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Post by george2again on Dec 20, 2007 9:57:14 GMT
Clearly right is not the solution here - he has been toss ! As I posted yesterday that if TP insists on having Delap in the side (for his throw ins alone) perhaps he has to play here ? Other long term targets could be Lauren or even Halls. Wilko would save us the cash.
Centre midfield - clearly we need a ball player, someone with skill who can thread a ball. Think TP will go for Quashie but also Danns at Brumm would be a good call.
Left midfield our problem area - none of Pugh, Creswell or Phillips are the answer(the latter cos TP won't play him) but we do need pace and skill in this position. Hoolihan, Routledge have been touted but I wouldn't want Routledge on the left with a right foot in never works long term.
We DO need a striker if we want promotion. If we lose Fuller we have no pace full stop so a fast striker is needed. I would go as far as to say we should be looking to get rid of Parkin,Pericard and Rooney as well. Fuller , Mama, Cresswell and another speed merchant coming in would do for me.
Any other gems people would like?
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Post by FullerMagic on Dec 20, 2007 9:59:37 GMT
Mentioned in passing in the N-E press as one of the many clubs interested in Kavanagh - although I can't see him being the number one priority in central midfield., and I can't see there being anything in the link.
But whether Whelan is a realistic runner - or whether £1m on Quashie is sensible is another question.
Not sure about 500k for a 34-year-old though, although Weds fans seemed to think he did great for them this season.
Northern Echo
Championship clubs line up for Kavanagh
GRAHAM Kavanagh will have a choice of at least four Championship clubs if he decides to call time on his Sunderland career.
Leicester City and Norwich City are the latest clubs to register an interest in the out-offavour Republic of Ireland international, who is on the verge of ending his 16-month stay at the Stadium of Light.
Hull remain long-term admirers of the 34-year-old, while Stoke boss Tony Pulis will also inquire about taking the former City player back to the Britannia Stadium when he contacts Roy Keane over extending defender Stephen Wright's loan later this week.
Sheffield Wednesday, where Kavanagh spent a successful eight-game loan spell this season, have been forced to pull out of a permanent move on financial grounds.
And after ruling out any further loans, Keane hinted earlier this season that Kavanagh's hopes of securing a long-term move in January might hinge on his willingness to take a drop in wages to meet more modest Championship budgets.
Kavanagh was hopeful of forging his way back into Keane's plans after conclusively proving his form and fitness during a fiveweek stint at Hillsborough.
But the tough-tackling Dubliner, an un-used substitute for the trip to Manchester City last month, is ready to admit defeat after failing to make a Premier League appearance in the two months since his return.
Sunderland will accept a fee in the region of the £500,000 they paid Wigan last August for the midfielder, whose chances of a regular first-team place have been limited by the early return from injury of Dean Whitehead.
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Post by bayernoatcake on Dec 20, 2007 11:03:05 GMT
As much as I dislike Kav he was the best player on the pitch against Wednesday and controlled the midfield.
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Post by silversparrot on Dec 20, 2007 11:09:42 GMT
Hope we can do better than Kav. Comes with too much baggage for me
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Post by MilanStokie on Dec 20, 2007 12:05:29 GMT
Left midfield isnt such a problem imo. People playing there are doing a job.
Right midfielder could solve 2 problems - adds more spice to midfield, could push Lawrence into central thus covering the central midfielder that we need. If Lawrence gets injured, we are well and truly screwed there. I prfer Cresswell on the left rather than roght thankyou very much.
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Post by george2again on Dec 20, 2007 12:23:25 GMT
Doing a job??? Players doing a job won't get us promoted, end of debate. We are so wek in this position and have been for ages. A specialist left midfielder who TP trusts is essential.
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Post by MilanStokie on Dec 20, 2007 13:51:55 GMT
George in a world where we could get whoever we want does not exist outside the Premiership. The club cant financially afford to buy the likes of Pugh and Cresswell and leave them out of the team because we sign a left midfielder. Lets face it, TP sees that position covered. Cresswell is doing a good job there and we have people behind him waiting for their chance. What would be the point in signing Phillips if TP is just gonig to find a Left midfielder, where Phillips finds himself possibly 4th in line for the position. If we get promoted I would expect a very good left sided player to be signed, but for this league I believe we can get to the top with the quality we currently have there. Right midfield, 1 injury and that is a severe problem and I can't believe you overlook this. OK so that deserved smiting  I agree the quality isn't amazing there, but please tell me the logic in having 4/5 left sided midfielders in the squad and having 1 right midfielder? Please. |
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Post by PotteringThrough on Dec 20, 2007 13:59:53 GMT
If we sign a good left midfileder then we don't need a forward because Cresswell is more than capable of doing that job.
However a nippy little player would be nice to have on the bench!
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Post by MilanStokie on Dec 20, 2007 14:01:37 GMT
I would prefer to see TP give his own players a crack before buying in someone else and then still retaining the problem of a right back, central and right midfielder the club more desperately requires.
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Post by PotteringThrough on Dec 20, 2007 14:10:01 GMT
I think Lawrence is doing a great job on the right of mid, wilko at right back is good enough as well for me!
Still need another centre mid though!
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Post by FullerMagic on Dec 20, 2007 14:14:06 GMT
The Cresswell on the left thing is actually working.
But quite where Phillips, with his 3-yr contract ,fits into things is unclear.
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Post by MilanStokie on Dec 20, 2007 14:21:46 GMT
Matt I agree both are doing a fine job. Zakuanis future is uncertain as is Wrights. Lawrence is the only guy who can play right midfield effectively.
Scenario: Wilko gets a 1 month injury, Lawrence repeats his knee injury and faces 4 months out, ending his season. What then? Hopefully replace him with a loan for a guy who has zero football under his belt this season. I would rather us sign someone who can effectively play Central and right midfield.
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Post by thepremierbanksy on Dec 20, 2007 14:24:22 GMT
Lawrence is having an excellent season, I don't think moving him inside is a good idea at all.
Cosacss, our vulnerability there is an issue yes, but I reckon this is another position Delap is there to cover. I think our best XI is:
Simmo
Wilkinson Shawcross Cort Pugh
Liam SJE Diao Cressy
Fuller Sidibe
One strength we have is that we have a lot of versatile players eg if fuller is out we can put cressy up front, pugh up to left wing and bring dicko in, delap can cover any of 6 positions, but 2 injuries on the same side of the park and we could be forked. We need 3 players in if we are to have the strength in depth.
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Post by pottersrule on Dec 20, 2007 15:42:22 GMT
George have you actually been to Stoke recently?Thank fuck your not managing the team.
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Post by george2again on Dec 20, 2007 15:57:58 GMT
If these positions are not dealt with only time will tell. I think they have to be addressed to give us any hope of going up at all. Think your blinded by our lofty position and don't see the bigger picture or remember the mistakes we have made in the not to distant past. This squad as is, is not strong enough to go up and needs quality adding in the right areas.Season ticket holder who sees the bigger picture !!
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Post by mermaidsal on Dec 20, 2007 16:15:52 GMT
I'd still love to see Quashie here, and hope TP's also got his eye out for another Liam/Darel-type player with enough skill, and the motor to keep running all day. I'm not a Wright fan either but I reckon we're stuck with him, and I can't see another striker coming in tbh. What I'm hoping though is that we can free Cresswell to spend say half his time up front.
Of course (if by any chance you're reading this, hudson!) a real passing midfielder would be a dream but I'd say a Liam Mk 2 is the more likely buy.
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Post by Butters on Dec 20, 2007 17:13:34 GMT
Am I the only one who thinks Wilko is a damn good player?
ttt
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Post by bayernoatcake on Dec 20, 2007 17:14:44 GMT
Am I the only one who thinks Wilko is a damn good player? ttt No he's improving with every game and currently is the best right we have at the club. |
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Post by pottersrule on Dec 20, 2007 17:44:21 GMT
Wilko gets better with every game, was superb at Blackpool.Seems to collect a lot of injuries,and these i feel have impaired his progress significantly.
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Post by Godo on Dec 20, 2007 20:10:58 GMT
I think Delap has been better last couple of games and I quite like the idea of him playing right back. We would retain his long throws and with him at right and Pugh at left the distribution from the back would be much better. I love Zak and Wilko's attitude and determination but they must improve technically if either is to prove the long term answer. When we get promoted we will need players who can enable us to retain the ball!
For me, now that Shawcross/Fuller are staying, the priority has to be wide left and central midfeild. Don't see Quashie as the type of creative central midfield player we need, even at Championship level, he is more of a ball winner not a ball player.
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I agree the quality isn't amazing there, but please tell me the logic in having 4/5 left sided midfielders in the squad and having 1 right midfielder? Please.
