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What would YOUR priority signing be in the Jan transfer window?

I looked back at my notes from each year, detailing the depth of our squad i.e. DUE TO INJURIES AND TIREDNESS it doesn't only matter about the first team, it is the second team and third team that carry you through adversity.

Don't quibble about formations or who is first/second/third choice, this is SOLELY TO SHOW THE DEPTH

Just look at the state we were in a couple of years ago! September 2023:

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Sept 2025 (yes I know injuries exist)
Much better I hope you will agree. Look at the subs; it highlights that LB and LCB are an issue.

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We've neglected LB/LCB for so long...we should at least be targetting a stop-gap in January if we can't get someone we like permanently at that point.
The fact it's a world cup year might give us more short-term loan options than normal.
Ditto an attacker if i suspect we have some long-term crocks on our hands up front.
 
Bullet said:
The current squad

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Love your analysis across the years. It's intriguing.

One thing I would say is that if you have a specialist LB, Ben Davies, in your squad and play a back four then you have to be measured that way. Only Conte can really call Davies a LCB as he played a back 3. Ange and to a certain extent Frank have both chose Davies in their squads rather than move him on and buy a LB. Ange even had Reggie but wouldn't use him. Ange clearly used Davies in a crisis but I have no doubts he would have never done that unless it was out of necessity.

In today's squad, Davies IS the backup LB and one of four full-backs in our squad. He is 5th choice centre half at best behind Romero, VDV, Danso and Dragu and I would even have Palhinha ahead of him. That is knowing nothing about Takai.

I have a feeling that we were genuine in our interest in Dorgu before the Man U move. I have a feeling that Lange will have another player of similar ilk on the radar. We'll finally see this Davies transition happen.
 
SpurMeUp said:
So you want an upgrade on Spence? More than a midfielder or left winger or striker. Even though Udogie can be first choice at LB. With Spence back up. With VDV able to play there and Davies.
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I want 2 left backs with left foots
And 2 right backs with right foots
I don’t want our best left CB playing left back
I want Davies to leave with our blessing
The team when balanced by having players comfortable in their role is so much better than square pegs and round holes
 
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Muttley said:
I have a feeling that we were genuine in our interest in Dorgu before the Man U move. I have a feeling that Lange will have another player of similar ilk on the radar. We'll finally see this Davies transition happen.
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Locko from Brest was the one poised with the pen 18 months ago, then got a big injury in his send off match
 
Muttley said:
Yeah, remember that. He was the choice before we switched interest to Dorgu following his injury.

Would we now go back in for him as he's through that injury period?
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He's back playing regularly. I don't know if he's recovered to the same level again yet. But he was clearly someone our data said yes about. And with only 18 months left of his contract, he shouldn't be too pricey.
 
Bedfordspurs said:
I want 2 left backs with left foots
And 2 right backs with right foots
I don’t want our best left CB playing left back
I want Davies to leave with our blessing
The team when balanced by having players comfortable in their role is so much better than square pegs and round holes
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Balanced yes. But to say Spence can’t find rhythm playing LB is obviously nonsensical as he has played well there for a year earning an England call up.

So balance and stability is the key for me. Not necessarily adding more players LBs. Udogie should be first choice LB and crossing on his left peg has advantages. But Spence can potentially develop his crossing on his left foot (there was nothing special about Udogie’s cross against united, would’ve been easy for someone to cross the same ball with their weaker foot). And Spence may start to add other things like cutting in and shooting etc.
 
SpurMeUp said:
Balanced yes. But to say Spence can’t find rhythm playing LB is obviously nonsensical as he has played well there for a year earning an England call up.

So balance and stability is the key for me. Not necessarily adding more players LBs. Udogie should be first choice LB and crossing on his left peg has advantages. But Spence can potentially develop his crossing on his left foot (there was nothing special about Udogie’s cross against united, would’ve been easy for someone to cross the same ball with their weaker foot). And Spence may start to add other things like cutting in and shooting etc.
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He played there well in Ange ball
But we don’t play that way
You have to look at how we play now
Spence did cross once on his left last weekend and won us a corner but his attacking play in this system is limited because he can’t go outside
When judging a player consideration has to be given to the system as well as their ability
Some players suit certain ways of playing and others don’t
Spence IMO is a very poor fit for left back in Frank ball, just like I thought he didn’t really work as well on the right in Ange ball… but did on the left (people may disagree)
 
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