So where do we need to strengthen?

Does no-one here rate Devitt then? I think he could be a cracking little player for us...

Mannone
Rosenior Gerrard Chester NewLB
Devitt Koren Greening Stewart
Fryatt NewST

 

i think Devitt just needs to strengthen up a little but i agree he is a good player alot of the crosses he puts in are brilliant and cause a lot of problems also he has a good shot on him

 

I think priorities in order are tough center midfielder, center back and a winger. Instead of bringing in a new fast striker, why not play Stewart there if we can get another quick winger? That's where he was by far most effective when playing up top. If we can get those 3 positions sorted on permanents (possibly a Gerrard loan back) then we should be sorted, with our 5 loans and maybe the odd freebie to bulk up the squad. Would also like to secure Evans on a permanent, but if we don't as long as we get the right center mid in we have plenty of midfielders who are good on the ball in Koren, Cairney, Belaid looks promising, possibly Bullard if he stays.

We don't need to go spending 4 or 5 million at all, just a couple of signings and some initiative in terms of squad depth. Look at our form since January, with a couple of the right additions we should be challenging for auto's the whole season.

 

Johnson is more of a central player - sort of like Joe Ledley, not quite a central midfielder, not quite a winger - somewhere in-between, IMO - so for that to work, I'd prefer to go for Daniel De Ridder, who showed he'd be good at this level against us in the cup, or, if we could get him (doubt it though) Zoltan Gera - will be mates with Koren from West Brom days (and Bullard if he stays, from Fulham).

Fryatt and Nugent would be a hell of a pertnership - I reckon Nugent is a bit of a billy big boots though and will hold out for a Prem team. I think someone will take a punt on a freebie, so possibly Keogh might be the better option?

 

Of the players we will have available without loanees or buying anyone.

Duke
Rosenior, Gardner, Chester, Dawson
Simpson, Bullard, Oli, Stewart
Fryatt, Mclean

 

Oli has already said he wants to be at Cardiff next season.
Bullard has already made it clear, even if he hasn't said it directly, that he'd rather be at Ipshit than here.
Gardner is a pretty poor player to be honest, and he's not got any real strengths.

 

Plus, Gardner and Duke are out of contract and I very much doubt they will get new ones.

 

To be honest, I'm surprised Duke's stayed so long. He's spent a considerable period of time here and the number of league games he's played amount to less than a full season of Championship football (just). If I were him, I'd have packed up and ****ed off a couple of years ago. However, if he's willing to stay, I'd give another year. I can't see Mannone leaving Arsenal again, let alone staying here for another year, and if he does go it'll be on loan to a lower-Prem team or an Italian/Spanish club. If we could get Guzan, though, who is himself no spring chicken at 26 and will be wanting regular football, I would be very pleased.

 

I can see this for next season:

Mannone

Rosenior Gerrard Hobbs Chester

Belaid New DM Evans Stewart

Fryatt New Striker

as we atart our third season in the top flight....

 

I can't see us investing too much next year so I was hoping Belaid would come good. Gerrard, Hobbs and Mannone would be great signings to start our 4 years of yo-yo-ing, and then we wouldn't have too much more cash. Two sneaky frees to fill the spare places I reckon!