De Gea isn’t signing for a newly promoted team. He has been consistent in saying he only is interested in returning to playing for a Champs league team. He doesn’t need money so I think he’s only bothered if playing for a good team
Can’t remember how we were feeling tbh but I think we had more confidence in a number of players stepping up than we do with the current squad. That could’ve been because we had been out of the PL for quite awhile so didn’t realise how big a step up it was rather than thinking Lallana etc were as good as they turned out to be
Yeah and a fair few other positions as well tbf. Maybe I’m being harsh as we are a newly promoted team where 17th would be a great season so the squad isn’t as bad as I’m making out. There are 5 players there who have never kicked a ball in the PL as far as I’m aware - Lis, Lumley, THB, Manning and Stewart. All the others have played at least a bit in the PL and not exactly been great in the main. So you’d hope that we are going into the summer with our eyes open as to where the squad is at relative to the competition we will be playing in
I thought we had the basis of a PL side under Adkin…and I wasn’t alone. I remember people saying we had a PL side in the Championship. Should have won the league …was weird that team that won and team that came through play offs got a trophy but 2nd didn’t. Cortese was not pleased and a not pleased Cortese was not a pretty sight.
Aaron Ramsdale would be perfect. Hopefully he enjoyed Sunday enough to come back down south. He’d be my number 1 GK choice. If not then there are actually quite a few available options to go for. I think Bauznu’s injury is a massive blessing. We’d be ****ed if the club backed him again for another PL season. Rest of the squad.. who knows. Gonna be a mad summer.
Thing is though, there are very few teams that need a GK and can afford to buy one like Ramsdale. So a loan for a season if he wants first team PL football doesn't seem that outlandish.
Newcastle have long been linked with Ramsdale. Chelsea need a keeper. Both of those teams are far more attractive options.
And if Newcastle go for Ramsdale, then Pope isn't going to sit and be second choice. I was using Ramsdale as an example rather than meaning specifically that we will get him. GKs have much less choice than outfield players. It's not outlandish that we could land one of higher quality on loan for a season.
We could/should take advantage of Palace having both Dean Henderson and Sam Johnstone. Either is a reasonable step up.
