Priorities For January

It may sound obvious, though it seems to have escaped our board and sporting director, but we really need someone to provide balance on the left now that we have a coach like Ramos who wants width on either flank.

Riera from Espanyol has been mentioned, and I'd be happy with someone like that myself. Not spectacular, but much like Bale, is quite athletic, has a trick to go past a player and has a good left foot that can provide some decent crosses and shots coming inside. Had Assou-Ekotto not been ruled out, it may not have been necessary, since Ramos would have had the option to play him behind Bale on the left (Lee I don't think will have a future under Ramos, sadly). Since that's not going to happen until next season at the earliest, we will need to take action in January, and someone like Riera is probably the best we can hope for given the constraints of signing players mid-season.

Beyond that, obviously a specialist, experienced defensive midfielder would be nice. NOT someone like Diarra (or Veloso for that matter), we need know how, not more potential. None of our signings should be under the age of 25.

Having said all that, the priority should be a central defender, since we are massively short there given that we can't count on King or Gardner to be available any more (precisely why, in addition to his lack of talent, I've been saying for years that we should ship Gardner out and fill his squad place with someone more reliable). Again, it doesn't have to be a spectacular signing, just a steady experienced head to organise and lead the back four.