Dug this one up from 12 months ago. Its quite interesting really as much of it still applies. Only additions are : We need 2 strikers. Dempsey isn't good enough. We got Verthonghen, and unless Kaboul is going to recover fully, another CB as sorry Daws is too slow, and Gallas is finished. Caulker is still very young.
We most definitely need a top LB as I have been saying all season. Plus right and left sided attacking midfielders with real pace to supplement Lennon, who is always injured it seems, and Bale who even if he stays is used too much and has looked burnt out of late.
Comments......
Well I guess I ought to come out of semi-retirement to respond to this. Thank you for pointing out how this is still relevant today. I agree that the areas we needed strengthening are the same areas today. What I cannot understand is why we are able to identify this problem but there is a lack of desire from those in a position to do something about it. Why must we insist on being a borderline 4th team who dices with death as it were, relying on the other teams to mess it up, more than going the extra yard needed?
Obviously we would all like to see a number of world class players in our team, but the reality is we will not spend the amounts required to do so and if we are not getting champions league they wouldn't come anyway. However, we do not need to go out and buy a new team, we just need to rectify the weak areas with high quality, with the exception of the striker who if world class, would take us the extra mile we need.
Riff, I was about to put in the request for Baines as well, he would slot into our team and style perfectly and if the right amount is offered Everton cannot refuse it. It should be done swiftly and decisively, and not the usual wheeling and dealing trying to get the price at bargain basement level. If we do that Man U or others will step in.
I agree Rose is looking a better player and will provide good cover on the left side of the pitch. However, we could do with a new out and out winger, preferably one who can play on both sides. But again this just needs to be a quality player.
The area we have all been shouting about, since Berbatov left I would say, is a striker that can make the difference. Why don't we just offer 25 million for Rooney and make an exception to our wage structure? A crazy idea, I don't even particularly like him, but he would be amazing in our team and could easily become the next Gazza. We have always had that one player who was a cut above the rest. If Bale stays we could for a change have two.