18 players?!?!

But then again, we all know about how poorly run our club has been. So no need to go down that discussion route again.

comment by definitely not hippo (U1301)
posted 8 minutes ago
lol remember when people used to go on about how important consistency is and such

what a load of ballacks
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I remember we disagreed on the 'consistency' question in the past. What I argued for was consistency of decision making, driven by longer term planning and strategy, and to some degree maintaining some experience in the squad to make sure that an established culture is passed on through successive iterations. Your argument, as I recall, was "let's abandon the Fergie model and just buy world class players".

I'd say the lessons of the last six years have been largely unkind to your viewpoint. We've chased high-profile signings without a guiding strategy. We've been a model of inconsistency. Most people now are crying out for a Director of Football (which was the crux of my consistency argument circa 2013). I don't think anyone ever has argued that we need to stockpile dead wood.

comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by definitely not hippo (U1301)
posted 8 minutes ago
lol remember when people used to go on about how important consistency is and such

what a load of ballacks
----------------------------------------------------------------------

I remember we disagreed on the 'consistency' question in the past. What I argued for was consistency of decision making, driven by longer term planning and strategy, and to some degree maintaining some experience in the squad to make sure that an established culture is passed on through successive iterations. Your argument, as I recall, was "let's abandon the Fergie model and just buy world class players".

I'd say the lessons of the last six years have been largely unkind to your viewpoint. We've chased high-profile signings without a guiding strategy. We've been a model of inconsistency. Most people now are crying out for a Director of Football (which was the crux of my consistency argument circa 2013). I don't think anyone ever has argued that we need to stockpile dead wood.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

You should check tweets for accuracy.

I don't think Smalling, Jones or Young have always been our worst players.
For quite a period Smalling was quite easily our best CB. Jones when fit has been OK, but he must be one of the most injury prone players we have had. Young has been decent considering he is doing a job for us for which he was not bought. We should have had better replacements by now, I still have hopes for Bailly and Lindelhof, but not Darmian.

52 we've just finished 6th 32 points off the top

Too many players way past their sell by dates

Young
Darmian
Jones
Bailly
Matic
Mata
Lukaku / Sanchez

At least 4 of these need to go this window.

comment by Super Ed (U22147)
posted 5 minutes ago
Young
Darmian
Jones
Bailly
Matic
Mata
Lukaku / Sanchez

At least 4 of these need to go this window.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
or all

Ideally Fred but very unlikley given Ole has said we will bring in 5 max and itl cost to get rid

Roy's, yes I agree they have been kept to long. But I don't like seeing the players blamed, those three have all been triers, and we have some who don't.