Worried about the Keeper situation for next season.

[keaton]

I think we need to sign two full-backs, two more central midfielders and at least one more striker as bigger priorities than a keeper. Brez did well, our defensive record was really good

 

[dennis]

I say go for Ashdown from Pompey. They need to cut the wage bill and the two games that I've seen him plays he's looked good enough.

 

[Mutts Nuts]

If we want to mount a serious challenge for the top six then a new goalkeeper is a must. Brezovan is adequate for a mid table finish, Ankegren I'm not sure is up to a regular starting position at this level.

A lot of people talk about our defensive record being good and our goal scoring being poor so attacking players should be the priority. I disagree and actually think it should be the other way. I think we have a good defensive record because of the way we have had to play.

Poyet wants us to control games. The only way we've been able to do that to any degree this season has been by packing the midfield at the expense of our attacking players. When the back four have been exposed they've struggled so we've had to overload the centre of midfield and defend deep as a team. It's worked to a fair extent but at the cost of blunting our attacking threat, which is a shame because I suspect the majority of the clubs in this division would love to have LuaLua, Buckley, Vicente, Noone, CMS, Barnes on their books.

Sign a quality c.m to go with Bridcutt and we won't need to play three in there, allowing us to play an extra winger/striker and thus posing more of an attacking threat.

Signing a couple of fullbacks that can defend a winger on their own without having to double up on them will again allow our wingers to pose more of a threat as they wont be defending our penalty area when we win possession of the ball.

Sign a decent keeper who can catch crosses and control his box and the back four won't have to defend so deep meaning the midfield won't have to sit deep meaning, again, when we get the ball we'll be higher up the pitch and able to cause the opposition more trouble.

So, for me the two key positions are c.m and g.k, followed by the fullbacks and then a striker. If we don't fill those positions I think the top six will be difficult to achieve. If we then signed another quality c.m on top of that lot I'd be very confident of a top six position and mildly hopeful of an automatic position.

Goals win games we need strikers ,the rest of the team is ok,apart from ankers sparrow and dicker

Forgot to mention releasing harley from the squad

 

[BensGrandad]

I say go for Ashdown from Pompey. They need to cut the wage bill and the two games that I've seen him plays he's looked good enough.

I agree about Ashdown but Portsmouth and cutting the wage bill dont go together in the same sentence

 

[Max Paper]

Goals win games we need strikers ,the rest of the team is ok,apart from ankers sparrow and dicker

Forgot to mention releasing harley from the squad

Agree with you, get a partner in for CMS is a MUST! Spend all that money on him and play a system that doesn't work for him is bordering on stupidity in my opinion, I know you have your own

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

Goals win games we need strikers ,the rest of the team is ok,apart from ankers sparrow and dicker

Forgot to mention releasing harley from the squad

I can't argue with goals winning games but by just signing another striker I think all we'd be doing is papering over the cracks(at best). The underlying problem would still be there. Which is that the team that we currently have isn't quite good enough to control the game in the way Poyet wants. The result of this is that we sacrifice our attacking players for extra midfielders. I'm confident that CMS, Barnes, Buckley, Vicente, Lua Lua, Noone are all capable of getting into double figures if given enough game time. This is only going to happen if the rest of the team is able to cope and for it to cope we need, IMO, a new g.k, two fullbacks and (at least) one midfielder.

Signing another striker, for what would presumably be big money, is putting all our eggs in one basket. If he gets injured we'll be back to square one. Then there's the fact that we don't create too many chances and if we don't create chances it doesn't matter who is upfront. We'll create more chances, IMO, if we strengthen the other areas. It's counter intuitive and a minority opinion perhaps but it's the best solution as far as I can see from my limited vantage point.