…and not the kind that Messrs Nolan and Collins will be reaching for in the morning either, after their interesting yellow cards that ensured them a New Years Day break. In fairness though, Super Kev does look like he needs a break and Ginge probably does not want to show his face round the manor for a little while. Tomorrow must be seen as an opportunity to stop the rot that is threatening to settle in at Upton Park.
While there was no disgrace in losing to Spurs and Man United and we can feel cheated about the Everton result, the post Diame capitulation against Liverpool and the defeat against a poor Reading side have suggested a bigger malaise around us. Due to our injuries, we are sending out a Championship side to do a Premier League job and this is something that Southampton and Reading have found out you cannot get away with. On the plus side, Collison and Vaz Te are on their way back and Diame and Carroll should be following fairly quickly, but this transfer window means we must recruit in key areas, namely;
Left back – Macca just does not remain fit often enough
Right back – O'Brien is my first choice here, Demel has simply not filled me with any confidence since he joined, he always looks a tackle away from a long term injury and seems to be playing with that notion in his mind
Midfield – creativity to replace Yossi, there really is a lack of a player who can split defences
Up-front – Carroll to return to Liverpool and perhaps a more out and out goalscorer to join. I've heard rumours of Rickie Lambert joining and he would be an excellent signing at the right price.
I really hope we make some good moves in the window, but more importantly we get a win under our belts and just give ourselves some good distance away from the bottom bunch. Come on you Irons!