Jan Siginings

[Swiss]

A lot of noise about Isco...

Do we need him? Not really a priority for me, another Wide Forward... But if we strengthen the middle and the CB, poss LB (Clichy replacement) then I'd be happier!

[nimrod]

We need a CB with plenty of prem experience

imo ota and mang are the main reason were not 6 points clear of the gooners at the top

whoever signed them should be left to scavage for food on tori's acreage and used as target practise

[Swiss]

If you could have any current player to fill the three holes we have.

ST
CM
CB

-----ins------------------out
ST- P.Dybala. ---------- W. Bony
CM- P. Pogba ---------- Y. Toure (out at end of the season)
CM - T. Kroos/A. Vidal-- R. Fernando
CB - Diego Godin ------- Demichelis
CB - J. Denayer--------- Mangala (Unfortunately not until the end of the season)

[Swiss]

We need a CB with plenty of prem experience

imo ota and mang are the main reason were not 6 points clear of the gooners at the top

whoever signed them should be left to scavage for food on tori's acreage and used as target practise

What's your critique of Ota?

[nimrod]

What's your critique of Ota?

Ive seen him be outmuscled, nutmegged, missed far too many tackles today, which is the problem if you throw yourself into tackles all the time. Both their chances came from people going straight through him as if he wasn't there, which really can't happen right in the middle of the pitch.
He's an average CB, we need batter

[nimrod]

We dont need the likes of Isco..............Id like a better LB please

[Rowley Birkin QC]

I'll be pleasantly surprised if we manage to sign anyone significant this January.

If we are talking January (thread title) we are talking about immediate priorities. We do look a little thin at left back, but with Clichy now at least fit enough to be back on the bench and Kolarov going OK I'm not sure that's very high on the list (at least until the summer).

I'm not as worried about Otamendi as nimmers, but Mangala is a huge headache. He appears to be totally lacking in confidence and always caught in two minds about what to do whenever the ball comes near him under pressure - with invariably scary outcomes! Not sure what we can do about it this month though. Even if we can find and draft in a good solid CB at short notice, it will be just another unfamiliar face for the rest of the defence to get used to (and at a crucial time in the season).

At this junction, I think I would rather strengthen the defence in front of the defence, and go and get us a specialist defensive / holding midfielder. Some one less 'box to box' then Fernandinho and Delph - but better than Fernando. 

Oh - and Pellers simply must find some matches to give Inheanacho some decent pitch time.

[gavin]

Both centre halves were poor again today, both defensively and distributing the ball carelessly all too often. Interesting that Fernandinho was moved to centre half to accommodate Wilf. Fernandinho himself says he didn't understand in his interview on the OS. It wouldn't be a big surprise to see a centre half arrive.

In fact the way we are playing you could make arguments for replacements in most areas. It is just a matter of what is available really anyway. If at any stage we can get better than we have at a decent price we should.

However, our underachievement this season is so great that the manager has to bear the responsibility. So many players are playing beneath themselves. The sub of Mangala for Bony was desperation pure and simple. But wtf we won. Maybe it will spur an upturn in form but I'm tired of saying that.

[Ludo]

Central defence is a problem but the we've just lashed out £70 million on Otamendi and Mangala so I can't see the sheikh dipping into his pocket again any time soon.

A new left back and a new set of physio's would be my priority.

[alexsam]

Isco for me is a no brainer. The guy is good and at 23 fits into our plans to build for the future. If we can get him for £20/25 million do the deal.

[Swiss]

I'm not saying he's not good, just not a priority.

Papers quoting 30m+

[Swiss]

[Neil Mcnab]

Realistic for this window, Isco isnt playing as much as he wants. Unless he can play CM, no guarantee of more time with us.

Toure needs to go, does not deserve a starting place for me. Replacing him this window would be a miracle though.

Mangala looks like a mistake waiting to happen. Demi has one foot on the plane back to BA. I would guess we need a CB familiar with the league or playing in a similar league like the Bundesliga. Otherwise we are talking 6 months of settling in. The exception to this would be Godin who looked superb at world cups and not shabby for Athletico Madrid. However, has he unofficially turned down interest from us once before? 

[lee]

isco would be very welcome

id like  new striker and a new cb please

bony is bobbins and mangala is gash

[alexsam]

by the seasons end yaya will again be lauded by all

scored a fantastic goal yesterday whilst still not in top form

when he is gone we will miss him immensely and those slagging him off now will wonder where they went wrong - imho

[gavin]

You would think after three goals in four games and the major part in a late winner in another recent game they'd be beginning to realise their mistake already.

[Rowley Birkin QC]

Too early to be replacing Yaya. Very big boots to fill there. Whatever his limitations might be, he's still a very influential player

[Ludo]

There's no doubting Yaya's influence it's just that it's more forward thinking than defensive minded.

If we had a formation that suited him better he'd be irreplaceable but as it stands the amount we're weakened defensively, especially in away games, gives room for thought. Playing 4-2-3-1 with Yaya as one of the two in front of the back four leaves us wide open at times.

[Rowley Birkin QC]

Agreed. As I think I've posted before, it's hard to accommodate Silva, De B, and *and another wide player* - AND Yaya in the same starting line up, without playing Yaya in the deeper defensive role. A position he no longer seems to have the legs for.

Still need him though.

[Leewonpen]

There's no doubting Yaya's influence it's just that it's more forward thinking than defensive minded.

If we had a formation that suited him better he'd be irreplaceable but as it stands the amount we're weakened defensively, especially in away games, gives room for thought. Playing 4-2-3-1 with Yaya as one of the two in front of the back four leaves us wide open at times.

Think it goes further than that....an important issue for me in our form this season is how we play when we haven't got the ball, I think we have to work much harder as a team - defensive AND attacking players - and in this respect Yaya is a passenger.