A lot has been said on here about the team's mental strength this season, having dropped numerous points from winning positions. Meanwhile, in terms of transfers, the priority call from many on here has been for better scouting - identifying and signing talented youth, before others clubs snap them up. And Ross Wilson seems keen to pursue this route too. For the record, I also want this. But it got me thinking. Given both the above issues, is it genuinely feasible to build up a team to compete for PL / CL against Europe's big boys, WITHOUT signing established, big name, ready-made stars, who have already experienced that level of success? The debate about lacking a winning mentality is tricky if you don't have true "winners" in the squad. And I don't mean the League cup, I'm talking winners of the PL and / or top European competitions. 5 clubs have dominated the PL era and only 2 of those rose up during that time, following huge cash injections - Chelsea & Mnan City. Before seeing any PL success, they both signed numerous big name "winners" from other big clubs, like Barca, Real Madrid, Man United, etc. such as: Toure Robinho Tevez Silva Drogba Crespo Robben Makelele Veron So, can we really expect to break into the elite with a policy of primarily signing younger, untried talent and building them up? Is that realistic? Or will we have to get to a point where our revenues somehow enable us to afford (and actually attract - but that's a whole different debate in itself) the equivalent of say Ronaldo, Haaland, Mbappe, Modric, etc?
I was a big critic of the summers approach. Overpaying for players that aren’t much better, if at all, from lesser known gems, or going toe to toe with clubs who can just blow us away. It was a terrible idea but I don’t think it would’ve happened if the Saudis had appointed a CEO and Sporting Director in time. That said we do need to find a superstar goalkeeper. Everything else can be youth at this point.
We can win with a young squad assuming we get the correct profiles in the suit the game the manager wants to play. I believe that Ross Wilson and Suds will have more luck convincing Eddie of European youth than Mitchell did. Only time will tell I suppose, but SCR will prevent most of the big name established winners
Finding talent and adding one or two top players that walk straight into the first 11 is what's required now. Depth occurs naturally this way... I don't subscribe to just padding out the squad at this point.
Agreed. And characters. But I don’t think Howe wants that. When we concede goals I don’t see players having a go at each other or a captain trying to rally his troops (I might be missing that mind). The teams that win top trophies have real characters and leaders in the teams. Players that sometimes grab the games by the scruff of the necks. We seem to fade in games. I can’t think of many second half performances where we have won the half.
