I've written about this on a few occasions now. Why aren’t we getting results? I think we should look at a few different things.
1. The owners
I think the biggest culprits are the new owners. Let’s be honest, the squad we had when they took over with a three or four top additions (a truly top striker, midfielder and defender) would have been good enough for top four. They’ve invested a lot and also sold a lot of players. Are the new recruits any better than those who left? They have wasted a lot of cash. Koulibaly, Fofana (who could still work out), Mudryk and Jackson smack of desperation signings – where’s the plan?
2. Pochetino
Many are questioning his role in our malaise but I personally think he is the right man for our current predicament. He is trying to instil a system, a structure, patterns of play into young inexperienced players, many of whom are not accustomed to the speed and physical nature of the premier league. We must stick with a manager at some point, we can’t just keep cutting the head off and hope that the flower blooms again, at some stage you have to cultivate an identity, a system. Although results don’t mirror this, we have dominated many games but just not scored enough goals.
3. The squad/signings
It has been well documented over a few seasons now that we don’t score enough goals, especially taking into account our possession, chance creation and domination of many games. Why have we not sorted this out? It is a case of finding a creative player in the centre (Palmer may have solved that) and a true goalscorer. It’s not rocket science. A 30m inexperienced striker from La Liga is not going to cut it. Similarly, you don’t let your number 1 keeper go out on loan and buy Roberto Sanchez – he’s a complete liability. And side-lining Chalobah in favour of Disasi and Gusto makes little sense. Buying Cucurella and marginalising Hall. Decisions that are nonsense. Selling all the senior players and relying on young players in key areas in defence and midfield – where are the leaders? Okay, we have Silva, but there are no other real leaders on the pitch. No determination, no fight. It’s a mess, a true fracas.
So, where are we? An awful keeper (thank god he’s injured), we have a centre back playing left wing back, a multitude of partners for Silva, players filling in at right back, an inexperienced midfield, Mudryk who blows tepid and cold and a striker who does not seem to know how to make a near post run. We need better signings but we’ve already wasted so much money. These players could come good but without leadership on the pitch, it’s difficult. We also need a little luck, with injuries, with converting our chances … but we are no longer a top team.
Potential but good enough
posted on 19/12/23
I have mentioned this previously, imo, when the owners sacked Tuschel ( as he didnt share the Bohley- Clearlake vision ) & we lost C/L status the owners lost control of the situation.
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Among all the numerous things moronic about that decision, that's when they (arrogantly) chucked away what could've been their shield. It's been seen numerous times, currently being seen at Liverpool, a world class manager can paper over every crack you have & buy you time. I think they might've passively realised this when they brought a club legend back as interim, the other (more transparent) way to buy favour/time.
Not the perfect shield by any means, he's a bit of a headache, but the previous ownership dealt with him fine so it was possible.
posted on 19/12/23
Imo, they are currently treading water, they will try to sell as many assets as they can in the next two windows to raise the FFP compliance money.
Hopefully they will bring in a couple of players ( the right ones ) but seriously im not going to hold my breath on who they bring.
After that blame the sporting directors & maybe Poch for the poor progression. someones going to carry the can for sure
posted on 19/12/23
Defo the owners and their transfer strategy
posted on 19/12/23
Injuries and bad finishing.
posted on 19/12/23
Nick, we do have 30 players in the squad and have spent 1.1 bln pounds, whilst simultaneously ransacking the academy to have the squad we have ?
posted on 19/12/23
We don't have 30 players though. We've had about 14 fit at times.
Look at our benches for some games this season.
No point spending money if that money sits on the treatment table.
If we bought messi and mbappe and both were injured would the expectations still be the same? no.
our bench v bournemouth included maatsen, petrovic, washinton,gilchrist,bergstrom,matos, stutter
posted on 19/12/23
comment by Eric_Draven (U20260)
posted 3 hours, 52 minutes ago
comment by Sheriff JW Pepper (U1007)
posted 42 minutes ago
"but I personally think he is the right man for our current predicament."
He half the cause for me
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Not sure that's totally fair. What can he do with these players. Do we really want to go back to parking the bus? He's trying to play possession based, expansive football and we need patience with him. But the owners also have to listen to who he wants to buy, not go around splashing cash on players who don't answer the shortcomings in our squad. We need players for now.
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Sorry...that doesn't wash with me, I didn't want him from the of & little has detracted me from that thought...he's just not a winner
I'll grant you our injuries have not helped
posted on 19/12/23
Nick, i understand but the issue is we are thread bare with a 30 man squad, with 12 injuries.
We should have a 24 man squad fit for purpose, which we don not, ( as in they can maintain a level of competitiveness good enough to weather the injury issues) and if we did have 12 injuries then we should then be looking at academy players to support the first 24.
ok, it is a total rebuild, but the ownership have made the decisions to bring together the playing pool in the way they have.
It has left us uncompetitive and we are still light in strength, depth, experience & leadership.
Your, not wrong regarding injury crisis, and the quality of our ability to finish, but our competitors are facing similar issues and these issues are not something which cropped in the last few months.
The club were aware of our vulnerabilities and still pressed ahead a built the squad without hedging their bets.
Come on, you could have put your house of the likelihood that James & Chilwell would be out over Christmas.
Likewise the finishing issue is nothing new, and they went with Jackson & Broja ( another injury prone player) to support Nkunku.
Jackson imo should be in Brojas place, we should have another striker to support Nkunku who can simply hit the net, more often than not.
Mudryk ? he is not an 80m footballer.
The only current piece of good news is Palmer & Gallagher, but the latter is vulnerable to be sold to Comply with FFP. ( fingers crossed this will not be the case)
Lets hope the club can bring in a goal scorer in the next window to take the pressure off Nkunku.
posted on 19/12/23
I just said the main reasons which imo are injuries and finishing.
Over the last 3 years we have had the most injuries in european football.
posted on 19/12/23
I know Nick , imo, all the more reason for the ownership to exercise caution.
If you know you are vulnerable, you surly would do something about it, not repeating the same mistake?
We were even discussing these issues on the board over the summer and before.