Think you’re underplaying the manager, overplaying the squad and ignoring the point about not spending where we need to. We were in real trouble at Xmas. The quality of the lower half is so bad - including us - that the manager made the difference.
Not really. Ritchie will only be sold if upgraded. Mitro and Mbemba are no loss as they didn't play. Colback nothing needs said. Hayden - again didn't play that pivotal a role and to be honest I find him detrimental as his passing is nothing short of atrocious. I think Ki is an upgrade on Merino as he wants to be here. He's a good player and has a pre existing successful partnership with Shelvey. We have a competitive group of players more than good enough to stay up. Kenedy is massive. You're talking about top end quality which is improving all the time. Its massive for this club. Add 2 or 3, utilise the youth and we will be fine.
Ah the negative outlook as always. Did we not upgrade Simpson to Debuchy. Was Debuchy not wanting away and replaced with Janmaat? Was Carroll not replaced with Ba and supplemented with Cisse? Was Cabaye not replaced with De Jong after he asked to leave? Cisse was replaced before he even left with Mitrovic. Sorry I must have imagined all those transfers.
Debuchy yes. Carroll was indeed replaced. 6 months later, with a free player rejected by Stoke and West Ham for being a crock. In the short term he was replaced with Nile Ranger. Cabaye was replaced with Colback. Another free. Cisse was replaced with Mitrovic?!? On what planet? Was he also replaced with Shearer, who had a fantastic career with us and we should laud Ashley for each and every goal.
Sorry I didn't realise it was about money. Demba Ba was a stellar signing and far outstripped any performance by Andy Carroll. The money was distributed throughout the team and improved it. The greater good if you like. The Carroll deal was there in the January, the Ba deal wasn't. However the club knew by taking the money there and then (which was correct by the way), it was looking to improve. We finished 5th the following season. Deals justified. Cabaye left in the January and Siem De Jong arrive that summer. Pardew was directly quoted saying this was the replacement for Cabaye. Colback did arrive also. I think the press at the time ran about 3 months of stories saying we were trying to replace Cabaye with De Jong. We did. Again one deal was there in the January and one wasn't. Mitrovic arrived as a young striker. Cisse was retained to assist as he neared the end of his best years. He moved on and the idea was Mitrovic stepped up. That all changed of course when McClaren left but yet that was the plan at the time. Sorry to piss on your chips.
Meh, I just said we didn't replace Carroll at the time. We didn't. As for the rest, appreciate it. To recap: Cabaye out for De Jong, crap. Colback, crap. Mitro, crap. I'm sure you could list a bunch more "replacements" who turned out just as well. And it's good to see our three month summer pursuit of players who don't cost much has become standard practice. Ba turned out alright, though. Before he wanted out and wasn't adequately replaced. LDJ, I think. Then Facundo Fereyra.
Hahahahahhahahahaha piss on my chips? You have an interpretation of events, please try and separate them from facts. I can post some definitions of what a fact is and what an opinion is if it helps?
Mistakes were made but good money was spent and they were all replaced within 6months. Nature of a January sale where the money is good
Not adequately, mate. Cabaye our for, what, £19m? De jong and Colback for around £6n the pair. The greater good included Thauvin, Cabella, Rivière and more, the goal to improve the balance sheet not the team. Leopards and spots with Ashley mate, it’s irrespective what you say.
Wasn't Enrique sold to scousers as well,remember Dalglish talking some ****e that the 2 players only cost MINUS such and such.
