Dammit. In the local papers. Nowhere near good enough. We have barton , Faurlin, O'Neil and one other. That's awful for a PL cm. Barton's good enough, so is Faurlin but only if he gets back to his best. The fourth cm better be a top player or we are very weak there.
He tweeted its his first day of unemployment so the report could be false. Not exactly something youd expect from a player in talks.
He has just clarified he is in talks. Looks like a bit of posturing if you ask me which might not help his case.
Totally agree. West Ham did not want to keep him. Seems a very nice guy but would simply be making up the numbers. Use his wages on a more effective player.
As the final reserve midfielder OK, but need Barton, Faulin, and at least two others ahead of him (an attacking and a defensive midfielder....both of PL class, not easy to come by) Is Henry also around too...of the two I would take Henry, who seems to be able to do his job, better than O'Neil
I'm fine with O'Neil getting another year at the right price. Decent back-up player to have available. I think it is right not to rip the group of players that got us promoted apart. We have learnt that lesson.
Agree. We need to strengthen the midfield though especially the creative attacking part particularly if Ravel and Niko aren't coming back and Adel does leave. I think we also need a strong, quick DCM as none of Barton, Ale, O'Neill and Henry are either quick or strong enough.
Trouble is, how many cms do you want? We can only really have 4 or a Max of 5. Faurlin and Barton are 2. That leaves 2 spaces. One of O'Neil and henry has to go and we have to bring in at least one more new player because the 4 above clearly aren't good enough as a group.
Think we normally have more than 4 or 5 CM's Flyer, don't we? I can think of Barton, Ale, O'Neill, Henry, Jenas, Niko, Carroll, and Ravel (8) from last season immediately, and I probably have forgotten someone. Likewise I think we had around 8 or 9 when we were last in the PL. I suppose because we need to be well manned in the engine room..... So Barton, Ale, O'Neill, Henry, say one of Granero and Adel, + a new attacking CM, + a new DCM is only 7. A CM of 7 + 4 wide midfield +8 defenders + 3 Keepers +3 Strikers looks about what we will want to me in a 25 man sqaud with some players being able to fill in, in other positions. I'm thinking on the lines of not 4 4 2 here which I don't like. If we play 4 4 2 then I think we will need a 4th striker, and maybe 1 less wide man which could work if Yun and Traore are the 2 LB's who both can play further forward.
I think you will see more than 4 CM in the squad, some will have the ability to cover the wide \defensive and attacking options. Again really depends how arry wants to setup, unless you know this, despite what some people say on here, it is purely speculation.
Half those you listed were AMCs. Also we have a squad limit so he can't sign 8 players he doesn't need. I forgot about granero, that makes signing O'Neil even less likely. Granero, Faurlin, Barton and one other, hopefully not O'Neil or henry. You really don't want to go into a season with just 3 forwards. 3 gk 2 lb 2 rb 4 cb 2 LW 2 RW 4 DCM 2 AMC 4 st Hopefully we get a few that can play both fbs, striker and wing etc. Go with 8 DCM and then we have 3 or 4 spots with only 1 player.
The 7 CM players I listed were just that - CM players both attacking or defensive, or play both. Of course we don't need 8 DCM's!
Sounds a very sensible approach to me. The backbone of last years squad needs to grow further together.
QPR: Andrew Johnson and Aaron Hughes head summer clear-out please log in to view this image QPR have released Andrew Johnson, Aaron Hughes and Stephane Mbia following the expiry of their contracts. The club also confirmed the departure of former England full-back Luke Young, 34, along with Hogan Ephraim, Angelo Balanta and Tom Hitchcock. http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/28118282 Alejandro Faurlin has signed a one-year extension which keeps him at the club until the summer of 2015. While Rob Green, Armand Traore, Bobby Zamora and Gary O'Neil are in talks over new deals. QPR, promoted via the play-offs last term, begin the new Premier League season at home to Hull on 16 August.
