So many problems. Especially if we think the objective is 17th+ in the Prem.

The defence is miles off Prem quality. Aarons is good but not physical enough for the Prem, which is why he’s still here. He’ll go in the summer though for sure. Hanley is probably Prem back up standard, assuming that new injury doesn’t hamper him too much. The others, miles off. The ability of the defence to make basic errors is by now abundantly clear and has been for seasons, not least this one where last time I looked we were miles ahead in the “mistakes leading to goals” table, even before last night. (That’s partly down to the midfield too.)

Midfield is totally lacking. Here’s a knowledge bomb for you. We haven’t got a CDM, and we might need one. I know Hayden was the plan, but well done us on scouting, signing and investing everything in someone that has been recovering from a bad injury and who wasn’t necessarily fit, and has proven to be entirely unfit. We lack creativity. Maybe Dowell is the answer, but not by himself, not all the time. Assuming he’s still here, which he may well not be. Kenny is …. Well, Kenny is Kenny. We lack pace. We lack physicality.

We don’t have wingers that are capable at this level, never mind the Prem. Apart, maybe, from Onel, on a champs level. Don’t get me started on Tzolis. Or the prospect of Rashica coming back. (He won’t.) Why we got Marquinhos on loan I don’t know. He offers literally nothing, and I can’t see him ever getting anywhere near the Arsenal team, except maybe the first round of the League Cup/dead rubbers in Europe.

Not obvious we have anyone in the entire MF unit that is a stand out Champs performer. Sara maybe, but he’ll be pushing for a move in the summer, you can guarantee it. Gibbs maybe, but he’s not a CDM and is currently a liability defensively. Hopefully he can improve.

Upfront, sheesh, we’ve all done this to death. It’s clear Pukki checked out months ago, and is here in body only. Simply shouldn’t be playing. Then there’s Sarge, who seems to be half decent at champs level, but that’s it. Then there’s Idah, who honestly seems to have none of the attributes needed to be a striker, other than being big. The club seems to have massively mishandled him, kept him on the bench for years when he should have been playing. He seems to have made zero progress in the last couple of years, and I’m baffled as to why we have given him a 5 year contract.

So yes. I conclude we need:

- an almost entirely new defence
- an almost entirely new midfield
- one or two new strikers

At a time when we have f**k all money to spend. Maybe we have some incredible talent in the youths, but if I’m honest it looks to me like our youth players look like kids that are miles off when I see them play. We don’t have anyone stepping in that you look at and think “that’s a future Prem player”. Unless I’m missing something.

Hence, we’d better get used to mid table mediocrity at best, perhaps worse. Or we need the recruitment team to repeat the Emi/Pukki miracle again.

Tldr version: we’re almost certainly f**ked next season. We had our chance, and we f**ked it.

Posted By: Under soil heating, Apr 15, 11:36:34