By Tony Alvarez
A we are around midway into the January transfer window we decided to look into what types of players each club needs, I will also put forward my opinion of the ideal players to fulfil the roles and how likely it is to happen.
Earlier in the week I gave my thoughts on the teams whose names start between the letters A and L now is the turn of the rest of the teams in the Premier League.
To look back at who I thought the teams from A-L need to sign please click this link: http://shoutsfromthestands.wordpress.com/2011/01/13/who-does-your-club-need-in-the-transfer-window-a-l/
Manchester City- Having completed the signing of Dzeko I don’t think they really need any one.
I don’t think City will win the league but there is not many areas I think there squad could improve. If you do have the ambition of being a top top side which City clearly do, I don’t think Kolo Toure is up to the standard required any more. So possibly a new centre back is needed but I would wait until the summer. For me the biggest hole in City’s team is Gareth Barry, he just doesn’t do much. City already have the players to replace him so I don’t think they need to bring anyone in to cover him.
Manchester United- Where do you start with United? For me there squad is one of the worst they have had in many years, but there top of the league and unbeaten. Personally I would add a winger Nani has been performing well but Giggs whilst still class isn’t consistent enough anymore and Park is not a winger so with Valencia’s injury they are one man short.
As Nani prefers playing on the right someone who is comfortable on the left is needed. I would look at Juan Mata from Valencia left footed and can play from the left but prefers to play centrally which will be ideal once Valencia is back to full fitness and would give United another option.
Newcastle- They have tried and it looks like failed to sign Seb Larsson which is a shame because I think it could have been a good move for them. Currently it seems like Barton is the only creative player in the side. Gutierrez runs with the ball well and Nolan adds goals but neither really create chances for others. I think they went for the ideal player in Larsson due to his crossing ability and the aerial prowess they have upfront with Carroll and Ameobi.
The press have linked Newcastle with Ziani from Wolfsburg who Is a creative player so Pardew is defiantly looking in the right places.
I would also be tempted to look at another centre back Taylor, Coloccini and Williamson are all very similar and with it rumoured that Campbell wants out I would look at another slightly quicker centre back although I cant think of any one in particular at the moment.
Stoke- Stoke are a very good unit so they wont want to make too many changes, Pulis always looks for the same sort of player big strong lads unless he is looking for a winger then he goes for quick with decent delivery. At the time of writing this it appears the deal for Demba Ba is all but completed. He could be a good signing as much as I rate Fuller he just does not score enough goals but is a great player to bring on when you are in need, the same can be said of Walters. I think one more central midfielder could be added just to give the squad some depth, looking into the mould of players that Pulis usually goes for its hard to pick a name of who he could sign.
The press have reported both Stephen Ireland and Mark Noble have been looked at by Stoke. Ireland is not a typical Stoke player and if he played the way he has for Villa wouldn’t last five minutes. Noble is much better suited to Stoke’s game although he isn’t big in stature he is an all action box to box player with a bit of quality on the ball, Pulis has denied the link but I think this could be a good signing for Stoke.
Sunderland- My first step would be to try and sign Danny Welbeck permanently; I don’t think United would go for it though. The team is quite strong they have strikers all capable of scoring a mixture of players in the middle and a few different types of defender. Personally I think Sunderland need two players.
They don’t have a natural left sided midfielder which leaves them looking a bit unbalanced at times unless Zenden is playing and he is too old to be playing too many games on the spin.
For the left it was rumoured Bruce was interested in Charles N’Zogbia which would of been the ideal signing attitude aside but Wigan have already ruled that move out.
The other position I would sure up is at centre back for me they have 4 or 5 average centre backs all 6 out of 10 but no one with that bit more quality.
To be honest the centre backs are ok for the rest of the season but if they carry on their form and then want to make that jump to the next level next season then this is defiantly one of the areas I would look at strengthening.
Tottenham- For me Tottenham’s squad is quite strong and complete, they have a few players of a similar mould in the midfield which made me think trying to sign Piennar was a bit pointless although he is a good player.
For me a new left back is a must, I cant see anything in Assou-Ekotto that suggest he should be in that side, from what I can gather from the Tottenham fans I have spoken to he’s either loved or hated so some of you would strongly agree whilst others will completely disagree that he needs replacing.
He isn’t your typical left back but I would look at the Valencia left back Mathieu he is a solid no frills left back who keeps things simple but is strong in the air and in the tackle.
I also do not particulary rate Alan Hutton but I do rate Corluka so if Hutton’s keeping him out of the side he must be doing something right.
West Brom- This is a difficult one, Odemwingie is not clinical enough but causes teams so many problems as it is Di Matteo’s preference to play one out and out striker would you bring in someone who will guarantee goals but then lose all that Odemwingie gives you.
Personally I would stick with what they have as they currently have enough to stay in the league if he can get them all working together. Dorrans was scoring for fun in the Championship and Di Matteo needs to find a way to rediscover his scoring touch as goals are where West Brom are lacking.
I would also like to see more of Somen Tchoyi on the pitch he seems a bit lazy but is very creative and can change games.
West Ham- There are so many players at West Ham that if playing at their full potential are more than good enough to get them out of the trouble there in, the problem is Scott Parker is the only player showing any real form.
I think the signing of Wayne Bridge is a good one and it makes their back line pretty much complete.
I think West Ham are fine in the middle but its on the flanks they are struggling, Jack Collison has been a massive loss for them as he adds a little bit of class and for me Behrami has not been himself this season.
I remember before the season started I said to a West Ham fan they were stupid to get rid of Diamanti because he gave you width and that spark of producing something from nothing, I still believe this is the case.
All reports suggest that Grant is looking at a whole host of strikers but between Cole, Obinna and Piquionne there is the potential for enough goals in the team they just need the right service.
The ideal signing although he would be difficult to prize away would be Chris Brunt he can play wide has a beautiful delivery is good from set pieces and will get you goals, but for them reasons it would take a lot to get West Brom to part with him.
Wigan- For me Wigan have a whole host of problems and don’t have the money to rectify them, I think they will be gracing the championship next year, Rodallega is a good player but does not offer enough goals so someone to play alongside him who will get the goals his work deserves would be ideal, they have used the loan market well in signing Tom Cleverly and I think they should dip into it again to sign a striker.
Again in the midfield they have N’Zogbia who is a good player and Cleverly adds something to the side but for me the likes of Gomez and Wason just don’t cut it in the Premier League, Hendry Thomas is a good holding player so just someone who can press on a bit is needed, I am not sure how bad the financial situation is so I would look at Adam Hammill who is available for half a million.
Figueroa is a good player and the rest of the back line are just battling hearts on their sleeves type of players this could be strong enough to get them through, but due to lack of individual quality they need to come together as a unit.
Wolves-Wolves are an odd case, Kevin Doyle is a good player Steven Fletcher is a good player they get good service from the likes of Hunt, Jarvis, Jones and Milijas so why are they not scoring goals? Its not like they are missing a whole host of chances each week either it’s quite baffling.
Karl Henry has been a big loss as he adds the bite in midfield but he should be back soon and I think he could spring the team into action.
I would be tempted to add a player at the back, Craddock was the leader and he has been out for a long time and he will not come back and straight away be ready for the rigours of the Premier League.
I think generally they need to add a centre back but even if they sign a player on loan for the short term until Craddock comes back it could be enough to see them safe this season.
It’s been reported that Mick McCarthy has given up on trying to sign David Wheater which is a shame because he could have been the ideal man for what Wolves need, someone in a similar mould needs to be looked at, they could do a lot worse than signing Sol Campbell until the end of the season.
Let me know if you agree with my opinions or if you disagree who you would sign for your club or any of the clubs I have mentioned?
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