That's what I mean though. Reach agreement with a club for 20m or something. Send Virgil packing. Buy player. (I know, I know!!!) I'm now trying to think of a player we could possibly get in world football that is of that ilk.
Because he got a glancing header instead of putting power on it to avoid contact? If he heads that with purpose and gets hit we win. Just summed up Bertrands last few games for us sadly.
Dodgy economics...unless we have a fortune sitting in the bank account, we'd have to borrow that. If only we knew a rich Swiss lady with money burning a hole in her handbag I would guess that we won't get anyone in before the window closes....unless they are nearly here already.
Good post Brendy and thanks for taking the time to detail it out - makes for good discussion. In terms of goals, I think he club has done ok to well. It seems everybody can see Gabby is doing the right things, so he is a tick (not his fault his runs aren't being found). Charlie Austin was a good signing. His last premier league campaign before signing he scored 18 league goals and played 30+ games. A good move by the board. In terms of creativity, it must be frustrating for the club. We have Tadic, who is clearly good enough to be creative and has been - we used to call him the assist king. He wasn't great last season, but I can accept the board for now thinking "well he is good enough." Redmond has been here a year and although he has not been doing it, I can also see the board thinking that he has all the tools and is young enough to be taught and developed (that is after all how we stated we want to do things) and we signed Boufal who without any shadow of a doubt has the ability but hasn't delivered yet. We also signed Pierre who came with a glowing reputation from Pep and had broken into Bayern's team as a youngster, so again I think the board did well getting him. This is just a few players who I would still praise the Board for signing, but what has happened in terms of it not working out on the pitch isn't the board's fault. You say they have 5 days to put things right, but I think they have been taking pretty good actions. The fans didn't like the football from Puel, nor did the Board it seems, so they took a decision to change it. That can set you back in terms of time. New man has to be able to see for himself and do his things as well as take guidance from those already at the club. So, I still stand by my view that fans are being unfair in their expectations and lack of patience (yes, you've been patient, but we've re-set things) and there is simply nothing given in this world to just make a decision and make the right one, sign a player and sign the right one, pick the player to score the goals..... I believe we are trying to sign the right players but I also am aware that we may need to move on some players before we can do so, to create space in the squad and the wage bill. It is a juggling act. One thing I must say though. Is just because I am a positive person doesn't mean I'm blind. I just like to think I have a more level view of things and an understanding that it can take time to get things right. The board also have to sayok, we've made some decisions, signed some players (last year and this) and give them sometime if things aren't right. I believe the fans should too.
Might be a bit contoversial, but I wouldn't be adverse to seeing Matty Targett get a run in the team, saying that i'm happy enough with Bertie.
Max Meyer? 2 goals in the Bundesliga last season? (Okay, I admit I just googled that). But is he the answer to our problems?
If it's the right player, the price shouldn't matter (within reason). You have just told me that you want the club to get the squad right.
I absolutely agree with this but, in today's market, how much would such a player be worth? I am on the fence regarding Nathan Redmond. He has not yet really reached his full potential and I don't think that he is anywhere as bad as some of his detractors make out. However, I think he really needs to be taking his chances. End of the day, a 0 -0 away draw at the top team in the league is not too shabby. I think the manager has more work to do to understand his squad and am happy about the start in the league so far. I missed the Wolves game through work and can't comment on that one.
That's the thing, our board don't gamble, they have targets that they have tracked for months or even years, they will only bring the right person in if they are available at the right price. It's just how we conduct our business.
That's the thing though. You have said right "player" is available. Not plural. I don't want us selling Virgil for a "decent price". That too goes against my wish of us trying to keep our best players. I want us selling Virgil for top dollar (which in my book is £60m minimum, but ideally £70m) - the sort of money that a club like us simply cannot turn down. And then use that money to really improve the squad. And that means more than one player. What you are then, hopefully, left with is a squad that is much stronger than it was previously, even if that one single position (ie Virgil's slot in the defence) has been weakened (but not too much). That is "the option" that I felt selling Virgil would give us; more than just allowing us to sign one creative talent (which is what I am saying we need to do in the next five days). I think if we tried to do it now, we probably would be limited to signing just one player (and without even the back-up option of saying "well OK, it's not ideal, but we'll spend the rest in January or next summer", because we've have "over spent" on this one).
