The Annual Summer "It's been a poor transfer window" Discussion thread - Apocalypse Now - 30th August 2024

[$hoguN]

We're just about 'deadwood' free now bar Reggie which is good.

But the squad feels thin in key areas.

It’s really not thin anywhere other than LB. It just isn’t full of the players who you think it should be

 

[Stamford]

It’s really not thin anywhere other than LB. It just isn’t full of the players who you think it should be

We only have 3 CB's. Thats not acceptable

 

[Albertbarich]

Arguments over the quality of the incomings aside I think the two weak areas are defence and and at keeper.

If vicario gets an injury or needs a rest we don’t have anything near competition. Now it maybe they don’t want to block Gunter and keeleys path but that leaves us really exposed this season. We certainly need a bit of luck with injuries and Vicarios form.

In defence, to their credit I wouldn’t swap our back four for any other teams but beyond that it starts to get problematic. Yes dragusin is a good back up and hopefully so is spence but that leaves Ben Davies to be cover for two positions. Now if it was a non Europe season I think we would be fine but when those europa league games kick in and hopefully the league cup ones come that’s a lot of games to not have the ability to properly rotate. And that’s even if we don’t get injuries.

In midfield , we’re ok. I maintain we look a bit weak and lacking experience but I think ange wants that sort of midfield. What we need I think and I hope he is instructing our current players to start doing this , is the ability to break up counter attacks with tackles or more importantly tactical fouls. That bit of know how will do us the world of good, I think it’s why Rodri is so important, he breaks opposition momentum amazingly

We have loads of wide players so no issue with depth but Johnson and Werner need to step up and hopefully we get sonny at his best.

I think up front lankshear replaces Richy as second choice striker by the end of the season, Ricky has to get himself and stay fit and I don’t think he will.

So glass half empty for me simply because with europa we have a shit ton of games and add that to the high intensity game we play , I think he have left ourselves really exposed. But if we compare first Xi’s I really like our team so not all bad

 

[cliff jones]

One injury or suspension in a number of positions and the rotation has to play every minute- twice a week once the cups kick in

The back five is the most vulnerable department

 

[Dunc2610]

We only have 3 CB's. Thats not acceptable

Three? Both Gray and Davies can play as cb of required. That's 5!

 

[worcestersauce]

Well as the saying goes, "mustn't grumble"

 

[ReadieSpur]

I'm pretty down on the shape of the squad at the moment.

At the back were a bit light at LB and GK. The keeper situation worries me more than LB as Ben Davis hasn't really ever let us down.

In attack we are really lacking quality at RW and striker to be able to improve on last year.

This year, at best we can hope to tread water and maintain our current position. It's going to be really tough though as Chelsea and Man U have made 1st team improvements, whereas we haven't.

 

[SirHarryHotspur]

I do not understand all the talk of other clubs signings are going to improve them and ours are not. Manure have spent multi millions since Ferguson left , has it improved them , no they are worse.

 

[Stamford]

Three? Both Gray and Davies can play as cb of required. That's 5!

Neither of those are centre backs please. Gray is a DM and played at RB at times when Leeds integrated him into the side. Davies is not a CB and has never been.

 

[$hoguN]

We only have 3 CB's. Thats not acceptable

We have Davies who is a CB for all intents and purposes now, Gray can also play there. Tell me all about other teams 4th choice CBs that are better

 

[$hoguN]

I'm pretty down on the shape of the squad at the moment.

At the back were a bit light at LB and GK. The keeper situation worries me more than LB as Ben Davis hasn't really ever let us down.

In attack we are really lacking quality at RW and striker to be able to improve on last year.

This year, at best we can hope to tread water and maintain our current position. It's going to be really tough though as Chelsea and Man U have made 1st team improvements, whereas we haven't.

Last year we had Son and Richy as our strikers. This year we have Solanke, Richy, Son and Lankshear.

Please tell me how that’s not an improvement?

RW we have Johnson, Odobert which again is an improvement from last season.

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

We only have 3 CB's. Thats not acceptable

Ange thinks it is. He explicitly stated in his press conference that if the right player is not available he would rather not block the path of Phillips, Vuksovic etc…and that Gray/Davies can cover there anyway.

If our manager is happy with his options why is it so unacceptable?

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

I do not understand all the talk of other clubs signings are going to improve them and ours are not. Manure have spent multi millions since Ferguson left , has it improved them , no they are worse.

It’s the same at the end of each window. Fans judge other teams success on how many players they’ve bought, and the amount they have spent. Without considering how those players will integrate and perform.

Chelsea are a case in point last summer.

 

[ajspurs]

We have Davies who is a CB for all intents and purposes now, Gray can also play there. Tell me all about other teams 4th choice CBs that are better

To play devil's advocate:

Arsenal: Saliba, Gabriel, Timber, Calafiori
City: Dias, Akanji, Ake, Gvardiol, Stones
Liverpool: Van Dijk, Konate, Gomez. Quansah
United: De Ligt, Maguire, Martinez, Yoro, Lindelof, Evans
Newcastle: Botman, Schar, Lacelles, Burns
Villa: Carlos, Konsa, Mings, Torres

Absolutely unfair to list Chelsea as their situation is ridiculous.

I'm not posting this to dig you out or even be argumentative on the matter. I am unsure of Gray there as of now to be honest, but I actually think Davies is OK for now really, but I only posted that because I could understand the argument that other teams seem to have 4 actual CB options, and not just a LB/RB who can sometimes fill in at CB as their fourth option. Can also understand the argument that Davies lack of speed doesn't make him the greatest of candidates.

The only reason why I'm not massively concerned is because I am hopeful that what we have can see us through to January at the very least, and that I think we'd possibly be very unlucky to have a situation where we'd have to put out a CB duo of Dragusin and Davies for any sustained period of time. Would be nice to have a greater luxury of being able to rest one of the CB's at certain opportunities with an actual CB though. We have that ability with Romero and Dragusin, but not with VDV.

 

[Albertbarich]

To play devil's advocate:

Arsenal: Saliba, Gabriel, Timber, Calafiori
City: Dias, Akanji, Ake, Gvardiol, Stones
Liverpool: Van Dijk, Konate, Gomez. Quansah
United: De Ligt, Maguire, Martinez, Yoro, Lindelof, Evans
Newcastle: Botman, Schar, Lacelles, Burns
Villa: Carlos, Konsa, Mings, Torres

Absolutely unfair to list Chelsea as their situation is ridiculous.

I'm not posting this to dig you out or even be argumentative on the matter. I am unsure of Gray there as of now to be honest, but I actually think Davies is OK for now really, but I only posted that because I could understand the argument that other teams seem to have 4 actual CB options, and not just a LB/RB who can sometimes fill in at CB as their fourth option. Can also understand the argument that Davies lack of speed doesn't make him the greatest of candidates.

The only reason why I'm not massively concerned is because I am hopeful that what we have can see us through to January at the very least, and that I think we'd possibly be very unlucky to have a situation where we'd have to put out a CB duo of Dragusin and Davies for any sustained period of time. Would be nice to have a greater luxury of being able to rest one of the CB's at certain opportunities with an actual CB though. We have that ability with Romero and Dragusin, but not with VDV.

If discussing centre back options or lack thereof you also have to mention that Davies is also back up to Udogie now. We’re short there, I find it mental people are trying to defend it.

Let’s see , when the games come thick and fast these debates are going to get tested because we’re really relying on having no real injuries back there and players staying fresh

 

[Tucker]

To play devil's advocate:

Arsenal: Saliba, Gabriel, Timber, Calafiori
City: Dias, Akanji, Ake, Gvardiol, Stones
Liverpool: Van Dijk, Konate, Gomez. Quansah
United: De Ligt, Maguire, Martinez, Yoro, Lindelof, Evans
Newcastle: Botman, Schar, Lacelles, Burns
Villa: Carlos, Konsa, Mings, Torres

Absolutely unfair to list Chelsea as their situation is ridiculous.

I'm not posting this to dig you out or even be argumentative on the matter. I am unsure of Gray there as of now to be honest, but I actually think Davies is OK for now really, but I only posted that because I could understand the argument that other teams seem to have 4 actual CB options, and not just a LB/RB who can sometimes fill in at CB as their fourth option. Can also understand the argument that Davies lack of speed doesn't make him the greatest of candidates.

The only reason why I'm not massively concerned is because I am hopeful that what we have can see us through to January at the very least, and that I think we'd possibly be very unlucky to have a situation where we'd have to put out a CB duo of Dragusin and Davies for any sustained period of time. Would be nice to have a greater luxury of being able to rest one of the CB's at certain opportunities with an actual CB though. We have that ability with Romero and Dragusin, but not with VDV.

I can understand us holding off on centre back somewhat. Next summer we are likely to lose Romero imo, so we are probably thinking we should wait and use that cash to sign a really good defender. We also have Vuskovic coming who looks a real gem. We probably didn’t want to sign someone who we didn’t really rate highly enough who’s going to be stuck on our books in the same way Rodon, Reguilon and Sanchez were/are.

It’s pragmatic, and it does leave us short, but I can see the logic.

 

[lukadownthelane]

The drop off to Davies is huge because he has little pace to cover behind and can’t defend balls in the air. Gray has never played CB so while he does have attributes he will make a tonne of mistakes. I’m sure Radu comes in first regardless but we have no quality rotation if we have one injury. Same at LB and GK. When was the last time we got lucky with injuries?!!

 

[Moorpheus19]

It’s really not thin anywhere other than LB. It just isn’t full of the players who you think it should be

We had 1 striker who's perennially injured. We signed 1 more and our other is a youth prospect who's never played a minute in the prem.

These are facts.

 

[Now it's Spursonal]

Not that Barcelona should ever be used as an example of anything positive these days and the reason they started playing the likes of Yamal, Pedri, Gavi and Cubarsí etc is more to do with gross financial mismanagement dating back years rather then some utopian vision of rebuilding the perfect Barcelona with La Masia at its core. There still remains an undeniable fact that putting faith in such talented individuals, regardless of age, has born results. Truly Incredible results.

This comparison actually scares me mate.

Barca's ineptitude as a club has forced them to become over-reliant on kids which has actually been detrimental to their future in my opinion. The likes of Pedri, Gavi and even now Marc Bernal are all becoming semi-crocked before the age of 21.

Young players haven't had the time yet to develop their muscles enough to be able to deal with the rigours of men's football.

Because of Barca's issues we may have missed out on getting to watch some generational players over the next decade, and I just hope that due to our own issues we dont have the same affect on some of our potential stars.

 

[Albertbarich]

I can understand us holding off on centre back somewhat. Next summer we are likely to lose Romero imo, so we are probably thinking we should wait and use that cash to sign a really good defender. We also have Vuskovic coming who looks a real gem. We probably didn’t want to sign someone who we didn’t really rate highly enough who’s going to be stuck on our books in the same way Rodon, Reguilon and Sanchez were/are.

It’s pragmatic, and it does leave us short, but I can see the logic.

I understand leaving centre back open for now but at least get cover/competition for Udogie then.