January shopping list

Transfers Pap? Thought this was going to be about what bargains there were in the sales that you charming folks at papsweb towers had your beady eyes on.

Most of the bigger teams have difficulty getting their second string anywhere near the first, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that we have difficulty buying real quality for that purpose. Fit, motivated and in form, I’m happy with most of the first eleven. We’re usually screwed when we lose a couple of them, and it has been an ongoing problem for years now.

Remember playing without Lambert or Lallana in L1 or the Championship? Without decent keepers in the Premier League? When our first choice Prem left-back was Danny Fox? It’s a difficult problem to address, but it’s one that the club must get over if we’re to retain any sort of consistency and residual hunger to win games.

Too many players know they’ll play if they’re fit, and too many of their replacements know they’ve got no serious chance at dislodging them permanently. The difference in quality and composure is just that great.

Also, what the fuck happened to this “bringing youth players through” lark? Where’s Harrison Reed this season?

Bamford.

Thinkthe only thinkg we dont know is how well h shows in training and whether he has come on… having said that, nothing like a few games in the first team to really bring a player on…

Originally posted by @Goatboy

Bamford.

Who has just thrown his toys out at Palace at not playing regularly and quit?

I read the interview with him. Didn’t come across like that. Wasn’t getting picked and was frustrated so decided it was best to look for something else. Certainly didn’t seem like he fell out with anyone. Was great for Boro last season.

Just had a delve into Patrick Bamford. That would seem a likely one, assuming we were interested. Comes from a very similar route as two of our other players, “not good enough for Chelsea”. He’s not impressed with Palace, but then he was loaned out to get first team experience and hasn’t ended up getting much.

Loan with option to buy might be the best route, as long as there are no Alderweireld-like shenanigans.

We won’t sign anybody - and I’m actually fine with that. Quite frankly I’d prefer we spent the time making sure that next Summer’s transfers are spot on (not to mention getting better value from the market).

Originally posted by @Goatboy

Bamford.

Maybe.

I’d have some reservations though. Palace, good as they are, don’t exactly have an abundance of top strikers. Who has been keeping him out of the team? Campbell, Gayle, Wickham & Chamakh. They are hardly superstars.

Something seems up to me.

Agree he was great for Boro. My concern though is he wants games and even Shane does not get many starts as a striker, so I am not sure he will get more games here.

There’s a lot of wisdom in this. I still remember the chaotic transfer deadline day that Liverpool went through, spending 35M to effectively hold Andy Carroll’s career back for a couple of years. Don’t ever want to be in that situation.

I think the problem with no new players is that we all know we need a bit of strengthening, and in this season where a European place is still realistic, lack of investment from the board could seem like a lack of ambition for this year, especially if our nearest rivals choose to bolster their squads.

I guess the real question is what is our aim this year?

Lovely Fjallraven coat I’m hoping comes down in the sales.*

* No one decent ever moves in January but probably worth chucking some cash at Sam Byram now that Martina’s moment has passed.

Can’t see us spending £35 million pap :lou_wink_2:

Originally posted by @Goatboy

Can’t see us spending £35 million pap :lou_wink_2:

Brendan Rodgers hasn’t got a job yet. Can’t we get that bastard some work so he can over-pay us for players?

It doesnt seem to take much to knock our confidence. I would like to see a player come in with some fire in his belly who can help to rally the troops when things go against us. We are just too nice.

Its not the players fault that they are “too nice”. That is an issue for the manager and Koeman should take heed of the Alan Latchely approach. I’d suggest the kidnap of players wives and girlfriends. See here from 10.43

Originally posted by @Fatso

Its not the players fault that they are “too nice”. That is an issue for the manager and Koeman should take heed of the Alan Latchely approach. I’d suggest the kidnap of players wives and girlfriends. See here from 10.43

I am up for this. Can I have dibbs on kidnapping Virgil’s girlfriend please?

So the January transfer window is open.

When was Saints last good January signing? Isn’t the last one we bought Vegard Forren?

I want a PS4 but I just can’t find one at the right price!

Looks like Debuchy is off to Brom. Not his biggest fan, but he’s got to be better than Martina/Cedric/Yoshi out of position.

Another CB, I’m not sold on Virgil. Nuisance at attacking set plays, but flatters to deceive I think. Makes some nice touches, or a good recovery tackle and people seem to gloss over the fact he was out of position. Which seems to happen a lot. Watching Spurs yday really made me pine for Toby back. He really is quality. That boy Alli too, he’s going to be some player.

Definitely need another striker too. Though, fuck knows who and Jan is never a good time to get a striker who is fit and scoring. Still wouldn’t mind chucking some cash at QPR for Austin. It wouldn’t be perfect, but it’s something. I’m a big fan of Pellè, but he can’t do it alone. He seems to be something of a purple patch player. Can’t knock his effort though, even when things aren’t working for him be keeps plowing on and trying the same things. Someone to relieve that burden a bit would be great.

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