NSWE Investment

[SoccerHQ]

I would take Ryan Kent

Is he better than Bailey, Buendia, Traore or El Ghazi though?

We are overflowing with wide options so can't see point of adding him unless we sell a couple of those and AEG only one who'll probably move on at some point in six months. Trez probably aswell if he gets back and plays some games towards end of the season.

[SoccerHQ]

All adds up to what Vinnie said though 7-10 days ago. Owner want a manager who has some sort of "profile" hence them wanting Henry right at start of ownership.

I imagine Purslow got in their ear telling them DS would be a far superior option, they listened to him and it was a very good call.

So Purslow given opportunity to appoint another of his choices.

Think that's basically how we've got to Gerrard being number one pick despite many better options being available currently.

This is call that will shape us for next 5 seasons so it's a big one.

[Abbeyfealeavfc]

The alarm bells will certainly ring if he starts signing Rangers players/Liverpool rejects and loans in Liverpool youngsters ahead of playing our youth.  If that starts happening it'll be clear NSWE have lost the plot and their plan is finished before it really began.

Isn't that why Lange does not report to the head coach? - precisely to ensure a balanced and strategic approach to incoming players is maintained?

There was nothing balanced about the players he brought in, when from the previous season we were crying out for a decent no.10 and a dcm (and overall strengthening of the midfield). Yet he keeps his job!

[Duncan Shaw]

Some revisionism of Lange now I see, he was being lauded for how well the recruitment was going compare to Pitarch not that long ago!!

[Ads]

Recruitment in the summer was good. Not many clubs get to pick up £100m worth of attacking talent that we have.

[Mister E]

The alarm bells will certainly ring if he starts signing Rangers players/Liverpool rejects and loans in Liverpool youngsters ahead of playing our youth.  If that starts happening it'll be clear NSWE have lost the plot and their plan is finished before it really began.

Isn't that why Lange does not report to the head coach? - precisely to ensure a balanced and strategic approach to incoming players is maintained?

There was nothing balanced about the players he brought in, when from the previous season we were crying out for a decent no.10 and a dcm (and overall strengthening of the midfield). Yet he keeps his job!

My point wasn't about how well he's recruited or whether he's still in a job: my point was about a new manager not going back and signing loads of players from his previous club or favourite club, willy-nilly.

[AV82EC]

Recruitment in the summer was good. Not many clubs get to pick up £100m worth of attacking talent that we have.

Agreed.

[Gary Penrice]

I would take Ryan Kent

I would take Nathan Patterson as back up to Cash all day long. Other than that errr.....nah!

[Beard82]

Recruitment in the summer was good. Not many clubs get to pick up £100m worth of attacking talent that we have.

Agreed.

I think the jury is still out on this.  None of these have set the world alight let - all shown some promise - but ultimately we went into the season without a midfield effectively.

Emi2 has huge question marks over him.  Ings is good, but think everyone would have swapped a decent midfielder for him.  And Bailey has looked amazing and awful

I agree there all good players - but it doesn't necessary represent what we needed

[lovejoy]

Nobody disputes the wealth of our owners,  it this ambition narrative is being critically undermined if their choice of manager is a bloke using us as a stepping stone. If they had ambition we’d be getting a much higher profile manager than Gerrard. Very disappointed.

[Scott Nielsen]

What is going on with this "stepping stone" obsession!? I understand the criticism around lack of experience etc. but this one is just weird. As has been pointed out repeatedly, we can only be a stepping stone to something else for him if he is successful here. What's our problem with that?

[cdbearsfan]

It's Mickey Mouse. There are plenty of managers who could be successful here without being talked up as a potential Liverpool manager every time Klopp loses two games in a row. Being happy to see someone leave for a "bigger" club is Small Heath fawning over Jude Bellingham type small time behaviour.

[Scott Nielsen]

So, in this particular case, the problem you have is not with Gerrard but the media?

[cdbearsfan]

I don't like the perception that Aston Villa are a second rate club and, worse, happy to accept that position. That's what we are if we allow ourselves to be the managerial testing ground for Liverpool.

In any case, I doubt this "he would leave with my blessing" mantra actually plays out. Leicester didn't give Little their blessing and nor did Southampton when Hoddle, as he was always going to do, left to take the Tottenham job.

[dave.woodhall]

It's Mickey Mouse. There are plenty of managers who could be successful here without being talked up as a potential Liverpool manager every time Klopp loses two games in a row. Being happy to see someone leave for a "bigger" club is Small Heath fawning over Jude Bellingham type small time behaviour.

Yup. Being a stepping stone is fine if you're Brentford.