That journo may have seen your post and decided it was better than anything he had! I wonder how much hitc pays? If it's a staff job or if they pay per rumour?
his 13/14 season, 17 goals in 33, was very good, so he can clearly do it at that level. But since then he's had a lot of injuries and very little playing time. Maybe he doesn't fit their system at Leverkusen, but the injuries are a concern. It simultaneously seems like a risky move, but also one that Webber might go for.
That would surely take a lot of money we just don't have. Pukki could score 15-20 goals in the PL and strikers like that are going to fetch at least £20m, which we just don't have available. The recent careers of Leitner, Vrancic, Trybull and Stiepermann were anything but impressive but under DF they've been fantastic. If we are interested, it may be that SW and DF see a player who could fit well into our system available on a free transfer. He can play as a striker or on the flanks and has scored 10 goals in 32 matches for Switzerland. The risk would be low and it could mean that we can sign Rhodes or another striker like him as well. I wouldn't be very excited about it, but I would trust SW and DF if they think he's right for us.
I do understand and completely take your point. Injuries are a big worry though and I feel it is the position we need to strengthen the most in our squad, after defensive mid. I would suggest spending a bit of our £20m budget on a striker who might challenge would be imperative... providing they fit the system. If Pukki gets injured and we are left with Srbeny and another bloke with an iffy scoring record, confidence could be shot. There are probably players out there for £7-10m (a lot I know) with better records, that would fit the bill and instill a bit more confidence? As you say however, we must trust DF and SW if he is the player they want.
Not sure failed is fair. He nearly got Champions League football with Wet Sham a while back. Payet leaving did for him and there was nothing he could do about that, without sufficient backing.
Failed or not lived up to unrealistic expectations of owners/Chairmen/fans? Hughton has been sacked (failed?) numerous times but has he really failed in any of his jobs?
After the absolute miraculous season Farke had even if we go down in last place I would not be calling for his head . I believe we will finish between 8th and 13th btw. Let's stick most of the TV money in the bank and invest in the academy. I don't want any £15m signings I want my club to be solvent. We came close to bankruptcy a few times we need to learn from our past mistakes.
IMO, Hughton failed at Norwich, but he didn't at Brighton - more he failed to live up to fans' expectations.
I agree wholeheartedly with everything you say apart from where we will finish. I am certain we will come straight back down but if, by some miracle, we stay up next season then we will certainly come down the season after. A year in the Premiership followed by the sale of our best youngsters and the parachute payments will keep us financially stable for years to come.
I remember after the Charlton friendly you were just as pessimistic and I'm sure eventually pleasantly surprised to be proved wrong . Last season wasn't a fluke we deserved to win it
I am usually pessimistic!!! I agree that we fully deserved to go up but staying up is a different matter. I hope I'm wrong but I struggle to find 3 Premiership Clubs who I think we can finish above.
I'm not quite as optimistic as DD, but I think we have a good chance of staying up due to the togetherness and team spirit. IMO, this is the most skilled side we've taken up with the pace and attacking threat to trouble even the top sides. At Anfield, I'd like to see us playing 3-4-3, concentrating on counter attacking with pace with WBs providing the width. The 3 CBs will be key in keeping possession and CM and DM holding their own will also be vital.
What DD said. I wouldn't be calling for Farke to quit of we go straight back down. As for three teams to finish below us we two of them just did, by 5 and 18 points. For the third candidate: Brighton, Burnley, Palace are three possibilities next season.
I predict we'll stay up. I think we've got so much more to offer this time around combining skill, fitness / youth and that team togetherness-thingy.
Yet more speculation about Max, this time United possibly maybe if and but. The lad is very good and young so of course will attract attention. It seems like our prospective best bit of business this summer would be to keep hold of our best youngsters. Bah!
