The more I look at our pathetic midfield and the inability to create chances the more depressed I get when I look at the alternatives we shipped out and really question why?? Would anybody not swap the below? I accept the argument that they may not have wanted to be here but simple man management for me is they are told we will agree to sell to interested parties and wont stand in the way of their careers. Either they play and perform in the shop window or they waste away but this half way house loan crap helps no one! Taraabt back for Krancjar Mbia back for Henry (better and can provide centre back cover) Granero back for O'Neil Get Diakite back in the team as competition for any of the rest! At least he looks to take people on and get forward. Yes there are the inherent problems but at times he showed real promise. At least there would be some entertainment and in my view represent far better midfield options!
The first three you mention have about as much respect for this Club and their teammates as a dog and the other one has lost his marbles. They were shipped out/dropped for a reason. Their presence was toxic. Can't you remember last season mate?
Yep, I watched it all first hand. But the point is have we replaced then with anything better. I can't see Krancjar doing what Taraabt did to Fulham, I can't see Oneil bossing a game like Granero against Chelsea and I can't see Henry doing anything let alone at least flashes of what Mbia did such as setting up Remy against Wigan.
I wont start on Taraabt V Kranky as this thread would descend into the usual Taraabt thread. I don think Mbia much fancied the championship and Henry has hardly played this season so that wouldn't be much of a swap. Would i swap O'Neil for Granero who did very little and has a long term cruciate knee ligament injury - No. Diakite - Still makes me sad, i said he would be our best player last season and i couldn't have been more wrong - I'm not even sure he is a footballer anymore.
What planet you on, mbia conceded free kick that led to equalizer, granero? your picking out one game what about the rest, totally agree with swords!
The Mbia situation is pretty much my point. We've wasted money on a donkey in Henry when if we just wanted a sub/occasional starter Mbia could have done the job whilst providing additional CB cover. If he wanted to go we'd sell and have money to reinvest on better, but the onus would be on him to perform in the shop window??
The thing is that this season we are not playing Chelsea or Fulham, we're in the Championship because the players mentioned above failed miserably last season. If they could only have been bothered we wouldn't be where we are now. The current problem, even though we are 3rd, is that this seasons midfield is being hampered by a mixture of poor individual performances and the tactics. we are playing to not get beaton rather than playing to win. And that can only be down to Harry. If however it gets us automatic promotion then maybe all will be forgiven.
Yep he conceded a free kick and Taraabt jumped out the way. I've seen nothing to suggest Henry is a step up though!
You do realize you're picking out isolated incidents from overall dreadfully poor performances from these players last season? Christ, even in the Fulham game you highlighted, Taarabt had a total 'mare for the first 45 minutes contributing directly to one of their goals and giving away a penalty! Likewise Granero and Mbia were woeful last year and picking out one or two moments where they actually did summink ain't gonna change that '74. C'mon man, time to move on from those wasters. They're gone and good riddance.
I saw Granero play in his last match for us at 'Uddersfield in August. Looked lively but as fragile as ever in the hurly burly of the Championship
I mentioned it deliberately!!! This is the guy that ripped the championship apart last time! I see nothing to say kranky isn't the same fitness type as Taraabt or tracks back differently so have we improved? No!
Krajcar isn't up to much, I agree with you there but that isn't in itself a valid argument for saying we should have kept Taarabt. You must remember that he didn't even turn up to pre-season training and showed about as much respect to his Manager and teammates as an animal would. This was all at a time when the Club was trying to rebuild for a tough Championsh*t campaign and get a good team spirit going. All those wasters simply had to be moved on, no matter whether they had skill in their legs or not. You just can't keep such characters at a Club. You saw what it did last season and Taarabt's Ch-ship exploits are now three years old and done at a time when the entire team was built around him and everyone indulged him. Fu*k him and fu*k the rest of them who dragged this Club's name through the dirt. I'd rather have that Donkey Henry in the team than have any of them pull on the shirt again.
Would I swap our current midfield for those four? NO Would I swap them for young hungry players? Yes please.
Forgive me if I am wrong, but didnt Taraabt, Mbia & Granero effectively say to Harry they didnt want to play in the Championship, and wanted out ? So whether they may/may not be worse/better is kind of irrelevant. Let's at least look forwards, and not in the past !!
Yes they did but we've replaced them with a pile of ageing crap. What he should have says was no problem you can leave as soon as a club comes in with an offer in the meanwhile play and perform here to ensure you're in the shop window and get a decent club. We could then have reinvested the money. As it is they're wasting away on loan and their replacements are certainly no better!
Them and a few others didn't fancy the Championship so it's hardly relevant now. But one or two might want return if we are PL again. I think there are a few of us who would like to see Remy and Adel back - I think these 2 are clearly good enough for the PL, but I'm not so sure about M'bia or Granero, who has also got a bad injury to recover from.
What makes you think they'd play and perform in the Championship when they couldn't even get themselves up for the Premiership? Didn't one of your four not even bother to turn up for pre-season training?
Whilst our current midfield doesn't have the right balance, I totally agree with this. Given the chance I would swap a couple for completely different players though.
