See we're jumping on the blame Wagner bandwagon. Seems Webber's wasted millions and contracts for dross don't get a look in
Webber brought in Wagner as the easy option as they are chums, we could blame Webber & sack him but he's already gone so not much point in calling for his head or Dean Smith's. The American franchise tycoon could take some flack after the January transfer window
I've posted on this end of previous (?) season those we should have ridden ourselves of. Those still at the club: Gibson Giannoulis Hernández Tzolis Placheta Idah - although he's improved fractionally this season, he's not good enough to justify a 5 year contract After half a season we can now also add the following as wasted purchases: Long Duffy Batth - Black Cats PotS, yet can't regularly make our team??? Forshaw Barnes Sorenson - question marks remain over his best position, not convinced he's the cdm we're looking for Much investment and change required to undertake a full re-build over the summer imo
Thought I would add my comments to your post: Gibson - Agree Giannoulis - I think he has been decent enough Hernández - Would keep as impact sub Tzolis - Agree Placheta - Agree Idah - although he's improved fractionally this season, he's not good enough to justify a 5 year contract - If we wanted to extend I don't know why we didn't do 3 years with an option of a 4th, was very surprised at the 5 year contract. I thought that was a mistake at the time still do After half a season we can now also add the following as wasted purchases: Long - Cheaper alternative than Krul (wages) -Assume he was bought to allow McCracken a year on loan for experience Duffy - Played well in the west brom defeat from what I saw, not totally convinced by him Batth - Black Cats PotS, yet can't regularly make our team??? - Yes I don't understand why he hasn't played more was talking to my dad about that this morning Forshaw - I forgot we had him, think that says it all! Barnes - Been good enough (especially before injury), he will only be around a season or two to try and pass on experience to Sargent and the other strikers Sorenson - question marks remain over his best position, not convinced he's the cdm we're looking for - Agreed
Where's the money going to come from NorthCity? WhoScored's final ratings (Yellow cards take .5 off a rating):
Batth likewise, to allow Jonathan Tomkinson to go out on loan. Given our history of CB injuries, there would have been uproar if we hadn't signed a fourth experienced CB. As for Forshaw, had we not signed him, our midfield options would be even more skewed towards wide players, with only Gibbs, McLean, Sara, Núñez, and the injury-prone Sørensen in central midfield.
Wagner claimed that Rowe had “not been at the level” he set in recent weeks and that’s why he didn’t start against Millwall. This is the guy who bagged a brace against our local rivals and then was hooked at half time when we were down a man. The guy has been at a level only Sara has exceeded. Wierd decision
Wagner explained that Rowe had played 4 straight matches after coming back from injury. Every player is monitored for fitness by the sport scientists and there must have been concerns about the 20 year old with the Southampton game following 3 days later. There is a need for player rotation in this mad Christmas scheduling.
There are many different "levels" to be considered, as Rick points out. Was it clear which parameters Wagner was talking about?
There-in lays part of the problem, cumulative seasons of Webbers wasted money. There's an obsession with signing foreign players with no limited experience of the EPL/Championship, taking several months to settle in, by which time it's too late and we're looking at re-building for the following season. A club of our stature, size & ability can't afford that sustainably, we're not an established top team where we can immediately loan them out for experience. How much did Tzolis, Rashica, Gibson, Giannoulis, Melou, Kabab, Normann (for example) cost; Not individually, but as a club? That lost money results in this seasons free signings, journeymen, injury prone twilighters. What we save in transfer fees, we lose in wages & fees. We're almost back to "prudence with ambition" days. The books need balancing at some point. Who are we selling in the summer to satisfy the books? Rowe? Nowhere near worth the £25m some people are expecting. Sara? another inconsistent player. Sainz? £10-15m maybe if he carries on well for the rest of the season. No-one else is worth much more and given contract expiries, where's the money coming from to replace those?
