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.
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.
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
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