What Do We Need?

Comments (41)

A Goalkeeper. When Do We Need Him? We Don't!

So, we have confirmed the signing of Saha to add to three other players that have cost us precisely naff all. Weren't we told before the window opened that we had £20m to spend before the considerations of £5.5m for MacFadden and circa £13m for Johnson. Add the reduction in large salaries that departed there and with Stubbs, Carsley, Wessels, et al and we should healthily be looking at a total of £40m to spend... shouldn't we?

Moutinho looks to be a no go and, to be honest, even if he were to arrive it would be ridiculous to put that amount of pressure to save a whole squad on any one player's shoulders. What is the incentive for any quality player to come to a team that cannot secure their manager, or even stay suitably safe from the danger zone after the first few games? I know, we are only three games in and I am being a doom monger but there is very good cause. No disrespect intended to any of the three teams we have faced so far as they are all solid enough but (possibly with the exception of Pompey) they are not teams we should feel threatened by and are not going to scare any of the 'Sky Four'.

We have some excellent players who just seem to be sapped of all enthusiasm and spirit and, let's face it, who can blame them? Any Billy Numbnuts knows that we are in a desperate state with depleted numbers from an already perilously small squad and what do we get when we need midfield and striker reinforcements? A new 'keeper! What is it with Moyes' obsession with them? Is Iain Turner not a solid understudy? What about John Ruddy? Both were supposed to be the next international No 1 for their respective countries of Scotland and England. We shouldn't be surprised that they haven't flourished though considering our track record.

Paul Gerrard, Steve Simonsen and Richard Wright were all going to be the next England No 1 and commanded good prices but failed to shine even in a club jersey, let alone on the international stage. Let's face it, we should stop wasting the money we clearly do not have on goalkeepers and replace the eminently likable but clearly incapable Chris Woods with the inimitable Big Nev.

Either that, or let Blue Bill continue fiddling with his train set whilst we watch Goodison burn and the likes of Manchester City find incredibly wealthy new owners to railroad the transfer of pretty much whomever they want. I never thought I would find myself being jealous of a Manchester City fan. Again, no disrespect is intended to them but how are they more attractive than us? I suspect the answer lies in the boardroom.
Lee Mandaracas, Chelmsford     Posted 01/09/2008 at 15:19:44

Return to the Mail Bag