I wan't competing that year, so it was an easy (and therefore a hollow) victory for you. Funny how when I return you fumble. I hereby challenge you to the 2023-24 league (IF Jak is doing one again). Just to stir you into action.
More Chiesa crap https://www.caughtoffside.com/2023/...GNZ4MDYqK9hYez8OB9AlAdkahyGm-e-rGDt1J0FYAY7Cc Is he a forward? **** one if so, got 2 goals last season.
Therein lies the problem with this window. Look up Man City squad on Google and you see 25 players, including real young'uns like Rico Lewis and Cole Palmer. Look up Newcastle's squad and this is the dross you get across an overinflated squad of 30 players: Dummett, Krafth, Lascelles, Ritchie, Hayden, Hendrick, Manquillo, Targett, Fraser. That's NINE players who are well sub-par which takes us down to 21 CL/PL players (at a push, that 21 is including Gillespie, Ashby, Murphy, Burn and Schar). Realistically we need rid of all nine of these guys with four first teamers coming in to LB, CB and a young RB and DM, but are then stung by yet more Elitist bullcrap to do with how strong your youth and academy is - and again we're victim to the Ashley years of massive under-investment. We could do with getting Livramento - huge RB talent with versatility, Trippier will be 33 this season. But that's just replacing our RB subs, and wasn't that what Ashby was for?! We must get a better player than Burn and could really do with improving on Schar. I'm just not sure it's going to happen because I think Ritchie, Fistbumps and Dummy will be kept around by Howe. Time will tell if it works like it did last year; but I'm concerned.
Ritchie and Dummett were both handed year long contract extensions by Howe this summer, to keep them on your list for this coming season. So yeah, seems fairly certain that he's choosing to keep them around. It isn't great news, but is probably a fairly clear signal that FFP is limiting what we can do.
Fraser, Hendrick and Hayden are obviously going to be loaned out as no one will be dumb enough to buy them and pay them their current wage, but that's only 3 out. The thought of Krafth, Dummett and Ritchie playing in the Champions League is pretty horrifying. LB is our priority, so good as Livramento may be, we're still currently going into the new season with fantastic RB options, and an average an put of position Dan Burn playing LB. What's going on?
Read somewhere ages ago, possibly in The Athletic, that Howe regards our LB options of Burn/Targett to be better strength in depth than RB, with no one good enough behind Trippier.
Would u guys prefer to have another LB or another CB if only one more signing? If Schar or Botman get injured it's squeeky bum time,but Burn and Lascelles aren't that bad. But at LB we have no CL quality options. Burn is arguably our best LB and he's a CB.
I was thinking more about cover/rotation. Schar is good enough but I suppose he's 31 now so getting on a bit.
Yes, upgrade to right CB first. Then LB. Don't think RW will happen, although if he signs then Livramento can apparently play well there.
Howe seemed to think Matt Targett was worth £100k p/w. So maybe they won't buy a left back. Or be able to. I mean, last Summer I was convinced we were at least two key players short of a decent season - we know how that ended up. So whilst I'm underwhelmed with two signings - though both are top players - I'll have to trust in Howe to know what he's doing, right?! I just think we should use the platform; what good is a CL qualifying season, if the following year we exit at group stage and finish 8th? There's an argument that would suggest we could spend bigger next Summer, regardless, because of the FFP restrictions I suppose. All a balancing act.
