I prefer this idea to the majority who're just standing scratching their heads speaking about bad luck. The truth is somewhere is the middle..a bit of everything from recruitment to management and luck.
With the comments about Lewis Hall this morning, Ashworth should be facing scrutiny. Hall has been pointless. Tonali - failure of due dilligence.
100% not recruitment Barnes’s only had one previous injury so that wasn’t serious Tonali was a great signing but Ashworth couldn’t possibly know he had a gambling addiction Tino - hasn’t been injured Hall - hasn’t been injured Considering our style of play it was clear we needed more midfielders (achieved with Tonali) and an attacking player (achieved with Barnes) Defensively we acquired 2 fullbacks- for the long term future and short term.
Due diligence? Bollox on that one! As for Hall everyone on here were wetting themselves at getting him
I think you are overlooking the biggest influencing factor of all... Tash wearing a 50:50 Milan/Toon scarf. This has doomed us to years of bad luck and is totally unforgiveable. Otherwise we'd still be in the CL and top of the Prem, with a fully fit squad.
There's all kinds of mental gymnastics going on and finger pointing at areas people prefer, but the fact is the entire lot of them including the manager are responsible. We don't know who Howe has said yes and no to, so it's impossible to land blame at one area without knowing the full story. He'll have had a say of some kind. If managers do well they get their arses licked howe included, when the side loses it's on him. Howe will soon be under pressure regardless of last season unfortunately.
I'd like to know wtf is going on with our medical department and the constant set backs like Barnes, thing it was mentioned before they don't even know what's wrong with Botmans knee, how does that happen? Reports they cant decide if they need to send Barnes and Botman for operations surely that should have been decided months ago?
You are happy to assess the whole squad, right Chaos? I can help you with all the different injuries.
Seriously though, this is nonsense. Barnes wasn't needed. Tino's only played because of about 3 injuries. Hall hasn't played in spite of injuries. Yes, we needed another midfielder, but not ahead of a better RW, another CF, better RCB and first choice LB. The recruitment was **** - it made sense if we already had a first XI capable of competing in the UCL and in the league - bring in some very talented young players, no problem. But we were starting Almiron, Burn, Wilson, Longstaff and Schar. We then had a Summer transfer window, spent £150m and lined up with......Almiron, Burn, Wilson, Longstaff and Schar. Villa's spend in the Summer was less - they bought Diaby (starting), Torres (starting), Zaniolo, Lenglet and Tielemans (all getting regular miniutes). I mean, it's ****ing ridiculous how bad we were in comparison, given we qualified for the UCL. Really embarrassing. If I can see it, I'm pretty sure investors and those with money interest in the club can see it. Whether the manager over-rates the players he has, whether the transfer team don't get it or aren't listening, only those in the rooms upstairs at SJP know. If Howe's adamant his team is great, then these are the results, he's part of the problem. If he's going to, say, Ashworth saying "I could really do with better than Burn and Targett" then getting Hall, then Howe's not the problem. Either way, nobody can tell me the Summer recruitment was remotely what was needed. I said so at the time and I stand by it now.
