The transfer solution.

[Metalanimal]

CB we are well covered I have said before as many have in this thread that Dawson/Kaboul will be our first choice pairing with Bassong/Kumalo/Gallas/Corluka as back up... pretty good cover there me thinks this area used to be of great concern but not anymore.

RB totally agree ref Walker with Corluka as cover and Naughton.. Hutton (much as I like his attacking qualities) to move on especially after his rumoured fallout with Arry.

LB I have been saying it for ages BAE needs quality cover and competition for the role.  Its only the last 2 seasons he has started to look more solid, prior he was our biggest weakness on the pitch.  He has put in some solid displays for us often looking one of the best LB's (which there arent many) in the world, then he will have a total shocker a game later.  He doesnt need nor would I want him replaced I value and rate him but comp and cover is a must, but who??? Baines is not good enough!

Striker we all know its needed but who??? the last transfer window was bloody shocking with all the reports of our failed bids for anyone with a slight rep of knowing where the goal is, we looked a f**king joke.  Fabiano would be good for us and is a possibility.  Hulk would be pricey am sure of that, but if poss at the right price worth a try.  Where are the likes of Obika?? he is ours and was looking good we have so many that are young and talented but dont make our grade, get shipped out and do well.

[dimexi]

Ok so I asked for opinions and alternative suggestions. Opinions are offered freely but alternative suggestions are not very forthcoming. Other than an insistence that the squad we have is good enough, But to WIN the league? Not just compete for top 4 but compete for the title! It is on this premise that I set out my stall. It looks like I have no support on the CB issue, so if you believe that Kaboul will become the rock at the heart of our defence then I will concede that point. We all agree that Walker will be our RB, no problem there.

I am starting feel bad about BAE as he seems to have done something I have missed to gain such loyalty and affection. BAE is not a player I want us to be without, when on his game he is very good. You agree he needs competition for his place but then seem intent on him being first choice, like we should get someone of the same or less quality. He makes too many mistakes, his passing can be very wayward, usually because his decision making is not what it should be, which also means he finds himself out of position too frequently.

As for up front we all agree that we need someone, but who? 

Remember, this is to WIN the title, not just aiming for fourth!

[Gareth Keown]

dimexi... youre getting abit ahead of yourself there aren't you ??

lets win the Champions League this year before even thinking about winning the Prem title shall we ??  ..... personally, I'm well happy to just get Top4 and keep either Citeh or Chavski out and dying of embarrassment (or the multi-billionaire crooks that own them)...

[dimexi]

we need a tall, strong, pacy striker to score goals and link well.... here are my well-priced options in the summer: Vucinic, Amauri, Obinna, C.Jerome, Wickham (Lennon was a regular at 18yrs), Sturridge..... any 2 from here will do Moi..

Vucinic: I think he has potential, but I am not sure if he has the strength to compete, although could be great alongside someone who does.

Amauri: If you mean the player from Juve’ then I don’t think he scores enough goals.

Obinna: Has had a good season, but not sure if he is the quality player we need.

C.Jerome: Again good, but not great.

Wickham: Definitely one for the future and could do well given a chance.
 
Sturridge: Has been playing well away from Chelsea and could become a real star, but may be a gamble.

All in all I think Vucinic or Sturridge would be my favoured players from this list. But I think that both of these would be good players for us, but they are not the complete striker we desperately need first and foremost.

[Gareth Keown]

we do not need the complete striker.... we need the complete team.

in the sub-squads of Goalkeepers, Defenders, Midfielderrs and Forwards, the only category we lag ANY club in is in the striking dept...

the components we lack in our forwards are pace with height and ability to play upfront alone when needed.... get 2 players with those attributes and blend with Crouch, Defoe and Pav... with the Vaart-lone-striker option..... and we will be ready next season to challenge the very best...

[Metalanimal]

we do not need the complete striker.... we need the complete team.

in the sub-squads of Goalkeepers, Defenders, Midfielderrs and Forwards, the only category we lag ANY club in is in the striking dept...

the components we lack in our forwards are pace with height and ability to play upfront alone when needed.... get 2 players with those attributes and blend with Crouch, Defoe and Pav... with the Vaart-lone-striker option..... and we will be ready next season to challenge the very best...

Nicely put GK, and you refering to THFC as we .... have ya burnt your Ars*nal shirt now then 

[Metalanimal]

Ok back on topic as this is a good threat 

LB - can anyone honestly say there is a better left back in the world right now that we would happily have replace BAE?  I think the answer would be no! to beef it up from our own backyard Danny Rose as already mentioned could switch the LB and cant Naughton play at either LB & RB, both though are out on loan if my grey matter is serving me correctly 

Striker - Fabiano, Bellamy, Hulk, Those listed by GK Sturridge is very tempting, Forlan for a season or 2, Adebayor would be awesome.  the only thing is at our club where we have the money to buy our wage structure will limit who we can win the signature off!

As for winning the EPL I think cementing our place in the top 4 is key focus and securing CL footi for the next few seasons and winning the EPL will hopefully be a natural progression from this.

[Gareth Keown]

Rose is a reserve backup for me.... ideally I'd like someone experienced to be happy to pick up a wage and be 1st reserve for BAE.... IF Rose wants to develop into a LB (if) then maybe we could explore that but the guy is really an attacking player and may not wanna learn LB just in case he gets 1 game in 10 backing up BAE...

Naughton is right-footed so not ideal LB material.... I actually see him more as a wide-middie... I liked him alot the Pre-Season before last when he played RM alot, he looked very comfortable there...

now I'm really not sure about Fabiano anymore... he seems to have lost alot of energy to his game now and may just come for a nice pay-cheque.... Forlan doesnt reallly give us the attributes already mentioned either, plus he too is old and very pricey wages-wise..... just get a good athlete who's 6ft+, god technique and intelligence and knows when to pass it and when to shoot.... he really doesnt have to be that 'famous'.

[dimexi]

LB - can anyone honestly say there is a better left back in the world right now that we would happily have replace BAE? 

I would have to say that Ashley Cole is a contender. I hear he can shoot really well 

On a more serious note. Yes, I too would be happy with securing our position as a top 4 team. After years where that was an unrealistic dream it is fantastic how far we have come. I think solving the striker problem, would be enough to challenge for that next season. But to win it, we are going to have to be super critical of where there are any, however slight, weaknesses in our team.

So come on be honest and tell me what you think needs to happen to allow us to realistically challenge for a title. I know it may not happen, but I want to believe.

[Gareth Keown]

to win the title, we'd need to keep our best players (which should happen when we secure 4th this season)... and then get in 2 strikers that fit the requirements of pace, height, shooting-power and lone-striker capability...

Obinna and Cameron Jerome/Sturridge ought to be enough to be crowned Premier League Champions 2011/2012

(and Obinna is available on a Bosman in the summer too  )

[aspursfan]

Do you really think Chelsea would sell Sturridge to us? Especially as he seems to be proving a point at Bolton. I think it's very unlikely.

[Gareth Keown]

I dont remember presenting only the 1 option.... if not Sturridge then someone very similar in attributes eg. C.Jerome or even David Ngog (very under-rated and hugely under-performing for Livpoo, as he knows he's only there to be backup now).... then there's even Wickham, Vucinic, Amauri, etc that I've mentioned recently..

any 2 from that list (or similar list) will do..

[aspursfan]

I don't think Chelsea would ever sell Sturridge to us. I'm just pointing out that it's an unrealistic target.

I think Liverpool would be absolutely thrilled if we went for Ngog. I would not be thrilled.

Jerome has scored 3 goals and provided 2 assists in 23 games. I don't really think that's the improvement we're in need of. He's tall, quick and strong, but I'm not so sure he's the goal scorer we're looking for. I think I'd prefer Rodallega to Jerome, but I'm hoping we go for someone with a fantastic goal scoring record.

[Gareth Keown]

Jerome hardly scores anymore cos Brum hardly play football, they stick 11 behind the ball and hope for the best eg. free-kicks, corners etc..... if Torres played for them and in the role assigned to Jerome, he wouldnt do any better...

you fall into the well-used trap of assuming a striker for TeamA will inevitably score the same amount of goals for TeamB, irrespective of how the team-tactics are and how he's deployed...

both Jerome and Ngog would be fantastic in a Spurs team.....

[aspursfan]

We'll just have to take your word for it.