Champions League Contention

[DrGonzo]

We are close to playing our second string; no choice with so many first team players sidelined.

To be fair once Pau is back we have two first teamers out (Ezri and Kamara), not counting Ty and Emi B as they haven’t been involved all season. The team is still strong.

That’s not really fair because we are also missing M E B and Big Tyrone, to say that they aren’t first team is a bit weird? These are all injuries that have impacted our season. If Mings has been fit we probably wouldn’t have had the other injuries in our back line as work loads would have been less.

[Risso]

On the other hand, we've had two transfer windows to do something about the strength of the squad.

[PaulWinch again]

We are close to playing our second string; no choice with so many first team players sidelined.

To be fair once Pau is back we have two first teamers out (Ezri and Kamara), not counting Ty and Emi B as they haven’t been involved all season. The team is still strong.

That’s not really fair because we are also missing M E B and Big Tyrone, to say that they aren’t first team is a bit weird? These are all injuries that have impacted our season. If Mings has been fit we probably wouldn’t have had the other injuries in our back line as work loads would have been less.

My point was more that it’s a stretch to say we’re close to second string in the context of this season. We got to 2nd in the league with no involvement from Ty and Emi B, so in the context of our performance this season we’re missing two first teamers (assuming Pau is actually back). Doesn’t diminish the value Ty or Emi B would make, but they just haven’t been a factor.

[Clampy]

I don't think the strength of the squad is the issue. We've been very unlucky this season. We've got five players out now and two just coming back.

[LeonW]

On the other hand, we've had two transfer windows to do something about the strength of the squad.

Only Aston Villa could be in perhaps our strongest position ever at the start of January for qualifying for the champions league and focus more on penny pinching.

Some will see that as unfair and talk about a longer term strategy of recruitment and that good players aren’t usually available so you’d have to overpay. Some will say that if we overspend in January we have to make up for it in the summer.

But at some point, it is about going for it and making it happen with signings. If we don’t qualify for the champions league this season we’ll have to sell anyway. We’re seemingly focused on making excuses for what we have done rather than what we haven’t. Chelsea, Man Utd and Newcastle will all be stronger next season.

[Clampy]

Hardly anyone spent in January.

[Drummond]

On the other hand, we've had two transfer windows to do something about the strength of the squad.

Who would you have sold to fund the players you think we need?

[LeonW]

Hardly anyone spent in January.

Case in point, 101.

[Demitri_C]

Think we must be close to FFP limit hence why we didnt spend. But if evertons points deduction gets reversed it will be a bit of a mockery.

Personally think we should look at re naming a stand for money. The Ellis one would get my vote

[Clampy]

I think penny pinching is very harsh. We can't keep stockpiling players.

[john e]

Think we must be close to FFP limit hence why we didnt spend. But if evertons points deduction gets reversed it will be a bit of a mockery.

Personally think we should look at re naming a stand for money. The Ellis one would get my vote

I was no big supporter of Ellis in fact I think he held the club back over time
but I wouldn’t change the name of that stand now it would seem a bit petty and somewhat disrespectful

[LeonW]

I think penny pinching is very harsh. We can't keep stockpiling players.

We didn’t need to let Dendoncker go. A sale perhaps on the provisio we get a replacement in. Certainly not on loan. Any loan fee would likely be small from a Seria A club. Plus if he flops, a likely future sale fee will be less than if we’d have kept him (see what City will get for Kalvin Phillips now following his spell at west Ham). We were already light in defensive midfield. And Dendoncker was in our European squad. So I can’t see that deal in any other way.

Fin Azaz was on a productive loan spell with Plymouth. We call him back to sell for him for a relative pittance. What would his value have been in the summer if he’d have finished the season performing in the same vein for a championship struggler would be my question. Perhaps his contract with us was running out? I don’t know.

Even Traore was an option. An unreliable one, but a match winner on occasion for sure. We may as well have kept him and his wages for the rest of the season because with our injury record, he could have been needed at some point.

My overriding question has always been; did our business in January make us stronger or weaker for the rest of this season? It’s all well a good pointing to the future but if we have to sell a Dougie or Martinez in the summer because we didn’t qualify for the champions league, all we’ll end up being is a feeder club because we don’t take that next step. Almost all clubs are feeder clubs. Success is on how much further up that chain we are.

If we weren’t going to go for it in January in this season, with this manager, with were other opponents are and the start we gave ourselves, we never will.

[Clampy]

We spent £80m in the the summer. That's not penny pinching. We can't keep doing it every transfer window.

[brontebilly]

Bookies had us odds on to be top 4 a few weeks back. All isn't lost though, for example Martinez and Shaw are crucial players for Man United at the back and they injured again. Their run of results is going to end. Spurs are digging out results at the moment, again their performance levels will have to improve to maintain it. Sarr and Bissouma back from AFCON with injuries/illness too.

[Ads]

Penny pinching is bollocks when you've got Chelsea needing to sell £100m by 30th June, with their other shady financials to come home to roost, Forest to be docked points, Everton docked points and be docked them again. Man City to be punished back to the 19th century. This is football in 2024.