Just my own thoughts ahead of the transfer window.
Noble is an enigma. He can have games like Southampton where he does everything right and then next game he can revert to Mr Sideways pass. I really don't know what the answer is with him. It's obvious he cannot play every game and needs to be rested every 3 or 4. Like Southampton, he can start to fade in the second half and will need to be substituted. If, and it's a big if, we can keep Wheelchair fit, then I don't think we need to worry too much. Wheelchair will be a good addition for the attacking side of the game, he has such a footballing brain he has become less reliant on pace. It was good to see Carlos Sanchez get a run out yesterday and I thought he played well. There's your DM cover. I'm not sure if either Wheelchair or Sanchez will be able to play every game but they are certainly nice options to have.
I think Obiang will go back to Italy this summer, he expressed a desire to move in January and was persuaded to stay, (besides no bids reaching our valuation were received). So at present, either Wheelchair or Sanchez will need to step up and fill that gap.
As for the forward line, Carroll has gone, his time with us is over, as posted on Instagram by his missus. Perez will go, although his stats, goals / games, is good, he really hasn't done anything to make a good case for keeping him. Hernandez does not and never will fit our style of football. Yes, he's scored goals but when he's on his own up front, a position he cannot play, we are effectively down to 10 men. I think the only member of the forward line that will remain is Arnautovic, and he's a midfielder! Antonio has come on in leaps and bounds but also blows hot and cold. That Spurs goal was amazing, such composure in the build up and precision in the finish. He cannot do that week in week out though. I like the lad and hope he stays, he is a natural powerhouse that creates problems for the defence.
As I've seen written elsewhere, I think RB is well covered. Fredericks first choice with Zabaletta and Johnson backing him up. I think Byram will be let go if there is any interest. LB is another matter. Cresswell, not consistent enough for me and Masuaku, who isn't a LB but has shown he can play there, I do worry when he does though. That area needs addressing, yes, Johnson can play there but it's not his natural or favoured position. I think if a decent offer comes in for Masuaku, he will go. Especially if it's to play left mid rather than left back.
Centre backs we have Balbuena and Diop who have been superb. Balbuena, in my opinion, was the find of the summer. Quality, quality player that brings a calmness to the backline and allows Diop to flourish. Ogbonna, you never know what your going to get with him. He can be, as he has recently, very good. But, he can also be very bad. I believe if an offer is received near our valuation, he will go.
Reid. Winston Reid. What to do about Winston Reid. He is still contracted to us until 2023, his agent must be laughing all the way to the bank. He has not kicked a ball since March 2018, rumoured to be able to return to the first team in June 2019. If it was me, I'd get rid of him sharpish. I'd even consider paying him off! He's 31 in July, not played competitive football of any sort for 14 months, has had a back injury that has affected other areas of his body, like his knees. It's affected his knees as his body has sort to compensate for the back injury and he's moved and put undue pressure & strain on the knees and hips. I don't think he will be in the squad next season, a further injury in pre season will keep him out. He has to seriously look at either retirement or doing a Winston Bogarde. I hope it's the former.
Yarmalenko I really can't say much about. I don't think he'd fully hit his stride before the season ending injury. He was starting to show just what he is capable of and I liked what I saw. However, it'll be back to square one for him in pre season.
Grady Diangana. I'm not sure about him. He has the tricks, he does like to demonstrate his close ball control. He is far too lightweight though and easily knocked off the ball. When using his pace he can be electric but has, so far as I've seen, no real end product. The precision cross, defence splitting pass etc are all missing. He needs to be more aware of where his team mates are and how they are likely to react to his runs. At the moment I'd put him in the same stable as Toni Martinez, showing promise but not quite there yet. Perhaps another season in the first team will do him good and bring him up to where he should be. He does need to bulk up though, if he stays as lightweight as he is, he's not going to be able to cut it. He will also have the pressure of Nathan Holland and Connor Coventry breathing down his neck for their oportunity. If they get it, I'm sure they'll grab it with both hands.
Manuel Lanzini. I'll go out on a limb here, I've never really seen what all the fuss was about. To quote Eric Idle, he's not the messiah. He can, on a good day, be totally unplayable, everything he does, works. Those days are not often enough for me. LIke Grady, he is too lightweight and easily shrugged off the ball. He regularly gives the ball away, far too often for my liking, by trying to play a pass that just isn't on or over hits it. He has the skill set, he can score goals, he is an assett to the team. However, if he's having one of his regular off days, MP needs to recognise that early and make the change at half time. We have Anderson now who has all the tricks that Lanzini does. He's had is bedding in season in the Premier League and from what I've seen, he is now, (over the last 4 or 5 games), starting to play like a premiership player. I think we will see much more of him next season than we have this. A full pre season with the squad and perhaps some one to one coaching will really bring him to the fore. Lanzini probably needs the pre season to get back some of his lost form. His injury has certainly affected him and he was back much sooner than I expected. Next season will be make or break for Lanzini. Can he step his consistency up? Will he be able to raise his game to partner Anderson in a really effective manner? These are the questions that will be answered next season.
It is also no secret that Adrian will leave in the summer so a backup for Fabianski is a must.
Looking forward, I think we all know that the transfer budget will have to be boosted heavily by player sales and trimming the wage bill. I think that with MP and Mr Husillios we have a good recruitment team. I would think that they have already identified the area's for prime improvement and submitted a list of targets to DS. I think Mr Husillios's knowledge of the European and South American leagues will be of benefit to us. I expect a lot of "Who?" when we sign players. But look at Balbuena, he cost peanuts and has proved to be instrumental in making the defensive line work.
So, that's at least one Goalkeeper, CB and LB, a DM and AM plus at least 2 strikers of good quality required. I would like to think that MP and his recruitment team have submitted a list of targets to the board. We won't have a big budget and player sales and trimming the wage bill will be priority to add to the base line. If, big if, the club stick to the policy of younger players on lower wages we could be ok for the next few seasons. I know the Meedja will link us to every player that MP has managed over the years that are being released & looking for a last pay day. I'd like to think those days are gone and we've learned from Carroll and Wheelchair to properly look at injury history before signing players.
I won't say I'm looking forward to the transfer window, I never do. It will still be full of 2 + 2 = 7 journalism, linking players with the most tenuous of threads. Season 2019/20 though, I am thoroughly looking forward to. Fresh faces to brighten the place up. Less players on the treatment table, that would be a huge bonus, something that in my opinion has cost us dearly this season. Onwards and upwards.
Noble is an enigma. He can have games like Southampton where he does everything right and then next game he can revert to Mr Sideways pass. I really don't know what the answer is with him. It's obvious he cannot play every game and needs to be rested every 3 or 4. Like Southampton, he can start to fade in the second half and will need to be substituted. If, and it's a big if, we can keep Wheelchair fit, then I don't think we need to worry too much. Wheelchair will be a good addition for the attacking side of the game, he has such a footballing brain he has become less reliant on pace. It was good to see Carlos Sanchez get a run out yesterday and I thought he played well. There's your DM cover. I'm not sure if either Wheelchair or Sanchez will be able to play every game but they are certainly nice options to have.
I think Obiang will go back to Italy this summer, he expressed a desire to move in January and was persuaded to stay, (besides no bids reaching our valuation were received). So at present, either Wheelchair or Sanchez will need to step up and fill that gap.
As for the forward line, Carroll has gone, his time with us is over, as posted on Instagram by his missus. Perez will go, although his stats, goals / games, is good, he really hasn't done anything to make a good case for keeping him. Hernandez does not and never will fit our style of football. Yes, he's scored goals but when he's on his own up front, a position he cannot play, we are effectively down to 10 men. I think the only member of the forward line that will remain is Arnautovic, and he's a midfielder! Antonio has come on in leaps and bounds but also blows hot and cold. That Spurs goal was amazing, such composure in the build up and precision in the finish. He cannot do that week in week out though. I like the lad and hope he stays, he is a natural powerhouse that creates problems for the defence.
As I've seen written elsewhere, I think RB is well covered. Fredericks first choice with Zabaletta and Johnson backing him up. I think Byram will be let go if there is any interest. LB is another matter. Cresswell, not consistent enough for me and Masuaku, who isn't a LB but has shown he can play there, I do worry when he does though. That area needs addressing, yes, Johnson can play there but it's not his natural or favoured position. I think if a decent offer comes in for Masuaku, he will go. Especially if it's to play left mid rather than left back.
Centre backs we have Balbuena and Diop who have been superb. Balbuena, in my opinion, was the find of the summer. Quality, quality player that brings a calmness to the backline and allows Diop to flourish. Ogbonna, you never know what your going to get with him. He can be, as he has recently, very good. But, he can also be very bad. I believe if an offer is received near our valuation, he will go.
Reid. Winston Reid. What to do about Winston Reid. He is still contracted to us until 2023, his agent must be laughing all the way to the bank. He has not kicked a ball since March 2018, rumoured to be able to return to the first team in June 2019. If it was me, I'd get rid of him sharpish. I'd even consider paying him off! He's 31 in July, not played competitive football of any sort for 14 months, has had a back injury that has affected other areas of his body, like his knees. It's affected his knees as his body has sort to compensate for the back injury and he's moved and put undue pressure & strain on the knees and hips. I don't think he will be in the squad next season, a further injury in pre season will keep him out. He has to seriously look at either retirement or doing a Winston Bogarde. I hope it's the former.
Yarmalenko I really can't say much about. I don't think he'd fully hit his stride before the season ending injury. He was starting to show just what he is capable of and I liked what I saw. However, it'll be back to square one for him in pre season.
Grady Diangana. I'm not sure about him. He has the tricks, he does like to demonstrate his close ball control. He is far too lightweight though and easily knocked off the ball. When using his pace he can be electric but has, so far as I've seen, no real end product. The precision cross, defence splitting pass etc are all missing. He needs to be more aware of where his team mates are and how they are likely to react to his runs. At the moment I'd put him in the same stable as Toni Martinez, showing promise but not quite there yet. Perhaps another season in the first team will do him good and bring him up to where he should be. He does need to bulk up though, if he stays as lightweight as he is, he's not going to be able to cut it. He will also have the pressure of Nathan Holland and Connor Coventry breathing down his neck for their oportunity. If they get it, I'm sure they'll grab it with both hands.
Manuel Lanzini. I'll go out on a limb here, I've never really seen what all the fuss was about. To quote Eric Idle, he's not the messiah. He can, on a good day, be totally unplayable, everything he does, works. Those days are not often enough for me. LIke Grady, he is too lightweight and easily shrugged off the ball. He regularly gives the ball away, far too often for my liking, by trying to play a pass that just isn't on or over hits it. He has the skill set, he can score goals, he is an assett to the team. However, if he's having one of his regular off days, MP needs to recognise that early and make the change at half time. We have Anderson now who has all the tricks that Lanzini does. He's had is bedding in season in the Premier League and from what I've seen, he is now, (over the last 4 or 5 games), starting to play like a premiership player. I think we will see much more of him next season than we have this. A full pre season with the squad and perhaps some one to one coaching will really bring him to the fore. Lanzini probably needs the pre season to get back some of his lost form. His injury has certainly affected him and he was back much sooner than I expected. Next season will be make or break for Lanzini. Can he step his consistency up? Will he be able to raise his game to partner Anderson in a really effective manner? These are the questions that will be answered next season.
It is also no secret that Adrian will leave in the summer so a backup for Fabianski is a must.
Looking forward, I think we all know that the transfer budget will have to be boosted heavily by player sales and trimming the wage bill. I think that with MP and Mr Husillios we have a good recruitment team. I would think that they have already identified the area's for prime improvement and submitted a list of targets to DS. I think Mr Husillios's knowledge of the European and South American leagues will be of benefit to us. I expect a lot of "Who?" when we sign players. But look at Balbuena, he cost peanuts and has proved to be instrumental in making the defensive line work.
So, that's at least one Goalkeeper, CB and LB, a DM and AM plus at least 2 strikers of good quality required. I would like to think that MP and his recruitment team have submitted a list of targets to the board. We won't have a big budget and player sales and trimming the wage bill will be priority to add to the base line. If, big if, the club stick to the policy of younger players on lower wages we could be ok for the next few seasons. I know the Meedja will link us to every player that MP has managed over the years that are being released & looking for a last pay day. I'd like to think those days are gone and we've learned from Carroll and Wheelchair to properly look at injury history before signing players.
I won't say I'm looking forward to the transfer window, I never do. It will still be full of 2 + 2 = 7 journalism, linking players with the most tenuous of threads. Season 2019/20 though, I am thoroughly looking forward to. Fresh faces to brighten the place up. Less players on the treatment table, that would be a huge bonus, something that in my opinion has cost us dearly this season. Onwards and upwards.