Personally, I think that we are in a pretty good place and only need to tinker with the squad...it's all very well bandying about all these world class (or potentially world class) players that we would all like to sign, but looking backwards in some ways could be looking forwards this season...
Bobby's preferred system 4-2-3-1 means that we don't really need 4 "world class" strikers...it's all very well getting players in, but if they are of that ilk, then they won't want to be kicking their heels on the bench every week...I think that Tevez should and will go and Aguero (one of the nailed on starters), Balotelli (who I think has started to get his head screwed on finally and I expect a big season from him) and Dzeko would do for us with backup from the Academy guys
The midfield 5 does need strength, but with Silva and Toure as nailed on starters, we have Barry, Milner (mostly used for specific jobs), Nasri, Nige (probably going though) and Johnson fighting for the other 3 spots...with Suarez, Razak and Biton pushing through, then again we are pretty strong in that area imo, maybe 1 signing, but no more...
Defence seems to be the weak part of the team, with Micah, Zab, Kompany (nailed on starter), Lescott, Clichy, Kolarov and Kolo (probably going, and I hope so, as he seems to have put a lot of weight on over the summer) pushed by Rekik (who I really rate and whose distribution was better than Kompany's in the game the other day and wouldn't imo look out of place alongside Vincent)
Goalkeepers don't get more nailed on than Joe, so able deputies in the form of Pantillimon are needed, so no changes there unless you are going to replace Taylor
So, to summarise....imo 5 nailed on starters and 6 places up for grabs, with only a bit of tinkering needed, and certainly not as big an influx as people say we need...
Feel free to shoot me down...
Bobby's preferred system 4-2-3-1 means that we don't really need 4 "world class" strikers...it's all very well getting players in, but if they are of that ilk, then they won't want to be kicking their heels on the bench every week...I think that Tevez should and will go and Aguero (one of the nailed on starters), Balotelli (who I think has started to get his head screwed on finally and I expect a big season from him) and Dzeko would do for us with backup from the Academy guys
The midfield 5 does need strength, but with Silva and Toure as nailed on starters, we have Barry, Milner (mostly used for specific jobs), Nasri, Nige (probably going though) and Johnson fighting for the other 3 spots...with Suarez, Razak and Biton pushing through, then again we are pretty strong in that area imo, maybe 1 signing, but no more...
Defence seems to be the weak part of the team, with Micah, Zab, Kompany (nailed on starter), Lescott, Clichy, Kolarov and Kolo (probably going, and I hope so, as he seems to have put a lot of weight on over the summer) pushed by Rekik (who I really rate and whose distribution was better than Kompany's in the game the other day and wouldn't imo look out of place alongside Vincent)
Goalkeepers don't get more nailed on than Joe, so able deputies in the form of Pantillimon are needed, so no changes there unless you are going to replace Taylor
So, to summarise....imo 5 nailed on starters and 6 places up for grabs, with only a bit of tinkering needed, and certainly not as big an influx as people say we need...
Feel free to shoot me down...