In the last few days there have been numerous reports linking us to both a left back and a striker.
For the left back the initial report was that we had approached Gary Neville’s Valencia with a view to taking their tough tackling twice capped 29-year-old Argentine Lucas Orban on loan. That rumour quickly subsided with the news we were on the verge of securing the services of Brazilian born but Italian and Spanish eligible Guilherme Siqueira from Atletico Madrid. I was concerned about this one because be is described as an attacking full back, better going forward than back. I feel our back line is screaming out for a solid presence and with Townsend able to do the attacking on the left, it makes sense for us to employ a ‘limited’ full back concentrating on protecting our third of the pitch.
Now it transpires Valencia are about to scoop up Siqueira on a permanent deal, so I’d not be suprised if it was just the media putting 2 and 2 together and it was always Orban that we were going to sign. Watch this space. We had a successful Spanish left back in Jose Enrique not so long ago, but he did take a long while to warm up, which is always a concern with overseas purchases…
Up front we have been heavily linked to Loic Remy, Saido Berahino, Seydou Doumbia and Bafetimbi Gomis.
I won’t bore you with the specific stats but in terms of records in the PL, Gomis contributes a goal or assist every 3 games. At 30-years-old I don’t feel he is the man for us. His record this year mirrors Alexander Mitrovic’s almost exactly in terms of direct goal contribution, chances created, attacking moves etc with Gomis winning more one-to-one challenges.We need a significant improvement in our front line and Gomis does not fit the bill.
Seydou is an Ivorian with an impressive record in Russia, who can play up front or as an inside forward on either flank. If he comes in on loan, then we have little to lose – but he is unproven in the best leagues and is somewhat of a journeyman – again I’m not convinced.
So that leaves Remy and Berahino. Both of these players have directly contributed 1 goal every 2 games so far in their time in the English top flight. That makes them by far the better of the prospects currently available and we should move Heaven and Earth to secure one of them if we are serious about doing all we can to avoid the drop.
At 29, Remy would want a long contract as it’s likely to be his last big pay day. We know what he can do from his previous time with us, but with Leicester keen on him, we stand little chance of securing his services given their position in the league. I’d also be cautious about pinning our hopes on a man that has a track record of spurning us.
So that leaves Saido Berahino as the only realistic, available player capable of immediately significantly improving our front line. He is English, proven in the PL and only 22-years-old. It is rumoured we have offered in the region if £25m whilst the Baggies want in excess of £30m. Before I did my thorough homework on him, I though tbat price was steep given his questionable attitude this season. However, his stats are not in question and we don’t know what happened behind the scenes last summer. He might have been promised a move away only for West Brom to change the goalposts at the last minute. Who knows?
Andy Carroll was a young prospect that the Magpies managed to get £35m for several years ago way before this £5b TV deal was on the agenda. When you consider that and what is at stake for us this season, I’d say £30m for Berahino is actually a fair price and our board needs to cough up if they are serious about keeping this great club in the big time where it belongs.
Any of the other options are simply a cheap gamble….
Leicester in front, cracking goal apparently
kimtoon(Quote)
SHAM I had a secretary for twenty odd years I find it hard to spell never mind write a thread lol
Icedog(Quote)
Leicester took the lead …..could they really go and win the titel? I would love it If they pulled it off
AXEL(Quote)
Ice, don’t be coy. We all know what you had a secretary for! 😆
Shamrock(Quote)
😆 😆 😆
icedog(Quote)
Vardy gets a second, that lad is on fire, how I wish he was ours
kimtoon(Quote)
Axel, Me too, if only to show you don’t need megabucks to win the league. If they do they’ll be worthy winners
kimtoon(Quote)
Bournemouth score
AXEL(Quote)
thought City would of kicked on and really put the scum to the sword by now
kimtoon(Quote)
Their new striker scores again . We should of signed him
AXEL(Quote)
Axel – that’s 3 in 3 for Afobe.
Sharpy17(Quote)
ok ill have a new thread up in 30 mins
Shamrock(Quote)
Yeah SHARPY and we were supposedly interested in him ,Pitt we ****** about so long trying for Berhino .
AXEL(Quote)
Jesus Christ, Man! Bournemouth winning, Swansea winning and Thauvin been sent off within mins of his Marseille debut…
That new manager bounce really helping Swansea I see. We will need one of them after tomorrow.
Stuart79(Quote)
Swansea just took the lead
AXEL(Quote)
As it stand we are 7 points behind Swansea and Bournemouth. That is a huge amount to be behind teams in 15th and 16th position. Can’t see us getting anything tomorrow so I reckon were in the real ****! Desperate for a win on Saturday and we’d still be 4 points behind WBA!
Stuart79(Quote)
Aye with ten men too ffs
Icedog(Quote)
If the Baggies lose this they’ll really be all out for the win on Saturday with a days more rest as well 👿
kimtoon(Quote)
STUART we Will win the morn and be out the bottom 3 i just feel it .
AXEL(Quote)
Wouldn’t put it past the Scum to get a late equalizer either, c’mon City finish them off ffs
kimtoon(Quote)
at least Norwich are beaten
kimtoon(Quote)
Scum lose, right that’s a gift with them and Norwich losing, we simply have to take advantage tomorrow, 100% effort from all needed.
kimtoon(Quote)
Well iTS in our hands now a win Tomorrowland and we are out the bottom3
AXEL(Quote)
I don’t think we’ll get much tomorrow.
Huge gap now 😳
We need a couple of wins to keep believing
Gashley(Quote)
Said the other week that Pardews luck was running out at the wrong time, They have to play most of the teams down at the bottom bar us in the next few weeks.
CC(Quote)
Just not comfortable with such a big gap as this from just 5th bottom. We’re being cut adrift and are we really serious when we use the x use that we only need to catch Norwich???
Stuart79(Quote)
Phew, Swans only draw, that helps
kimtoon(Quote)
Saturdays games- us v baggies
Scum v l/pool
norw v Villa
B/mouth v Arsenal
Swans v Palace
kimtoon(Quote)
Still think Norwich could drop instead of us, but it’s gonna be so tight.
kimtoon(Quote)
We need to win our games. Forget anyone else. We need 5 or 6 wins regardless of whatever anyone else does.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I didn’t see any points tomorrow night when looking through our fixtures, so a draw or a win would be bonus.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Norwich will beat Villa. Everyone does, well apart from us.
Sharpy – It’s not as simple as dying forget everyone else’s results. Because everyone plays on different days these days it means the pressure on teams who play after teams that have had a positive result is a lot more.
Seriously – I think we’re ****** if we don’t get something tomorrow.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stu – I disagree mate. We know if we can get 18points we are pretty much safe.
Sharpy17(Quote)
If we get nowt tomorrow we’re not ******… Have you seen Norwich’s fixtures. Not many points up for grabs
Aston Villa v Norwich City
Norwich City v West Ham United
Leicester City v Norwic
Norwich City v Chelsea
Swansea City v Norwich City
Norwich City v Manchester City
West Bromwich Albion v Norwich City
Norwich City v Newcastle United
Crystal Palace v Norwich City
Norwich City v Sunderland
Norwich City v Watford
Arsenal v Norwich City
Norwich City v Manchester United
Everton v Norwich City
Gashley(Quote)
So you don’t think pressure from your rivals results makes any difference, Sharpy?
Stuart79(Quote)
Like I said, relegation will be between us and Norwich.
New thread >>>>
Shamrock(Quote)
What a stunning goal from Vardy
kimtoon(Quote)
CC 415
you owe kim an appolgy when ya sobber up buddy not like you
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)