Kristijan Lovric

The answer is both sad and funny. Most likely, we have one man doing all these negotiations. Not a team, just one man. Ange said he does scouting himself.

 

Is that one man Dembele too?

The fact of the matter is we need to bring in a left winger as it’s a position we lack strength in. It may not be as immediately essential as a right back or left back, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be looking to get a deal done ASAP.

 

our defence is a priority imo HH

 

Possibly replacing Ryan Christie if he chooses to leave .

 

I think he's been...reinvented in that position. I'd like the club to persist with Johnston as they have with Forrest. Better medical staff goes a long way.

 

There’s no argument to be had. We need a left winger. The only one at the club is Johnston and he’s a sick note.

Christie can play there but isn’t a natural winger. Forrest is rotten on the left.

 

Didn't Rodgers bring in a lot of staff with him that were later gone? Also, Deila had a Norwegian physio come here. There have been turnovers in that department. IMO, it should be the priority of the club to invest in that area, since we play in horrible pitches all over Scotland, have a policy of buying injury-prone players, and our creative players get battered often.

 

What do you mean persist?

I'm sure they haven't just cast him aside and aren't giving him the correct medical attention, if that's what you mean.

Beyond that though it would be a huge risk to bank on him being fit for the majority of the season, by virtue of his injury record so far. He has talent and bags of potential but we need to see him both consistently show it on park and be regularly fit for selection.

We need another LW in the squad.

 

No argument from me regarding Forrest on the left. But Abada is two-footed enough, let's switch him on the left if Christie can't be there. Forrest gets to play on the right. This requires our staff to work magic on Johnston, so he can let Abada rest. We also have Dembele, on whichever wing he plays, that will leave if not given the chance. I have no time for money grabbers. Playing time is the most legitimate of demands, though.

On the RB and LB positions we are far shorter in numbers. And our funds can only be spread so thin. I say, let's concentrate on the positions that are under most tactical pressure. Inverted wing backs are not easy to play. We need big signings there.

 

Is there anything new on this? Or just debate on whether he's needed or not..

 

I'd say an out and out striker is more needed than another left wing. Kyogo can play there, Christie can play there (and I'd be throwing the bank at him to keep him), Forrest can play there. Big, fast striker would be a point of difference.

 

I still think we need this guy in if possible.

 

That would make sense with the Thomas Henry link

I still want Lovric, Juranovic and a left back. Could do with some of our hangers on leaving, boli, Bitton edourd.

We don't seem to be linked with any number 10/ attacking midfielder role to replace an aging rogic (passed his best). And with Christie on the brink of leaving also.

 

I completely agree that we need new players (both first team ready and to provide squad depth), however I think giving Christie a big wage increase to keep him here would also be prudent.

For talking sake, tripling his wage would make him one of the top, if not the number one, earners at the club at an additional cost of roughly £5m over a four year contract. On the face of it, that seems a lot, however we’d recoup more than that £5m no problem at almost any point by selling him (in comparison to not getting much for him just now) and it would also cost us significantly more than £5m to sign a replacement who could come close to replacing his goals and assists and then have to pay his wages.

I’m not suggesting we should massively increase our “salary cap”, but we should be trying to reward loyalty in order to keep our best players where it’s prudent to do so and where it will cost millions to replace them with players who aren’t a sure fire success.

I don’t think signing Lovric (or another LW) should be in any way dependent on Christie leaving. We badly need quality in that position and Christie will be required at CM over the course of the season.

 

If the Henry deal is as close as what some of the rags are making out, I think it puts to bed the idea of signing this guy. We aren’t paying £11m for another striker and another winger. Especially when we have Forrest, Christie, Abada, Kyogo and Dembele/Johnstone to play there. They maybe prioritise a new striker over a new LW. I’m just surprised by the price of the deal.