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The One Signing They Should Make Part Three : Fourteenth to Twentieth
Published by Ian John on January 17, 2010
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The final part of our three part series examines the fortunes of the teams lying in fourteenth to twentieth place in the EPL. Which one player could these teams bring in to revive their fortunes and ensure they enjoy a better second half of the season compared to the first and avoid that dreaded drop back into the Championship? Starting with Owen Coyle-less Burnley.
14. BURNLEY : Burnley’s biggest signing in this transfer window actually needs to be their new manager Brian Laws. If he cannot instill an improvement in performances away from Turf Moor then Burnley could well struggle. That said Laws also needs players and in particular someone who can find the net : SIGNING TO MAKE : Jermaine Beckford (Leeds United) He may be a target for Newcastle, but Beckford has the attributes to be the big striker Burnley need to score goals and give them a real attacking presence, especially away from home.
15. WOLVES : Mick McCarthy’s men have done well in the first half of the season, the highlight being the 1-0 win at Tottenham. However McCarthy will know his squad will need a little bit of extra quality in the crucial second half of the season and a key signing could make the difference between survival and relegation : SIGNING TO MAKE : Fraizier Campbell (Sunderland) Wolves need pace and threat in attack. Campbell on loan from Sunderland would be a good deal for them and give Kevin Doyle a quality, young and hungry strike partner to play off.
16. WIGAN ATHLETIC : Inconsistency has dogged Wigan this season. Roberto Martinez men have been brilliant at times, woeful at other times and this needs to be addressed quickly if they are not to become embroiled in a relegation dogfight. Martinez has already signed two players in Stojkovic and Gohouri and at least one more will follow. SIGNING TO MAKE : Victor Moses (Crystal Palace) Wigan could offer the highly rated Palace start a real platform to show his ability as a Premier League player, something he is unlikely to get at any of the big clubs interested in him.
17. WEST HAM : With little cash to spend and most of the talk being of players moving out of Upton Park, Gianfranco Zola has had something of a baptism of fire. Improved recent performances can give the likeable Italian heart that all is not lost, especially if he can make a key signing or two before the transfer deadline. SIGNING TO MAKE : Joleon Lescott (Manchester City) The Hammers back line is too porous and Lescott has had a miserable time at Man City, if Mancini is ready to make him available on loan then Zola would be well advised to come in for the ex Everton man.
18. BOLTON WANDERERS : Owen Coyle’s appointment will be welcomed by Bolton fans who are hoping he will get the team playing more attractive football, in their eyes, than they did under Gary Megson. Of course that needs to be tempered with good results, so Coyle’s first moves into the transfer market should be interesting. SIGNING TO MAKE : Guti (Real Madrid) Bolton were linked with the Madrid man a few weeks back and they need his guile, experience and skill and flair to give the team a new dimension. But will Coyle be interested in someone who was a Megson target?
19. HULL CITY : Phil Brown’s side have been up and down this season and the loss of Jimmy Bullard through injury could not have come at a worse time for the club. However it is unfair to pin all your hopes on one player and Brown needs to add an extra dimension to the Tigers very quickly if he is to avoid the drop into the Championship. SIGNING TO MAKE : Federico Macheda (Manchester United) With the best will in the world Craig Fagan is not going to score the goals to keep you up. Campbell was a hit on loan from United in the past. Macheda could be in the future.
20. PORTSMOUTH : Avram Grant really has a problem. The club is practically dead on its feet financially, they are under a transfer embargo and the fans are revolting due to the seeming incompetence of the board. Hard to believe that less than 2 years ago, they were winning the FA Cup. SIGNING TO MAKE : A new owner. One with money who can pay off what they owe and get the transfer embargo lifted as without that, the club is going to go down in more ways than one.
That concludes our three part series, it will be interesting to see who, if anyone, out of the potential targets listed above, the managers of the 20 Premier League sides do decide to buy over the final few weeks of the January transfer window.
Image Courtesy of ***t.jones47*** at Flickr.com
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