I have to say I feel we are in a really bad place right now. Much is confounded by the perilous financial situation that has struck the football landscape due to the global pandemic etc. I don't think Levy will sack Jose anytime soon, and nor can we really afford to at this given time. I think between now and the rest of the season we will see a return of some of our darkest times and a deepening feeling of appreciation we had under the Poch era.
It is no doubt we need a clear out, we also need to integrate some of the younger players in to the first team squad. Defence and midfield is a priority, as has been highlighted by many a fan alongside our poor performances this season. The expendables for me personally are, Sissoko, Winks, Doherty, Hart, Davies, Alli, Dier. I know selling some of these would be like flogging a dead horse, but the clear out is a must. We have Skipp coming in, Sessegnon, Parrott, Foyth et al returning which should cushion the sudden depletion of our squad. If we can recoup a sizeable amount from player sales, reinvestment in improving our squad should be our utmost consideration.
Which realistic players would you guys like to see come in? I think the return of looking for bargains with youth and potential will be the order of the day for the next couple of years. To be fair, we have fared pretty well with this model. Fulham and Norwich are two clubs with decent talent and I think it may be worth raiding teams lower down the table. Personally, players like Konsa, Aarons, Toney, Berge, Lamptey etc I think would be in the affordable range and fit the bill. Thoughts?
Stuck Between Rock and Hard Place
posted on 19/3/21
Pretty much every big money signing north of £25m we have made has either been injury prone, not the finished article like Ndombele or just not good enough like Sissoko.
We have no choice but to look for bargins or players who want to make to want to make a name for themselves due to finances. It will be a case of sell before we buy. Will Levy lower his inflated price of some of our players? Lets see and we have to find buyers for our deadwood.
Out of the names you have mentioned I like Konsa and Lamptey but he seems very injury prone. Berge would an improvement on Sissoko and if Sheff Utd get relegated he would be cheap you would hope. There is a long list of players this summer who are entering the final year of their contract across Europe so depends how good we are at off loading our second rate players.
posted on 19/3/21
Sanchez bless him ain't good enough.
Which should recoup the 40p we paid for him.
posted on 19/3/21
The whole club needs a complete reset, starting with Lewis, Levy and Mourinho.
I mean what the fack goes on at our club with scouting for example, when was the last time we unearthed a bargain player for peanuts (Dele aside), like other clubs do. Enic rarely spend big and when they do they get it catastrophically wrong most of the time, if you ask me our entire scouting system needs tearing up and starting again. The whole club is a laughing stock, and that is a direct consequence of clueless owners, the problem is we are stuck with Enic, they will not be selling at rock bottom prices due to the pandemic.
posted on 19/3/21
Needed: Manager + backroom staff, GK, RB, min one quality CB, Make sure we keep Reg. Then there is a strong passionate CM ( like a Roy Keane ) who will kick not only the opposition, but his limp wristed team mates. Plus a decent CM playmaker ( but who can tackle as well as find a pass )
Get ride of:
Hugo, Doherty, Dier, Sanchez, Toby ( sorry but too old now ) Winks, Sissoko, Deli ( mainly because decent sale price can go towards others needed )
The rest are either good enough, or at least capable of holding down a place in one off games against lesser opposition.
That is a huge financilal outlay and will take minimum one season to bed in and start showing results.
Or......we can carry on with the tripe we are currently seeing ?.