Personally speaking I want to see at least two experienced players for each position. To me that is a minimum if we are to have a team that can compete throughout the season and survive such injury problems like we’ve had this season. If we can do that we can then keep the kids as a bonus we’d be covered for even the most harsh injury crisis.
Where to start though? I guess the easiest way is to break it down into positions otherwise we’ll end up in a free-for-all. Hopefully you’ll find this interesting as I’ve picked some altogether different names for us all to ponder.
Goalkeepers – Easy – none needed. We are fine in that department. It’s going to be an interesting pre-season as there is going to be a battle for number one, and a winner is far from obvious as yet.
Defence – We have three decent centre-backs plus Tamas Kadar. Personally I think an extra central defender would be nice. Someone with Premier League experience, but not too expensive, like James Tomkins from relegated West Ham.
Left/right-back – If Jose Enrique stays then I would still buy Cheik M’Benge or Mamadou Sakho as have needed an extra left-back for heaven knows how long. If Jose gose (like the typo?) then buy both. Simpson is OK, James Perch isn’t, so how about Guy Demel on a free as an option at right-back?
Midfield – Cheik Tiote is immense, but we have no real decent back up so young Victor Wanyama (19) from Germinal would be a good shout. I then want to see good central midfielder either side so that if we need a five man midfield we have one. Joey Barton is one, and he can also play backup on the right side of midfield. On the left we are playing Jonas as a winger. He is out of position in my view. I personally would like to see Ozan Ipek playing on the left of a three man midfield. He wouldn’t be cheap, but he would come.
Attack – In case you haven’t guessed I’d play Hatem Ben Arfa behind the main striker with Kevin Nolan in an advanced position linking play. If we sign Stephen Ireland he would provide competition for places, but I would also like to see Jonas play there. This means we have width and creativity again, at last. If we had Seb Larsson it would only be to keep Ed happy. Up front I’d like to see young Kolbeinn Sigthorsson as cover, but for my main front man I would go for Yevhen Seleznyov. He’s 6′ 1”, 25-years-old with 65 goals from 124 games. He is also a Ukrainian international.
Width – Personally I think that the width comes from the back rather than outright wingers. My logic is that when we need to control the midfield we have three midfielders in the centre, namely Ipek, Tiote & Joey. When we need to attack wide then we can bring three players into play like, Jose, Ipek and Ben Arfa or Danny Simpson, Joey Barton and Kevin Nolan. Surely we can generate enough crosses from those players? However, an out-and-out winger is appropriate when the circumstances demand it, and therefore buying one would not be a bad idea. Antoine Griezmann would fit the new NUFC profile.
To summarise – I’d like us to sign Ipek & Seleznyov to strengthen the starting XI, with seven new players to strengthen the squad. Is it going to happen? Of course not, but that in my opinion is the scale of the problem.
I’ve not included the likes of Shola Ameobi, Leon Best, Xisco, Alan Smith, Ryan Taylor, James Perch, Peter Lovenkrands and Danny Guthrie. Also I’ve not included any of the youngsters, however I am convinced they will start to emerge next season. So it may well be that we may use these players to only buy three or four of the squad players.
If we could make transfer movement something like this then we’ll not only have a competitive squad for next season, but we’ll also have cover all over the pitch aswell as the ability to change formation on a game by game basis.
What do you think?
Was talking to someone connected with the youth coaching at Newcastle last night and he told me that Pardew is very keen on Daniel Sturridge, that would be a great signing.
bobby(Quote)
Until I start fantasy window shopping, my wish is to keep the likes of Tioté, Barton, Enrique and Nolan. I’m hoping Benny can play on that leg, confidently. I’m hoping Ferguson has a lot to do with our pre season blooding.
I’m not one to read the menu before I’ve digested my last meal myself. I’m sure Graham Carr has lined up some genius for us.
I am hoping Smith, Disco Xisco, Perch are let go during the window aswell 😎
Ryan(Quote)
I’d love to have Sturridge at the Toon – he would be my no1 target
3hourswasted(Quote)
would love too give sturrige the number 9 but cannit see it happening 🙁
batty(Quote)
Sturidge will be plying his trade at Chelski next yr so I think its a no go 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
It would be a risk putting all our eggs in one basket with Seleznyov but then again it’s going to be a risk signing anyone from a different league.
I wouldn’t think Ipek would cost that much because Bursa aren’t one of the bigger teams over there and they’ve only qualified for the Europa League I think.
Defiantly like the idea of Wanyama, not only is he good but he would come even to be back up for now because of his age.
dan4toon(Quote)
Mamadou Sakho price tag will be too high, he is on of the youngest and most talented CB for france and PSG now this, they’d hold out for more than we’d offer.
davidtoon4life(Quote)
I’m not one for picking players, especially those I’ve not seen play on a regular basis – or at all.
But if we’re in dreamtime mode I’d go for Sturridge. He’s about the best young striker I’ve seen in England. And Ireland.
Brisvegas(Quote)
Sakho is a FM beast 😆 😆
Jobey07(Quote)
Wanyama is just a beast full stop 😆
dan4toon(Quote)
Jobey
Classic FM! Always judge a player on his ability on Fifa or FM! 😆 😆
pearceet(Quote)
In my FourFourTwo it has the top 20 un-20’s in the world and is has Aaron Ramsey at number 3 😕
dan4toon(Quote)
@11. 😆 😆 😆
I haven’t even heard of the other 2, ipek and sloslolosloysolzkok.
Looks like i need to check on FM 😉
Jobey07(Quote)
never heard of most of these players you name (i dont play fifa or whatever the f**k it is). nevertheless – to have good young players that i dont know what to expect makes it somewhat more exciting than old ‘journeymen’ – and i’d much prefer it that way. I’m actually looking forward to the window and next season 😉
tattyheed(Quote)
Is that some optimism I hear from Tattyheed there 😉
dan4toon(Quote)
Nice analysis, and I think it sums up what’s needed – but to be honest it wouldn’t be either practical or advisable to try to plug all those gaps in one summer; better to build progressively.
So don’t get miffed if we don’t see a whole stack of players come in; we’ve seen where that can get you (Villa, Scum, Hammers) and I don’t want it!
As someone’s already said – I’m finding it hard to even think about new faces until we’ve secured the current ones. Got a horrid feeling that Jonas is actually our main risk right now.
Incidentally, this is a great read, and gives credit where it’s due:
http://www.leazesterrace.com/chelsea-2-2-newcastle-in-5-key-points/
Whumpie(Quote)
Hoilett from Blackburn anyone? 😉
witters(Quote)
Agree that we should not buy all at once as too many. This is not an FM list as I dont play it. Yes fantasy, but not listing players we can’t afford or would not come. Also wanted to explore some players who we ar constantly linked with.
premandup(Quote)
Sorry. Are not constantly linked with 😈
premandup(Quote)
Sturridge would be quality, but he’s already said he’s basically too big for Bolton, so I think we’d have a very hard time getting him here 😕 Can’t see chelski selling him with an already very old squad.
NewkieBrown(Quote)
Anyone else think Shearer’s lost the plot a bit – just because he sits on the MOTD sofa and says “desire, determination and passion” does not give him a right to manage England – he had one chance of management and flopped badly – why on earth does he think he has the right to walk into the job? Oh yes – ego!
Stardust(Quote)
I have never seen this lad but mates who watch the bundesliga say Pitropia is an outstanding talent.
Anybody know anything more about him.
We have to be careful if we don’t end up with too many african lads or we will be without a team for five or six weeks this season
Toby le Rhone(Quote)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13418295.stm
ffs 😆
Jobey07(Quote)
‘Pitropia’ translates in my odd, cunninglinquist mind to ‘movement down a hole’.
Is that bad? 😯
Whumpie(Quote)
Jobey 😆
Nice to know Flintoff isn’t alone in the world…
Whumpie(Quote)
😆 😆
2nd player to do it this season 😆 😆
Jobey07(Quote)
A cup-winner’s bonus buys a lot of beer…
Whumpie(Quote)
I’m another who’ll be happy if we get some players in I’ve never heard of (HINT: I’ve heard of Carlton Cole!)
Agreed the Leazes Terrace article is really good…. was reading it this morning….. love the photos too 😀
Whumpie….. you do ashtanga yoga? 😀
Susan(Quote)
@23
Jobey07, that’s precisely why Newcastle United have a policy of not going for trophies!
lesh(Quote)
Oh dear.
Two posts appear to have disappeared into the ether
😯
lesh(Quote)
Three now and each with the same link?
🙄
lesh(Quote)
perhaps its just me – but i think that carlton cole is a canny shout like 😳
tattyheed(Quote)
Interesting that Nolan’s ankle has been affecting him for so long, good on the lad for actually getting out there and still playing, even if he has been less effective lately. Be good to see if he can fit in well next season without Carroll’s knockdowns and when he’s fully fit..
NewkieBrown(Quote)
tattyheed-yeah probably just you mate 😀
NewkieBrown(Quote)
stardust @21
I know I should’nt bite but to write someone off on the strength of eight games with someone elses team that only Joke Kinnear wanted to manage?I like others I’m sure had some howlers at the start of my career but did very well thank you very much
nutmag(Quote)
Nutmag – it was his interview on Talk Sport yesterday that I was responding to – most of us – if we had had the start to management he had – wouldn’t go on National Radio saying he wants the England job.
I think most folk would say they’d like to get a good club and take their apprenticeship – but I suppose saying desire, determination and passion means he has the job cracked 😆
Stardust(Quote)
Sakho has already turned down some big clubs to stay at psg. If he does move we have zero chance of getting him with all the big clubs sniffing around and with his price tag. We got as much chance of getting him as getting messi.
JerseyGeordie(Quote)
JG, right enough mate. If he is going anywhere in the Premier League it’s Arsenal
Moreno(Quote)
‘If we had Seb Larsson it would only be to keep Ed happy’. – i like it! He ssesm to have a fetishn for seb 😉
floydy(Quote)
Well for me Klass Jan Huntelaar would be a brilliant signing and he wants out at Schalke and they want him off the pay roll add Tovoinen from PSV and keep Best , Ranger and lovenkrands and we would be sorted up front .
Axel(Quote)
The transfer market is going to be hard. After this season the top teams (except City) will probably all be trying to rebuild on some level. That will mean that a lot of the quality talent will hedge their bets and look for a big money move to one of them. The 30m we have to spend looks smaller and smaller by the day.
JayDee(Quote)
I reckon you can half that £30M too.
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Bent is looking a steal for what Villa payed for him too….
Moreno(Quote)