Possibly but only if we refuse to adapt and learn from the mistakes of his previous absence. If we just intend to play the same way which is clearly reliant on him then yes, we should have done something. But there are many ways to get the same job done and all Rafa has to do is use his squad and adjust his tactics. Neither McCarthy or Townsend could have done the Shelvey role. McCarthy does more box to box with defensive qualities and Townsend is obviously a wide man. For whatever reason Rafa doesn't feel he needs back up for Shelvey. I'm fine with that if he can switch formations and use pace wide to stretch and create. If not then yeah its a bit baffling.
Right about the signings, I don't get why we collectively felt these two players were essential. McCarthy is just a more developed Isaac Hayden. But we have Hayden....
We've been underperforming (to a degree) because of formations, being too cautious and playing too many defenders, not because of the quality of squad (IMHO).
In terms of Shelvey, Rafa is building his team around Jonjo. I think he feels Jonjo has the potential to be one of the best. So how can you buy someone to be second fiddle? You can't, really, not at a level where you don't notice he's gone. Shelvey's a bit of a rare thing, like Cabaye, so the issue here is that our tactics need to evolve when he's not in the team - but isn't that what Diame, Hayden, Colback, Anita, Barlaser are for? I don't know why, when Shelvey's out, we haven't dropped the 4-2-3-1, gone 4-4-2 and used the middle to break things up, but the wings to attack. Instead we put Colback in and wonder why the play slows down so much.
Even so, tactics aside, our development squad and scouting network are both utter gash. We can't throw cash around like the big clubs, sure, but the amount of talent coming out of Everton, Southampton is frightening. Even the Boro and mackems have decent young players. Look at someone who we probably did enquire about - Tom Cairney. He's had a good four months - so £20m is the price! The market's insane, but why aren't we able to find a 'Tom Cairney' in June?
