I’m not sure on this Long is a nuisance thing. Surely a striker who is a nuisance to defenders is one who scores goals? Long chases lost causes... so nuisance in his case actually means defenders can’t be lazy. And that’s it. And to be honest the standard for strikers in the prem these days is to be able to press and chase defenders. Ings does it. Hell, even Austin tries to do it. Shane Long’s ‘niche’ that he thrived on for a few seasons is now the norm (plus being able to link play).
When he’s on form he scores goals (but he hasn’t been on form for a long time). Even on an average day, he chases everything, takes 2 or 3 defenders with him (leaving space for others) and can cause a bit of panic. Against Burnley and Cardiff though however he failed to get into the game at all ( but was still double marked). Maybe a run in the side will help. He’s all we’ve got ATM!
Red and white tinted specs mate. Every forward in the league can chase down lost causes these days because most teams play a few forwards who all work together and press high - his niche has become expected. Except for Austin and Crouch. True though, he’s all we’ve got.
Except Ings always seems to get injured so I'm not sure its money well spent. In reality we need to replace Austin and Long. We are basically stuffed because we wont be spending much. Gao has been a disaster!
I've heard that as well. I actually heard that he took £90million out of the club last year which seems unbelievable but I could believe if he took half out.
If he's simply taking the money out it's not laundering. If he was spending mega bucks on players he might be. Either way, it would be patently obvious in the books unless there was a mass conspiracy involving half the club. Which there isn't. Sounds like a SaintsWeb type rumour to me.
Yep i think people need to look up the definition of Money Laundering. It is to clean dirty money, by SPENDING it on legitimate purchases. Not so easy to just take 90m out without explaining where it came from....
He’s a headless chicken. Only scored a few in 1 season because he was surrounded my mane and pelle. He’s reverted back to the mean and been truly found out since they were sold. I’ve never seen a player offer as little as him, in any league over the last season or two. Just abysmal to watch.
Barely given a chance though. Yet long keeps getting played, regardless of form, regardless of goal drought. Infuriating.
We have a Shane at work, not the best, but he tries and tries until he fixes stuff. Maybe that is what you need rather than an obnoxious idiot like me waiting for redundancy?
I’m not sure that the lack of incomings can or should be laid at Ralph’s door, and there’s no point keeping Davis really as he wasn’t going to play and his legs had gone. We’re desperately short of quality up top, no doubt, but we have been unlucky with injuries there, as you state.
The finance director said at the latest forum no money has been removed from the club since Mr. Gao took over, but no additional money has been invested either, we must continue to be self sustainable. Sadly conspiracy theorists won’t take these comments at face value, because hey, they’re part of the conspiracy dude.
That is all well and good but the bit I don't understand is we pretty much have bought what we have sold over the last few years, our net transfer spend must be very close to zero, so where does all the TV money go? Is it just sat in a pot waiting for a summer like this upcoming one where we have nobody really to sell?