I’ve been thinking about how this season and last compare to 2012-13 vs 2013-14. Ok, 12-13 was our first season back so the comparison may not be totally fair, but there are similarities that could indicate what we need to do now.
In 2012-13 we were creating and scoring, but conceding so many that I felt we had to score 3 to secure a game. The next season, we bought Lovren who really connected with Fonte, and Wanyama, who worked well with Schneiderlin in midfield. 2013-14 was also the first full season with Poch and the high press.
So back to the present, we now have a more pressing manager, and I think Hojberg and Lemina already have the making of a solid and creative midfield (sorry Romeo, you might have to be Jack Cork). Most of our strikers are also goal threats in a confident team, so controversially I don’t think we need another.
For me, we must fix, not prop up, our defence. We still miss a good defensive leader (a la Fonte). Get one of those and the whole team might loosen up and start playing with confidence. Who to get...can’t say I know, but I’d be looking close to home (current PL), or even to the championship rather than a foreign league, as PL football would be less of a culture shock.