Thought id have a muse over this whilst we await news on the manager situation and possibly to take us through the international break which can always be a bit dull.
So last season we had a relatively settled starting XI
Sels
Aina
Serb
Murillo
Neco
Sangare
Ando
Elanga
MGW
CHO
Wood.
So at the end of the season the plan was essentially as i recall to address the backups which was the area which we felt needed strengthening, particularly replacing Sosa and Jota with quality backups for Elanga and CHO.
There was also the need to have quality backups for Aina (with one eye on the AFCON) and Neco with an actual left-footed left back to offer variety outside of CHO.
In central midfield, perhaps someone to mix it with Sangare and Ando and also a backup number 10 for MGW to cover injury/form.
Finally, a striker to replace Taiwo who was struggling to show anything like his previous form and a backup GK as Miguel was a bit rubbish.
As far as i see it, that was the general idea, quality over quantity and of course as early as possible.
Targets were relatively well known but along with others like Palace, Fulham etc we really struggled to get any business done early. But then, lets look at who came through the door.
So in terms of a backup GK, we signed Gunn out of the blue and left it til late to get Jhon. It wasnt a huge priority so perhaps this can be left out of discussion really.
The full backs. Now, normally i'd say capable full backs are ten a penny and id venture to say you could have had Walker-Peters on a free and find an able left footed full back in the championship or indeed anywhere. this could have been done relatively early, as theres not a great deal of negotiation really for full-backs unless theyre top class. Truffert was a target but may have preferred Bournemouth, who knows. After that though we didnt do anything until the 30th August and last minutes of deadline day.
I know people say Aina injury is unfortunate but these 2 signings, made when season had already started just make no sense to me at all. I'm not yet sure what Savona is and Zinchenko is not the left-footed bomb-on-past-CHO full back we were looking for. I've a horrible feeling this area is going to cost us this season.
Jair added as a young centre back, sound. no issue. Morato is capable enough backup / 3rd CB.
In midfield our backups were Yates and Danilo. Did we do anything to improve this? we courted Luiz all summer but thats a gamble, seems even more so when you let Danilo go? For such a key area, again it seems we just didnt really address it, other than hoping MGW can slot in. Looks worse when you look at Anderson playing all summer. Magassa was apparently identified but never close. Think letting Danilo go was a huge error, especially with Luiz injury record.
backup 10 - McAtee took longer than it should but to fair to the club, City were overreaching. Could it have been done sooner? who knows but ultimately he was identified and signed. Fine.
Wide areas.
Elanga went, no real surprise but we then need to replace the asset of getting up the pitch quickly. Hutchinson was apparently identified and did this for Ipswich and England U21. Made sense. £35m release clause to get it done early, no we left it to mid August. Dan N'doye isnt really that explosive winger. We all know which greased up explosive winger was identified but a big wedge on N'Doye does seem out of kilter with our approach on other players. Was it because he can play Right Back? Bakwa, young, tricky, certainly more in keeping with what we'd been looking at previously but again came in late in bloody September. The quality of these wide players is yet to be confirmed obviously but they were all signed later than they should have been, particularly given the system we were employing under Nuno.
Striker. Jesus. Done early, great price. sound.
I saw lots of 10/10 comments on our dealings and reflecting on that, i'm not sure it gets past a 6/10. Some odd decisions and of course the lateness caused issues which dont need discussing here. Recruitment here not the politics :Funny:
So last season we had a relatively settled starting XI
Sels
Aina
Serb
Murillo
Neco
Sangare
Ando
Elanga
MGW
CHO
Wood.
So at the end of the season the plan was essentially as i recall to address the backups which was the area which we felt needed strengthening, particularly replacing Sosa and Jota with quality backups for Elanga and CHO.
There was also the need to have quality backups for Aina (with one eye on the AFCON) and Neco with an actual left-footed left back to offer variety outside of CHO.
In central midfield, perhaps someone to mix it with Sangare and Ando and also a backup number 10 for MGW to cover injury/form.
Finally, a striker to replace Taiwo who was struggling to show anything like his previous form and a backup GK as Miguel was a bit rubbish.
As far as i see it, that was the general idea, quality over quantity and of course as early as possible.
Targets were relatively well known but along with others like Palace, Fulham etc we really struggled to get any business done early. But then, lets look at who came through the door.
So in terms of a backup GK, we signed Gunn out of the blue and left it til late to get Jhon. It wasnt a huge priority so perhaps this can be left out of discussion really.
The full backs. Now, normally i'd say capable full backs are ten a penny and id venture to say you could have had Walker-Peters on a free and find an able left footed full back in the championship or indeed anywhere. this could have been done relatively early, as theres not a great deal of negotiation really for full-backs unless theyre top class. Truffert was a target but may have preferred Bournemouth, who knows. After that though we didnt do anything until the 30th August and last minutes of deadline day.
I know people say Aina injury is unfortunate but these 2 signings, made when season had already started just make no sense to me at all. I'm not yet sure what Savona is and Zinchenko is not the left-footed bomb-on-past-CHO full back we were looking for. I've a horrible feeling this area is going to cost us this season.
Jair added as a young centre back, sound. no issue. Morato is capable enough backup / 3rd CB.
In midfield our backups were Yates and Danilo. Did we do anything to improve this? we courted Luiz all summer but thats a gamble, seems even more so when you let Danilo go? For such a key area, again it seems we just didnt really address it, other than hoping MGW can slot in. Looks worse when you look at Anderson playing all summer. Magassa was apparently identified but never close. Think letting Danilo go was a huge error, especially with Luiz injury record.
backup 10 - McAtee took longer than it should but to fair to the club, City were overreaching. Could it have been done sooner? who knows but ultimately he was identified and signed. Fine.
Wide areas.
Elanga went, no real surprise but we then need to replace the asset of getting up the pitch quickly. Hutchinson was apparently identified and did this for Ipswich and England U21. Made sense. £35m release clause to get it done early, no we left it to mid August. Dan N'doye isnt really that explosive winger. We all know which greased up explosive winger was identified but a big wedge on N'Doye does seem out of kilter with our approach on other players. Was it because he can play Right Back? Bakwa, young, tricky, certainly more in keeping with what we'd been looking at previously but again came in late in bloody September. The quality of these wide players is yet to be confirmed obviously but they were all signed later than they should have been, particularly given the system we were employing under Nuno.
Striker. Jesus. Done early, great price. sound.
I saw lots of 10/10 comments on our dealings and reflecting on that, i'm not sure it gets past a 6/10. Some odd decisions and of course the lateness caused issues which dont need discussing here. Recruitment here not the politics :Funny: