Champagneblade
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jan 24, 2010
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I'm concerned. I'm sure we all are.
This loss of momentum and injuries is a replication to an extent to the listless end to the 2017/18 season after 'he that never gives the ball away' was crocked.
Apart from COVID-19 derailing what I felt was a relentless quest for European football the break has also impacted the TV money that would have formes the basis for our transfer pot.
All this adds up to limited additions in the summer notwithstanding sacrificing a family jewel, and hoping to replace with a better and cheaper alternative.
There seem to be a lot of challenges ahead even to tread water.
We will need at least one new keeper. The obvious concern is that this will be a keeper worse than Henderson. Alternatives we are linked with are in the offing at 10m+ which would be a fair chunk of the budget. Keeper is such a key position, and probably why Clough was happy to spend big to get Shilton. Now hopefully OGS keeps his stance on DeGea, doesn't want to sell Hendo, and Hendo won't be fine with a run in the league cup. We may well be ok here, but it may be another last minute waiting game which could see us missing out on alternatives and putting all our eggs in one basket.
Defensively, from the retained list it looks like the back up players will be depleated. Freeman, Retsos already, Rodwell, Jagielka will all be off. So Chris will have the unenviable task of enticing reenforcements who have a limited chance of playing. Maybe Norrington-Davies gets a chance though a loan one level up once more may also be fitting.
In midfield, you can see there being an awkward standoff through the summer with Lundstram as he seeks too much money. I can see us being in for Hendrick possibly as a replacement for Lunny if he digs in. Some challenging conversations with Osborn and Freeman await and I think as decent squad members the next few matches, and how much they are called upon while others are stuttering, may determine the outcome. It seems Berge, Fleck and Norwood are due to be fixtures so I don't see much movement here, or money spent, so it will be shifting deckchairs.
Upfront and arguably with the midfield itself, we need to somehow regain the ability to make and take chances. 3 shots on target tell a story since the restart. I'd argue Billy should have been on target against Newcastle, McBurnie should have got his header in against Man U. But in all, when you add in McGoldrick who has been a marvel but isn't scoring and Mousset whose fitness remains an ongoing issue, we still lack that talismanic scorer. A lot of our fate may be determined by this one signing. Someone like an Inga would perhaps manage to up the level in a challenging market, but I doubt he's one we could get.
Hopefully a lot of clubs feel the pinch but rather than kicking on into buying higher level signings I can see Chris having to scrimp and save again.
This loss of momentum and injuries is a replication to an extent to the listless end to the 2017/18 season after 'he that never gives the ball away' was crocked.
Apart from COVID-19 derailing what I felt was a relentless quest for European football the break has also impacted the TV money that would have formes the basis for our transfer pot.
All this adds up to limited additions in the summer notwithstanding sacrificing a family jewel, and hoping to replace with a better and cheaper alternative.
There seem to be a lot of challenges ahead even to tread water.
We will need at least one new keeper. The obvious concern is that this will be a keeper worse than Henderson. Alternatives we are linked with are in the offing at 10m+ which would be a fair chunk of the budget. Keeper is such a key position, and probably why Clough was happy to spend big to get Shilton. Now hopefully OGS keeps his stance on DeGea, doesn't want to sell Hendo, and Hendo won't be fine with a run in the league cup. We may well be ok here, but it may be another last minute waiting game which could see us missing out on alternatives and putting all our eggs in one basket.
Defensively, from the retained list it looks like the back up players will be depleated. Freeman, Retsos already, Rodwell, Jagielka will all be off. So Chris will have the unenviable task of enticing reenforcements who have a limited chance of playing. Maybe Norrington-Davies gets a chance though a loan one level up once more may also be fitting.
In midfield, you can see there being an awkward standoff through the summer with Lundstram as he seeks too much money. I can see us being in for Hendrick possibly as a replacement for Lunny if he digs in. Some challenging conversations with Osborn and Freeman await and I think as decent squad members the next few matches, and how much they are called upon while others are stuttering, may determine the outcome. It seems Berge, Fleck and Norwood are due to be fixtures so I don't see much movement here, or money spent, so it will be shifting deckchairs.
Upfront and arguably with the midfield itself, we need to somehow regain the ability to make and take chances. 3 shots on target tell a story since the restart. I'd argue Billy should have been on target against Newcastle, McBurnie should have got his header in against Man U. But in all, when you add in McGoldrick who has been a marvel but isn't scoring and Mousset whose fitness remains an ongoing issue, we still lack that talismanic scorer. A lot of our fate may be determined by this one signing. Someone like an Inga would perhaps manage to up the level in a challenging market, but I doubt he's one we could get.
Hopefully a lot of clubs feel the pinch but rather than kicking on into buying higher level signings I can see Chris having to scrimp and save again.