For the 4th year in a row...

[rorymscfc]

We're going to be going intp the January transfer window very handily placed in a very average division but with a couple of glaring shortcomings in the side that we all know need to be addressed if our challenge is to be sustained for the rest of the season.

Yet again we are told that money is available, and that the manager is working hard to get the players in.

On each of the last three occasions we have royally pissed our great opportunities up the wall and been left dreaming of what might have been.

Please Peter & Tony, let it be different this time!!!

RoryM

[biddulphchav]

We've also got the cup game against Newcastle to swell our coffers. Lets hope we do strengthen suitably in January - this group of players (and the manager of course) have done brilliantly to get us where we are. But we're overacheiving and we need strengthening.

Come on Uncle Pete - its Christmas!!!!!!!

[Deleted]

Agreed Rory. We're near enough exactly where we were this time last year (same number of points but we were 5th instead of 4th) and I remember feeling a sense of optimism similar to how I'm feeling now. But I fear that it won't be the only comparible situation to last year if we don't add some depth to our squad during the transfer window. However, I'm sure (!) that the club realise this too, and the only thing we can do as fans is continue to get behind the team and cheer them onto as many 3 points as possible.

[rorymscfc]

So what you're basically saying is "Get behind the team, notyhing else matters"? ;D

*Settles back to watch the mayhem commence*

RoryM

[Irish Stokie]

Well the league was an awful lot better last year than it is this year which is why we find ourselves in such a high league position with so many average players in the team. But surely we should take the positives out of it, we are in a fantastic position with money to spend in Jan, so why does everyone assume there is a slump coming? I know we have pissed it away in the past but this is our year and we are going up, a little bit more optimism wouldnt go amiss.
COME ON STOKE!!!!!!!!

[Lakeland Potter]

This time last year we had the same number of points but had played one game more. So, if we win on Saturday we will be three points ahead of where we were last year at the half way point in the season.

stats.football365.com/dom/ENG/teams/StokeCty.html

[rorymscfc]

I'm certainly not trying to be pessimistic, but it would be absolutely devastating to see us make the same mistakes that have been made for the last 3 years in a row. That's why I am hoping that it will not be the case!

RoryM

[bogus]

I think we're better placed this year. There's more of a permanent feel about the squad (I'm assuming Pugh & Cort are done deals?)and we're not about to lose what we did last year in Griff, Hendrie, Diao, Berger. That combination made our season last year and Salif, of course, is already coming in the other way this time
Shawcross would be a miss if he doesn't stay, though young Zak never lets us down.Apart from that there's only really Wright who may be on his way and Wilko and Zak are more than adequate, better most would say, me included.

[FullerMagic]

Simo/Hoult

Wilkinson/Zakuani/De Laet/Wright
Cort/Shawcross/Zakuani/Buxton/Broomes/De Laet
Pugh/Dickinson/Wilkinson/Buxton

Lawrence/Delap/De Laet
Diao/Eustace/Delap/Pulis
Cresswell/Pugh/Phillips

Fuller/Sidibe/Cresswell/Pericard


The only loan possibly returning (but I still think he's likely to stay?) is Wright - and I think he'd be most people's 3rd/4th choice RB behind Wilkinson and Zakuani (and possibly De Laet?)

So, the situation is different.

You'd expect at least 2 new midfielders to arrive in January (always dangerous), but if that's the case, we look reasonably well prepared for the battle ahead.

I think we still miss another runner/ball-carrier up front to cater for Fuller's absence for any reason - and if Sidibe goes to Africa for 5-6 weeks, Periwinkle is only a stiff neck away from starting which is an almighty concern.

So another striker would be more than useful

And we still look completely bereft of options on the right of midfield if Lawrence got injured.

Pugh can fill in on the left with Dicko moving to the back, so there's a decent option there - but Demar's face doesn't seem to fit.

[Admin]

rorymscfc said:

I'm certainly not trying to be pessimistic, but it would be absolutely devastating to see us make the same mistakes that have been made for the last 3 years in a row. That's why I am hoping that it will not be the case!

RoryM

I'd have to go along with that Rory.

[bolly_premprem]

but

Zakuani = loan
Wright = loan
Cort = loan
Shawcross = loan
Pugh = loan

any or all of which can be recalled by their teams at any time which would leave just

Wilkinson/De Laet/Buxton/Broomes/Dickinson / hill (if they recall cort surly we woudl recall hill)

First concern come has to be making as many of those loan players as possible permanent

I know that cort is supposed to be a done deal, but untill it is done, then it isnt, but what abotu the others are they agread or do they all go come january, leaving us in a worse state that we were at this stage last season and another missed oportunity

[FullerMagic]

I assume the Cort and Pugh (and Hill) deals are 100% done, with a binding January trigger clause in the loan deals?

And, as for Zak, I don't think season-long loan deals have a recall clause?

[banburypotter]

eastmidspotter, sorry to be pedantic, but we were 7th this time last year mate.

fullermagic, you missed parkin off the strikers list.

picky aren't i ;D

getting ryan for the rest of the season is paramount as well as sealing the deal on leon and danny.
Also in january we will unleash salif and possibly demar, so to me we need to get in an attacking midfielder and another striker if we need cover for mama.

[rorymscfc]

Well if we're to believe what we're told then Cort and Pugh are done deals (similar to Lawrence last season). Can't see Man Utd needing to recall Shawcross & I'd be very surprised if they didn't let/want us to keep him for the remainder of the season.

I think we have Zak for the season anyway but if he was recalled then I would trust Pulis to find another defender from somewhere. He seems to have a particular talent in that department.

That only leaves Wright and I've spent much of this season hoping rather than worrying that he might be recalled.

As has been said above, I think we are in much better position this season than we were last in terms of squad stability. Hopefully that means we can focus on getting the new players we need in January rather than chasing the ones we have in order to hang on to them.

RoryM

[salifdiao]

Zakuani = season long loan cannot br recalled
Cort = done deal, fee agreed, wont be going back
Pugh = done deal, fee agreed, wont be going back
Wright = why would sunderland want to recall him???
Shawcross = club and player want to stay, million miles from united first team

[Lakeland Potter]

Zak can't be recalled. And I THINK Cort and Pugh's deals were done before they arrived and just have to wait until the window opens on Jan 1 to be confirmed. Shawcross we will hopefully know (one way or the other) this week. I wouldn't lose any sleep if we sent Wright back - Wilko/Zak/Delap and De Laet appear to be as good or better.

Two new midfielders (centre and wing) are the priorities and another Striker would be nice. If Shawcross doesn't stay then I'd like to see another centre back because if Zak or Cort get injured then Broomes and Buxton are not up to standard - although Shotton looks promising in the medium term?

[FullerMagic]

Completely forgot about The Beast

Difficult to know how Pulis feels about him now - and if he really is making progress in getting real fitness. It's hard if he rarely gets any real game time?

I wonder if Pulis would play him ahead of Cresswell up front?