I have been predicting Amad's seconding coming for a while now, and will claim ITK if and when it happens. No idea why Man U would sell one of their best players, but dosh is dosh, and would be a terrific investment for us.
Dont get me wrong mate. At no point have I ever felt we should go into the prem with the team or squad that got promoted. Not for one minute. I am also not suggesting we have signed poorly. By anybody's yardstick we have done some really smart business. And in Xjaka, Diarra and Alderrete we have punched higher than I thought we could. All credit to the staff. Despite what folk may think of my opinions, I dont even think taking the captaincy off Neil for Xhaka can be at all scrutinised (even if Neil were on a new deal). I applaud so much of what we have done. I have differing opinions to some on what we might have done. I do think we could have looked in the English market to retain a core of Englishmen in the first 11. That is important to me as a supporter personally. I am talking 1 or 2, not 4 or 5. I do worry we may have got the balance in the attacking 3rd wrong and that foregoing a 10 may hurt us. But these are just opinions of mine. I have an inkling you and I have both seen some big highs and some terrible lows. I think last season was an incredible high. If I seem reticent about the current direction of travel it is probably because I am yet to finish my celebration of what those lads acheived. I am not going to get chance to do so it seems. Football seems so ruthless rhese days. What I felt last season surpassed so many of the highs for me. It was truly astonishing. Academy lads galore, lads giving everything, bandaged up players scoring winners, a local lad being a local hero. We wont replicate that, and had we left it as was we may well have done their achievement a disservice. I do though, find it a little disrespectful, when I see (for example) teamsheets being posted without Ballard because we are linked with somebody new today. Maybe this is the modern world and I need to get over myself. But I do wish a bit more respect for what was achieved last year was still shown. Class comments from Xhaka about not being here if it wasnt for last years lads. Anyway, rambling. Four days on the golf course, in the sun, talking about playing memories of 35 years ago has got me hot and bothered I think. On a side note, a lad I have golfed with was my captain for a couple of years. I reckon even Granit would have given him the armband - unbelievable leader on a pitch. (I took his money twice though )Apols - a couple of cold ones already supped mate. PS - hope I dont come across as arguing with you, I love reading your posts, even when we are at odds.
are we really a million miles away from this? https://x.com/afcbournemouth/status/1956414097798336662/photo/1
So hard to say I think. We have a lack of prem experience still, although I think Reinaldo and Alderette will take to it well. Do we have enough in attacking play? One thing is for sure, for me anyway, get within a handful of points of Bournemouth and we will have done very well.
I think he is, I'm not convinced by him tbh - can tell there's a talent but I have no idea what his position is tbh
Absolutely not, the difference is some of their lot have proven they can do it in the prem and with majority of ours we are hoping they can step up and adjust
Great post. Question from me is can we afford a 10? The usual 10 is more an attacking role, with limited defensive duties. Would we be better with a more solid midfield 3?
Anyone know if we sell bloody or punt him to the moon does that number become free or can it not be used again this season Cause he’s currently a very important number
Just getting myself ready for tomorrow by rewatching this for the millionth time. Possibly the best bit of transfer business we did last season in telling Brighton to bugger off in January but you can have him in the summer.
Maybe not a million miles, but players like Evanilson and Semenyo are much stronger than we have. Petrovic and Diakite we're possibly our top targets in positions where we lost out to them. Others are maybe similar but add Kluivert to the other 2 attacking players and they've got game changes that I'm not sure if we do or not yet.
