Who impressed you? Who let you down? Who's ready to step up to the first team? Who should go on loan? Who's time has run out & needs to be sold?
1. Diaby, Gervinho 2. Gibbs, Santos, Vermaelen (way I see it Afobe is too bad to elicit any emotion from me, incl. disappointment) 3. AOC (he already was) 4. Dunno it was a really weak youngster line-up this year. No one really showed the potential to become great after another loan spell. 5. Eastmond, Afobe, Lansbury (not based on Asia tour, but get rid) And I will say that the rest of our fullbacks are nowhere near the quality of Sagna, and we've seen that last season. Not even close, especially defensively. I'm fully expecting our left-backs to give amateur goals away at least bi-weekly, so we better be able to out-score teams. And if Sagna gets injured for a long period again, I don't think we'll be able to hold for a top 4 spot.
1. Aneke, Eisfeld 2. Diaby, Chamakh. Jenkinson 3. AOC 4. Afobe, Ryo 5. Diaby, Chamakh, Fabiankski, Mannone
1) diaby, eisfeld 2) chamakh, jenkinson (though i still have faith in him) 3) eisfeld, AOC, possibly afobe 4) afobe, ryo 5) chamakh, fabianski, mannone
It's all we've got to base opinion of the progress of some players at present!! None of us get to see them every day in Training, but you need some form of opinion to spark debate Lansbury seems out of favour, big shame for him. Afobe is maybe a year too early, a loan would suit him. Theo has looked sharp, and the Ox looks good. Particularly impressed with Gervinho, so with Podolski & Ryo too, the wings looked super stocked up!! Means Carzola will presumably be coming in as a central midfielder if he arrives. Considering the lack of so many first-choice defenders I'm not too worried about the defense. More worried that Kos & Merts haven't been told the same things the others have by Steve Bould so it'll be a steep learning curve for them. Eisfeld is an interesting one! He's looked great when he's played, but hasn't played much. So I'm not sure if the Boss trusts him enough to give him a Squad Number just yet. I'd LOVE to see him on loan for 6 months or even the whole season and see how he fares. I'd imagine a Championship side or two would be interested, though I'd prefer it if he were at a Prem Club but we're all unsure if he could hack it. Great to see Gnabry has signed a long-term contract too. There will be sales of youngsters in the next few years, as the Team is MASSIVELY full now - especially with Bartley, Miguel etc. all coming through. There's a LOT of youth stepping up currently - Yennaris has impressed, Coquelin too, and that makes 4 competing for the RB slot at present. Lots of players should be loaned for the whole season IMO - Miguel, Afobe, Aneke, Eisfeld, and several others. Anyone who isn't going to be in the first 25 of the squad should be loaned with a return clause inserted. These guys are 18 / 19 / 20 now, and they need game time.
