January

[HeCanDoMagic]

So, January comes and we are still top 6, McCabe says to Wilder "heres 6/7m to really go for it".

Which positions do you strengthen and suggestions with whom?

Do you go back for the old favourites - Leonard/Lenihan/Cole or start looking at a supposedly better calibre of player?

It's hard for me to see how we can improve due to how much the current players are giving us but there is always scope for better.

Striker for me - a Darryl Murphy or Ulloa (loan?) perhaps. Being top 6 would make us even more of an attraction.

 

[I should coco]

So, January comes and we are still top 6, McCabe says to Wilder "here's £175k to really go for it".

Fixed that for you.

The apostrophe is on me, no thanks needed.

 

[Sean Thornton]

We'll have to replace Brooks and Duffy.

 

[CarlingBlade]

For the first time ever (or at lease in a long time), we're using the loan market successfully.

I'd review the squad come January, look where we need to strengthen, if a particular player will improve us in that area and if they'll fit in with the rest of the squad.

I think we'll go back in for Cole, i think the rest are no longer required.

 

[Ricky]

It's still too early to know exactly what pond we'll be fishing in but with every week we spend near the top of the league we'll be reassessing what sort of players we'll be targeting in January.

I think the ship may have sailed for some of our previous targets. We'll see.

Wouldn't be surprised if we went back in for Devante Cole regardless though.

 

[elgoog44]

Stick to the brief, buy players the way we have, look at some for Experience Stearman, Clarke types and the rest up and coming and with something to prove, just because we are doing well, it does not mean we should alter the blueprint that got us there, it works and is working.

 

[Boxer Blade]

We'll have to replace Brooks and Duffy.

That made me shudder,stop it.

 

[Sheffsteel]

This season our defense is very good, midfield is brilliant, attack is under par.

Not seen Clarke and Sharp look good enough in the Championship so far.
However was impressed with the Clarke and Brook partnership.
Also Donaldson and Sharp looked good too
But I think we need higher quality up front, someone who can score a goal from nothing.

I’ll leave it to Wilder and Knill.
Evidence shows they know exactly what they’re doing.
Virtually every singlebplayer brought in seems to improve the team or squad in some way.

 

[S64 Blade]

Good question by the OP and one which I am certain Wilder and Knill have planned out.

Assuming all things remain equal, I'd say a striker and possibly another central midfielder would be top of the list; to add more competition and cover any injuries or suspensions.

 

[Treeton Blade]

Don`t forget our Ryan Leonard bid is still on the table

 

[GaryHamsonsLeftBootLace]

Buy Blackman, buy CCV, pay Brooks a fortune, get more cover at right and left wingback as we've narrowly missed having major issues in one of those positions (RWB) a couple of times now and it's such a crucial role to our successful system.

 

[GaryHamsonsLeftBootLace]

Don`t forget our Ryan Leonard bid is still on the table

I hope that's now at least 50% lower as Southend will need the funds to buy players more suitable for the relegations scrap they've found themselves in

 

[Rob86]

So, January comes and we are still top 6, McCabe says to Wilder "heres 6/7m to really go for it".

Which positions do you strengthen and suggestions with whom?

Do you go back for the old favourites - Leonard/Lenihan/Cole or start looking at a supposedly better calibre of player?

It's hard for me to see how we can improve due to how much the current players are giving us but there is always scope for better.

Striker for me - a Darryl Murphy or Ulloa (loan?) perhaps. Being top 6 would make us even more of an attraction.

Might need a right back on loan, other than that a replacement for Hanson. Which is stating the obvious and I have no idea who though. Would be happy to use what cash we have to improve contracts for O'Connell & Brooks and anyone else who needs one, then just loan a couple in. Prices in Jan go ridiculous so I doubt we'll look to sign anyone 'proven' and to be fair there isn't really a weak area.

 

[Tynemouth Blade]

I'd like to think that if we remain in our current league position, there or there abouts, players will have the incentive with the good possibility of getting promotion and therefore playing in the Premier league, that will make them want to join us, compared with the uncertainty of us being a Championship unknown at the start of the season!?

That said, I'd still be happy with a consolidation season in this league!

 

[Keef Chedwyn]

What's that Mcgoldrick from the other day worth? He'd be my sensible suggestion.

Good player and all round nice chap.

 

[Punk Blade]

I’d like to see the next transfer window be focused on young hungry players. We don’t need any upgrades on experienced/established players at the moment as they’ve all contributed well so far (Wright, Stearman, Bash, Coutts, Duffy, Sharp, Clarke, Donaldson) so I would look for those beyond being a rookie kid (CCV, Brooks) but still young enough for further development (Fleck, O’Connell, Stevens). Snap up more talent in Leagues One and Two, a midfielder to nurture and a striker who can contribute to a promotion push in the following 6-18 months and be ready to have a go at the Prem in due time.

Oh, and see what the asking prices are for the loanees.

 

[Geordie Blade]

So, January comes and we are still top 6, McCabe says to Wilder "heres 6/7m to really go for it".

Which positions do you strengthen and suggestions with whom?

I'm not sure that £6m or £7m would actually get anything particularly guaranteed in this division, so it would still be a risk. If we were still top 6 in January, then I'd take that as a sign that we are doing something right, and would be wary about upsetting the balance.

But, if you're insisting that we have to sign someone, I'll go for Jordan Rhodes and showing the oinkers how to get the best out of him again.

 

[Westran]

I'd go for a CF and a CB, shipping Hanson out. The only reason I say a CB is because CCV is on loan, if we're going to continue to push for playoffs and make promotion the aim, we need a squad of permanent players. The CF depends on whether Donaldson shows us more of his early spark, but we've been lacking goals at times from our strikers imo. Maybe a little more competition would help with that

 

[Wooden House]

We are stronger than we were up top, but it is the one area where we lack real quality (except Brooks). I would expect CW & AK to strengthen here if the players they want are available and the funds in place.

 

[raul]

I don't think six sevenths of a million will make much of a difference to be honest.

 

[Sean Thornton]

I don't think six sevenths of a million will make much of a difference to be honest.

That may be taking pedantry - l know l know, irony - too far.

 

[Bladesman]

Sold.

 

[blademark]

I'd spend £5m or so on Ryan Woods to give competition to Fleck and Coutts.

 

[Ricky]

Cole permanently and one or two quality loanees seems a likely possibility.

We should already be near the top of the list for PL clubs looking for somewhere to send their best young players.

 

[sheffielder]

Keep it Kev, we don’t need it

 

[TCsLoveChild]

I'm not sure that £6m or £7m would actually get anything particularly guaranteed in this division, so it would still be a risk. If we were still top 6 in January, then I'd take that as a sign that we are doing something right, and would be wary about upsetting the balance.

But, if you're insisting that we have to sign someone, I'll go for Jordan Rhodes and showing the oinkers how to get the best out of him again.

If we have £7m to spend and we buy Jordan Rhodes what should we spend the other £6,750,000 on? UTB

 

[@samjohnson77]

For me - if we are still up there come January. Why try and change a winning formula? Yes, we do need to strengthen in a number of areas but would not welcome any wholesale changes in a bid to get promoted. I'd rather take my chances with the boys who are putting in the work now and buy shrewdly as we have been doing. Pick players out of the lower leagues and get them firing as we've done with many of the lads. Southampton & Bournemouth didn't do that when they went back to back promotions. Many of the lads who took them there are still there to this day.

 

[sheffielder]

Scrap that. If Freeman is out for the season get walker-Peters from spurs on loan

 

[blades78]

think we will sign Cole.

I'm more concerned about the bids coming in tbh. Clubs will already be sniffing round O'Connell, Stevens, Fleck, Coutts and Brooks in particular.

 

[Sean Thornton]

If we have £7m to spend and we buy Jordan Rhodes what should we spend the other £6,750,000 on? UTB

Do you run the Transfer Market website?

£250k?

Or are you his agent?