The Big Issue! Our defence

I think this is, as is being discussed our achilles heel. It was known last season.

The club have spent this window 75m in these areas, 38m on keepers, 21m on full backs, & 16m on center backs, 6 players average 12m per player in this window, lets face it you get what you pay for

Our combined G/K & defensive player pool is in the region of 25 players, which is in the accounts valued at about 600m. A mean average across the pool of 24m per player.

This level of investment for these areas of the squad would seem to be significant, but we do have throughout these positions a mixture of key players vulnerable to repetitive injury, a substantial cohort of these players who are bang average & a group of young players who have promise , but are inexperienced.

The question arises who is actually advising the ownership that this strategy is putting the club in a confident position to mount a credible top 6 challenge?

The footballing directors or the accountants?


Defence

Goalkeepers: valued at 120m circa

Jorgensen- 21m/ Sanchez- 25m/ Bettinelli*- free

plus> Keppa/ Petrovic/ Penders/ Bergstrom/ Slonina - to be loaned or sold.

Despite having 8 goalkeepers on the books, we still do not have a top notch first choice goalkeeper- A massive fail by the club totally absurd!

Full Backs: valued at 150m+

Right side> James- ACP*/ Gusto- 30m/ Acheampong- ACP */ Willey-loan

Reece James continues to be Injury prone and temperamental unfortunately

Left side> Cucu- 62m/ Chilwell-* 45m/ Viega- 12m

Question marks remain over CuCu, will he be the same player that plays for Spain?

Chilwell is another injury prone risk, also there is doubt whether he will fit to Maresca's style of play?

Center Backs: 175m +

Forfana- 75m/ Colwill- ACP*/ Tosin- free/ Diasasi- 39m/ Badiashile- 23m

Forfana, a 75m injury prone risk , that has played very little football over the last two season. Jury's out on him.

Diasasi, Badishile both inconsistent at best, also vulnerable to injury.

Tosin, decent , but limited, not a world beater

Chalobah, Gilchrist, Humphreys & Anselmino, to be loaned or sold.

This is absolutely insane the club have over 400m invested in our G/K & defensive areas and it is clearly not at a standard to be confident of a top 4/ 6 challenge.


COY Blues, KTBFFH, UTC