Whilst I do personally think Parrott should be involved in the squads, I wouldn't say I'm as annoyed as other fans that he isn't (other than Boro, which was a perfect opportunity for him) as I think it's still to early to be relying on him. Though I am annoyed he's not playing for the U23s, there's zero logic to a player just standing around picking their nose. I'm also probably more annoyed at the fact we don't have more than one senior striker, letting Llorente go and not getting a replacement was a poor move by Poch/ Levy and we're paying for it now. The club should've moved to sign a striker on Jan 1st, instead we're 20 days in and still no evidence of a striker arriving imminently and our performances and results have suffered for it.
Ben Davies returning from injury could be a huge boost for us. IF he can rediscover the form he showed prior to two pretty serious injuries and operations, that is. His game was never based on raw pace and power (unlike Rose for example), so I cling on in hope that he can make it. Having a proper LB who actually gives a toss about the club will help Maureen put out a team with something resembling a proper balance. It gives us the luxury of playing 3 CBs with WBs, or to go with a flat 4 with one attacking and one defensive FB. It also allows us to rotate Jan out of the team as and when necesssary - age is rapidly catching up on him and I don't think he can manage more than a game a week at this stage. Same can be said for Toby. IF Ben can rediscover that form, and IF Tanguy (who returned to full training today) can rediscover the fact that he is not made of ice lolly sticks, the team overall suddenly looks at lot more stable, even taking into account the long-term injuries to Kane and Goat. Our line up against City could theoretically be: Hugo Tanganga Toby Dave Davies Winks Tanguy Lucas Lamela Lo Celso Son
Is anyone surprised that we haven't? Will anyone be surprised when we don't? Levy wants Parrott to be the next striker. Mourinho wants to go shopping. I really don't see this lasting very long.
Lots of rumours around: He's injured was one that I heard before the 'Boro game. It was later rubbished; He's not getting picked until he signs a new contract; Jose thinks that he's not ready to play; Jose's not picking him because he wants to buy a striker. There are probably quite a few more but it's all conjecture. What isn't conjecture is that if we spend money on another striker, it will impact on Parrott's progress to the first team. It will also mean less money for other very necessary signings. So we'll try for a loan and probably not find someone suitable. That sounds familiar. So, it's time for Mourinho to make the most balanced team out of what he's actually got. I think that includes using Skipp and Parrott, maybe off the bench. If we continue to produce poor performances and results, without using them, whilst we don't have proper alternatives in their positions, I will continue to criticise him for not using them.
You all want Jose to rely on a 17 year old who he sees day in day out just because what? because Levy won’t spend. Just because he’s come through our ranks he’s no automatic heir to the throne...the romanticism of our fans is killing our ambition and Levy thrives on the bang average expectations Its no co incidence that once again we were knocking on the doors of glory and Levy lost his wallet
I think its best if you all keep trusting levy financially and investing in the youth. Not only is it cheaper but you will have more passionate players plus you can sell them for a profit in tbe future.
I see this season as a write off...judging from the mixing and matching, it feels like Jose does too due to our squad deficiencies I very much doubt he wants to set the precedent that whenever we need a player the solution is a youth player because Levy won’t back him...so I don’t see Parrott saving the day for us. It makes more sense for him to play a tried and tested International winger there...who would you trust when you are judged on every game by the fans who haven’t even allowed you 6 months grace? Jose gets judged on results so I doubt he’s going to fart around in the hope that Parrott develops into the next Kane and saves Levy loads of money. Always the same thing...Levy penny pinching We right now are at ENIC’s ceiling of ambition...just like managers reach their ceiling...they can’t do no more...I hope they **** off soon, doubt they do but one can hope.
I wouldn’t mind that strategy and I’d back it if we set up one of the best Academy’s, scouting networks etc etc and went in that direction but we ain’t no Ajax...it’s not a serious consideration Levy doesn’t have enough football know how to make that work want a Hotel building? Now you’re talkin
Levy appointed Mourinho and Mourinho accepted the job. That job came expressly without the open cheque book that we all know Mourinho wants. If he thinks that he's going to sulk his way into Levy spending vast sums of money, to freeze out Academy prospects, I suggest that he has a chat with Harry Redknapp. It doesn't matter what I think or want, that's the way it is. Equally, Mourinho is what he is. Writing off this season to make a point and see if Eric Dier can be brought back from the dead, is a possible explanation of what the **** he's been up to, these last few weeks. I'm struggling to see many other reasons why he would pick some of his recent line-ups and tactics. However, he's only diminishing what he'll have to spend in the summer by failing to qualify for the Europa League...if he's still manager. He's not at Chelsea or United anymore, best he wises up to that. I know that you think that he'll be better when he's got his own players but at United, he bought Lukaku, Pogba, Sanchez, Bailly, Lindelof, Fred, etc, etc and things were pretty much the same as before. There's no way that Spurs are spending that kind of money...so, he's mostly going to have to work with what he's got, if Kane and Son stay at a mid-table side. At the most, we might sign 6 players before next season, so that's 17 of the current squad he'll have to work with. Unless he finds a magic wand, the job's one for hard graft...it's also best he gets down to that. Like you, I don't think that it's working. The fact is that right or wrong, Levy's not going anywhere, he'll just sack Mourinho if he goes too far off message.
My gut feeling is still that they want to sell up asap. I think that was always the long game of building the new training ground and stadium. I just don't think they predicted things collapsing so badly this season. None of us did tbh. Jose doesn't build legacies. He delivers short term success. Perfect for raising the club's profile just enough to pique the interest of someone with more money than brains to buy the club. The irony is, I don't think Jose realised just how much things had collapsed either. And so by force of sheer circumstance, he might have no choice but to build a legacy after all.
There have been a few rumours doing the rounds about a sale/partnership arrangement. I'm doubting that too much would happen until the situation regarding a possible NFL franchise is clarified. Whilst that's still possible and not realised, any valuation is likely to be too low. Unless there's a 'money's no object' buyer, the best anyone can hope for is that ENIC bring in a partner to pump a load of cash in, like City have done.
No, the club shouldn't have: Harry Kane was fit on January 1st, at least until the second half against Southampton anyway, and the scan results weren't back until something like the 6th Also, if our manager wants to moan about not having a striker, he deserves to have people shout Troy Parrott's name back at him until he stops pretending that he doesn't exist, because we're not that gullible ...most of us aren't that gullible
Apologies for the double post, but...I can actually see the logic of letting Llorente go Poch's vision going forward likely wasn't of the lone forward with a midfield trio behind him, but something closer to the diamond which required a deeper striker, so based on that we had three options up top in Kane, Son and Parrott - the key role was the deeper player, with Dybala the obvious contender for that role with Son (and possibly Dele and Parrott) also contenders there while Lo Celso and Dele were options to play behind them The thing is that we seem to be heading back to that system but have the same problem in not having the deeper forward as we're once again playing Lucas there, and in reality if we're playing that system long-term then that means we need to actually have the players to do so So anyway, who do we loan to Sporting to make that feasible?
