Let’s Do Nothing … Some Short Term Thinking for January

Article by Jon Lewis

Tim Sherwood has told the press that he isn’t interested in adding anyone to the roster right now. It’s a smart short-term strategy, and the short term is all he’s got. If he doesn’t get fourth place (does anyone still think we can finish higher than that?) he’s out … and he knows it.

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Levy is thinking short-term too; why spend money to add players for a coach he plans to replace this summer – a coach with very particular ideas about formations and talent and style of play that his successor will likely not share?

So as we look to the rumour mill:

Etienne Capoue out: If Napoli really wants Capoue, I’d take it as a sign that we’re under-rating him. He played really well at the start of the season – in a holding midfield role. He had one good game and a couple of terrible games at centre back. Sherwood may not believe in holding players (I hope I’m wrong). But the next coach probably will. Sandro gets hurt … a lot. So we need a competent back-up. (It will be interesting to see who starts against Swansea – if Sandro is healthy, then it’s a no brainer -- so let’s hope that Sherwood has one. But if Sandro isn’t ready, for this fixture Sherwood should chose Capoue over Bentaleb. (But will he?) Capoue wants to leave, rumour has it, to make the French roster in Brazil, which is not our problem. So let’s do nothing.

Nacer Chadli out: Like Capoue, Chadli fit AVB’s big/tall midfielder profile and seems to figure for Sherwood as a roster player who adds toughness at the end of close games. He hasn’t shown much of an attacking presence, except when he played against us a while back, except when he is surrounded by better players on the Belgian national team. He has potential and doesn’t make many mistakes (hence the utility at the end of games). He wants to leave, rumour has it, to make the Belgian roster in Brazil, which is not our problem. So let’s do nothing.

Lewis Holtby out: After Sandro’s injury last year, signing Holtby for next to nothing seemed a real coup. Then AVB played Parker and Huddlestone … and now I see he had his reasons. The primary reason not to sell Holtby back to Schalke seems to involve Arsenal and Draxler. If keeping a player who didn’t cost us much and may improve will keep Arsenal from getting even better, then … Holtby wants to leave, rumour has it, to make the German roster in Brazil (a long shot, to say the least), which is not our problem. So let’s do nothing.

Erik Lamela out: We got Lamela on the rebound when we didn’t get Willian. Similar skill sets, but Willian is playing well and Lamela isn’t playing at all. Sherwood has shrugged off many of the rumoured exits figuring the squad is big enough already, but he has said that he wants to keep Lamela to play up front – an intriguing strategy in a modified 4-4-2 (4-4-1-1). Lamela can’t play wing in a 4-4-2 (either can Erikson, but that hasn’t bothered Sherwood much so far). But I’d love to see what Lamela can do up front with Adebayor or Soldado. And if Lamela up front means I don’t have to watch Harry Kane in a game that matters, then sign me up. Lamela wants to leave, rumour has it, to make the Argentina roster in Brazil (a long shot – and even if he makes the team, he won’t play) – which is not our problem. So let’s do nothing.

Various Serie A strikers in: Sherwood is banking on Adebayor (good luck with that) and we paid a fortune for Soldado (though we really wanted Benteke). Defoe’s bags are packed (right about on cue – great guy, good goal scorer, at this stage in his career he’s perfect for MLS) but if Lamela is indeed going to get a chance up front, let’s do nothing.

Salomon Kalou in: Like we need another wide player. In his prime Kalou was a way better finisher than Lennon or Townsend, but he’s not in his prime anymore. And Lennon plays defence. So let’s do nothing.

Steven Defour in: Like we need another midfielder … and it’s FC Porto (they like to tease and then not sell – to us at least). So let’s do nothing.

While a winter transfer in or out might be fun to consider, the big move, the big news is looming for summer. Swansea have disappointed so far and Laudrip will want to trade up. Just this week things have come apart at Southampton and Pochettino will surely resign at the end of the season. Allegri had a job when we fired AVB but he doesn’t have one now. And then there are all of those WC managers: Klinsmann (I’m torn), van Gaal … Sherwood says he’s happy with the players he’s got. Good thing.

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