Taking the Positives. Spend! Spend! Spend!

Will Ashley keep rollin' out the dough?At the beginning of the transfer window I went through every position with a series of recommendations on what was available. Looking back on my recommendations I was without exception completely wrong in that none of my recommendations turned up, and that those who did were not even referred to in my article. Given this resounding success, I believe that I am obviously the right person to write the follow up.

Now there has been some speculation that we have as much as £100m available to spend over the next couple of windows. A quick read of the quote from our manager that prompted this speculation clearly shows that there is no such commitment. Our MD has said that the club will continue to invest, but that's not exactly the same promise. So why even bother with this article? Good Question and one that I will therefore totally ignore. That being the standard response on this blog.

So to the point. At last. If we did have a £100m, which we don't, and we were going to spend it, which we aren't. Then when and where should we spend it? Let's start with the when. I don't think we plan to spend any money in January. If we look at last season at the end of December we had 26 points from 19 matches and sat 10th. If that is true this season then there is no need to spend. Mid table here we come. However, with say under 20pts we may need to strengthen as we did a couple of seasons ago. If say we had over 30pts, yes fantasy, then we may want to strengthen for a push to Europe.

So a quick look at where we are losing players due to contracts expiring. And Obviously Cisse & Taylor will be gone sooner or later. I'm assuming Tiote & Sissoko are off as well. Oh and I'm expecting 4-2-3-1.

Wanting 2 good players in each position Lets go through our potential squad.
GK Krul & Darlow. OK. RB Janmaat & ?? Well Sam Byram 21 currently at Leeds Utd and in the last year of his contract has been linked with us before. At LB We have Haidara and have been linked with Jetro Williams 21 at Rotterdam. CB we have Mbemba,Colo, Lescalles & Dummett and have been linked with Joel Matip 24 currently in the last year of his contract at Shalke.

Defensive mids we have Gini. Anita & Colback. Apparently we have been linked with Ganit Xhaka 22 who started for Switzerland last night. But he is on a long term contract with Borussia Monchengladbach and valued at around £15m so I might presume that his club collegue Havard Nordtveit 25 who is in the last year of his contract may be considered instead. Wide players we have Thauvin & Aarons. Two more needed. Andre Carrillo 24 Peruvian international in the last year of his contract at Sporting Lisbon, and of course my favorite Dominic Berardi 21 who although has just signed for Sassuolo having spent last year on loan there from Juventus I think still has the potential to play in the EPL.

In the second striker attacking midfield playmaker position we have SDJ & Perez so that's OK. Up front we have Mitrovich. I've suggested Robert Beric 24 currently at St Etienne having moved there for just under £4m this summer from Rapid Vienna. Lets see how he gets on.

So whilst I don't necessarily see the need for any business happening in January there are several players there whose contracts are coming up next summer that may either come in January or sign pre-contract agreements. Sam Byram, Joel Matip, Havard Nordtveit, Andre Carrillo. The others, Jetro Williams, Dominic Berardi & Robert Beric will wait. And that lot would cost a lot less than £100m. Of course there are many other players out there, and I'm sure you all have your preferences.

Who would you spend the clubs money on?