[Danny]

Unless anything else happens over the next 12 hours (we're still in for Munoz and Taarabt remains on the agenda) the Mercato is pretty much done for us.

Pipe dreams like Witsel and Khedira are fading dramatically, and we've embarrassingly failed to address the CM position.

So, here's what we brought in. And my thoughts on them. Feel free to add/disagree/agree with them/add your own.

Cerci. Here's where it started. I was overjoyed with this one - should have got him in the summer, but his flopping at Atletico opened it up to us getting him now. Hasn't started with us that well, slow at best - but tonight after 60 minutes his engine finally got going and he went from flat to lethal. If he can keep that spluttering away and continue like that then he will do well for us.

Suso. Liverpool fans rave about him, but I still ain't excited. I just want to see him play before I judge.

Destro. The star signing. We really wanted a top class striker, well, we have one. Looked very good tonight, anything but just a one-dimensional poacher. But does need chances created. He will score, he has energy, and he is will to fight. Good attitude. Not a genius, just a high-quality old school goal getter.

Update: Baselli. Won't lie, never seen him play before. Possible Jack alerted us to him. But he's much-needed resources in midfield.

Bocchetti. If tonight's debut was anything to go by, he's another Armero. Outclassed by Nocerino of all people and looked uncomfortable at best. Hopefully he dramatically improves, and in all fairness is a primary CB. So I will give him a chance to improve. In his proper position. If he gets that chance.

Antonelli. Not a rip-roaring signing but someone of use. He's got good Serie A experience and while probably not much better than a squad player, may be handy. But I won't pretend to know him that well.

Paletta. I am very pleased with this one. I think he'll be our first choice defender alongside Alex. We've been linked to him for a couple of years so happy we've got him.

Outgoing:

Niang. Really hope he does well at Genoa - surplus at San Siro but improved attitude and maybe some good development and he can return a more complete winger.

Saponara. Won't be missed. Utter rubbish.

Torres. Doing so much better at Atleti than he could at Milan. But helps that La Liga defences are gaping open wounds.

The CM position is the one aching to be sorted. Monto's completely gone, Van Ginkel seems to be lost thanks to mismanagement, Poli is only good enough to be used now and then, Muntari has been ditched to the bench at sodding last, and Bona is more of an attacking mid. Essien is a DM.

Like I said we ached for Witsel or Khedira but neither will happen. There is Susic of Hadjuk Split still on the radar, but we're understood to prefer Daniele Baselli of Atalanta. Mainly because the latter is young and cheap.

So we do have defenders and attackers coming out our ears now; we're well stocked up. The midfield question remains open, hopefully one or two come in tomorrow.

Which all leaves us with, for now, at strongest:

Lopez, Abate, Alex, Paletta, Rami, Mexes, Zapata, Antonelli, Bocchetti, Armero, MDS, De Jong, Essien, MvG, Muntari, Bona, Monto, Honda, Poli, Suso, Cerci, Destro, Menez, Pazzo.

A number of those players I wouldn't select if you paid me, but that is basically the first team squad as a whole. It's rather poorly balanced, and is hard to select a formation to get the best out of it while selecting the strongest.

I'd personally go with a 4:2:3:1 selection:

Lopez, Abate, Alex, Paletta, MDS; De Jong, Van Ginkel (who else we got? Monto's guff. Maybe Bona?); Menez, Suso, Cerci; Destro.

This post has been edited by Danny: Feb 2 2015, 03:04 PM

[Danny]

tbh you think Rami's a decent defender so we utterly disagree on what we judge to be a good defender (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

Fact is he'll be first choice alongside Alex IMO.

[han2503]

tbh you think Rami's a decent defender so we utterly disagree on what we judge to be a good defender (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

Fact is he'll be first choice alongside Alex IMO.

Decent is a self explanatory word though no?

He can be good on his day, but also capable of bad days, he's nothing spectacular but usually good enough to get the job done without much hassle or fanfare.

Paletta though... Really?? Terrible, terrible defender imo. And I find it strange how you can say that it's a fact that he'll be first choice. All of our other CBs bar Bonera and Bocchetti are better than him

As for my initial post, you didn't really answer my question. How can you be so adamant about Alex and Mexes because they're both slow yet you seem very excited about an Alex Paletta pairing and last I checked Paletta is also a very slow player, not to mention a mediocre defender at best