- Jul 5, 2004
- 7,898
- 11,797
I'm hoping we're saving him for Thursday and Sunday.
A first xi that didn’t start v Newcastle:I know we don't want him to get injured and scupper any potential move but given the amount of games we will have played by Sunday evening surely we could of played him in this game and given someone else a rest?!
It's a bit hard to stand over the moaning by José over fixture congestion if you don't make use of the squad.
To my mind, there’s always a place in the squad for someone with Dele’s ability as a potential game changer. We can register 25 players, so that’s 2 per position for the set formation, a third gk, and say a versatile or young defender and an attacker who offers something a boy different.
That said, if his sale releases funds that can be used to improve that initial 22 players (as he appears not to be part of it) then it makes sense. Not thrilled as he’s done things for us that of our current squad are not capable of, but equally there comes a time were the bigger risk is to keep him. It’s for Jose to judge whether Dele’s decline being reversed, which I imagine is a long term project, it’s worth the short term pain of having a slightly (and I say slightly as it’s only one position in reality) imbalanced squad.
Long way back from here.
A first xi that didn’t start v Newcastle:
Hart
Aurier Foyth Alderweireld Reguilón
Sissoko Ndombele Gedson
Bergwijn Lamela Sessegnon
I'd only be happy with Dele leaving if we get someone similar in quality in that fits into Jose's system.
Would be a shame if we just loaned him out and just left it as that.