SHA Small Heath Alliance

Will we spend anything?
If so what position?

I keep looking at our current squad and not sure what we need. Probably need to offload to get anyone in but a bit stuck on exactly what players we need to improve the team and that are financially realistic.

Left back to compete with Cochrane?

Left back and right back. I doubt we'll have the headroom to get players to significantly improve us in those areas, and January isnt really the time to do that anyway. But with Laird out for a prolonged spell and BOS on international duty it feels a risk going into the second half of the season with Iwata/Sampsted and Cochrane/Robinson. Im sure Neumann could do a job at right back but id hope we're past those sort of makeshift options, and splitting up Klarer and Neumann would weaken us at CB.

We need to make some decisions at centre back. It’s not realistic that these two will play every minute of every game so some trust in the other two needs to be found or hopefully one can go back and replaced.

Would be good if it was someone who could do the Hanley closes games out role at times too.

Will depend on Buchanan coming back for left back and if Iwata becomes more of a right back we are potentially light in midfield closing out games.

Centre Forward
Centre Back

Robinson isnt going back anywhere, hes ours. I think its inevitable hes going to have to play at some point, we can only hope he's learnt to keep his trap shut.

As you say, whilst Iwata at RB helps us out there it also leaves us short at CM. Theres a bloke currently warming the bench at the Hawthorns who can play RB/CB/DM who would be great to have now...

In a dream scenario we take Hamer off Sheff Utd and Sargant off Norwich. We dont necessarily "need" them but that would give us a great chance of going to the Premier League.

Realistically we need LB cover and maybe a better winger than Anderson and Koumas.

Roman

In a dream scenario we take Hamer off Sheff Utd and Sargant off Norwich. We dont necessarily "need" them but that would give us a great chance of going to the Premier League.

Realistically we need LB cover and maybe a better winger than Anderson and Koumas.

No way we’ll be bringing in wingers this window

Interesting to see what happens with Dykes and Sampsted given both nearly went out last window according to the rumour mill. Would imagine Dykes is a shoe-in for World Cup so wouldn’t necessarily need to be playing more minutes than he is now

brumfanatic

Will we spend anything?
If so what position?

I keep looking at our current squad and not sure what we need. Probably need to offload to get anyone in but a bit stuck on exactly what players we need to improve the team and that are financially realistic.

Left back to compete with Cochrane?

(Caveat that these are my thoughts and not me being ITK at all)

The key will be moving players out I think; I’m hoping we can turn Sanderson into a perm (maybe TGH) as that would help massively. I could also see Sampsted, Dykes and maybe even Big Willy going out this window if the right deals were on the table.

I think full back is an essential coming in; we don’t know if and when Buchanan will be back and with Laird out til Feb / BOS out at AFCON it would make sense to maybe loan a full back if not buy one out right. I think it’s possible we turn Patrick Roberts into a perm to give us a loan slot back.

I’d like us to bring in a young mobile forward if Dykes goes but accept that it’s maybe not the best time to do business and we could end up with a more short term signing until the summer when we can do proper business.

Make Doyle move permanent.

Think we can get rid of Dykes, Fujimoto and Willumson.

Then being in a Heskey type striker, a big strong midfielder in the vein of a Dacoure or Sissoko and then another winger with pace and skill like a Raki Saluki to give competition to Gray and Robert's off the bench.

We then might have a bit of room for additions as the others would be replacements at CB/LB/Rb maybe someone who can cover both full back positions if needed u lntil Buchanan, Laird and BOS are back and available.

Won’t be too far of it then!

We seem to be a bit lightweight in midfield in away games.
We need a real hard b@stard in centre mid to compete for us and play with Doyle.

Unless we can offload, I don't think we have the wiggle room to purchase

Agree with all the comments about full back.

But i think the most beneficial for a promotion push would be a stronger, taller centre mid with the ability to play & pass. Essentially Fabrice Muama style loan.

I still think away from home two wingers and two forwards is wrong. A midfielder to add alongside Doyle & Paik to win the battle.

For me I feel we need a new left back to challenge Cochrane, maybe a short term deal for a right back with BOS going to the AFCON and Laird won't be back until February at the earliest and Sampsted could possibly be sold.

I can see Fujimoto and Dykes moving on and I can also see Cashin being recalled by Brighton so we would need a new centre back coming in. I'm not sure if WW will leave even though I am concerned about his injury status so maybe a new no.10. I think maximum 4 new players could join.

Oh and if possible make Doyle and Roberts permanent signings.

Worcester Blue

Roman

In a dream scenario we take Hamer off Sheff Utd and Sargant off Norwich. We dont necessarily "need" them but that would give us a great chance of going to the Premier League.

Realistically we need LB cover and maybe a better winger than Anderson and Koumas.

No way we’ll be bringing in wingers this window

Interesting to see what happens with Dykes and Sampsted given both nearly went out last window according to the rumour mill. Would imagine Dykes is a shoe-in for World Cup so wouldn’t necessarily need to be playing more minutes than he is now

Shoo-in.

Watford had better attacking options off the bench than we did, I though Dykes and Anderson both did well in ‘seeing out the game’ roles but we
need more threat in games where we are seeking a winner or equalizer I think.

Just to add. We only have to strengthen at full and centre back, in midfield, out on the wing and up front according to this thread 😁.