Our squad

[ALG01]

I am so astonished 
we needed centre halves and got three (that was good and probably one to many but good nonetheless).
We needed a physical prescence in midfield and got none
we needed a forward, my preference was King from bournemouth (or A.N. other that may have been as good or better) and got none.

we now have 6 centre halves
no defensive midfielder that physically dominates
no forward that supports/replaces Mitro

you can dress this up any way and I will not name names but what a russian roulette situation we face again

[FFC In Oz]

Our transfer business seems haphazard at best.

There doesn't seem to be much forward planning - it seems to be more reactive instead of proactive

[Deeping_white]

Anguissa is already a physical presence in midfield, as is RLC and Lemina when he's back up to full fitness. Did you miss RLC having a collision with a Sheff Utd player that meant he got subbed off with concussion while RLC didn't even flinch?

We all know we needed another wide player, not sure why you're writing yet another thread about it when it could be quite easily added to one of the existing ones? Lookman can be deployed as a forward to support Mitro if we tweak our formation, which is tactical and not purely to do with the squad.

[Arthur]

Anguissa is already a physical presence in midfield, as is RLC and Lemina when he's back up to full fitness. Did you miss RLC having a collision with a Sheff Utd player that meant he got subbed off with concussion while RLC didn't even flinch?

We all know we needed another wide player, not sure why you're writing yet another thread about it when it could be quite easily added to one of the existing ones? Lookman can be deployed as a forward to support Mitro if we tweak our formation, which is tactical and not purely to do with the squad.

Yes, Loftus-Cheek looks physically strong and Anguissa is certainly no lightweight either.

And, as you say, there are already threads about the implications of our not bringing in another striker which offer the opportunity for contributors to vent their displeasure at Tony Khan.

[KJS]

Reed will sit and do what he has done since arriving once he is fit again

[Bronaldinho]

We have a very physical midfield IMHO - especially at the centre. Lemina, Anguissa, RLC are all very hard to shrug off the ball and are the complete midfielders we've been searching for.

Only downside of this window - No out out backup for Mitrovic. A winger that could play striker would have been fine, like Josh King. But we missed that opportunity.

Andersen, Adarabioyo are terrific signings, unfortunate about Andersen's injury so early.

Tete and Aina could 1 and 2 for RB.

In general, I think we recruited well barr the winger/striker situation. (Excluding permanents for Cav and Knock)

[MickyAdamsFamily]

I completely agree with Bron. To bring in a Premiership quality back 4 of Robinson, Kongolo, Tosin (who looked so composed & assured on his debut) and Tete, all on long term permanent deals, for a total outlay of like 10.5mil? That's very good business. About 2/3 of what Villa paid for Matty Cash, and they're all still young, too.

[MickyAdamsFamily]

We definitely missed out on the backup striker/winger (Joshua King or ideally the gifted & v expensive Ismaila Sarr- interesting to note that neither moved in this window), but we'll have to make do for the next 2 months with Kamara and BDR. I think we'll see more of Bobby; although his personal goal return has been poor, he links well with the other players, and plays with good focus and intensity (Abu seems to have the intensity, but not as much focus). I think Bobby provides some intangibles, such that the team seems to play better when BDR is on the pitch.
As for the Cav and Knock contracts, I'm sure they were obligations from their loan deals, and the fact that we got promoted while both made 40+ appearances, probably validates those expenditures. I think the administration will be looking at those costs as deferred expenses from last season, more than investments in the future...

[ALG01]

We have a very physical midfield IMHO - especially at the centre. Lemina, Anguissa, RLC are all very hard to shrug off the ball and are the complete midfielders we've been searching for.

Only downside of this window - No out out backup for Mitrovic. A winger that could play striker would have been fine, like Josh King. But we missed that opportunity.

Andersen, Adarabioyo are terrific signings, unfortunate about Andersen's injury so early.

Tete and Aina could 1 and 2 for RB.

In general, I think we recruited well barr the winger/striker situation. (Excluding permanents for Cav and Knock)

Well, to comment on what you and a couple of others have said.

these are talented players and are certainly bigger and stronger than we had before, no doubt. but I didn't really think i needed to spell out what was on my mind....
I am referring to a tough uncomprimising enforcer who does the genuinely physical stuff, ugly but necessary.  Anguissa and RLC are very talented and use that but I am talking anbout somebody that in old fashioned parlance, 'let's the opposition know he is there.' We do not have such a player and we need one.

[Deeping_white]

We have a very physical midfield IMHO - especially at the centre. Lemina, Anguissa, RLC are all very hard to shrug off the ball and are the complete midfielders we've been searching for.

Only downside of this window - No out out backup for Mitrovic. A winger that could play striker would have been fine, like Josh King. But we missed that opportunity.

Andersen, Adarabioyo are terrific signings, unfortunate about Andersen's injury so early.

Tete and Aina could 1 and 2 for RB.

In general, I think we recruited well barr the winger/striker situation. (Excluding permanents for Cav and Knock)

Well, to comment on what you and a couple of others have said.

these are talented players and are certainly bigger and stronger than we had before, no doubt. but I didn't really think i needed to spell out what was on my mind....
I am referring to a tough uncomprimising enforcer who does the genuinely physical stuff, ugly but necessary.  Anguissa and RLC are very talented and use that but I am talking anbout somebody that in old fashioned parlance, 'let's the opposition know he is there.' We do not have such a player and we need one.

Bearing in mind VAR gave a penalty for Mitro barely touching a Sheff Utd player, do you really think an "enforcer" is going to last 90 minutes in PL football? They'd be a walking red card in waiting and we don't need that kind of nonsense

[WindyCity]

We have a very physical midfield IMHO - especially at the centre. Lemina, Anguissa, RLC are all very hard to shrug off the ball and are the complete midfielders we've been searching for.

Only downside of this window - No out out backup for Mitrovic. A winger that could play striker would have been fine, like Josh King. But we missed that opportunity.

Andersen, Adarabioyo are terrific signings, unfortunate about Andersen's injury so early.

Tete and Aina could 1 and 2 for RB.

In general, I think we recruited well barr the winger/striker situation. (Excluding permanents for Cav and Knock)

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[MickyAdamsFamily]

I think that a big, brutish "enforcer" who does the dirty stuff might be a relic of a bygone era, particularly in the age of VAR. It could still make sense in the Championship, but the Premiership ideal is more of a Claude Makalele or Ngolo Kante, neither of whom is particularly imposing. It's about covering the back four using skill, tenacity, intelligent risk assessment and covering a lot of ground, then recovering possession and making clever use of the ball, recycling it forward in transition to attacking play. Pretty much what Harrison Reed was given responsibility for last season. I would've loved to see us make a deal for Teun Koopmeiners from AZ Alkmaar, who we were linked with in the window, who I think would be great in that role in the Premier League.

[ALG01]

We have a very physical midfield IMHO - especially at the centre. Lemina, Anguissa, RLC are all very hard to shrug off the ball and are the complete midfielders we've been searching for.

Only downside of this window - No out out backup for Mitrovic. A winger that could play striker would have been fine, like Josh King. But we missed that opportunity.

Andersen, Adarabioyo are terrific signings, unfortunate about Andersen's injury so early.

Tete and Aina could 1 and 2 for RB.

In general, I think we recruited well barr the winger/striker situation. (Excluding permanents for Cav and Knock)

Well, to comment on what you and a couple of others have said.

these are talented players and are certainly bigger and stronger than we had before, no doubt. but I didn't really think i needed to spell out what was on my mind....
I am referring to a tough uncomprimising enforcer who does the genuinely physical stuff, ugly but necessary.  Anguissa and RLC are very talented and use that but I am talking anbout somebody that in old fashioned parlance, 'let's the opposition know he is there.' We do not have such a player and we need one.

Bearing in mind VAR gave a penalty for Mitro barely touching a Sheff Utd player, do you really think an "enforcer" is going to last 90 minutes in PL football? They'd be a walking red card in waiting and we don't need that kind of nonsense

Good point well made! It is certainly likely to be an issue but I do think we do not have the aggrsive central defensive midfielder. Reed is closeish but I do think we could do with the olde worlde enforcer nonetheless but yes he would need tpo be veryt careful not to cross the line.

And for what it is worth i think the penalty was to the letter of the rules correct but the rules are ridiculous.

[Arthur]

these are talented players and are certainly bigger and stronger than we had before, no doubt. but I didn't really think i needed to spell out what was on my mind....
I am referring to a tough uncomprimising enforcer who does the genuinely physical stuff, ugly but necessary.

A player comparable to whom exactly?

[ALG01]

these are talented players and are certainly bigger and stronger than we had before, no doubt. but I didn't really think i needed to spell out what was on my mind....
I am referring to a tough uncomprimising enforcer who does the genuinely physical stuff, ugly but necessary.

A player comparable to whom exactly?

sorry I do not understand the question. I have describe a player type... a tough guy, what more do you need to know

[cmg]

these are talented players and are certainly bigger and stronger than we had before, no doubt. but I didn't really think i needed to spell out what was on my mind....
I am referring to a tough uncomprimising enforcer who does the genuinely physical stuff, ugly but necessary.

A player comparable to whom exactly?

Claudio "It's not a game for ballerinas"* Gentile?

(* His post-match comment after famously fouling Maradonna 23 times in the 1982 World Cup.)

[fulhamben]

these are talented players and are certainly bigger and stronger than we had before, no doubt. but I didn't really think i needed to spell out what was on my mind....
I am referring to a tough uncomprimising enforcer who does the genuinely physical stuff, ugly but necessary.

A player comparable to whom exactly?

im guessing he means like the wardrobe papa bouba diop

[YankeeJim]

Clearly, Parker wants to attack with Mitro as the lynchpin and quick wingers fluttering about. That was the plan with Cav and Knockers and it seems the aim was to continue with that by replacing the aforementioned. Lookman and RLC are Plan B and just might work. Hopefully Parker lights a fire under RLC. His effort was lacking against Forest. Maybe having someone to run under a pass will inspire our captain.

[Arthur]

A player comparable to whom exactly?

sorry I do not understand the question. I have describe a player type... a tough guy, what more do you need to know

Apologies. I was asking for the name of a current player who, were he in our team, would satisfy your description - because those I can think of: N'Golo Kante, Hojbjerg, Fernandinho, Matic, Ndidi, are all of a calibre we cannot expect to attract, whereas we do already have Harrison Reed - whom you presumably don't consider good enough.

[ALG01]

A player comparable to whom exactly?

sorry I do not understand the question. I have describe a player type... a tough guy, what more do you need to know

Apologies. I was asking for the name of a current player who, were he in our team, would satisfy your description - because those I can think of: N'Golo Kante, Hojbjerg, Fernandinho, Matic, Ndidi, are all of a calibre we cannot expect to attract, whereas we do already have Harrison Reed - whom you presumably don't consider good enough.

I would accept all thois named as acceptable but Reed is OK but I do not think he quite fits the ugly category, he does a good job but I do not think intimidates... Terry hurlock is the type of thing but with a calming measure to take account of modern rules!