12 Nov 2024 03:57:40
If the reds could bring in one player in January that could assist our push for silverware, who would you love to see join the club?
I still insist that we are light up front, Nunez will never be my personal choice, way too inconsistent and erratic, and Jota way too injury prone.
I think Osmihen could be a good option and definitely more of a striker than Nunez.
I also think Ederson for midfield would be a top signing.
What’s your opinion?

1.) 12 Nov 2024
12 Nov 2024 04:19:06
Gyökeres.

2.) 12 Nov 2024
12 Nov 2024 04:30:21
Didn't Osmihen just move to turkey?
Gyokeres for me.

3.) 12 Nov 2024
12 Nov 2024 05:42:36
Osmihen is on loan as I understand it.

4.) 12 Nov 2024
12 Nov 2024 06:15:52
No I don’t want Gyokeres.

5.) 12 Nov 2024
12 Nov 2024 06:49:55
on loan? so not even an option then?

6.) 12 Nov 2024
12 Nov 2024 06:51:32
Nunez has been playing really well for me, being erratic makes him unpredictable he is working his socks off for the team. Maybe we have to look at him differently? Getting dropped for jota every time he comes back from injury can’t be good for him is that one of the reasons he’s “ erratic “? Is he panicking and snatching at chances? I would avoid osmihen why would you go to Turkey? No disrespect to Turkey but it’s not one of the top leagues is it. No something not right for me with him ( Osmihen)

{Ed001's Note - Osimhen is just as erratic but with less workrate.}

7.) 12 Nov 2024
12 Nov 2024 07:14:38
I think Ederson too, fabulous player, great engine and perfect age…I know Ed2 said we were maybe considering him last window?

8.) 12 Nov 2024
12 Nov 2024 07:22:31
Bring in David Coote as ball boy and let him sit infront of the Kop.

9.) 12 Nov 2024
12 Nov 2024 08:24:06
Gyokeres is a superb player but he plays in a league where most of the teams are very poor and sporting can play on the front foot always and can always find space to attack in behind, against very well organised premier league defences that are built around restricting space there’s no real telling how he would do although he has all the attributes. He is very good in the build up, has excellent pace and he is surprisingly good with the ball at his feet in small spaces too. Still I would prefer to go with Darwin, who offers us a lot on and off the ball, and he doesn’t have to be our main scorer anyway, mo, diaz, gakpo and jota all chip in with goals.

Osimhen is a great player but he doesn’t seem like the sort of player that suits us, he wants huge wages, even more than Chelsea could offer, and at one point was open to going to the Saudi league.

As for a player I would want, I would want a midfielder who can rotate with Mac allister or szoboszlai, who can press and work his arse off off the ball, who always opens himself up for a pass and can get up and down the pitch like dom does. Curtis has all those traits, so I dunno, maybe someone who can cover for gravenberch too and rotate with him? Although I can’t think of somebody with gravenberch’s mix of intelligence, excellent technical skills, athleticism, strength, mobility and positional awareness. Maybe someone on this page can come up with a suitable candidate who would be okay with not playing all the time? Otherwise I think having Endo play there and changing Our approach a bit can work without any big problems in certain kinds of games.

Also obviously we need a left sided center half who can also cover the wide spaces when our left back goes up the other way, clearly the sporting lad is very well thought of but every time I’ve seen sporting they haven’t had to do a lot of defending so I don’t know how to judge him. An obvious choice in the market right now would be somebody like lukeba maybe.

10.) 12 Nov 2024
12 Nov 2024 08:29:59
Scouse John, osimhen went to turkey because it was the only option left to him after moved to the Saudi league and Chelsea collapsed, to be fair to the lad he would probably have been more than happy staying in Napoli if the club didn’t basically force him out the club, Napoli are run by a bunch of brain dead twits and have made a series of questionable decisions after spaletti left (conte’s appointment being the only sound decision they’ve made since), among which was posting a racist meme video on TikTok mocking their own star player (osimhen) after he showed some signs of discontent during a rotten run of form for Napoli.

I think he is a very good and passionate player but his salary demands and profile mean that he’s probably a Chelsea/ psg/ real type of ‘superstar’, the sort of player we generally don’t look at or consider.

11.) 12 Nov 2024
12 Nov 2024 09:28:11
Would you go for a player who can improve the current starting line up and give us something that might make a difference, particularly in tight matches, during the second half of the season? Or would you look to address an exposure or risk area that we have in a couple of areas of the team?

My biggest concern about our team at the moment is the cover at centre half if either or both of Konate or van Dijk had a lengthy spell on the sidelines. I think we're a bit weak at left back as well but I wouldn't say that's a January priority. But if we had to play the second half of the season with Gomez or Quansah, I think that could be a critical difference compared to van Dijk or Konate. I would be happier if we had a Matip type of player as next in line at centre half. Not sure if there is anybody out there who fits the bill.

12.) 12 Nov 2024
12 Nov 2024 10:01:24
I genuinely don’t think there’s a player out there we can trade Darwin up for at the moment. I like Isaak but he has fitness and workrate questions. The rest of the names? No thanks.

Also, we really aren’t making a huge number chances for our no9s at the moment. Jota wasn’t exactly banging them in either before his injury. His goals vs West Ham came from playing no10 alongside Darwin.

Perhaps some on the ball form from Szobo, the return of Elliott or a new player in that position will unlock our no9s.

Finally, fitness allowing, Jayden Danns could well step up and be a top Premier League striker post Darwin/ Jota.

{Ed077's Note - I think Isak would be good choice, he's a very good Prem proven striker who is very well rounded but still young enough to learn, adapt and improve.

13.) 12 Nov 2024
12 Nov 2024 10:34:47
@Scouse John, are you seriously saying Nunez is a good player because he is erratic?

14.) 12 Nov 2024
12 Nov 2024 10:35:23
I think we definitely need a midfielder or CB more than a forward right now.

15.) 12 Nov 2024
12 Nov 2024 10:42:39
Isak would probably cost upwards of 100 mill right now so i think he can probably be discounted tbh. I think he is technically superb and can create out of nothing but can he help out in the press and put in a shift defensively like darwin does? and would he be able to link up the play and connect with mo in a similar way? I think that darwin can certainly do better with the chances he gets (against villa he should have had a hat trick) but he could also do way worse (the goal he did get. came from his awareness and mentality, and tbf in retrospect given it was coote if he hadn't scored that maybe we wouldn't even have had a foul from bailey pulling mo down) . a lot of times darwin creates chances on his ownedn and at other times he's making the right runs to get on the end of them. He's also shown lately that he can get his head up and make the right play at key moments.

16.) 12 Nov 2024
12 Nov 2024 10:48:15
I think we need a left back more than anything. As for who? I haven't the foggiest.

17.) 12 Nov 2024
12 Nov 2024 11:18:20
I'd go for a midfielder I think. Maybe that zubimendi who we liked in the summer, if moneyb was no option I would probably say Guimaraes from Newcastle but that's never happening.

I'd be happier if we signed no one and tied mo, virg and trent down to contracts.

18.) 12 Nov 2024
12 Nov 2024 11:22:13
One player to move for in January? Any one of Zubimendi, Tchouameni or Baleba would be the obvious answer, albeit unlikely.

After that, it would be somebody like Lukeba or Inacio to be able to give us a slightly different option at LB/ LCB. Again, unlikely.

19.) 12 Nov 2024
12 Nov 2024 11:36:44
If I could take any player from any club in jan that could help us win the league I'd take odegaard to play Doms role. More realistically a rotation option for Grav would be good. Wharton or Baleba.

20.) 12 Nov 2024
12 Nov 2024 11:41:32
How about another right footed attacker who plays on the left? Lol
I know the club want a midfielder and I can see the need as well, so I can see us going after one if one’s available. But if not then I wouldn’t worry too much, we don’t seem desperately short there at all, it would be more to rotate them with Grav and Mac.
There’s a few other gaps in the squad such as the elusive left sided centre back, a left back to eventually replace Robbo and maybe Salah and Trent’s replacements. As much as it would be nice to get them in early in January these signings can wait until summer (or hopefully never with regards to Salah and Trent, I don’t think we should be letting them go yet if possible)

21.) 12 Nov 2024
12 Nov 2024 10:25:21
Does Isak have work rate issues? I thought he always puts a shift in when he plays. Granted, I don't watch Newcastle play all that often and I don't keep up with their players all that much anyway.

{Ed077's Note - He's tall, lanky and silky, Glides on the pitch and looks effortless when in full flow. People, English media, think if you look silky then you're not putting an effort in. They need players to run around, almost like a headless chicken to be labeled as "hardworking". Kinda similar to Ozil. Only huff and puff counts as putting and effort in for most? ?

22.) 12 Nov 2024
12 Nov 2024 12:27:41
Lewis Cook?

Someone Richard Hughes would know very well.

23.) 12 Nov 2024
12 Nov 2024 12:31:55
Mbuemo, branthwaite, or Robinson from Fulham. Priority is a toss up between mbuemo or branthwaite as don’t see cover for Mo or VVD if they picked up a big injury, still hope chiesa comes good but until regularly fit can’t count him.

24.) 12 Nov 2024
12 Nov 2024 12:39:04
Carlos Baleba.

25.) 12 Nov 2024
12 Nov 2024 13:35:39
5 chances Nunez had sat. Which apparently isn’t a lot in this day and age for 65 mins of football.

Took his goal amazingly well though.

26.) 12 Nov 2024
12 Nov 2024 14:02:52
I agree, WDW; being erratic is not a good thing.
That's why I never got that Captain Chaos thing. Wouldn't he also cause chaos for us.

27.) 12 Nov 2024
12 Nov 2024 15:08:47
@WDW3. I never called him erratic read the op? But yes I like his unpredictability I like everything about him. Obviously I’d prefer if he scored every chance he gets but he hasn’t had much service. He plays like a fan would play he loves playing for us he’s always involved and I wouldn’t swap him for Osmihen ( more so now after ed1 said he works less)

28.) 12 Nov 2024
12 Nov 2024 13:35:08
Ed077, I remember a similar issue with Virgil when we got him. He tends to look unhurried and, if you're not diving around putting in last minute tackles every minute, then the press think you're not trying.

I really like Isak and was jealous of Newcastle when they got him (and now) . But I think he's too expensive. Let's see what our own No 9 can do with a bit of confidence!

{Ed077's Note - I like him, think he is a very good, well-rounded player. ??

29.) 12 Nov 2024
12 Nov 2024 15:59:20
He had three very good chances on Saturday and missed the target with two of them.
The lack of service excuse is wearing thin. And the other players might get more service if he stopped those long range shots.
He has a lot going for him but I don't think he's very intelligent football wise.

30.) 12 Nov 2024
12 Nov 2024 18:10:33
I like Isak but I feel he has injury problems too.

Isak if we’re looking for a striker.

31.) 12 Nov 2024
12 Nov 2024 18:28:28
My gut feel on Isak is he does lack defensive work rate. I looked at him a lot last year in particular when Newcastle were struggling with injuries early on and finding it hard to field a full first team 11. Was amazed Howe didn’t replace him late on in a lot of games when the team was spent and he was walking around not chasing back.

I’m not a believer that any player gets a pass on working back a la Ronaldo at United but then again I’m old school.

A great finisher mind and very elegant but not the work rate of Mane or even Salah IMO in the defensive side.

32.) 12 Nov 2024
12 Nov 2024 18:29:09
Haaland had 3 very good chances too Rigsby and only scored 1 goal. That guy’s rubbish they should sell him.

I’m being sarcastic of course but my point is that every single striker misses good chances. The very best strikers miss good chances yet keep showing up to get more.

I’m not concerned in the slightest about Nunez missing chances, as long as he keeps putting himself in positions to get them the goals will come.

33.) 12 Nov 2024
12 Nov 2024 18:31:46
Not sure that it's a position that we're desperate to cover, at the moment but I really like what I have seen of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Unfortunately, Napoli are a nighhtmare to deal with, so I don't expect to see him here anytime soon.

34.) 12 Nov 2024
12 Nov 2024 19:08:28
João Pedro of Brighton. Would be the perfect number 9 for us.

35.) 12 Nov 2024
12 Nov 2024 19:14:55
Haaland misses lots of chances but then his 30-40 goals a season every season paper over those cracks.

36.) 12 Nov 2024
12 Nov 2024 19:46:51
I was just about to post that, JK.
If Nunez is missing chances but scoring 20+ League goals a season I could understand the argument. He isn't though and I don't think he ever will do it regularly.
Besides the argument was about the service to Nunez.
How is Nunez missing chances if he isn't being given them?