This is a very fair point. There is some whatifery in my post.

What I would argue though, is that the wider set of circumstances around Andrich and Ajer would have been far more positive than they were around Kabak and Normann.

- from what I read A&A were happy to come. K&N in contrast held out it seems for something - anything - better than us.
- both would have arrived early in pre-season, rather than arriving three games in to the season.
- both A&A are taller/bigger than K&N, a critical feature for me given the known deficiencies of the squad and how it failed to handle Prem football. Having read up on Andrich words like “physical” and “imposing” litter descriptions of him. Ajer is also huge, and I cast my mind back to Brentford generally being able to battle so much more effectively than us as they are a physically imposing side.
- Andrich (arguably not Ajer) had played successfully and regularly at a much higher level than Normann. He looks much closer to a guaranteed thing, although there is obviously always a risk.
- both would have been permanent signings, giving us saleable assets if the worst happened and, in my opinion, signalling a willingness to commit in a way K&N frankly never have (in my opinion).

For all those reasons, I think it’s legitimate to hold the view that the club had the chance to sign two more players that were far more likely to make it than those we got instead. This should have been seen with foresight, and in my view is confirmed by hindsight.

I’m not even going to get into Sarge and Tzolis. 20m plus wages for 2 goals and 1 assist between them. One of them can’t even regularly make the match day squad. Abysmal scouting.

Posted By: Under soil heating on May 2nd 2022 at 08:49:06

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