jedi_master wrote:Cork was great for us and is highly experienced at this level. The signings we are making and being linked with say to me that Dyche is very keen to recruit the personnel nedded to allow a change from 4-4-2 if the situation might be needed.
Walters allows us the option of playing him as a wide forward on the right, Brady on the left and one of Vokes/Gray/Barnes (Assombalonga?) up top with, I would guess, Hendrick playing the more advanced of a midfield three with two of Westwood/McArthur/Cork (if rumours are to be believed) sat deeper.
Of course, I see that as a contingency as obviously Dyche is a firmly 4-4-2 man, but it gives us options for sure.
Spot on. If we go with 4-2-3-1 (which let's face it most teams in the Prem do, excepting the current trend for 3 at the back) then we need at least 2 players in each position.
Heaton / Pope
Lowton / Darikwa
Tarka / ?
Mee / Long
Ward / Taylor
Westwood / Marney
Cork? / McArthur?
Brady / Arfield
Hendrick / Defour
Walters / JBG
Vokes / Barnes / Assombalonga? / Gray
Young Understudies
O'Neill / Agyei / C.Long
That leaves our minimum shopping list as 1CB, 2DCM, 1GoalMachine
If Arfield, Defour and/or Gray leave we'll need replacements for them in addition.
I'd also like to see us sign some more young understudies (and not the standard development squad signings). 1GK, 1 CB, 1FB, 1Mid/Winger - players that have Championship/foreign experience and real potential (similar to when we signed Pope, Chris Long etc). That would leave us with a first team squad of 30/31 which I think is about right