Critical_Spur
Vital Football Hero
I know you cannot overhaul a complete squad but when you look at ours it has not really improved or changed for many seasons. We are in desperate need of a change and someone to light a fire under our so called top players.
PJ, I agree with you as well as many others about the general 'decay' in our squad. However, deep down, I think it is blown out of proportions based on what has been witnessed on the pitch since the final year under Poch.
Let me put my thoughts across:
Firstly, in Poch's latter time, if I were a professional footballer, flogged to death during the previous 4 years and nothing to show for it, I would've sought a move or succumbed to 'easing off'.
I personally want to write off Jose's tenure. I do not believe for a minute he had a coaching method. Those that praised Jose are merely teacher's pets and were generally always picked to start. ... and they were sucked in by his trophy record. Those that questioned his mantra found themselves on the outside. Also his tactical setup all but destroyed natural talent, forcing everyone to become very rigid and nervous, hence more mistakes were evident.
I do not ever recall being so critical of our players under any of our past managers as I have been under Jose.....can you?...Not even during AVB's era.
Therefore, I do feel majority (bar 2/3) would need to be re-appraised under the new regime. Harry Redknapp picked up a demoralised squad and we made top 4. The Jose bounce lasted 3/4 months but his stubbornness prevented any sustainable uplift.
Let's see the new guy's man management skills along with his football philosophy before writing off majority of the squad.
My list of players (and reasons) that need to be moved on or redeployed:
Dier - Not a defender. Put him back in DM, else sold.
Lamela - Enough of looking after an injured player. Bollox to the sentiments.
Sissoko - zero football intelligence.
Davies - No improvement over 100 years and adds nothing.
Winks - squad player/ He may not want that, then GL fella Skipp in.
I would give everyone else a chance to reflect and regroup.
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