will probably just sign because he's worth double what we'd need to pay. He'd be a decent swap for Christensen and would provide cover for left back as well.

I cant see us signing Zaha because he's not worth whar palace would sell for but we'd definitely enquire. 

In the summer we should go for milinkovic savic, he offers height in the midfield 3. Which we desperately need. Set pieces are weak because we don't have the height. Sarri made this point a lot and it's why alonso got so much game time when RLC was injured. I think it's also why giroud started against West Ham as Abraham does a lot of work defensively from set pieces 

Edited December 6, 20196 yr by bisright1

45 minutes ago, yorkleyblue said:

We've already been told all we need is Lewis Cooke, Callum Wilson and Grealish.  Genius transfer business right there.

Don’t forget Gerard Moreno!

We do need a decent back up striker, Giroud and Bats just don't do it for me.

I would get Cavani on the cheap (out of contract next summer) as a backup for Tammy, we don't want to overdo it in January and he would be keen to get involved no doubt.

In regards to strengthening we need to be careful of taking away opportunities for our younger members of the squad. When Rudiger is back we will have him, Zouma, Christensen and Tomori so I don't see the point on splashing money out on a player like Koulibaly.

It's a tough one for Frank really as you don't want to unsettle the team too much.

Edited December 6, 20196 yr by Malcolm9

45 minutes ago, Andy North said:

Hopefully the young players will see this news as a positive and play even better.

We need a world class central defender more than anything and maybe we should make a large bid for Koulibaly. He has a £150m release clause but they may take less.

I think we should go large on one or two world class players and see no point in spread buying 3 or 4 good players. The January window is notoriously sparse as far as world class players is concerned so maybe wait until the summer.

Mbappe maybe?

Benoit Badiashile from AC Monaco has been mentioned too...at 18 he looks a good deal and no where near £150m price mark...

Just hope we don't go daft and rush to sign squad fillers.

Roberto from Barcelona might be a good option as left back although I think he us playing more regularly now so might be harder to get.

5 minutes ago, Malcolm9 said:

We do need a decent back up striker, Giroud and Bats just don't do it for me.

I would get Cavani on the cheap (out of contract next summer) as a backup for Tammy, we don't want to overdo it in January and he would be keen to get involved no doubt.

In regards to strengthening we need to be careful of taking away opportunities for our younger members of the squad. When Rudiger is back we will have him, Zouma, Christensen and Tomori so I don't see the point on splashing money out on a player like Koulibaly.

It's a tough one for Frank really as you don't want to unsettle the team too much.

Good shout re Cavani, he is the type of clever older player that might just work. 

I also agree with comments that acquisitions at this point might just be as much a poisoned chalice as a boost in terms of team unity.

1 hour ago, Blueblur said:

This isn't the news I wanted to hear tbh.

I'm loving who we are right now

I'm actually disappointed it's been lifted, I would rather keep on like we are now even if we do have a poor season trophy wise. 

21 minutes ago, bisright1 said:

I still think we don't need a striker. If we get a right winger (Sancho would be incredible) who can score goals, then michy is more than capable enough as backup. No one out there is better than him who would join. No club needs 3 strikers. 

Left back can wait until summer and chilwell makes sense. 

Ake we will probably just sign because he's worth double what we'd need to pay. He'd be a decent swap for Christensen and would provide cover for left back as well.

I cant see us signing Zaha because he's not worth whar palace would sell for but we'd definitely enquire. 

In the summer we should go for milinkovic savic, he offers height in the midfield 3. Which we desperately need. Set pieces are weak because we don't have the height. Sarri made this point a lot and it's why alonso got so much game time when RLC was injured. I think it's also why giroud started against West Ham as Abraham does a lot of work defensively from set pieces 

Milinkovic Savic is a player that plays in the position where we most certainly don't need an extra player, RLC will provide that height in the games we need it. For me it would be a world class CB, preferably Koulibaly. The situation at Napoli is quite bad, and Di Laurentiis already spoke about the fact that he would have to let go of Koulibaly sooner or later. Furthermore, I would wait for a left back until the summer. Alaba has told multiple journalists he would be interested in a new challenge. Lastly, I would love to see either Sancho or Werner. Sancho because, well.. no explanation needed I think. Werner brings goals and can play on the right wing and as a striker. Therefore I would prefer Werner. If we go and get Sancho and keep one of the strikers, it could be a little overcrowded. Out: Giroud, Batsman, Barkley, Drinkwater, Alonso, Christensen or Zouma. In: Koulibaly, Alaba and Werner. Also: fill the squad with players like Maatsen, Gallagher and Gilmour.

27 minutes ago, Toti_Bete_Ka said:

Milinkovic Savic is a player that plays in the position where we most certainly don't need an extra player, RLC will provide that height in the games we need it. For me it would be a world class CB, preferably Koulibaly. The situation at Napoli is quite bad, and Di Laurentiis already spoke about the fact that he would have to let go of Koulibaly sooner or later. Furthermore, I would wait for a left back until the summer. Alaba has told multiple journalists he would be interested in a new challenge. Lastly, I would love to see either Sancho or Werner. Sancho because, well.. no explanation needed I think. Werner brings goals and can play on the right wing and as a striker. Therefore I would prefer Werner. If we go and get Sancho and keep one of the strikers, it could be a little overcrowded. Out: Giroud, Batsman, Barkley, Drinkwater, Alonso, Christensen or Zouma. In: Koulibaly, Alaba and Werner. Also: fill the squad with players like Maatsen, Gallagher and Gilmour.

RLC provides that height when he is fit, which has never been more than 50% in any season. As horrible as it sounds, our squad will be more balanced if we replace Kante with MS. We can't have a consistent midfield 3 consisting of Jorginho, Kante, Kovacic and Mount and win the league, the lack of height there is 80% of the reason we are dire at set pieces (the other 20% being Kepa). Add RLC and Milinkovic Savic to our squad and someone needs to go, Kante will get the most money and for me looks like a square peg in our system. 

If we can get Koulibaly, great, but I don't see that happening. I actually have warmed a lot more to the idea of Mings for our CB spot, but I believe CB should wait until the Summer and see who we can get - I still think we will just get Ake for £40m and sell Christensen for £50m. It makes the most financial sense.

Can Werner play on the right? I've never heard that before. 

Out: Giroud, Barkley, Drinkwater, Alonso, Christensen, Kante (circa £200m)
In: Sancho, Milinkovic Savic, Chilwell, Ake (circa £300m)

Making those changes, I genuinely think we'd be heading for an 80+point season. Never that simple though

Edited December 6, 20196 yr by bisright1

1 hour ago, yorkleyblue said:

We've already been told all we need is Lewis Cooke, Callum Wilson and Grealish.  Genius transfer business right there.

I agree with Grealish and Cook, but wouldn’t Wilson make a better back up striker than Bats and Giroud?

Has anyone mentioned Ake? Do we have a buy-back? Very good player, but it depends on how highly Frank rates our other CBs.

 

Edit: Just read page 1 and I can see lots of you have mentioned Ake!

Edited December 6, 20196 yr by Davey Baby

Cavani defiantly for me, would be a great addition to the squad and would not end up an expensive mistake. 

Cascarino on talksport just now made a good point, if we were to be a striker it is a huge decision, if he is better than Tammy then you are likely to upset Tammy and if you are going to find someone to be second to Tammy but better than Giroud and Batshuyi ?? Thats a tough buy.  (Sorry to state the bleedin' obvious)

 

 

 

Can’t wait for Callum Wilson, Zaha and Mr Divey Mcfalloveralot Grealish to arrive. I’d rather we were still banned with our track record in January windows 

13 minutes ago, andy said:

Cascarino on talksport just now made a good point, if we were to be a striker it is a huge decision, if he is better than Tammy then you are likely to upset Tammy and if you are going to find someone to be second to Tammy but better than Giroud and Batshuyi ?? Thats a tough buy.  (Sorry to state the bleedin' obvious)

 

 

 

Maybe get a versatile striker that can play out wide. More chance of keeping everyone happy. 

Its Werner all day for me, but i cant see him leaving in January, when he has cl football and a title challenge to look forward to.

 

Great we can go back to signing Zappacostas, bakas and drinkwaters and getting rid of these young kids we have been using...

 

Seriously I hope we use the market wisely, if at all.

Wouldn't mind splashing some cash on a properly good left back, and maybe decent back up/competition for Abraham. To address the point raised by Andy above, I'd like to belive that Tammy would not get upset if we sign another good/better striker. He should see that as a challenge and use it as motivation to continue improving. If not then it's tough sh*t, but he comes across as having a great attitude so I doubt it would be problem.

We don't really need anybody else, but if somebody top class becomes available then we should should still consider strengthening.