2015 January Transfer Window

[Tommio]

What is everyone's expectations and what does everyone want to see happen?
Personally I'd like us to sign a left back-jure travner I expect, I'd also like a winger to come in, unless of course we keep Drenthe. I'd also like a forward with pace and for us to forget about murray. Preferably I'd like us to get someone like Nahki Wells or Theo Robinson. What does everyone think?

[From Despair To Where?]

Travner looks like a done deal. Don't know a huge amount abut him but the club have been looking at him for long enough, he's cheap and we need cover at LB.

I think we definitely need to bring in an experienced CB, probably on loan. The defence has looked less fragile under Clarke but i think we need an old head in there, a Steve Brown type signing would be lovely. Who though?

Definitely need a forward. If the Murray deal is still alive then he is a very good option but only if we can shift a big earner (preferably Pog) out. The same will be true of any forward we may be interested in. They'll cost £1m+ and we'll need to ship out first. More likely, we'll look to loan someone but, Murray aside, when was the last time we loaned a forward who made any sort of impact? I'm struggling to think of anyone in the last 30 years. Either that or Pog really needs to step up.

After those 3, anything else would be a bonus.

[Tommio]

Travner looks like a done deal. Don't know a huge amount abut him but the club have been looking at him for long enough, he's cheap and we need cover at LB.

I think we definitely need to bring in an experienced CB, probably on loan. The defence has looked less fragile under Clarke but i think we need an old head in there, a Steve Brown type signing would be lovely. Who though?

Definitely need a forward. If the Murray deal is still alive then he is a very good option but only if we can shift a big earner (preferably Pog) out. The same will be true of any forward we may be interested in. They'll cost £1m+ and we'll need to ship out first. More likely, we'll look to loan someone but, Murray aside, when was the last time we loaned a forward who made any sort of impact? I'm struggling to think of anyone in the last 30 years. Either that or Pog really needs to step up.

After those 3, anything else would be a bonus.

I don't think we need a CB, providing Ferdinand can get fit. The 45 minutes he played were very good. He can be the experienced player we need.

[Wycombe Royal]

Travner looks like a done deal. Don't know a huge amount abut him but the club have been looking at him for long enough, he's cheap and we need cover at LB.

I think we definitely need to bring in an experienced CB, probably on loan. The defence has looked less fragile under Clarke but i think we need an old head in there, a Steve Brown type signing would be lovely. Who though?

Definitely need a forward. If the Murray deal is still alive then he is a very good option but only if we can shift a big earner (preferably Pog) out. The same will be true of any forward we may be interested in. They'll cost £1m+ and we'll need to ship out first. More likely, we'll look to loan someone but, Murray aside, when was the last time we loaned a forward who made any sort of impact? I'm struggling to think of anyone in the last 30 years. Either that or Pog really needs to step up.

After those 3, anything else would be a bonus.

I don't think we need a CB, providing Ferdinand can get fit. The 45 minutes he played were very good. He can be the experienced player we need.

So basically you agree that we need a centre back then.....

[Hoop Blah]

I don't think we need a CB, providing Ferdinand can get fit. The 45 minutes he played were very good. He can be the experienced player we need.

Ferdinand isn't going to get fit to contribute though. As for his 45 minutes being good, well he did do the basics right even if he was hobbling for half of it. Also, don't forget that was against a pretty toothless Rotherham side who we dominated (perhaps in part to Ferdinands start to the game) and looked just as comfortable with Hector back there after the sicknote went off.

We need another centre back. There was a very good suggestion of McAuley from West Brom a while back. With Clarke's links there that would've made even more sense but it looks like he's now getting a game under Irvine. Someone like that would be ideal though. West Brom should have Jonas Olsson back from injury soon so perhaps one of those two will be surplus to requirements?

It looks like we've got the left back coming in, so that's one issue taken care of for now. No idea how good he is though, but at least he's supposed to be a specialist left back.

If Murray doesn't stay then we need something else there too unless we take a massive gamble on getting enough from Blackman and Pogrebnyak (plus perhaps a bit of support from Kanu and Samuel) for the second half of the season.

I think the team is crying out for a genuine left sided midfielder as well, largely because I don't think Kanu cuts the mustard and hasn't taken the numerous chances he's been given. Perhaps Clarke can get more out of him, but I doubt it.

If Karacan and Guthrie can regain some form and fitness, and we continue with the kids as back up then we're reasonably well covered in midfield.

Lots to do if we've the funds but I think it's going to come down to Clarke getting more from what he's got up until a summer clear out.

[Tommio]

Travner looks like a done deal. Don't know a huge amount abut him but the club have been looking at him for long enough, he's cheap and we need cover at LB.

I think we definitely need to bring in an experienced CB, probably on loan. The defence has looked less fragile under Clarke but i think we need an old head in there, a Steve Brown type signing would be lovely. Who though?

Definitely need a forward. If the Murray deal is still alive then he is a very good option but only if we can shift a big earner (preferably Pog) out. The same will be true of any forward we may be interested in. They'll cost £1m+ and we'll need to ship out first. More likely, we'll look to loan someone but, Murray aside, when was the last time we loaned a forward who made any sort of impact? I'm struggling to think of anyone in the last 30 years. Either that or Pog really needs to step up.

After those 3, anything else would be a bonus.

I don't think we need a CB, providing Ferdinand can get fit. The 45 minutes he played were very good. He can be the experienced player we need.

So basically you agree that we need a centre back then.....

No we don't need a. Center back, because we have Ferdinand...

[ROWY]

I think SC needs to lose a few players who are just not good enough for a championship winning side, we are not going to win it this year but must plan for the future

Out, Gunter, hector, robson-Kanu, pog

The rest have all shown a good level of promise or quality, they just need better leadership in order to be more consistent

The real key for this season is Karacen coming back, he is my equivalent of sidwell, we need him desperately in order to finish in a credible position and start to establish ourselves as a side ready for contention

In - strikers with pace and desire, there must be someone in the wings at Chelsea that sc can tap up for a loan

Wingers, mccleary and obita, if they were not at reading we would all be happy with them as new signings, both young and promising ... Just need consistency, which is where strong leadership comes in

Get that right and we will be a threat

[GH Royal]

I think SC needs to lose a few players who are just not good enough for a championship winning side, we are not going to win it this year but must plan for the future

Out, Gunter, hector, robson-Kanu, pog

The rest have all shown a good level of promise or quality, they just need better leadership in order to be more consistent

The real key for this season is Karacen coming back, he is my equivalent of sidwell, we need him desperately in order to finish in a credible position and start to establish ourselves as a side ready for contention

In - strikers with pace and desire, there must be someone in the wings at Chelsea that sc can tap up for a loan

Wingers, mccleary and obita, if they were not at reading we would all be happy with them as new signings, both young and promising ... Just need consistency, which is where strong leadership comes in

Get that right and we will be a threat

What an awful post. Where to start...

Out, Gunter, hector,

Gunter is our best right back, with McCleary now back he has regained his form and is starting to resemble the player that we voted 2nd in POTS last year. Hector is still young (only 22) and while he can makes some mistakes and some of his passing can be poor he has shown that he's a good tackler and has good pace for a 6ft 4 CB. He will become very good in the future, I'm certain of it.

The real key for this season is Karacen coming back, he is my equivalent of sidwell, we need him desperately in order to finish in a credible position and start to establish ourselves as a side ready for contention

Firstly it's Karacan. Secondly, how can you make such a big statement about someone who has not contributed a huge amount over the past couple of seasons? Granted it's through injury and not his fault, but you cannot rely on him to come back and become a key man in the squad. 12-13 season he made 26 apps including 2 in the cup. 13-14 seasons he made 7 apps.
And yet he's going to be the man to come back and fire us into contention?.. Have a word with yourself.

Wingers, mccleary and obita, if they were not at reading we would all be happy with them as new signings, both young and promising

Garath McCleary is 27. That is not young for a footballer, nor does it mean he will get better as injuries tend to set in more, would also say the form he hit last season is probably the best he will ever be (he was quality), hopefully we can get him back to that level now he's back from injury.

So in conclusion, basically.. shut up.

[SPARTA]

Priority has to be LB (sounds sorted, albeit a bit of a punt), and a Striker. We don't have a lot of money, so expecting much more may be a little wishful.

[marcusopp]

We're broke right?
Probably sailing close to the wind (FFP) signing this left back, which we do need.
I'm sure Clark has been asked to trim the wage bill, so i doubt we'll get anyone else in, certainly not a permanent deal for a big name (e.g. Wells). Palace might let us extent Murray's loan, depends on their new gaffer too...

[From Despair To Where?]

I don't think we need a CB, providing Ferdinand can get fit. The 45 minutes he played were very good. He can be the experienced player we need.

So basically you agree that we need a centre back then.....

No we don't need a. Center back, because we have Ferdinand...

We haven't got Ferdinand though have we? He's nowhere near fit. Hence we need an experienced head at the back. Hence my original point that we need to bring someone in on loan until Ferdianax is either fit or put down

[Y21]

What about Mackie? Can he not play upfront, or failing that on the left? i'm sure Mackie playing on the wrong side would be better than HRK/Blackman on the left wing.

And I suspect he would be better up front than HRK/Blackman/Pog.

I like Mackie.

[GH Royal]

What about Mackie? Can he not play upfront, or failing that on the left? i'm sure Mackie playing on the wrong side would be better than HRK/Blackman on the left wing.

And I suspect he would be better up front than HRK/Blackman/Pog.

I like Mackie.

Clearly. But I agree that he would be worth a go on the left wing, although Norwich was HRK's best game for a long time, I still feel he didnt contribute a huge amount so his place is definitely in contention and Mackie deserves a go on that side now McCleary is back and starting to get into form.

[Ian Royal]

In
Murray, left back, left winger

Out
Drenthe, Pog, Gunter / Kelly, HRK.

We'll be extremely lucky to get a third of that done though.

[Westwood52]

I understand we just about passed FFP-so bringing someone in is theoretically possible. However I doubt the Thai's will release much by way of cash, and I for one have no idea why they bought the Club in the first place.
Therefore I think we will have to and can just about make do & mend, provided we somehow manage to keep Murray.To carry on without a recognised striker would place us in a very dangerous place. Forget Pog !
I also believe-Williams, Guthrie, Ferdinand, Karacan, Mackie and Kanu are also carrying some fairly significant injuries.
That said I never felt there was anyone in the Senior Leadership Team who could make a call on Adkins-rumour has it his dismissal cost RFC £850K plus-so hopefully after that decision SC will have some funds to spend.

[Pepe the Horseman]

We've been linked with a loan move for Sunderland winger Charis Mavrias.

[KC Royal]

Interesting news about the left-back. In a way this makes it more likely that Murray won't be staying. Not just because of the financial implications but also because Blackman or possibly HRK/Mackie would take his place so Obita would be pushed into midfield making another left-back a necessity. In effect, he'd be taking Murray's place in the squad.

I'd be fine with Pog getting a run in the team. He's wasted as a sub but as a starter he's underrated imo. He's not worth the wages he's on but could surprise people in a 4-4-2. If he's still weeks away from a return i'd like Samuel to get a chance off the bench.

As for experienced centre-backs we should never have signed Ferdinand in the first place ( I was disappointed when the signing was announced). I can't say his lack of activity in the first half of the season has really come as a surprise and whilst he's here I can't see us signing another centre-back. Gunter is an experienced option, if he can play there for Wales he can fill in for us if necessary. Plus we need to leave a path through to the squad for Keown and Sweeney.

I'm not expecting much activity, if we can bring in a striker to replace Murray and strengthen in another area then that will be a bonus.

[WestRoyal]

In
Murray, left back, left winger

Out
Drenthe, Pog, Gunter / Kelly, HRK.

We'll be extremely lucky to get a third of that done though.

Gunter hopefully will be going nowhere, same for HRK

[SPARTA]

Now Eion Doyle... Bristol City's no.1 target now off their radar.

http://spireitegazette.blogspot.co.uk/

[fruits]

Tommio wrote:
I don't think we need a CB, providing Ferdinand can get fit.

Mentioning the two words, Ferdinand and fit in the same sentence is one of the finest examples available in the
English Language of an oxymoron.