Karanka v MON & Keane

[Strawberry Avenger]

I disagree, MON inherited a squad that we are repeatedly told had £25m worth investment on that in situ when Aitor arrived.

It was pretty much a full squad to choose from today barring Dawson, Darwika and Figgy.

But he didn't inherit a full squad.

Grabban has had 6 weeks out with injury.  He was injured when we bought him?  He didn't inherit a Portuguese contingent at the top of their game.  The experiment was over long before Martin arrived.

Gonzo.  Dias.  Were 'done' well under Aitor.  Soudani.  Knee.  That's out for the season.  Car'?  Promising under the warm Summer sun.  Now?  Mere shadow and was months before Martin arrived.

That's 5 players which cost the best part of £20 million.  There's your attacking line up.  There's your Summer recruitment of midfield wingers, acm and key striker right there.  Most of it unproven.  The one that was proven?  Bought injured, needs managing and when it flares up?  Can't play.  That's what happens when you depend on 'one' striker to last the whole Championship season.  (Delusional in the extreme.  Aitor and club recruitment need a hard look at themselves for that one.)

A club can't afford to put £20 million into four unproven players and one injured player.  They're done.  Fried.  Caput.

So, Martin didn't inherit that.  He inherited a failed experiment of 3 players and two injured ones.  That's no inheritance in any realistic sense.

We brought in a 33-35 CH in Dawson.  Flogged him.  He got injured (hmm...old players getting injured week in, week out...what could go wrong?)

I'll credit Martin for bringing in the CHs over January.  But there was no way you could replace our Summer '5' in those key positions in January.  Not unless you're Chelsea and Man City and got money to burn.

SA.