Possible January recruits?
We’ve had our full squad now for a month, where do you think we need to recruit in January?
Dan: It’s pretty easy to answer this question if the current situation stays the same: a striker. Not only a striker but a creative, attack-minded midfielder who can create chances out of nothing. Too many players aren’t making the right decisions in front of goal or when in the oppositions half which has been the main contributor to our lack of goals.
I believe that we have three very good strikers in our team but they lack decent enough service and sometimes don’t make the necessary runs. Building on from this, I feel like if Long is going to start then he needs another striker to feed off of who’ll hold the ball up for him to latch onto.
Ed: Come January, I personally think the club should add up top. We do need competition out-wide but we need more clinical finishing.
We’ve managed quite a lot of shots, but in terms of on target, not many. Over the summer myself and many of the other writers felt that the squad lacked a real target man. So in the rare possibility that Pellegrino does change system to two up top, it would offer more targets and danger in the box.
I don’t have a particular player in mind, but one with a similar playing style to Fernando Llorente would be excellent. It would add a physical presence in the box and bring other players into the game. Which currently lacks from our game.
Marc: Creativity and invention from midfield and wide areas is needed. Hopefully we will have seen improvements in the attacking play by January but we have to be looking for competition and quality on the wings.
Our defence and midfield are looking very strong, so a winger or two to bring added quality and give competition could kick-start the season again should we still be suffering.
Nikos: Creativity and goals are where Saints are obviously lacking. I don’t think the board ever really replaced Graziano Pelle as a target man or Sadio Mane as a creative player who terrorises defences. I’d like to see talent brought in to fill the long-standing gaps left by them.
Ben: I think on the wing is definitely an area that needs improving, preferably one that can play on both sides. Obviously, we won’t get someone as good as Sadio Mane was at Southampton but we need someone in this position that can make a difference.
I also wouldn’t mind some competition for Forster’s spot but perhaps it will be best to wait till the summer as there’s likely to be better keepers available.