Fresh Faces Required

We all know that if we are going to stay up this season (it still feels like a bad dream having to say that) changes need to be made and fresh faces are required. And on day twenty of the transfer window we have only one signing (Billy Paynter on loan) and one possible incoming. This becomes more stressful and frustrating when you look at the various positions that require strengthening. We have a goalkeeper who at

Rhys Murphy has twelve goals for
Dagenham and Redbridge

such a young age lacks a more senior player properly capable of mentoring him, and when you look at his previous mentor and current it becomes apparent why he is so mistake prone, and a new keeper becomes essential. We need a new keeper not only to mentor Long but to also bring essential experience and ability to the first team, possibly to be our first choice for a prolonged amount of time before George Long becomes a lost cause, and this would be tragic as he has all the natural ability to be high level goalkeeper, but currently he is mentally out of his depth. You then look at the defense, United only have three center halves, two of which are under the age of twenty one. Top this with two left backs and one right back and it is clear why despite McMahon becoming somewhat of a liability he plays week in week out. The midfield has been an issue for a while, whilst McGinn and Coady can have good games they have become inconsistent, not always playing to their true potential, also in that midfield is club captain Michael Doyle, and despite minimal improvement and having the game of his life against Aston Villa makes to many blunders and costs us in midfield battles regularly. And as we all know Porter isn't what we require, this season or any other, and even if Paynter starts if he is substituted Porter is our only other option, so another Striker is needed urgently.

In the keepers position I truly believe the two stand out candidates are Mike Pollitt (Wigan) and Carlo Nash (Norwich) neither are first team regulars but both have Premiership experience and could be our saving grace. They will know when to keep calm and the days of eccentric goalkeeping could be just a distant memory. With both players unless a substantial contract is offered with incentives for the future the sad truth is they would have to be loan signings.
Whilst Aidy White is a target for Clough on loan (The left back obsession continues) I think more importantly a player needs to brought in for the right, and Seamus Conneely of Sligo Rovers could be our best bet. Formally of The Blades Conneely is good with the ball technically and not scared to put in and deal with hard challenges, despite the younger age he seems to be more composed when clearing the ball away also. He is no Olympic sprinter but has a shade of pace or two more than McMahon. Seamus had fans in gary Speed and Chris Morgan, but unfortunately Danny Wilson couldn't see the potential and didn't

offer the Irishman a new deal when his original contract came to an end. The center half position is a difficult one to look at, with not many experienced players available either on the loan market or transfer list it becomes hard work for the gaffer, the only player I can see coming in and realistically making a positive change currently is Garry Monk of Swansea City on a possible Loan Deal. In the midfield position David Fox of Norwich is the obvious choice for me, he spent a loan spell this season at Barnsley,  feisty and level headed he could quite easily come in and do Doyle's job or if needs be play alongside him. This would of course be another loan deal as I doubt he would drop to League One permanently at this stage of his career. With the impending transfer of Stefan Scougall (if all these reports are to be believed) that would give us the option of covering Baxter playing just behind the strikers or possibly having him in the middle of the park but having the freedom to break forward towards goal, his versatility could be a god send and he could well and truly be the signing of the season, but also it could be a case of a promising

youngster not living up to the expected hype, only time will tell on this one. As for options in the striker department, everyone and their dog are searching for that next prolific striker, but is looking in the leagues above the right move? Rhys Murphy of Dagenham and Redbridge is getting a good amount of goals this season and the former Arsenal youngster is one of League Two's top scorers this season. He is tall, athletic but able to throw his weight around, privileged enough to have had his youth coaching at Arsenal he can show shades of brilliance with his technical ability, either as cover for Paynter or as an alternative I think he would be the ideal man to bring in to finally replace Porter. In my view this wouldn't have to be a loan signing either with him playing in League Two one would think we can afford to make the deal permanent. In my previous posts I mentioned a few other players, but most of them have either been called back to their first teams or entered form, these targets above seem the now best choices to strengthen this struggling Blades team.

-Jonathan Gascoigne