by ivor_the_injun » Sun May 02, 2004 2:56 am
I do think Diouf should hang about a little longer. What people need to remember is that he was signed as a striker, not as a right winger, so it was always going to take him time to get himself sorted. If people are going to be so patient with Kewell, maybe they should afford Diouf the same treatment. That said, it wouldn't surprise me to see him go at the same time a big signing is made, to disguise the fact that he's been such poor value so far.
I agree that three quality signings for central defence, right midfield and creative central midfield (assuming the Cisse deal is as signed and sealed as we're hearing) are what we need to look for. For me, getting Mexes, Wright-Phillips and either Joe Cole or Okocha would be spot on. We've got enough dead wood in Diao, Smicer, Biscan and Traore to facilitate some kind of swap deal for Jay-Jay, and it wouldn't surprise me if Diouf + cash was enough to tempt Keegan into letting Wright-Phillips go.
So...
Dudek
Carra Mexes Hyypia Riise
Wright- Okocha Gerrard Kewell
Phillips
Cisse Owen