Time to get shopping

Assuming we don’t go on a mega-slump, or sign 9 more Stuart Holdens, this season was put firmly to bed with an abject performance at Stoke on Saturday. Certainly not jumping on the manager’s back or that of the players as this was possibly only the second really bad performance of the season after allowing Liverpool some charity points at the Reebok.

With Chungy away at the Asian cup and a list of ‘long term absentees’ that seems to have contained the same personnel for well over a year, the slump was inevitable. The smallest squad in the league needs some new faces, to give this season some meaning and to boost hopes the Coyle revival will gain momentum again next year. 

Never thought I’d say this but losing Danny Shittu and Andy O’Brien has hurt. We are now left with two out and out centre backs, the brilliant Cahill and the worrying Knight. Sam Ricketts has stepped in there well at times but should the worst happen and Cahill goes (please go to Arsenal if you do leave Gary) we need real cover. It seems as though David Wheater is on his way, which will be a good signing so long as he is not a replacement for Cahill, a base of 3 young English centre backs would stand is in good stead on the pitch and financially for the next few years. Another player on the market is Curtis Davies, again fitting the bill and not a half bad player to have challenging Knight for a place. 

The other big concern regarding exits is occasional goal machine Johan Elmander. Thankfully he seems to have entered another chasm of a goal drought in the league, fending off teams looking for a cheap and quick fix. If he is to leave, then I hope it’s in the next 2 weeks so we can claim a million or two for our record signing as opposed to losing him for free in the summer. With this season looking lost it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world to have Ivan Klasnic on the pitch for a few weeks, assuming he remains an innocent citizen. Cover for this area seems most likely to come in the shape of Carlos Vela. If that deal comes in and Vela does well it may be of greater long term benefit than first meets the eye. Jack Wilshire’s development at Bolton last season has got us a foot in the door with Arsene. If Vela does the same we may have years of amazing man-child players on loan in the years ahead.  

The one thing I feel we need elsewhere is a midfield enforcer who can pass 5 yards, sorry Muamba but you look horrible when Holden and Mark Davies are either side of you. Let’s have a bit of tabloid journalism and put 2+2=5… we’ll have Scott Parker thanks. 

Overall I hope we invest our money in a Holden cloning machine ahead of Shaun Wright Phillips though…. Jesus.