Forward - Goalie - Midfielder - Defender, in that order for me.

If we're serious, two forwards.

Not going to rank positions, but our back four has one good player at the moment. It's ridiculous. It's a similar story everywhere you look in this team. We need to spend a lot of money to fix it.

I think our back four has been somewhat flattered by recent results, but they're not that bad.

We clearly need a star front and centre, first and foremost.

I think our back 4 is fine, I am not going to be worried for it. We have looked much more solid these 2 seasons ever since the 8-2 defeat than previously. I would take signing a backup to replace Djourou, otherwise I would just gamble with Miquel and focus buying a top class striker.

Higuain wouldn't cost more than 20m and he is prolific as hell.

4 goals conceded in 9 games is impressive, especially when you consider how bad the attack has been, meaning the defence has had to cope with more than a top sides should.

A top midfielder and forward would do us far more good than a defender. Improvements I other areas can wait, these two positions can't.

I can't believe what I'm reading. We're absolutely shit defensively. We have fullbacks who get beaten down the flank in every move and two centrebacks who have spent the better part of the season facing their own goal. There's at least one Giroud on every position in the starting eleven. The defence usually have three of them at the same time.

otfgoon wrote:

A top midfielder and forward would do us far more good than a defender.

I didn't suggest we should sign a defender instead of a forward.

Klaus wrote:

I can't believe what I'm reading. We're absolutely shit defensively. We have fullbacks who get beaten down the flank in every move and two centrebacks who have spent the better part of the season facing their own goal. There's at least one Giroud on every position in the starting eleven. The defence usually have three of them at the same time.

I'm with you on this. Boost the defence and as a consequence you boost the attack. Provides a platform for santi and co to do their thang.

I think we can get more out of our fullbacks offensively too

I'd rather spend massively on Fabregas, Jovetic and Cavani tbh.

Klaus wrote:

I didn't suggest we should sign a defender instead of a forward.

Well exactly what are you suggesting then? The rest of us are talking about priorities.

@lorddulaarsenal wrote:

I'm with you on this. Boost the defence and as a consequence you boost the attack. Provides a platform for santi and co to do their thang.

I think we can get more out of our fullbacks offensively too

That theory works better the other way around (good attack improves defence).

Let's just agree that good players will improve the team.

We ain't winning shit unless the attack and the defence are equally formidable.

For what it's worth, our goals conceded column looks respectable because we're much less adventurous going forward than we used to be a few seasons ago.

In terms of player v player comparisons, our defence is worse than our attack.

Tambourine Man wrote:

Let's just agree that good players will improve the team.

After we've done that, shall I lock this part of the forum?

otfgoon wrote:

@lorddulaarsenal wrote:

I'm with you on this. Boost the defence and as a consequence you boost the attack. Provides a platform for santi and co to do their thang.

I think we can get more out of our fullbacks offensively too

That theory works better the other way around (good attack improves defence).

Absolutely. We are not in control of so many games yet our defence did well. Give us a super midfielder like Isco to create stuffs and hold on to possession to control the games, and a striker to finish teams off and we will be much much better.

Like I said, our defence is absolutely fine this season and unless we have spare cash we need to focus on our priorities. Go replace Giroud's missed sitters this season we a striker who can score and we are automatically second straight away without considering so many other factors.

Burnwinter wrote:

Klaus wrote:

I didn't suggest we should sign a defender instead of a forward.

Well exactly what are you suggesting then? The rest of us are talking about priorities.

:

Klaus wrote:

Another thing to consider is that the market price for strikers is insane at the moment. Either you spend £45 million on someone like Cavani or Falcao or you buy someone like Jovetic who has all the attributes and then you build the player yourself. Meanwhile you use the largest chunk of the transfer budget to improve the defence and midfield instead. Looking at our team at the moment I have to say that the latter strikes me as a better idea. We need two defenders and at least one midfielder this summer. A goalkeeper and a rightfooted wide man would be a big plus too.

Besides, it's not like there's a great reason for Cavani to choose us over Real Madrid or Lewandowski to choose us over the six or eight richest clubs in Europe that will all be interested in signing him. I bet "a Jovetic and a Lewandowski will do nicely" but it's not going to happen. We might get the one who hasn't already established himself as a star for a top club, but it's still going to cost us a lot of money. It's the best we can realistically hope for this summer.

There are going to be a lot of forwards on the market this summer. Bayern have already shelled on Götze, Lewandowski might be moving, Cavani might be moving, Falcao will be moving, Dzeko might be moving, Rooney might be moving (?), etc. I'm sure you wonks can come up with a couple more.

There are going to be enough big names on the move that ultimately a player like Jovetic, or whoever's left when the dust settles anyway, may not have a huge number of serious suitors.

I'm a wonk how's about these?

Benteke, bony, remy, villa, higuain, gameiro, matri,