The one take-out from Saturday’s display is that despite winning the points, we were dreadfully unconvincing, and given what happened to Chelsea on the weekend, we’d have to conclude that should have been two points lost, not a point gained.
The dumbest amongst us would surely reason that the lack of a midfield that could transition play has been the key to this: we are basically playing keep-ball with 7 players (all but the front three) and not venturing past the defensive midfield line.
We have nothing in the way of box-to-box and so end up pinging long balls to the forwards, which is an uncertain proposition: “we used to call that kick and run when I was a lad… argh!”
The recruitment has been oaky and we have strengthened the squad as well as adding a few for tomorrow On these occasions I am inclined to believe that we are looking for players for the future: it may be an each-way bet for Levy, but I am sobered by Harry’s team-sheet showing just how old our squad is moving into the midterm of two to three years hence (and especially our star turns).
What concerns me now is that we seem to be faltering, at least according to the great unwashed of the aggregated gutter gossip brigade. Most of those we are linked with are neither serious star turns to command our midfield, nor are they “for the future” prospects…. they are in-betweeners, journeymen at best.
Now Paratici in concert with Levy’s renowned shenanigans may well be spitting chaff across the sky to confuse our true intent, I’d expect no less. But there seems to be little to no serious strategy to get what we need, namely a grade ‘A’ centreback and a top-quality box-to-box creative midfielder.
If Conte is really seriously being backed, we should be expecting to pay £100 million quid on two players.
A decent midfielder is hard: there are a few contenders but the likes of the Ukrainian lad and Zaniola (apparently he was taken off injured in a cart – hay!), aren’t the players to build a team around.
As for the defenders, we are still waiting: Pau Torres, Skriniar, Gvardiol, and of course Bastoni are all still in place, despite the speculations for them to be on the move. Inter we know has two of these either of which would be great for us, and we know they are skint and will need to raise funds.
So why have we not pursued one of these with the same fervour as we have apparently done for the frequently injured Zaniloa?
Maybe there’s still a piece to fall somewhere, and then the rest will go like dominos. Maybe there is a deal being done or already done? Maybe Lenglet/Davies is a stop-gap for a future deal for one of them post World Cup?
We can probably accommodate this especially if we can find a midfielder who can place the pressure forwards onto the opposition instead of backward, onto our back three.
By the time we offload players for real cash (as opposed to reducing our wage bill on subsidised loans), where will we be the net spending? I’m sure there’s someone out there with a calculator to work it out. Does our spend include the completion-of-purchase price for Cuti/Kulu?
Let’s say it was £$100 mill (when add-ons and bonuses etc are removed), what do we do? Should we pester Inter/Villareal/Leipzig, or cope with what we have? Do we go out and get a top, top midfield powerhouse… should we choose to do that, who would we look at, and what would we need to do to get them? Do we wait to see what the World Cup shows us by way of new stock in the shop window?
I’m asking here!
One thing I am certain of, is that the last thing we want to do is go splurge our dosh on someone who is NOT that midfield force, but happens to be “available” and “might” add something: in-betweeners, journeymen, a better than nothing (so frequently not the case).
They say that those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it, I somehow think and fear we might (once again) be shy on the history front.