Given our signing of some notable failures over the past three seasons does anyonelse feel we are better sticking to UK based players. Our succeses have been players from the lower leagues and Irish born players
Our failures all from Europe.

Is that you abc?

Depends what division we are in. As we have signed all Championship players, bar Defour, if we are in the Championship we are set.
Expecting that we stay in the PL, maybe we could sign some PL strikers?

I wouldn't mind experienced players such as a 1 year deal for Defoe.

If we are to stay up, I'm expecting lots of changes (it won't happen)

I think it has to happen claretfern, or we'll go down next season. Our back 5 I think could cope, but I think we need someone like Defoe who can play upfront on his own and knows where the goal is with limited chances. 14 goals this season from just 26 shots on target and 47 in total. That's a better conversion rate than Aguero.

FactualFrank wrote:I wouldn't mind experienced players such as a 1 year deal for Defoe.

What's happened to your weekly "sign Chris Wood thread" Frank? Is it because he's only scored 1 in the last 5 games?

FactualFrank wrote:I think it has to happen claretfern, or we'll go down next season. Our back 5 I think could cope, but I think we need someone like Defoe who can play upfront on his own and knows where the goal is with limited chances. 14 goals this season from just 26 shots on target and 47 in total. That's a better conversion rate than Aguero.

For sure it's got to happen FF...otherwise it's gonna be a tough road ahead. You can't stand still at this level. I've little faith that we will make the changes to the extent I would like to see.

claretfern wrote:For sure it's got to happen FF...otherwise it's gonna be a tough road ahead. You can't stand still at this level. I've little faith that we will make the changes to the extent I would like to see.

Well we certainly seem to be spending more money now that we have it, so I expect we'll spend reasonably big on 2-3 players. But there's also options for loans as well. Not ideal, but loan players could plug the remaining gaps that we need filling.

I hope we are looking now as to who we might fancy in readiness for August KO. I know the O/P mentioned looking within the UK, but I feel we must not discount looking abroad, irrespective of past failures. Players there cheaper and more skilful. The french league would be a good place to start.

We could do worse than look at two of Feyenoord's players. Both high energy and have pace. Toornstra and Karsdorp. Kardsorp has impressed me all seaon, the Ajax game aside when he had a bit of a stinker. Attacking right full back. Toornstra has 15 goals from midfield. He is a clever player but full of energy. My missus will have mixed feelings as she is a Feyenoord fan and adopted Claret.

Much depends on how far we've developed and improved our scouting system
and if we have whether they can unearth a few decent players be they home based or from overseas.

Do think we have to venture abroad for a few but that may well depend on whether we're brave enough
and have done our homework. It does seem as if the club have 'clocked that' given we have signed one or two
and have bid for a few more albeit we didn't get many, if any of them.

We really do need to unearth one or two, at the very least, for next year.

Ed Balls?

IanMcL wrote:Ed Balls?

Is a gonad ?

PL standard players only (if we have survived) we have too many Championship standard and below on the books right now.

Both those feyenoord players would be amazing signings. Are they out of our price range though?