The laugh for me is the people who say the owners don’t spend any money - we’ve spent £100m on our back three that started last night, not to mention the wing-backs (£35m odd).
We spend money; what we have to show for it is the issue.
What all the big teams have over us is the ability to waste money. I know it's a little different now due to fair play rules but traditionally if Man Utd or now City spend 200m on flops they can spend another 200m next time, we can't. I am sure they have as many if not more flops than we have but we have to keep ours and pay the price where as they just move them on.
Of course, we do have to balance signing midfielders if we want give Potts a chance in the 11. Álvarez - Potts - Paquetá would probably be the best middle 3 on paper
Just watched the game against Man U, and very impressed by Fearon. He's quick-thinking and fearless, positive and full of energy. An option to replace Paqueta.? IMO, what the team needs is a monster in mf to win the ball....
Souček has shown in limited games pre-season that he can contribute to build up. A lovely assist yesterday for Füllkrug, a nice bit of play against Man Utd for Bowen & ultimately very little game time outside of that.
I am yet to be convinced by Potts, certainly when paired with JWP, & feel Souček can offer us lots still in CM. I am not sure if Potter sees Álvarez as first choice when up to match speed. Him & Potts/JWP would seem the preferred choice unless we sign anybody else.
I think one dynamic CM is what we require to consolidate our summer work. But it has to work out, not another dud. We can’t afford to be short in CM. Fernandes is linked & Ramsey (not sure we’ll get Ramsey).
I know it doesn’t necessarily mean anything, but I read into the squad number changes. You don’t change Alvarez’s squad number if you’re not planning to keep him, and he’s far more mobile than most of our other midfielders. With the formation we seem to be set on, I can’t help but feel that Alvarez & Ward-Prowse (or a new signing) are going to be first choice.
But does Summerville come back in? Where does he fit? On the left of a front 3 or as a RWB (his only start under Potter) - with say AWB going into a back 3 (this happened at the end of game yesterday).
If he goes as a front 3, who plays CM? Does Paquetá even start?
I am not sure we create enough with the current formation & players. If AWB & Diouf get pushed back, we find it very hard to play out.
We won't stick rigidly with this formation. Summerville allows us to change it, either before games or during. It's crazy how long he's been injured, though
Comments
We spend money; what we have to show for it is the issue.
We sold Moore after two seasons to Shelborne in the League of Ireland, generally considered to be on the same level as League Two/Conference
I reckon that was enough time for the coaching staff to assess their potential and decide they weren't ever going to be good enough for the first team
IMO, what the team needs is a monster in mf to win the ball....
I am yet to be convinced by Potts, certainly when paired with JWP, & feel Souček can offer us lots still in CM. I am not sure if Potter sees Álvarez as first choice when up to match speed. Him & Potts/JWP would seem the preferred choice unless we sign anybody else.
I think one dynamic CM is what we require to consolidate our summer work. But it has to work out, not another dud. We can’t afford to be short in CM. Fernandes is linked & Ramsey (not sure we’ll get Ramsey).
If he goes as a front 3, who plays CM? Does Paquetá even start?
I am not sure we create enough with the current formation & players. If AWB & Diouf get pushed back, we find it very hard to play out.