Lambert Brief On January Plans

which players with experience are we missing? Bent isn't fancied so it is almost irrelevant he is injured, Dunne is done and dusted, he's no good influence, Vlaar yes. Who else, what am I missing? Gabby? I'd take Weimann and Benteke over him, we need goals, gabby doesn't bring them.

Agreed JF.

I never said anything about big name players. I'm talking about decent 5-8 million pound players who can get us top half/mid table. Thats all. Fighting relegation every season is slowly destroying the club altogether.

I think Bale Naughton Walker and Lennon all came from lower leagues. It's talent we need regardless of where it currently lies

The four Spurs players mentioned were not all brought through together at the same time. Bale was bought for large money (They outbid Arsenal - £9million???) and then developed over about 2 years with experienced players around him. He played nearly 30 games for Spurs before he was on a winning side and Redknapp was going to send him out until injuries happened. He was also a full international when they signed him. Naughton had just completed a full season at Norwich before getting a place at Spurs due to Assou Ekotto's injury and, again, is in a team full of experience. Walker was developed by us for half a season, and Lennon was a well known hot prospect when Leeds sold him on the cheap due to debt (£1million-ish). All of these players learned their trade surrounded by experienced players. We are trying to develop inexperienced players along side other inexperienced players. More untried players will not only struggle to develop themselves, but hinder the development of the players already here. Proven ability for the here and now will not only sure up the ship, but allow the younger players to develop at a less pressured pace.

Perhaps he was thinking of N'Zogbia - but how crucial is he? Perhaps he would flourish under Lambert but I wouldn't hold my breath.

I really hope Randy has paid attention to the last 2 results, we need some experienced players in January, and I'd be very surprised if PL didn't realise that. The only way these youngsters will develop is if they have older heads around them. What I wouldn't give to have Stan back in midfield. We also have to remember that PL is still a young manager learning his trade, he will make mistakes, 2 massive ones recently, but he like the players will learn from them. I'm sure he's not an old dog like McLeish that can't learn new tricks. Seeing people saying they're running out of patience with him is very worrying. If we start to turn on him and the young players now it could get a lot uglier than it already is.

CDX, prem experience is almost as important as winning experience. We need players now. Not in 6-12 months when they've settled in. Players like Ireland are inconsistent as they don't get a run in the team. Matching rotation and avoiding burnout whilst getting all playing well is only mastered by a few.

Roll on Jan roll on!

Vlaar is a given. I'd still include Gabby, and I'd even still include Dunne who returned to focus at the end. Rising to the occasion is open to debate, but we haven't used the experience we have appropriately at points. I agree JF Gabby seems unlikely to score in a brothel at the moment, but he could be an impact player, stretch play upfront, he knows how to track back etc. Again if he's up for it, there is more to Gab than simply scoring. Spurs again, an injury meant we had a midfielder in central defence? Would you have Dunne back for that, knowing he was either playing for a new contract or a new club?

Bikini, we don't produce top 6 youngsters here? Really mate? Not withstanding our own, Gabby, Barry, and others...look at the table, Cahill? Hitzbeefberger? Even bloody Ridgewell? Yes we do, we've just never really built with them.

D - Spurs paid 5m for Bale from Southampton mate, you saying 9m I think you're thinking of Walcott? For the rest, you may be surprised, I agree, this is why we need the experience to help these lads along through the dips they will have.

Clive again Randy needs do nothing, it's Lambert who selects his players.

Saurat yes I'd include Zoggy. Again, are they willing to step up is open for debate, but if you don't play them (and then when they actually play well drop them) they never will step up and help lead will they?

Clive again, jeez look at the accounts for once instead of listening to BS from people who don't!

Cropped you are missing the point that Lambert knew the existing squad only from playing them or highlights and whispers. He'll have players he thought would step up that haven't and he'll know he can't rely on them now. 6 months to assess the team thoroughly and not rely on reputation but see them day in day out is invaluable. Just cause we know players inside out, doesn't mean he would. Scouts don't watch training, or see somebodies mentality, they see games.

We need players, don't know who or how much but our 'kids' are not good enough.