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Albion blog: Window of opportunity

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With the January transfer window fast approaching, there are certain key areas where we need to strengthen...writes Albion blogger Duncan Hodgkiss.

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Tony Pulis has already made it known that he wishes to add to the squad. It would be interesting to know exactly the positions he has identified, but understandably refuses to be drawn on the subject.

He makes reference to one or two players needing to play football and not achieving that with us currently. We should expect to see the likes of Anichebe, Gamboa and Pocognoli move on in January.

We may also see Gnabry return to Arsenal. I'm surprised this hasn't already happened with Arsenal's injury troubles. I find this a strange scenario. Pulis has publicly declared that he isn't at the level required to play in our team. He has so far featured in only 12 minutes of Premier League action.

Gnabry came with a glowing reference, tipped for the Arsenal first team until injury cruelly struck. This was seen a move to re-establish himself and deliver on the much heralded potential he had shown previously.

If he is not up to the task why sign him? Why waste a loan slot and funds on a player that isn't yet ready for first team football? Who signed him? Pulis is a known critic of the under 21 Premier League academy system, where Gnabry has featured most. He believes that players are not developed correctly prior to making the step up. Has Gnabry now become a victim of this viewpoint? A most perplexing situation indeed.

Another mystery to ponder is that of the £8 Million outlay for James Chester. So far I haven't seen much to justify the hefty price tag. A poor performance against Man City (he wasn't alone). A totally inept display against Everton, he appeared to be unsure of his positioning and role. Plus a sub-standard performance against Palace, the latter two from the subs bench, doesn't offer much in terms of promise for the future.

Pulis and co certainly have their work cut out in identifying the players that will offer us the right attributes to provide that all important balance in a squad.

The areas he must be looking at should include the two full back berths, if only to provide competition for Brunt and Dawson. A creative midfielder that can effectively link up play in all areas and a box to box midfielder to either provide support for Fletcher or as an alternative ploy.

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Replacing Anichebe with a similar type of striker would be wrong. We have Rondon and the yet to shine Lambert for that. A speedy, 'play off the shoulder of the last defender' type would compliment us perfectly.

We should also be wary of Tottenham's prolonged interest in Berahino. It may not be just Tottenham involved this time. Man United will have been alerted by his goal saving clearance and performance at Old Trafford on Saturday.

I'm sure we will have contingency plans in place should the inevitable happen in January. It is a window that will break new ground once again I'm sure. It will see us dispense with our policy of not making acquisitions and continue to invest in and develop a squad that will ultimately deliver strong Premier League finishes consistently.