I presume this was in reply to GH10's post about Levy/AVB? Please correct me if I'm wrong spurf
However, there's a few others who have also made comments on Levy. I know I keep banging on about it and feel free to shut me up, but I have to agree. I will continue to make this point, because it's becoming more and more clearer to me having spotted it 3 or 4 transfer windows ago.
Iknow the OP speaks of Harry, but I don't even wanna talk about him and the past, he was sacked for various legitimate reasons and we move on. i think it's pointless to keep talking about him.
But Levy seems to think he's got this divine right to expect a top 4 finish. He wants CL football, but he's the reason why we've not got there. We've got some outstanding players, but there's been areas of the squad that have needed sorting out for a year or 2 now. For example, how long have we been saying that we need a marquee striker? I dread to think. Every "top 4" contender has them and we know that. But we've done nothing about sorting that out. There's been window after window to take care of this, but we think they're all too expensive. Instead we've just signed squad players or veterans on loans, for shoestring prices in the hope that we get there. Fine, you try this once or twice, but there comes a time where you have to realise that that approach doesn't work. - especially with those teams around you also doing their own thing in order to get stronger.
The summer was an opportunity for a fresh start to take the club forward. Last season we were all aware of the positions that needed strengthening whilst harry was in charge and before he was sacked. When we had modric, we still needed another similar player to come in incase he was injured, in need of a rest, or potentially suspended. -3 common reasons for the need for squad depth. But we didn't sign anyone. When he was out, we missed him badly.
so this season, we signed dembele as a creative replacement. although a different player to modric, he's still that type of player. But we needed dembele when we had modric! so the sale and signing of those two cancel one another out. In conclusion, we haven't strengthened.
we then sell Rafa. Not an issue for me, although a top player. fitness and injuries always hampered him, but we could have replaced him. Sig is one for the future (potenitally). he's only 22 and showed great signs before we signed him. But he's no rafa. he's another promising midfield player who would be coming in to add strength to the overall squad. therefore rafa wasn't replaced either.
Dempsey was a universal buy for me as he can play in a few positions. He's the result of Levy not putting his hand in his pocket for the 4th window in a row and getting the striker we've needed, so he was plan B. But plan B isn't good enough. he was a punt of a signing for cheap money, and the result of our usual transfer tactics, where levy is the root of the problem.
To go into a season for 3 games, only having 1 striker, and 2 new signings is madness. especially when neither of those signings are replacements for players that we knew were leaving. The club knew Modric was on his bike (so he didn't play once) and you can bet that they knew Rafa was leaving too. He only appeared once in those 3 first games. They were 2 massive players who are hard to replace instantly, let alone leaving the arrivals till transfer deadline day, or not replacing them properly at all, IMO. The Ade saga, why was that left until so late? He had no preseason and it's taken this long to get him back with injuries considered too. (injuries happen all the time and are to be expected... so there's why we needed more depth). none of us could quite believe that we'd started the season with just 2 strikers, especially after seeing Kane go out on loan too. - And look what happened; an very common squad injury to ade which left us with just Defoe until 2 weeks ago. - I remember PNP tearing his hair out in sheer disbelief that we'd gone into the season with 2 strikers.
None of us knew whether our new signings would work out, you never do. I certainly didn't think that Dempsey would be this poor, or sig would also add very little.
But regardless, we still didn't take care of the positions that needed strengthening or replacing, because once again we wouldn't make a net spend. This coupled with the timing of our signings when the season has already started, is the main reason for us all to be frustrated, IMO.
Why bring in a new coach who's going to play new tactics, new formations and just a general fresh approach for the future, if you're not going to back him properly? it's completely pointless.
why the hell were 2 huge signings in Moutinho and Willian left until the very end of the window? well, I guess I can answer that one myself; their prices. so why didn't we turn our attention elsewhere, knowing the prices were high and have a backup plan, rather than failing with hours to go and end up being left with nothing?
The approach we currently adopt is fine, but not if the club expect a top 4 finish. it therefore becomes a half-hearted attempt in every window where the manager isn't properly backed and we end up not achieving our goal.
United, City, Chels and Arsenal all sign players throughout the summer every season. Yes, amongst those clubs there's a couple of additions on deadline day. (notably Javi Garcia for city this year). but 3 out of those 4 make a net spend to get what they need. I'm not saying we can spend the sorts of money that united, city and chelsea do, but we have to try and compete. 5m net spend over 5 years or whatever it is, how is that competing in any way, shape or form? (please don't pick me up on exact figures, the point over our net spend being nothing in comparison still stands)
Arsenal are a bit like us in terms of always wanting to profit, but they still sign who they need early on and get the players settled. with this approach, it also lets the manager know who else he needs to add to his squad,with time to go. - that makes a huge difference.
our approach is just a messy, last minute "hope for the best" tactic, which is failing window after window. The knock on affect can have a huge impact, and this season it has for us. We've been very unlucky with injuries to first team players this season, more so that I can remember for a long time. but that's football, injuries happen. my beef is that we haven't prepared for obvious situations like this which can happen to any club.
We can show our frustration for AVB and his defensive substitutions, or his persistence with a 4231 not working, or who he's picked, or our frustration over Ade's red card...whatever we like. But most of this could have been avoided had Levy given him what he needed. take the red card situation, yes ade was an idiot, but these things happen. now what do we do? 1 striker for 3 games and back to a 4231 which hasn't been working.
Again, we're into the season on a shoestring budget and the concerns that some of us had on deadline day are coming to fruition. Levy's managed to cover things up over recent seasons because harry did miracles with what he had, but Levy's been found out now IMO and he's got a lot to answer for.
However, if our expectations were to finish top 6 or 7, none of this would be relevant. our £5m net spend approach would be more in line (in general) with other clubs who are trying to finish in a similar position. Newcastle or Everton for example. Instead we've got a net spend approach similar to the sorts of clubs mentioned. - But the our club think they've got a right to expect top 4, when our approach is way off the pace and very different to the others at the top, for many reasons.
The club's expectations and mentality needs to change if this is to be the continued approach. Otherwise it's going to be like groundhog day.
The manager might have a few flaws, but they are nothing compared to the underlying problem which has gone on for a couple of years now.
(spurf, that wasn't meant as just a reply to you by the way)
sorry for the huge essay as well lads!
not this again! You were given all the reasons it didn't happen, even this squad only has a best 11-14, we're using players now you'd be touting for rotation...and thats going really well isn't it!
