He no doubt spotted and endorsed De Ligt, De Jong, Fernandes, Dybala, Pulisic, Ziyech, Kovacic, Sancho etc. Not that was his job to spot talent but we were linked with all of them in his tenure. The problem was that the people around him had no ability to close deals and always left it one or two years too late. Then he had to move onto list B, list C that you refer to and then took the bullets for the purchases as if they were his making. He couldn't win, even when he changed his stance and started refusing them. The narrative was just there to "always blame Poch" even though the guy was stuck between a rock and a hard place.
It always amazes me that the people that slate Poch can never come up with a single credible name of a player that he turned down. I've asked for years. The only logical one I see is Tielemans, when he was available on a loan to buy from France. I can perhaps see how he slipped the net.
Now in 6 years of being in charge, you'd think they'd be loads of names. It's like an unsolved crime :-)
He no doubt spotted and endorsed De Ligt, De Jong, Fernandes, Dybala, Pulisic, Ziyech, Kovacic, Sancho etc. Not that was his job to spot talent but we were linked with all of them in his tenure. The problem was that the people around him had no ability to close deals and always left it one or two years too late. Then he had to move onto list B, list C that you refer to and then took the bullets for the purchases as if they were his making. He couldn't win, even when he changed his stance and started refusing them. The narrative was just there to "always blame Poch" even though the guy was stuck between a rock and a hard place.
It always amazes me that the people that slate Poch can never come up with a single credible name of a player that he turned down. I've asked for years. The only logical one I see is Tielemans, when he was available on a loan to buy from France. I can perhaps see how he slipped the net.
Now in 6 years of being in charge, you'd think they'd be loads of names. It's like an unsolved crime :-)
There were plenty of players who would have improved us smaller clubs signed which we didn't. The world is a pretty big place. It doesn't revolve around the Premier League.
For the record it wasn't our job to find the players it was Poch and the scouting teams job.
Teams like Ajax, Werder Bremen, Leipzig, Leicester, Athletico Madrid have been awesome in the transfer market for years on a small budget. So it can be done.
It was obvious for years Hugo, Dele, Eriksen and Kane never had the appropriate cover or competition.
Lopez was actually a decent back up GK. We spent a year working with him then let him go. Very odd decision.
I would have never bought Aurier. He wasn't needed. Trippier was already here and KWP was pushing hard for the second spot.
I always liked Kevin Wimmer too. He was a solid LCB. We should have kept him for a few more seasons to help Sanchez settle.
So we had 3 players already with us better than what we brought in. ( Gaz, Aurier and Foyth).
Wana and Dembele were starting to break by 2017 and needed competition. I liked Lemina, Doucoure, Partey, Lewis Cook at the time. I all so liked Hojbjerg before he went to Southampton.
I was pushing us to sign Maddison or Brooks to help Dele and Eriksen for the AMs spots. There was another lad that played for Everton. Delfour or something.
I have wanted Malen here for at least 3 years. I suggested Chiesa when he was a nipper at Fiorentina.
I could be here all day if I could be arsed to go back through all the teams squads and what season.
Summer 2018 was the biggest fuck up we ever made in the transfer market. We were starting to decline, we didn't shift the deadwood and didn't sign anyone.
I remember so vividly at the time arguing with people on here that was the turning point. I just knew we would deteriorate from that moment and sadly we did.
