- Aug 24, 2010
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As usual, it is our lack of quality back up that is the potential and likely problem. Already looking like Eriksen and Kane will be given little chance to rest or rotate, they are, once again, our only reliable source of creativity and goals. That isn't good enough for a top 4 team, 2 years running. Already, we are looking at our central midfield options and people are talking about' Josh' as some kind of saviour rather than a player who has never shown anything for us and did not impress at Villa. As for Winks, he needs to be properly fit before he can be really considered and there are worrying signs about that along with Wanyama and Lamela.
Really, it is our past mistakes that are costing us now - Aurier, N'Koudou, LLorente, Sissoko, Janssen not really up to the standard but we have found ourselves stuck with them now and having to make the best of it.
We might get away with it - top 4 - if Arsenal, Chelsea( and possibly 1 or 2 others) don't improve but I think it will be touch and go and key injuries will kill us.
the thing is who do you sign that's good enough to be able to rotate Kane or Eriksen? that would be willing to sit on the bench.
don't think it will be our lack of signings that will cost us, it will be the fact so many went to the later rounds of the WC. though surely it will effect other teams too, we wasn't the only team to have so many players at it. the 1 team that I think will benefit will unfortunately be Liverpool.
the injuries can happen to any team, and past mistakes Aurier I will hold my judgement till the end of this season, N'Koudou was a risk, sometimes those risks pay off. Llorente never had a pre season, and never really had enough starts or mins, and when he did start we never played to his strengths. Sissoko definitely a mistake, but funny thing is I don't think he has ever been to blame for an error that has been costly. Janssen was a risk, as would Batshuayi. never easy for a striker to be a back up, and had he had the breaks early on and settled and not had personal issues then who knows what would of happened. who would of thought Saldado would of been a flop