Discussion: What kind of players do we need now?

[mikeygold]

i would like us to sign a naybet type caracter for centerback and for midfield a player that is realy helping to coach others at the same time the benefit of players like these could be muc greater than a stop gap player coming in

 

[Crow]

We really, really need an arse kicking ball winner in the centre of the park. I don't know if Veloso is that player as I haven't seen him play. We just need some real aggression and steel in midfield, Hudd and JJ ain't the men for that job I'm afraid.

JJ has all the tools to do the job but he doesn't have the aggressive mentality and at this stage I don't think he's going to develop it.

 

[nightgoat]

Hoddle, Waddle, Gascoigne, Ginola, Greaves, McKay, Lineker, Klinsmann, Blanchflower, Jennings and a time machine.

While we're at it, Pele, Maradona, Cruyff, Puskas and Zidane too.

But if we've got a time machine we could get Tim Sherwood instead... :up:

 

[joey55]

Bold statement but I don't think we need anyone for the starting XI unless Berba leaves.

Assuming Berbatov stays all we need is cover for RB, CB and ST, in my opinion.

All this talk about NEEDING a defensive midfielder is wide of the mark. I think JJ will do a great job in the Carrick role this season and we can easily save ourselves £10m+.

Berbatov and Bent should be starting up front if we're playing a 4-4-2. This is Bent's big opportunity and he's taken it so far pre-season, give the lad a chance and just bring in a striker who's happy to sit on the bench and make sub appearances and play in some of the less important games.

As it stands, our side against Boro could well be:

Gomes
Gunter - King - Woodgate - Bale
Lennon - Jenas - Modric - Dos Santos
Berbatov - Bent

Subs: Forecast, Dawson, Huddlestone, Zokora, Bentley
Then two of BAE, Gilberto, Rocha, O'Hara, Taarabt.
With Hutton to come back from injury.

Add to that a RB, CB and ST I think we're alright.

I totally agree. When I mentioned this or have seen it mentioned I keep on hearing about how his positonal sense isn't good enough or he doesn't tackle enough etc. But these criticisms are firstly unfounded and secondly ignore the fact that as a DM he'll be playing in a role in which he spends nearly all his time behind the ball and thus his role is far more defined, so it will be far easier to read the game and thus make tackles and positon himself. At the moment he spreads himself too thin.

He made his name as a more defensive player at Newcastle, where he won PFA Young Player of the Year and was compared to Vieira (I know you're not suggesting him a Vieira role, but he was a defensive box to box player). But what irritates me the most about people saying he can't play there, is that he already has done and has been excellent. This season he played as a DM against Utd and Derby and we was very good in both games. Against Derby he still managed to burst forward and score a great goal. The season before last season, he played there for the first half away to Chelsea and gave a near faultless performance. I've actually uploaded the Chelsea game on Youtube if anyone is interested in seeing just how good JJ was in that role.