Right then, who should we sign?

[ZLF]

Not sure of names but I am pleased that AN is not happy with the goal we conceded,  yet another soft one in the middle which we can't continue to do.   

Bassong looked solid on sat but the Stoke game is a better judge of whether he is really back to his best.  However russ continues to offer gaps,   including in the goal conceded where he showed the persistant trait of running straight his goal rather than defend the goal.  A starting option still needed 

Likewise when Jerome went off we missed his game craft,   Grabban worked hard but Jerome knows when to work and covers the whole width of the pitch,  Grabban stays mainly right giving cbs an easy out.  Grabban did everything cj did,  just leseffectively,  he will improve,  but we do need better than cj.  

 

[Yellow Fever]

I think a loan deal for Destro would make good sense. We could see how well he fits in and he could have a go or showcase his talents in the PL without having to be threatened by the possibility of relegation. Much better than the RvW situation.

 

[splutcho]

I wouldn't  mind us going in for Lewis Dunk from Brighton. Looks like he's on the move somewhere and he's a decent young CB.

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

I think a loan deal for Destro would make good sense. We could see how well he fits in and he could have a go or showcase his talents in the PL without having to be threatened by the possibility of relegation. Much better than the RvW situation.

The RvW situation worked well for St Etienne. Tried before they bought and ultimately passed

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

The Virgil van Dijk trail seems to have gone cold (if there was ever anything genuine in this), but might this work to our advantage? If he is looking to move and has been holding out for someone bigger than us, this hasnt materialised yet, and as the clock runs down we gain more and more leverage.

If noone else comes in for him, could easily see the much mooted deadline day part-exchange with Hooper being a real possibility

 

[Personal Trainer]

Guess much will depend on whether Celtic get through their play-off match.

 

[Din]

Seems to be a lot of chaos at the club right now about getting a new striker in. Destro has rejected us, Afobe not for sale, don't know what the situation is with Mbokani but presumably it's not gonna happen, but to be honest I think the answer is almost right under our noses in Dwight Gayle. He's essentially a Lewis Grabban that can finish. Good link-up play, capable of running the lines, quick, and most of all can score goals. He was Palace's top scorer last season with 10 goals, despite only starting 11 league games, a fair of those out of position in left wing. If he can score 10 whilst barely starting and often out of position, imagine how many he could get when starting regularly (which of course there's no guarantee he would but there's no reason why he can't challenge Jerome), and played up front in his natural position. The fact that he turned down Bristol City recently suggests as well he is holding out for a Premier League move, so would likely jump at the chance of coming here.

Saw the latest name linked was Michail Antonio, who for a start is a winger, but I also have serious doubts about whether he could make the step up and play as a striker for us. It confuses me really as to why we'd go for someone like him over Gayle.

 

[KeiranShikari]

Antonio would be better than Bennett from the bench but not better than Redmond or Brady from the start, probably. 

 

[Indy_Bones]

Can't agree with you on Gayle though Din.

Very average player who in truth offers little more than Hooper does, and still doesn't fit our lone striker style of play anymore than Hooper does either.

We either sign another player in the Jerome mould - strong, can hold the ball up, able to finish fairly well on most occasions and who offers us an aerial threat, or we turn things on their head and change the whole approach at which point players like RvW and Hooper suddenly become viable options and we don't have such a pressing need to sign another option....

As I can't see the latter happening anytime soon, then we need another Jerome, and that certainly doesn't come in the form of Gayle IMHO.

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

Quite a few interesting options to consider at the minute, some obvious, some less so.

LB - Baba Abdul Rahman from Augsburg

Just signed for Chelsea for £21m. Awwww shucks!

 

[Indy_Bones]

I seem to have this amazing knack of suggesting players a short time before they get moves elsewhere (and often to bigger clubs than expected).

Has all the potential to be a top left back for them, but it seems that Azpi is favoured highly by Jose so he may have to settle for playing second fiddle for the first year or so...

 

[ZLF]

Whittaker is a better right back, in my opinion.

Agree,  but not sure there is really that much between them at RB.

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

I seem to have this amazing knack of suggesting players a short time before they get moves elsewhere (and often to bigger clubs than expected).

Has all the potential to be a top left back for them, but it seems that Azpi is favoured highly by Jose so he may have to settle for playing second fiddle for the first year or so...

Perhaps you should become a professional scout. Did you read the scouting article someone posted on here - was a very interesting read

 

[Indy_Bones]

I think that suggestion will have raised a few eyebrows TGMD, considering how a number of our members think my suggestions are either totally unrealistic or complete no-marks!

 

[GJP]

I seem to have this amazing knack of suggesting players a short time before they get moves elsewhere (and often to bigger clubs than expected).

Has all the potential to be a top left back for them, but it seems that Azpi is favoured highly by Jose so he may have to settle for playing second fiddle for the first year or so...

Azpi could be going to right back.

 

[Indy_Bones]

Azpi is not going to displace Ivanovic from RB anytime soon IMHO, and whilst Ivanovic could move centrally, I don't see Jose dropping either Cahill or Terry to do that just to accomodate Rahman at LB instead of Azpi.

Although Jose's decision to sub Terry last week at half time was the clearest indication yet that he thinks he's getting a bit past it, and thus it's possible that Zouma or Ivanovic could replace Terry centrally.

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

I think that suggestion will have raised a few eyebrows TGMD, considering how a number of our members think my suggestions are either totally unrealistic or complete no-marks!

Depends on who you're scouting for...

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

Azpi is not going to displace Ivanovic from RB anytime soon IMHO, and whilst Ivanovic could move centrally, I don't see Jose dropping either Cahill or Terry to do that just to accomodate Rahman at LB instead of Azpi.

Although Jose's decision to sub Terry last week at half time was the clearest indication yet that he thinks he's getting a bit past it, and thus it's possible that Zouma or Ivanovic could replace Terry centrally.

Ivanovic is similar to Russell Martin in that he is very adept at both positions but will clearly have a favourite. I think he prefers centre-back. Similarly Azpi is really a rightback. Having preferred to play left back than right back despite being right-footed myself in my playing days, I can understand that Azpi might be quite happy and comfortable there, but you could argue Chelsea have a centre-back at rightback and a right-back at left back. Having a fullback on their weaker side is bound to have an impact on a number of things. Jose might have identified this as a problem and decided he really needs people in their preferred positions. Whilst Ivanovic does a superb job at rightback, he could just as easily be their centre-back. In light of him subbing Terry for the first time in their tenure, Jose may well be looking to shuffle things round. Will be interesting to see who misses out