Treading Water or On The Breadline

No players in, save for a loan. Did we expect anyone in ? Rumours of Crouch, SWP on loan, a left back - any left back ! - would have pacified most of the toon army, or rather have saved the expected criticism and frustration since hte passing of the transfer deadline.

Are you worried that Martins may be injured, and we have no one else ? Personally, I would be if we weren’t sitting on 33 points. Quite how we have amassed this total, looking back to how we felt after the home game with Sheff Utd is probably a surprise to many.

Certain players can be thanked for that. Martins adapting to the premiership. The input of Butt, who has been our best player in the last few months. One thing which has stood out has been the spirit of the team. How long will it last ? Is the quality there to sustain the better results ?

I suspect the lack of activity is due to the fact that we have - almost - climbed out of danger and reached the magical 40 points generally regarded as the safety figure. Looking at the meagre points total of the 3rd bottom club today, I would say we currently stand 2 or 3 points short of the amount needed this time round to ensure survival.

Then it’s summer. And the time for action. I am pleased the club hasn’t gambled on players and is leaving its options open while looking for the right players, so they say. Which is obviously the right policy for any football club. Do we have the money ? Will we have the money ? The huge amounts being dished out to clubs this summer mean we will, but remember all the other clubs are also getting huge amounts of money, so the players will go to the highest bidders. Expect transfer fees to be quite high ie higher still - for the top players.

Its the moment of truth though. A good couple of signings will see the club moving forward, Roeder sustaining his position as manager, but the wrong ones and we will see more unrest and possibly bigger changes at the club

A nice reasoned post, Team spirits a funny one, Where was it at Craven Cottage, Goodison and St James' against Brum, Than I came to your last paragraph and I laughed out loud. Roeder is a joke. He's being used by Freddie as a stop gap and he has'ent a clue. We cant even organise how to take throw ins properly.

A nice reasoned post, Team spirits a funny one, Where was it at Craven Cottage, Goodison and St James' against Brum, Than I came to your last paragraph and I laughed out loud. Roeder is a joke. He's being used by Freddie as a stop gap and he has'ent a clue. We cant even organise how to take throw ins properly.

It's a bit over the top to say he hasn't a clue. I will grant you that he has made mistakes in team tactics and team selection, but at least he tries different formats rather than expecting the same players to adapt to a team plan/formation ala Souness. As long as he learns from his mistakes then he will become a better manager and the team will benefit from that in the long run.

I reckon the team spirit will only get you so far. The match against Brum was where the kids were found wanting and was a game too much.

He will be here at the start of the next season and our fortunes next season will determine if he continues beyond that.

if martins picks up an injury we are in trouble, but even then we could play dyer and sibierski up front, and owen/shola MAY be back for the last couple of weeks.

left-back is the only position for which we don't even have a single player capable of playing at a high-level week-in, week-out. even at centre-half there is taylor, gooch (hopefully) and moore, while i also like the look of edgar.

so i am disappointed we didn't get a LB in, it's a position which not only effects defensive stability but gives you another dimension attacking down the flank. how isolated and off-form have duff and n'zogbia looked, not having a capable left-back bombing on to support them? look how drastically Milner's performance has improved since the passing genius that is Solano came into the team at RB. Look how comfortable Taylor looks when the old head of Nobby calms him down. Babayaro is canny on his day but injuries and lack of conviction turn him into a non-entity. honestly i'd have no problem with us spending £6m or £7m on a top-quality left-back, a Baines (Wigan) or Taiwo (Marseille). i don't believe roeder couldn't acquire a good LB in jan, rather i believe he had a too narrow focus and refused to settle for 2nd best. that is probably a wise long-term view but short-term it leaves us unbalanced.

the question is, where do you draw the line? what if he still can't get his top targets in the summer, does he still wait, or does he then compromise and get his 2nd, 3rd or 4th choice in?

I think you more often than not have to settle for 2nd, 3rd, 4th choice etc when you bring players into clubs.

Its where you draw the line on quality which is what matters.

If he knows he needs a left back and waits until he can get one he is happy with, then that will do for me, although the criteria for buying players should always be that if they are better than what you have then get them.

Like everything, there is no outright answer really. We need at least one forward, and an attacking midfield player and a left back. If these positions are filled well, next season should see us moving forwards.