If we're shopping in the Bundesliga then I want Christoph Baumgartner from Hoffenheim. Austrian, only 21, bags of tricks and gonna be a star. Not exactly a Hjobjerg replacement but that's Ralph's problem not mine.
I am surprised that Boufal has not been moved on. I don't think we would miss Lemina one bit but am afraid to say that I feel some of the criticism of him also applies to Boufal. Bags of talent but not really a player who can fit in to the style of play we have. He did not force himself back in to the squad a few months ago and is resolutely a squad member and not an automatic solution. When he is good, Boufal has been an exciting player to match. I am not confident he has the consistency. I would now be more excited by the prospect of Smallbone.
He’s also (well he was, I had to unfollow him) unbearable on Instagram. Why do people film themselves mouthing along to songs. No one cares!
Reed wasn’t here last year and neither was Lemina. Why do people keep saying we’re leaving ourselves short by letting them go? We are short of a CM because Hojbjerg left, but we’re looking to replace him...
because recent transfer windows have seen us leave ourselves short in certain positions. You would hope selling Reed is a guarantee of a new centre midfielder, but I’m not putting my sportsbet.io shirt on it.
I felt we were a midfielder short last season if I'm honest and thought we were lucky with injuries. Seem to recall Romeu was very out of favour pre lockdown and this could be a position that comes back to bite us.
2+2=87 If they both go, it opens up the door for Messi who is a forward, but I am sure could do a job there. 2+2=4 If they both go with Ralph’s blessing, we have someone lined up to replace them.
We were okay with Rom/JWP/PEH last year, a combination of luck and that our three were bloody professional and kept themselves in top condition all year. At our number of games, three to rotate is thin, but if they don’t pick up suspensions or injuries then it’s enough. This season we will need 4 players who can be comfortable there. They ran a LOT. More than any other team in the league in that position. Sprinting more too. And that’s the way Ralph plays. I imagine he’ll want it again because it’s just what he does. The fixture congestion + the physical requirements for that role worry me about next season. There will be injuries, fatigue and lots of multiple game weeks. I reckon some teams are going to get really exposed as a bunch of bottleless, lazy buggers though...*COUGHS*Westham!
We are clearly going to buy another CM. We were light last year and got away as JWP didn't miss a single game - what are the odds of him repeating that? Without Hojbjerg we are even lighter in CM - Lemina & Reed are clearly off and we wouldn't have been so heavily linked to McKennie if there was 0 interest. I think as Reed, Lemina, Hoedt, Carrillo are sold/loaned off we will bring in minimum 1 CM and maybe 1 more .
You literally answered your own question. Hojbjerg was here last year, and now he isnt. I'm hope will replace him in the squad, but until we do, we are short at CM which is exactly what I wrote. We have history in leaving positions short, it wouldn't be a huge surprise for us to not sign anyone.
I don't think Smallbone is ready to replace the amount of games PEH played for us. And as others have said we were arguably light at CM last season. We have been very lucky with injuries. It would be madness to not replace PEH this window.
The main reason Smallbone won't replace Hojbjerg is that he isn't a CM, but an attacking midfielder. He'll be pushing Armstrong for his place, which will improve both players. But yes, we will be signing a CM, I am sure.
