Maybe. Maybe the fee we negotiated didn't quite match their initial expectations and had to go to a second option on a replacement themselves. Maybe we had the deal struck days ago...
So to play in central midfield we now have Meyler, Livermore, Huddlestone, Mason, Henriksen, Weir and I'd say Clucas. To play on the left wing we have... ? Before Diame left that was the one position that needed serious strengthening. Hopefully we'll get by okay with some square pegs or maybe big bad Mike is gonna play narrow. He's not a daft **** like Steve Bruce was and all these central players as well as a failed bid for another striker point to him having a plan with a narrow team and probably two up front. I guess Robbo and Elmo darting forward offer enough width on their own.
I think we should have had a couple more. We're still going to have to submit development squad players as part of our 25 man squad - which isn't ideal. There's a risk with the two man united kids who have never played at this level. Injuries to Elmo and we're left to rely on Lenihan, who seems permanently injured himself. Happy with attack, midfield is ok - Gradel would have been a useful addition for pace. Defence is the only real gripe.
Clueless can play left back, though I'd like to see Tymon thrown in with bricks tied to his ankles. He's not gonna make it playing in the u21's and going for the odd month to Ferriby or Grimsby. We'll be bollocksed on the right. Good job Elmos probably missed about half a minute due to injury in the four years we've had him. I've jinxed it.
Considering the plight we were in after the pre-season injuries, and the between-owners situation, and the loss of our manager who should have been driving the recruitment, the last couple of days have been very rewarding and gives us a reasonable chance of survival imo. The Hull City Supporters anthem doesn't fail... ffs...
Does signing this many midfielders suggest we are regularly going to play five across midfield in one form or another? Of course, Livermore could be centre half now but there's still plenty of competition which can only be a good thing.
Excited to see Henriksen play. 18 goals in 40 games last season is a fantastic return for a CAM. Going to be interesting to see how we setup for the first game. First time Phelan has had decisions to make.
It's going to be hard to for Phelan to pick his next starting XI. I don't think he'd change the formation, this narrow 4-3-3 with Clucas as a holding midfielder has served us well so far. Only change I'd make is dropping Meyler for Mason.
Think I'd go 4231 with Mason and Clucas holding, Snodgrass and Dio wide and Henriksen in behind Hernandez. Mbokini to come on as a sub and offer something different if we need to play more direct.
Unless we go back to 4-5-1 and put Clucas back on the left-wing... Our strongest team on paper would probably be: Marshall Elmohamady Livermore Davies Robertson Snodgrass Mason Huddlestone Clucas Henriksen Hernandez I'd pretty much stick with the same formation against Burnley then bring Henriksen and Mbokani as impact subs; they'll both be eager to prove themselves.
How many midfielders does one club need? Huddlestone Meyler Livermore Snodgrass Clucas Henriksen Weir Mason Maloney Any more?
