All three of them are linked with moves away? Seriously can't believe we would consider selling any of them let alone all three! Unless there is a big pot of money to replace them with QUALITY I'm genuinely worried we will get players in who aren't at their level and we will regress as a squad. Mitrovic - Not many links for CF fill me with confidence Ings, Slimani, Deeney are not upgrades! Probably Sturridge and Batshuyai are the only players I'd replace him with we've been linked with but can't believe he'd be let go before Gayle or Joselu. Shelvey - Again only link I've seen is that Viera lad who may or may not be any good. Granted Jonjo is a headcase but he can dictate games when on form and probably our most technically gifted CM, surely we cant sell to relegation rivals West Ham? Mbemba - not been seen for ages and then low and behold gets an "injury" before the cup game so he can't play, a bit like Mitro's back injury? Linked with Anderlect but for me he is better than Clark and Lejuene with age on his side. Again unless we are getting an upgrade why let him go? Only link with a defender are full backs atm as opposed to CB. Not sure what Rafa is playing at but all three have fallen foul of Kim Jong Benitez and look to be paying the price for...well I'm not sure what but what I do know is that if they go we don't at this point in time have enough to replace them with players of the same quality let alone better.
We surely have to get rid of Mitrovic. Complete waste of a squad place and hugely unfair on the player to have him as fourth choice (now Rafa's finally worked out Perez is a striker). Need a decent enough player who can hold the ball up, I'd like us to try to loan Carroll or Ings. Shelvey - seems absurd that he would go for anything less than £25m in this fcked up market. Pritchard (who?) to Hudds is more than £11m, ffs. But, for me, there's no point getting rid and Rafa does trust and like him (he is cap'n when Lascelles isn't). If we're talking about money like £25m and would line up someone like William Carvalho to replace, then do it. Otherwise, nah. Mbemba - again, it's unfair on him to stay. I like and rate the player, but the boss doesn't. Same as Mitrovic, if we bring in decent cover or first choice at left back then he's free to leave. In Lascelles, Clark, Dummett and Lejeune we're well stocked at CB. Don't need a fifth, but desperately need an attacking left back. I'm hopeful Mitrovic will go to Lisbon for around £15m, Mbemba probably out to Anderlecht on loan, then a left back, striker and goalkeeper brought in.
Why assume that these stories are true? Rafa has basically confirmed Mitrovic will go if the offer is right for the cub but the other two are just newspaper bollocks. I doubt we will sell either Mbemba or Shelvey, at least until the summer.
Rafa has already said he's not selling to relegation rivals, so I think Shelvey is paper bullshit fuelled by the fact WHam are his boyhood team. I think Rafa's already envisaged they're just guna use him to pump the ball directly at Carroll's head and thought **** that. Mitro should go, simple as, not helping literally anyone him staying here. Mbemba i wish we'd keep but, again, if he's that far down the pecking order we may aswell free the wage bill up and get a small amount of transfer funds to play with. If he's only linked with Anderlecht though I get the feeling maybe he's not as good as fans (me included) think.
My position on Shelvey is unchanged. I don't think he's any great shakes and if we can replace him then I'm none too fussed. However I'd the new player in place first and actually a new centre midfielder alongside Shelvey, Hayden, Merino would be ok. Put Shelvey in direct competition for the ball playing role, and buy a quality ball winner for Hayden to watch how its really done. Sadly I think Mbemba and Mitrovic have to go for the sake of their careers. Personally I'd sell neither and they'd be in my team week in week out. I think they'll go elsewhere and do very very well. I rate them. However Rafa is the manager and he doesn't. So while Rafa is staying there is little point in retaining two players whose careers are being ****ed, we are wasting wages on, and the manager will never use as he just doesn't rate them. Fact is Rafa bought Lejeunes and Clark. Both have played regularly before Mbemba. Mbemba didn't even get a look in at Championship level. Yes it seems crazy but that is how Rafa sees it. Mitrovic is well documented and Rafa has rarely given him a sniff. Some of that has been his own doing with discipline but largely its because Rafa doesn't think he is good enough. There seems little point in retaining the two M's to be honest because they won't play.
Also just a thought, surely there is other squad players who could be shifted first? I mean Saviet bar his free kick has been anonymous this season, Colback is still here, Haidara isn't getting a look in either, Diame hasn't set the world alight. And then you have Gamez, Manquillo and Joselu who obviously we can't sell but each could be "put down" by a vet to free up some wages and squad space. Although saying that if Kenedy, Musonda and Hernandez are coming in that'll do for me.
But shifted where, mate? Honestly, if I were in charge I'd just introduce a scrappage scheme. The issue again flows back to Chumley and Fatty - they'll want money back no matter how ****ing gash these players are. If I were Rafa, I'd just get them all paid off and gone, literally everyone you mention. Maybe try and get a mill for Slo-Mo and Ginge, probably keep Manky as back up, but the rest need to just be let go/paid off. Thing is, we're only restricted on salaries - we'd be better off settling their contracts and letting them leave, then putting that expense as something not related to salaries. Then we would technically have an awful lot of spare dosh for loanees.
Apparently Haidara may be off to Holland shortly so someone at the club is thinking clearly/financially haha Don't tell DPP though....
I'd take Hernandez ahead of Ings, Slimani or Deeney 100%. If we could get Sturridge, Batshuyi or Giroud then yes scrap Hernandez but ahead of the others for me.
No way. The others would all give you way more in this league. We need a starting CF who will play every week and we won't have the money to get someone else as well.
