If we'd bought a DM, Gordon, and a CM/LB, and then bought Chiesa (or even without Gordon), I'd have been saying it was a great window and the signing of Chiesa on that fee and wages was a masterstroke. As it is, we're expecting Gravenberch to develop into some sort of hybrid DM/AM on the basis of a couple of decentish performances, and really have no injuries whilst competing on four fronts. And I still say that the only reason Gravenberch has looked okay so far is that Szobbo has started the season in full, high-energy mode (apart from the first half against Ipswich), and that gives everyone, most of all Macca, so much more room and time to do their stuff - remember thought that he fell off a ****ing cliff energy-wise from around late October bar a handful of performances in between an injury-hit 2nd half of the season. We're putting a lot of eggs in that basket, IMO. Let's be totally honest, this team will NOT make it through until next March/April while still being in the hunt for the league - and FSG know that. Maybe it would have been too much to ask Slot to do that in his first season anyway, but I get the feeling FSG are happy to consolidate top four and a CL place as a sort of Mike Ashley at Newcastle with go-faster stripes model for the club. And I'll say this now - the way Chelsea, United, Spurs and Villa have developed and bought we are being complacent and/or arrogant to think that any other than City and Arsenal are guaranteed top four. This could be going back to two seasons ago without a doubt.
Not competing for the Prem or CL titles. he's right, we're not - we're setting ourselves up for Top Four and the knockout phase of the CL. Rather presumptuous to believe we're guaranteed either of those two truncated targets with this squad: we're really building everything around not getting injuries. Just like we did in 2020/21, and 2022/23.
It's a big let's wait and see season for me. I can't blame FSG because I believe we do have money to spend but only on this new strategy of spending it on undervalued and/or underpriced players or players with release clauses and that must surely be the transfer bods decisions. John Henry was all in for £110m on one player don't forget. Unless Slot has some magical powers that stops injuries and gets more out of the same team than Klopp could, then the lack of strengthening is going to be very telling. I am, however, fully open to being pleasantly surprised.
I suppose the lack of activity in the transfer market could be seen as a lack of intent. Thing is none of us has a crystal ball so we'll just have to wait and see.
If FSG didn't think this team could make it til next March/ April then the recruitment would have been a bit different to Chiesa and the will he won't he Zubimendi, especially when you see Bajetic going on loan etc.
don't get me wrong we needed more in particular CB cover just the constant hyperbole gets on my tits .
Another thing is i'm not sure FSG play anywhere near a big a role as is often made out . The club has a budget which may need approval from FSG and then are left to do whatever the club management decide . We clearly had money to spend but didn't and that is down to Slot and the recruitment team .
I refer you back to the two seasons I quoted when it was patently obvious to everyone that we needed at least one CB (2020/21) and two new midfielders (2022/23). They didn't listen then and it came back to bite them on the arse. then they had Klopp to make the proverbial silk purses - now it's all on Slot to do the same, and that is setting him up to fail. Shame.
I'm just putting words into their mouths as that's the impression that slot and hughes are giving on the squad. Very hard to improve on it? Utter rot.
For me we play a reserve side v real and take the loss. If we do our job in the first games we are going to be in the top 16 anyway. Why kill yourself to get top 8 and kill your premier leavue chances.
The recruitment is confusing. If they have targets but will only seemingly buy when they come available it seems to be leaving a lot to chance. Either you need to fill certain positions or you don't. Money is clearly available so who is deciding?
Look we might think there's money but let's look at the annual accounts. We think they have a short list of targets but then we hear only one player off it will do. We bid on lavia we think. We bid on caicedo the same window. We turned around and bought endo from nowhere. So there was a short list then and we went though it and ended up where? The very bottom or what? No idea. Son we dug out another list and zubimendi was on it and we were begging for a bit of a deal off real Sociedad until apparently tje player choice to change his mind. Who really knows if we triggered a clause or were willing to. Why didn't we go down the list this time? No idea.
Haven’t seen anything in what spurs or chelsea have brought that makes me worried about them one bit.
Also don’t forget that slot style is far less gung ho 100mph so in theory, there is less risk to burn out and injuries compared to klopps teams. That may mean certain players don’t drop off and we don’t have as larger injury problem. Of course that’s all hypothetical and we may get 2/3 injuries out the blue
Spurs have 66 points from last year and a year further development so have to be considered for 4th. Chelsea are a mess but the manager has Palmer and plenty of chances for dives to get him pens. They also has a nice run last seasons to suggest a consistent selection via ostracised unwanted players might get them going. Again they only need to improve by being better against bottom.half to contend from last year. Neither will get near the top 2. Again how to lfc get to 70? It's beating the bottom half as there's 60 points there The most consistent sides will get there imo. So we can't discount a club like spurs who have continuity. Tomorrow will tell a lot about us and utd.
Spurs so signed solanke who has had 1 good season in his career and a relegated winger from Burnley. Chelsea hit some decent form end of season under a diff manager and now have a complete diff team to that in form team with a manager who has a years experience in the championship with a team that would walk a league with me in charge. Why are they any better now than we are?
Have no idea where you got this from since everything i have seen suggests we agreed to pay the release fee but player decided against the move something you agreed with not that long ago as you decided Zubimendi had used us tyo get a better contract
