1st July 2005
By Gosport Toon
Working on Jose Mourinho's principle that you need 2 players for each
position plus a third keeper and one other and therefore a squad of
24 the best way to determine the positions we need to buy in is to
list the players existing in the squad who we should retain and in
the positions they can play. We can then see the gaps and choose the
players best equipped to fill them having considered who they will
be playing with.
So here goes with my assessment of the players we should be
retaining in each position and the required new purchases listed afterwards:
GK - Given & Harper
RB - Carr & Ramage
CB - Boumsong, Bramble & Taylor
LB - Babayaro & Elliott
RW - Milner
CM - Parker, N'Zogbia & Jenas
LW - ?
ST - Shearer & Dyer
Players I have not included in that list are Viana, Bellamy, Ambrose,
Ameobi, Bowyer, Butt and Faye who I think in one way or another are
all expendable. I'd have no hesitation in getting rid of Viana and
Butt. I'd take Bellamy back but only if the squad and coaching staff
were in favour of it and I don't think they would be so he is effectively
out.
Ambrose and Ameobi would possibly benefit from being loaned out to
other Premiership teams, I don't think we'd get enough money for them
if we were to sell them at the moment but we need some more established
players in and we need reliable goalscorers.
So the positions we need players in are:
1 Centre Back - options - Upson, Distin
1 Left Back - options - Bridge
1 Right Winger - options - Malbranque, Douala
1 Centre Midfielder - options - Emre
2 Left Wingers - options - Boa Morte & Duff
2 Strikers - options - Johnson, Ashton, Forlan, Kuyt, Liedson
Next we have to be realistic about who would come to us, would their
club let them go and can we afford them. This is where I think we
have to use some of the players we want to sell or are prepared to
loan out.
My first priority signing would be Bridge as we are relatively well
off for Centre Backs and a back 4 of Carr or Taylor, Boum, Bramble
and Bridge would be very solid indeed. I think Bridge will want regular
1st team football this season and I think Mourinho will be willing
to let him go. We haven't got any players Mourinho will be interested
in so we'll have to pay cash, I'd pay up to £5.5m.
My second priority would be the striking position and I would try
to do a deal with Palace or Norwich for Johnson or Ashton and I'd
try to do a deal of a season long loan for both of them loaning them
Ameobi and or Ambrose in return plus some cash. Ameobi would be a
good player for them in the Championship, he'd get regular games,
Johnson or Ashton would continue to play in the Premiership, Palace
or Norwich would get some extra cash off us and a good player and
if they get promoted they can then have their star striker back (unless
of course he plays very well for us and wants to stay, then a deal
could be struck).
If such a deal couldn't be struck I'd be willing to pay £5m for Johnson
or £4m for Ashton. Both youngish players who played well and scored
goals last season in teams that struggled even more than us. Failing
that I'd take a chance on a season long swap of Viana for either Benni
McCarthy or Liedson from Sporting. Kuyt at £10m? With no experience
of the Premiership, he would be a major gamble and one we could not
afford to get wrong so I'd probably leave him well alone. Although
he is a very good player.
My third priority would be to tie up the purchase of Emre, its not
as pressing a position as left wing for us in my opinion but I think
having a competitive central midfield of Parker and Emre will improve
our results no end.
Fourth priority would be the left flank and I'd be happy with either
Boa Morte or Duff, both of whom would help in the goalscoring department.
I don't think we will be able to get Duff and even if he was an option
he may be financially out of our reach considering the other positions
we need to fill. So Boa Morte may be the more realistic target for
that position. Unless of course we could interest Fulham in Bowyer,
Ambrose and or Ameobi, possibly swapping all 3 for Malbranque and
Boa Morte?
My last priority would be Centre Back. If we can get Bridge I'd be
more inclined to go for Upson as opposed to Distin as he is possibly
a little cheaper but Distin has the ability to play LB if we don't
have enough cover there. Plus Brum may be tempted in a player plus
cash deal involving Butt.
So my shopping list would be:
Bridge - £5.5m
Johnson - £5m (or a season long swap plus say £500,000 with Ameobi
going the other way)
McCarthy - season long swap with Viana
Emre - £4m
Boa Morte - £3m
Malbranque - £2.5m
Upson - £5m
Summary:
Total Cost approximate £25m with maybe £7m+ coming in from the sale
of players such as Bellamy, Butt, Ambrose, Faye, Ameobi and or less
expenditure on incoming players if we are able to part exchange players
as part of the deal.
I think all of the above would be consistent performers for us in
the Premiership with the possible exception of McCarthy but if he
were a straight swap deal the risk would be minimal. Bridge and Johnson
especially would be trying to impress to get in to the England Squad
for the World Cup and they could be relied upon to play well I feel.
If I had to trim the above list to come within budget I'd lose Upson
and Malbranque and I'd rely upon players such as Ramage, Taylor, Ambrose,
Milner and Dyer to cover the positions. I don't think any of the players
listed have injury problems nor do they have a history off being problematic
off the field which is very important given our history in that respect.
Freddy Shepherd and Graeme Souness are going to have their work cut
out to conclude even half of those deals over the next 5 weeks but
it'll be interesting to see what happens between now and the start
of the season that's for certain.
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