What Happens this Summer

Top 4 is now mission impossible. We needed to come back from the International break and make a statement. A mini season of 9 games where we showed quality focus and determination, something to build on. The reality, fail followed by more fail.

The vast majority of fans wanted Jose gone well before these latest results. I have always been prepared to give him a real chance accepting what he is all about. But now he is not even delivering in his strong areas - strong defence, winning key games & getting over the line. Success in the cup will not mask the overall pattern which is no real progress or consistency.

There are several ways Levy can go this summer. The 2 key issues are Does Jose Stay? Does Kane Stay?

I think it is inevitable Kane will go. He is at his peak and will not want to go another UCL-less season. He is loyal but that is understandably being tested to the absolute limit. He like most fans will question if we can progress under Jose but will also not want to be part of ANOTHER project which may or may not deliver. I see no manager out there capable of coming in and making us great in a season. Its going to take time, time Kane does not have.

Levy has to make a decision and make it early. If he is 100% not selling then that conversation needs to happen ASAP, give Kane time to get his head around it. We risk seriously upsetting our best player in a generation and it may not work out well next season.

If he does go then again, early decision making is needed. Set the value and set a deadline that Kane is onboard with. If these demands are not met, then Kane needs to be fully committed. I think as a loyal person if Kane wanted out i think he'd accept these sort of conditions as he would not want to screw us over in leaving. We have to avoid an off-season of will-he-wont-he leave and begin next season well prepared rather than last minute comings and goings. If Kane goes its £150m minimum including Levy Tax.

That gives us a massive war chest for a rebuild but do you trust Jose with that money? Trust him or not? is he the long term future? Most would agree NO, we want someone far more progressive and modern to basically do what Poch did when he first came in.

If you look at Liverpool and look at the lineup of their last game under Rodgers only 3 players of that match day squad are still at the club - Milner Origi and Gomes. Off the back of the sale of Coutinho and other good selective spending, under the right manager, they have really progressed. I feel this is the route Levy has to take. I'd say our squad is pretty good in the most part but we lack true quality in defence (RB & CBs x 2) and RW.

Even without replacing Kane, I'd say 4 new first teamers are needed. I question whether we have the money to do this and it will also be difficult to move players on in the current financial climate. We need to be ruthless in cashing in where we can. There should be only a handful of players we should not consider selling. Everyone else has a price. Bale didnt work out, so he goes back to RM.

In all of this, Jose has to go. I hope that Levy will have written in a reduced payout clause if we fail to get UCL because, lets face it, that's why Jose was brought in.

I have no idea who replaces him. Many talk up Naglesmann but for a young manager currently 2nd in the Bundesliga I find it concerning that they easily got thumped by Liverpool and Man Utd. But is this the sort of new era, new project, youthful approach we need to take again? What other options are there?

I think if Levy takes the route of stubbornly hanging-on, trying to make this all work it will just be another wasted season. We need a reset in my opinion. If we can keep Kane in all of this then AMAZING but i expect this will not happen. If this is the case we need to take the opportunity to undertake a big rebuild, top to bottom, for the best chance future, long term success.