There is a common thread running through a lot of the conversations I’m involved in right now, and especially as the pre-season has rolled on and climaxed last night with that routing of Chelsea; the idea that the brilliance of our performances will give the board an alibi, even if it’s just an in-house one, should they decide not to give the manager the funding that he needs.
You know what? That’s a narrative that is so tempting with its common sense and its adherence to historical precedent that I could almost believe it.
not to go after players of a certain calibre and with a certain profile.
They are weak. They are limited in their level of ambition and that drags the whole club down.
This stuff about transfer windows being difficult, it’s also obvious rubbish. Other teams manage them just fine. What they mean is that it’s difficult to sign players within the narrow parameters they have decided to shop in, but again, it’s a choice to set those parameters in the first place.
This has been a pre-season far better than anything we anticipated.
not to go after players of a certain calibre and with a certain profile.
They are weak. They are limited in their level of ambition and that drags the whole club down.
This stuff about transfer windows being difficult, it’s also obvious rubbish. Other teams manage them just fine. What they mean is that it’s difficult to sign players within the narrow parameters they have decided to shop in, but again, it’s a choice to set those parameters in the first place.
This has been a pre-season far better than anything we anticipated.
think the number of fans concerned about this window tipped over into the majority when the team went to the US without a single outfield addition, and in fact with a squad no fewer than three key players – Idah, Oh and Bernardo; or if you like, a second striker, a third striker and one central midfield player – down from the last campaign.
Most people recognise that this is unacceptable and cannot really be defended, and especially when we can afford to spend.
But if that’s the same state of affairs when the league season kicks off a week today there will be even greater anger. If something happens to Kyogo in the next week there’s going to be something more than anger in the air. The window certainly cannot close with the squad in this state.
It cannot close without serious money being spent, and at least six signings. Three to replace players who have gone – if two of them are the same players fine – and three who add strength to the squad. I would have liked more. We have no time for that.
We have shipped out some deadwood. Other players will leave on loan or on permanent deals. Our squad will be smaller; that’s no bad thing as far as I’m concerned.
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