No More Signings?

Chrsi has hinted that there will be no more signings in this window? While I believe that Fulham have so far had a good window we still need to sign Routledge on a permanent deal and need a CB. We give up far too many goals and Routledge is clearly missed when he is not in the lineup. It seems that every window Chris Colemans top prioritiy is an experienced CB and every window we fail to sign one why is that? Really this is starting to get old. This CB rumour started over 2 years ago and the best CB we have signed is Christanval who is not the top class player we need. We were supposed to sign Dellas and that didnt happen,then it was Ufalusi in both the summer window and this window and that has yet to happen and of course the Onyewu fiasco in which we all thought that we finally signed that CB we have been chasing for over 2 years and of course nothing happend. Pearce is not the answer and Knight only plays well when he has a player of quality starting with him. I have no doubt that the club try, but sometimes you have to break the bank to get the player you want.

 

Man if this turns out to be the case that’s no good at all.

I just don't understand CC he makes two in my opinion fantastic signings in Dempsey and Montella yet possess the stupidity not to get a new Center Back! This is like the third transfer window in which its been painfully obvious that we need a new CB and yet again no new CB. Christanval is good enough to play week in and out in the EPL when healthy. But Knight, despite his improvement, Pearce, and Boca simply are not good enough. There's no way around it.

 

Looks like his first priority is the midfield.

 

transfers

I think we have to be a little fair to CC, he did try this time to sign a CB but if players dont want to come there is very little you can do about it. He might have had more to offer if Diop and Collins John had been offloaded but they did not want to go to clubs they thought were inferior.

CC as strengthened the midfiled and front line beyond my expectations in this window, in Montella he as a goal poacher, and a proven one at that, the guy as done it at top level and is already getting the goals.

He compliments the hard working McBride and the duo should score lots of goals, he as in Demspey a player who could be anything, a player of flair which is often the difference in the prem from an ordinary team to a good one, Davies and Smertin are both internationals with experience than can only add to the strength of this team.

He has not lost Diop who can play when he wants to, and this might just be the wake up call he needs. If nothing else when he gets his shot back in the team he knows he will be playing for his price in the next window. The fact he as built the midfield means he can play more players where they are supposed to play, and give them breaks without the quality of the team dropping to much.

Correct me if I am wrong but CC said in an interview yesterday that Smertin could play in the back if CC needed him to. With this midfield we have now that could easily be the plan.

Fulham have had a good season so far, we are on 29 points at the end of January. 40 points will probably be enough to be safe yet again, West Ham and Charlton will need to get 20 points in 13 games or so if you think Watford are down, they have only got 19 and 20 in 23 games, and their games do not get any easier.

No I think we should be happy with what CC has done and for once we might be just looking at an exciting time for Fulham FC, for not only the rest of this season but certainly next.

 

Re: transfers

Like I said I'm extreemly happy with Duce, and Montella, the other two maybe, we'll see.

But honestly I don't care if CC has to go after 10 CB's at one time. Whatever it takes to get one just get one. It should be priority #1! Without racking my memory and going through the entire fixture list I'd venture to say our backline has cost us at minimum 10 points already this year.

 

RE: Re: transfers

Here's one out of left field, I think we might have a decent center back already on the books. His name is Papa Bouba Diop. I would love to see Coleman teach this guy a few things and let him play in a few reserve games in the back and see how he fares. He has the physical stature to be successful. Whether he has the physical skills to be good there remains to be seen. I think he would do well in defense.

 

RE: Re: transfers

I think that Bouba cutting his teeth in the reserves in that spot would be a good experiment. Phyically, I think he has it. My question is whether he has the mentality of a CB. It's not the spot for the shrinking violets.

Looking at Smertin, he would seem to more naturally be able to step in back there. Never thought I would say this, but Zatanaya is on his way back soon, and I am interested in how Zakuani is progressing. Apparently, in the last reserve game he stood out some of the time, along with the other summer transfer, DC Heather's future boyfriend.

 

RE: Re: transfers

Sure I think that could work well. Diop physically has it. He's very poised at the CDM position and good at breaking up plays. Generally he's very smart and composed in his challenges. I don't see why that would change in the event of moving him to the back. He's good in the air and his ball distribution would be a huge improvement over all our existing CB's! Diop could not only stop the goals but be huge in starting counter attacks.

My main complaint about Diop is his apparent lack of enthusiasm. He often seems indifferent to whats going on. But that's the case where ever you put him on the field and shouldn't be a deterrent in moving him to CB.

I like the idea, now we just have to convince CC to give it a try!

 

Diop would be a project and we need a CB right now. I am not convinced that Smertin can step in and be the answer to our problems. He looks good in midfield and that is where we need him as we are short of midfielders. We have needed a CB for far too long and this problem is costing us points big time. We give up too many goals and our offense can't seem to score at home. With a solid defense we would be challenging for the UEFA Cup, but instead we are going to probably be in the bottom half yet again.