Starting to see some options in our squad now. With Sancho, mudryk and probably Madueke gone, Who will join Neto on the other wing? Could it be Jackson ?? Will Santos get a chance or be sold ?? Will Delap make the grade ? More questions than answers because we still haven’t got a cast iron top player coming in, but more youth, potential and fingers crossed. Oshimen should be our striker, guaranteed to do what we actually need. And the goalkeeper and left back ?? No change yet. Liverpool will be stronger and could even open the distance to whoever comes 2nd. I am expecting no more than a similar season to the last for us unless Maresca adds speed and directness to his style which I don’t think he’s capable of.
I think Delap and Joao Pedro were sound signings, though in Delap again we have gone for potential, rather than someone who may hit the ground running in an Osimhen. Santos will give us extra cover in midfield, where we were light last season what with Lavia's injuries. It will be good to have him available to jump in next to Caicedo rather than just enzo. If we signed a keeper and a centre back, we could at least make a challenge for the title IF Delap grabs enough goals. Without those signings, then top 4 is the best we can hope for again. I agree with your view Maresca's tactics, our team often feels lethargic and laboured, like every player has 20kg weights strapped to their ankles. It took its time but its taken the wind out of Cole Palmer, these tactics and I feel sometimes they just need to be let off the leash, especially against the smaller teams who defend deep. In the big games we tend to put in a decent performance, even if we didnt win, but last season against the Ipswich's and Fulham's of the league we were way too robotic. Even if we dont sign a centre back, we NEED a keeper or we aint winning ****.
For me the most interesting player will be Gittens, not seen too much of him but what I have has been encouraging to say the least, he is very direct and looks like a real talent that I hope he can replicate in the Premiership.
Gittens and Estevao will be interesting, am looking forward to seeing how we improve attacking wise next season, though I think part of the issue is how Maresca sets the team up. Defensively though, we are still vulnerable, the goal keeper situation is a big red flag for me, because none of our keepers are very good, despite how many we have on the books. Kepa has been the best keeper we have had since we sold Courtois and he has just gone to Arsenal to be a No.2 to Raya, so that should show you how bad it is for us. I dont rate Sanchez or Jorgensen at all, Petrovic looks to be on his way out, despite having success on loan abroad last season. What has happened with the Maignan bid? I know we failed to get it done before the CWC started, but since then its gone quiet. EDIT: Never mind, confirmed earlier today he is staying at AC Milan, which means we are back to square one. We need a keeper desperately, when you have a No. 1 as bad as Sanchez, then your squad has a ceiling, regardless of whoever else you sign.
