[Albion] What do we still need in this transfer window?

[Reddleman]

So how many players do you suggest we should have?
Pretty much every team got a similar squad size whether they play in Europe or not. Difference might be two or three players.
What EL means to us right now is an additional five games (six games in Europe, but one less in the League Cup). Players like Sarmiento, Van Hecke, Gilmour and Ayari struggled to get game time as it was last season - and now people want a squad with more than 23-24 players?
I also don't but the whole "reduced into playing teenagers" because ultimately Tony has spent an awful lot of money on producing fantastic teenage footballers and we're going to want to use them.

What I don’t get is the obvious squad gaps such as left back cover yet we are in the market for another winger according to Naylor despite having Enciso, Adringa, March, Mitoma, Pedro, Sarmiento and Buonanotte already.

 

[Shins]

A Sarmiento loan makes complete sense to me and I've been hoping that it'll happen. It's not that he's not good enough, he's more than good enough to compete for a place, but clearly his fitness is not quite right. He's hardly played any senior football and a season away getting used the rigors of weekly football is what his body needs. Nothing about his quality.

Sarmiento out and a left footed right winger to come in to balance the squad out a little.

 

[Mancgull]

A Sarmiento loan makes complete sense to me and I've been hoping that it'll happen. It's not that he's not good enough, he's more than good enough to compete for a place, but clearly his fitness is not quite right. He's hardly played any senior football and a season away getting used the rigors of weekly football is what his body needs. Nothing about his quality.

Sarmiento out and a left footed right winger to come in to balance the squad out a little.

Yes, agree. Sarmiento needs games and we just aren’t going to be able to give him that level of opportunity in the first team, especially as he now have Adingra, goodnight, and Joao Pedro.
Championship loan for this season and then first team squad next season.

 

[Heart and Soul]

What I don’t get is the obvious squad gaps such as left back cover yet we are in the market for another winger according to Naylor despite having Enciso, Adringa, March, Mitoma, Pedro, Sarmiento and Buonanotte already.

Another winger would make it possible for March to fill in as LB, if needed, without losing too much attacking power.

 

[Mancgull]

Another winger would make it possible for March to fill in as LB, if needed, without losing too much attacking power.

Not sure that Roberto is as keen on playing March there as others have been.

 

[Heart and Soul]

Not sure that Roberto is as keen on playing March there as others have been.

No and we know he prefers to play right winger, but I don't think it should be ruled out as a solution if Pervis is injured or something.

 

[Weststander]

What I don’t get is the obvious squad gaps such as left back cover yet we are in the market for another winger according to Naylor despite having Enciso, Adringa, March, Mitoma, Pedro, Sarmiento and Buonanotte already.

Left back is so obvious, an injury to Estupinan and we’re stuffed. His pace, power, sense of danger, tackling.

No left sided player in the squad has those specialist attributes.

 

[Johnny RoastBeef]

Left back is so obvious, an injury to Estupinan and we’re stuffed. His pace, power, sense of danger, tackling.

No left sided player in the squad has those specialist attributes.

Milner spent all of the 2016/17 season playing LB for Liverpool.

 

[Weststander]

Milner spent all of the 2016/17 season playing LB for Liverpool.

Has he got the legs to play for a long run of games as a left back?

 

[Johnny RoastBeef]

Has he got the legs to play for a long run of games as a left back?

Certainly not, but didn't Solly play LWB when Potter first arrived?

I seem to recall he was our best player for a while playing there, before he injured his knee and needed surgery.

So between him and Milner we do have cover for Pervis.

 

[jackalbion]

RB, LCB, LB, RW and another CM if Moises goes

 

[Mancgull]

Milner can provide cover as left back, right back and in midfield, if needed. Great to have someone in the squad that can provide that level of versatility. Won't play every game but will be good to have as a starter for the odd game and as a decent sub so that someone like Pervis doesn't have to play every minute.

 

[Weststander]

Certainly not, but didn't Solly play LWB when Potter first arrived?

I seem to recall he was our best player for a while playing there, before he injured his knee and needed surgery.

So between him and Milner we do have cover for Pervis.

RB gets mentioned repeatedly as an urgent requirement in these threads.

But after Veltman, options include March, Gross and Milner. Lamptey was a poor defender in recent times.

I don’t see RB as a priority.

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

Left back. Left sided centre back. Caicedo replacement.

 

[sparkie]

- A left centre back who can play at left back as well.

- Another defender.

- Another midfielder if Caicedo is eventually sold.

 

[Sarisbury Seagull]

RB gets mentioned repeatedly as an urgent requirement in these threads.

But after Veltman, options include March, Gross and Milner. Lamptey was a poor defender in recent times.

I don’t see RB as a priority.

But you’ve kind of answered why RB should be a priority in your post. Most people are saying we need LB cover but the same current back up options are being quoted for LB as well as RB, none of which are actually full backs anyway and wasted playing there.

Lamptey has a lot of work to do to prove he’s now still a PL full back ability wise, like you he worries me defensively and his decision making is not great going forward plus there are obviously huge fitness doubts. I think he should be loaned out.

And as much as I love Veltman, he is 31, not a 100% naturalised FB and had a few injuries at the end of last season. He is not as good as Estupinan at full back either and doesn’t offer anywhere near the same attacking threat, I think we should be signing a first choice RB, not just cover there.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

But you’ve kind of answered why RB should be a priority in your post. Most people are saying we need LB cover but the same current back up options are being quoted for LB as well as RB, none of which are actually full backs anyway and wasted playing there.

Lamptey has a lot of work to do to prove he’s now still a PL full back ability wise, like you he worries me defensively and his decision making is not great going forward plus there are obviously huge fitness doubts. I think he should be loaned out.

And as much as I love Veltman, he is 31, not a 100% naturalised FB and had a few injuries at the end of last season. He is not as good as Estupinan at full back either and doesn’t offer anywhere near the same attacking threat, I think we should be signing a first choice RB, not just cover there.

Funnily enough, just about to post something similar about Lamptey.

Whilst obviously hoping I’m wrong, I think he’s finished with us. The injury removed his main attribute, and whilst very quick isn’t what he was. As you say decision making is poor at times (see Arsenal home), and defensively he does get caught in terms of pitch awareness, particularly what is on his blind side (some of that is due to the stance he takes).

As I say I hope I’m wrong…..

 

[luge]

Not sure that we would need a caicedo replacement. We have alzate, dahood, Miller, lallana, gross who can play deep.

Centre back, LB cover maybe RB cover.

And that's it. We have a lot of forwards and in ferguson, a proper threat.

 

[Weststander]

But you’ve kind of answered why RB should be a priority in your post. Most people are saying we need LB cover but the same current back up options are being quoted for LB as well as RB, none of which are actually full backs anyway and wasted playing there.

Lamptey has a lot of work to do to prove he’s now still a PL full back ability wise, like you he worries me defensively and his decision making is not great going forward plus there are obviously huge fitness doubts. I think he should be loaned out.

And as much as I love Veltman, he is 31, not a 100% naturalised FB and had a few injuries at the end of last season. He is not as good as Estupinan at full back either and doesn’t offer anywhere near the same attacking threat, I think we should be signing a first choice RB, not just cover there.

Great points, but I disagree on the Veltman bit.

My favourite Albion player, largely because he’s an incredible defender. His positional sense, nouse, decision making, awareness of team mates, covering, ability to shut down opponents with superior pace is a joy to watch. An 8 to 10 out of 10 in most games for me. I favour fullbacks who are primarily great defenders, anything else a bonus.

Estupinian is a brilliant player too with youthful/attacking attributes too. The fee if and when he moves on will be colossal.

Blessed to have them both

 

[sparkie]

Hopefully we sign Igor this week.

After that a Caicedo replacement if his fee is met.

And a specialist right back.