If we don't sign a CB in time for West Ham, I hope Xhaka does a Cana and switches to CB so we can line up Reinildo - Xhaka - Ballard - Hume, and then we can have Sadiki - Diarra and Le Fee in midfield - I actually hope this is how they line up this weekend for practice, though I would understand using Huggins or Jones at LB to keep this tactic as a surprise to West Ham.
What I'm saying is that what you see as excuses may only be your opinion. You don't need to be telling anyone we need reinforcements, especially the club as they already know. When you say 'we shouldn’t be quick to dismiss people’s valid concerns' you're missing the point imo ... ... just because people aren't repeating themselves it doesn't mean they're not concerned. I think we all have the same concerns and would like some defenders but constantly repeating that doesn't mean you're more concerned than anyone else. What people are saying, myself included, is that we know ... we just don't need to keep going on about it as if that'll make the club work harder. It's just repetition for no reason.
Yeah fair enough, but it is sort of the point of a message board to just talk about what comes to your mind and discuss and that’s the prevalent topic right now haha. Be a bit boring and not of much use without it
We have the best recruitment team I've ever seen at this club ... ... if we can't sit back and trust them, I can honestly say I think 'we're f*cked' as supporters.
That's fine until it's gets to the point where you're criticising people and saying they're making excuses. The fact is we have zero control over what the club do so we have no reason to excuse ourselves. People can stamp their feet and pretend they're being more proactive than the next person ... ... the truth is, they're not. Nothing you or I say makes a pick of difference to what the club does, we're bystanders and nothing more.
Obviously we want two centre backs. Id be over the moon if we went and signed two "has beens" like Maguire and Zouma given how the rest of the window has gone. I know its arguably "aiming low" to some, but I feel very content with the ambition of the club that I think even if we dont get Lucumi or Bade, the 2nd choices would/could be solid.
We all know we could do with a Centre Back, it's mentioned a hundred times a day, no big deal even if it's boring. It just reminds me of the 'anti-Speakman' posts from a previous period, "28 days and no centre forward, 29 days and no centre forward, 30 days and no centre forward, 31 days and no centre forward ... "
All the CBs we been have been decent like I still want Jhon Lucumi and Pietro Comuzzo Plus can see at least 2 more Prem experience players coming in Then maybe if someone comes available we may go in for that player if needed
So you thought he looked better in the 2 games he played in L1 than the 19 games he played last season
Fair points. I'm not unhappy with either player being part of our squad and playing games this year. I don't think we've seen enough of Seelt to project him as a starter from the opening week. I think he needs to be eased in over time once the rest of the defence is established. The main issue with Huggins isn't necessarily even the player (though we've not seen him for a long time competitively). It's that Huggins playing left back on the opening day would most likely be because Reinaldo is playing CB which I don't think is completely natural for him (in a back 4).
****e https://www.skysports.com/football/video/11695/12976998/niall-huggins-solo-screamer-for-sunderland
With the exception of Lucemi, I'm not sure there are any credible possibilities on that list. I guess if we got someone like him, then going back for Cresswell to challenge Ballard seems like a more viable move. I'm guessing that the club are looking at players a little lower down their list than Diakite, Bade etc at this point and we'll hear something over the weekend.