Aaah, the Delia Smith insider knowledge. Not sure I trust it. We'll wait and see, I think the evidence suggests otherwise.
He's barely played. I don't think players generally say that another won't be playing next season. In addition, I doubt they are privy to the managers private thoughts.
Thing with Andreau is why buy him in January if you don't think he can play a part that season. He was no where to be seen.
I think he wanted somebody he knew he could trust. When he got here he realised what we had was actually very good. The only other reason I can think of is he intended to play a certain way using Andreu but found a better system with what we had.
I'm not so sure about that. Like others, Andreu will have his chance in pre-season and we'll have to see. AN doesn't strike me as somebody looking for someone 'he knew he could trust'. I think he looked at our current AM players and decided we could do with another option. There's also a rumour about Haris Vučkić on loan from Newcastle as an AM so watch this space.
They can comment on how his fitness levels have massively improved and how he performed in training towards the end of the season. He has consistently travelled with the squad and is very much considered part of the squad and there seems to be no suggestion that he won't feature next year. I have not seen him in action so can only comment on what I am told but in general terms find it difficult to believe that AN would buy a player who he rated, spend 5 months getting him up to the required fitness levels etc for our league and then just get rid of him. If people want to write him off before even seeing him play then it is up to them. To me both Andreu and the Belgian lad rate as two new signings for next year.
So he wasn't fit under Alex Neils previous regime, seems strange to buy a player who's not fit. I'm also going by the vast amount of central midfielders we have, there is not enough room to keep them all, Howson, Dorrans, Tettey, Johnson, O'Neill, Hoolahan, Ofoe, Andreu. Potentially eight players who are considered central midfielders. Surely as a minimum two will have to go simply because of the numbers, I doubt he's not going to add another left sided midfielder either. I think O'Neill will be gone before the start, Andreu will be a loan out in Jan, if he's good enough he'll stay and somebody else will be off. The point I'm making is presently he's not in the driving seat and some of them will be have to go.
You make a good point carrabuh in that we have a glut of central midfielders and they won't all be able to be in the squad, so some will have to go on loan/be sold. Interesting times ahead!!
There is a lot of difference between the fitness levels and pace of the game in England than in other leagues. It is not unusual for players coming in to take time to adjust and many take a full season - look at Di Maria. Unlike you I would not criticise AN for ' buying an unfit player ' but congratulate him for taking a longer term view. Only playing one up top requires a lot of central midfielders including those who can play in the hole. I agree with you that O'Neill will move on but I think the rest are safe with the cull falling on the existing strikers.
the sun saying we have signed mulumbu on free transfer from west brom, would be happy with that, good cover for tettey
First I've seen/heard of this. If true, I agree, he would be good for depth in the centre of midfield.
