January 2021 Transfer Window

[Premier Quality]

the thing is though, we have the players to do better than we are at the moment, we’re just underperforming. A new player or two is always nice, but if we cut out the mistakes we will be in good shape without them anyway.

that’s why I think it’s on Nuno to find a shape or style that can help the players minimise the impacts of errors.

 

[Tredman]

Bringing in a new player, particularly a new striker, is a quick way to give other players confidence. I think we should aim for a loan with an option - and if we are happy with Raul's progress let the option expire. I know its not easy, but if the rumoured list of 50 was correct its definitely doable.

 

[Tony Towner]

the thing is though, we have the players to do better than we are at the moment, we’re just underperforming. A new player or two is always nice, but if we cut out the mistakes we will be in good shape without them anyway.

that’s why I think it’s on Nuno to find a shape or style that can help the players minimise the impacts of errors.

I agree, but cutting out the mistakes seems easier said than done. Nuno says it after every game, even picked a side with Saiss at left back to try and eradicate them, we still conceded 3 more soft goals. If we had Harry Kane up front on Saturday we might have scored a couple more, but we'd have still let 3 in. As Tredman says sometimes the new face just lifts the atmosphere. If it were an either/or I'd prioritise a ball winning, organising centre back over a forward. If we still had Ryan Bennett I'd play him in a 2 at the moment

 

[Johnny75]

Edouard is good, I would take him in our current circumstances. Don't think we will be doing that, as when Raul gets back we'd effectively have 3 senior strikers (whether you agree with this or not, seems to be the club's approach).

I'd be focusing on a wide player/forward. Like if we had gone for Hwang last January - don't have any suggestions off top of my head right now though!

I'd be taking Edouard on the assumption Raul may take longer and if we do get Raul fit then he can play wider or in a front 2 as well.

 

[YoungWolf]

Fair enough. I could see Nuno playing Raul behind a striker in a 4-4-1-1 too tbf.

Chelsea are apparently going to go all out for Haaland in the summer, which would probably mean Abraham leaving. I know some aren't fan, but I think he is a really good goalscorer personally - and we have clearly held an interest previously.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Abraham is an awful footballer. I expect better from you Louie.

 

[YoungWolf]

He's good at putting the ball in the back of the net! I can't always be sunshine and Busquets OK

 

[Wilf Wolf]

It should be easy to reduce really critical mistakes like making unnecessary challenges which result in penalties. If we had done that five games ago there would be little talk of relegation and the need for another striker.

 

[YoungWolf]

We've conceded over half of our goals from set piece and penalties. 15 out of the 29 I think. Even if we can just get that area right results will probably improve in the short term even if the general performances don't!

 

[Tredman]

As bonkers as it might sound Raul was possibly almost our best defender from slung in set pieces, we really miss him. This also says a lot about the performance of our central defenders & Donk - I hoped with Donk & Boly back in the team this would improve...

 

[Premier Quality]

Donks going through a real slump at the moment - probably because of his injury and then he’s not back up to speed yet, but he needs to get there quickly.

Saiss hasn’t been amazing in the air defensively either, I still don’t think he’s a long term answer, though he is a good squad player.

Boly is always excellent in the air, concentration is his issue, but you’d hope at his age that he’d be at his peak now and would have improved.

Kilman needs games to see if he can be a longer term answer. If not here then he needs to go out on loan and get them.

if Kilmans not the answer then centre back needs to be a real priority for us in the next window.

 

[Tredman]

then centre back needs to be a real priority for us in the next window.

This is a post for every thread of this type.

 

[Premier Quality]

This is a post for every thread of this type.

True. Except wing backs!

centre back and a line breaking midfielder to support the forwards for me.

 

[MARKakaJIM]

I think the system is a bigger problem than any individual when it comes to defending set pieces, the big lads just string themselves out in a line and let the opposition get a run on them, unless you've got a leap like Cristiano Ronaldo you're already going to struggle to win that challenge. It all seems to be reliant on this idea that the smaller players do some kind of blocking job on the opposition runners but it's obviously not working, and hasn't all season in reality, whether that's because they're not cut out for the job, too easily avoided or just fearful of anything too blatant being punished.

They need to incorporate a less passive element to the defending of set pieces, even just highlighting the two biggest threats from the opposition and going man for man there then looking what you've got left in the tank for zonal bits would be an improvement on what's happening at the moment.

 

[AndyWolves]

I might have missed it being posted elsewhere but we've conceded the most from set pieces and the most penalties so far this season. 18 in total - just shy of a goal a game

 

[YoungWolf]

We also seem to really struggle with diagonal/deep crosses where the ball is headed back across - rarely win the second ball either

 

[MARKakaJIM]

We also seem to really struggle with diagonal/deep crosses where the ball is headed back across - rarely win the second ball either

Definitely! Think Coady is a problem in those situations, he always seems to want to drop back onto the goal line when the ball gets stuck in the box like that, Saiss too at times, rather than stay in a position where he might be able to prevent an attempt on goal to begin with.

 

[Carrotdude]

Fair enough. I could see Nuno playing Raul behind a striker in a 4-4-1-1 too tbf.

Chelsea are apparently going to go all out for Haaland in the summer, which would probably mean Abraham leaving. I know some aren't fan, but I think he is a really good goalscorer personally - and we have clearly held an interest previously.

I don’t want them to ruin Haaland like they have every other striker that goes there! I assumed City would go all out to get him.

 

[prawnking]

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Yep, I hope a centre half and centre mid, both of whom are ready to play straight away and are perfect fits for whatever destination Nuno has for us style-wise, are the priority in the summer.

Think it's asking too much for either of them to rock up this month though

 

[northfield wolf]

For gods sake, we are heading for trouble, and nothing seems to be getting done. As previously said "a fresh face would give everyone a lift". We have made outstanding progress since Nuno came in, what a crying shame it would be to throw it all away this season.