Crikey, even I haven't sunk to this feeling yet! To be fair - and I'm struggling to type this - the squad we have isn't getting relegated, by any stretch. We can settle comfortably around mid-table, but my concern is that we've just done that so at what point do you get to push on, if that's all you achieve each year? I think at some point we've got to spend some money, unpalatable though it may be.
We're just not attracting anyone. And we're also going after some strange, boring targets. I'm not gonna consider some 10m random winger from the Congolese national league, or a German wonder kid plying his trade in Azerbaijan as a "signing" btw. We need a name. Someone to push us on. Our owners are too concerned with opinions, they don't want to splash cash and everyone to go "oh obviously that was gonna happen" imo.
Just read Lyon's asking price for Paqueta is 40m euros. Why he's not already on a plane is beyond me. But most pressing is a striker. I was watching bits of the friendly and whilst our wingers remain poor, the movement in front if abysmal. It's a lot to ask of a striker so you need someone genuinely decent class. We're playing 4-3-3 instead of 4-2-3-1 which means the striker has to do a lot to lead the line intelligently. Wood has zero football intelligence - watch him play, he's more or less always in the wrong place, he's thick as ****ing mince. He looks 'alright' when he's chasing the ball down, but even a dog can chase a ****ing ball. He's not even that good, he just works fairly hard. Wilson looks off it to me. He's doing. a lot of media stuff, he's always injured and is still in light training. He's not the answer. We basically don't have a first choice CF in a 4-3-3. For me, we either have to look at the tactic and move to a double-pivot, push Anderson up and leave Joe/Bruno as two CM's behind or buy a ****ing good striker. I don't even think RW is really the problem, there's no movement whatsoever ahead so they can't play one twos, they can't play.a ball in, you can't give it to feet with Wood 'cos he'll **** it up. At this moment in time, we have to just accept strikers are expensive and ****ing buy one. Bring in Paqueta as AM. Then worry about RW another day.
The thing with the league at the minute and everyone saying others are strengthening, Yes the top 5 are, the ones below that I feel are in a world of ****. Man Utd, Leicester, Brighton, Wolves are all there for the taking if we can get another couple in. Granted Villa have strengthened but lets be honest - They won't be a threat.
I think Everton, Saints and Forest are ****ed personally. I heard Munson say Forest have strengthened. Their biggest signing was that striker, who looks utter **** tbh.
This is what frustrates me personally. They say 40, we say, 35. They then say nah, then another club just takes them. Like, what are we debating here. We need the ****ing player, sign them up and get them in the squad.
We could throw Leeds and Brentford in there too. I also think Fulham will be the usual Fulham whipping boys and Bournemouth will struggle. Realistically we could be miles away from trouble for once for pretty much the entire season .
Both and DCL just for ****s and giggles repeating the Wood exercise of Jan. In fact give them Wood in part exchange just to properly rub salt in.
I don't fear the bottom half, at all. I just want to see us compete, I appreciate that behind the scenes we are doing some very good and important things. The CEO, Ashworth, training complex is underway. But I ain't watching Home Improvements over here, I'm following the football. I want to watch a ****ing winger who doesn't make me want to scratch out my eyeballs whenever they're on the ball. Our left and right wingers are a collection of mental handicaps.
All this fair play bollocks I don’t know why they’re bothered. Nobody else is. Everton set a new precedent, nothing happened to them. City have abused it for years. Just sell a few more shares, get a new sponsor on the shirt, sell advertising, coffee rights, etc, bring in Paqueta (who’d take no convincing) or Tielemans, Diaby or Harrison and Isak or Osimhena and flog your **** for anything you can - Ritchie, Lascelles, Gayle, Longstaffs, Shelvey, Wood. Send a ****ing message.
He does actually that’s quite a good comparison. He can ride a tackle aswell and seems an honest player.
The minute Newcastle breach it we know what will happen.. National uproar, enough is enough, human rights, throw the book at them.
I’m not joking. All the big six have the most mundane sponsors, from coffee to coconut water, from paint to lubricants all the way to Man U having an official tractor. https://www.balls.ie/amp/football/seven-weirdest-football-sponsorship-deals-395531
