The recruitment strategy was a disaster. Cover for Grabban was loanee Mur. Hopeless. Goalkeeper, Muric. Hopeless. Midfield Samedo and Bostock. Not in squad most of time. No saplings uprooted. Nothing in window apart from Diakhaby and the signing of De Costa. Enough said.
Sabri’s problem was how to get a fit squad for most of the time. The game v Stoke had Grabban (who has played every minute since break and only rested for two games all season. Both losses.) Playing with strapping, Ameobi playing with strapping, Lolley still not 100%. Sow not 100% and strapping. The cover was not up to standard. The strength of our bench and oppositions were telling. Even Barnsley bench was stronger than ours.
For two years now punters on vital have been crying out for a striker or two. Creative midfield is zero. Sabri had little to work with when he took over and less as the season continued. He has worked miracles getting a silk purse out of Samba Sow’s ear. It is not SL fault. It was poor, or no acquisitions in August and January.
Yes, the over all transfer activity has been unsuccessful but how much of that is down to constantly changing managers?
The Summer window was pretty mixed fare, but again you have to take into consideration that the scouting team were geared up to find MONs targets until the 11th hour.
In hindsight, what do you think the chances were of Lamouchi analysing what he had around him and what he needed for the season ahead, in so little time?
I would say he had little chance; if he did not know how the fuck can the recruitment team target players?
People can bang on about the January window all they like but it is now redundant; the only thing you can guarantee about the window is that you overpay - you overpay on transfer fees and on wages.
No Club with any sense deals in that window; that decision may well now be taken out of a lot of Clubs hands with the introduction of a wage cap.
That will not stop supporters up and down the Country demanding signings though.
Everyone, including Lewis Grabban, knows that we need an additional striker, but you tend to pay a premium for the good ones which makes them hard to come by.
You mention the elusive creative midfield player; I assume you mean the number 10 who quarterbacks games, dictating play and sprays passes around; the type of player which the vast majority of Clubs no longer play with.
There has been an assortment of excuses for the last two windows; I just hope the change of manager excuse is not used in this window.