john68 wrote:Foreverinbluedreams wrote:Not to excuse but just to put a bit of perspective on things in regards recruitment, we had to rein in our wage bill since the Cook days, what we were doing during his tenure wasn't sustainable long term.
Also, someone who's name never gets thrown into the mix when our recruitment is being analysed/criticised is Gary Worthington, as our head of scouting surely he must shoulder some of the blame for our failures in this area.
I would only partly agree with that FIB, If you look at the combined fees and wages of some of the players we have bought, we would undoubtedly have been better served spending higher on fewer quality players that would have improved the squad and not wasting so much on many poorer players.
Absolutely. I would even argue that it would have been wiser to go for cheaper (fee and wages, think real bargain bin) stop-gap signings, i.e. F. Fernandez or Fazio type defenders. Firstly, they would obviously be cheaper, on lower wages, easier to ship out eventually and couldn't possibly have performed any worse. Secondly, it could be turned into anti-UEFA publicity, showing everyone how we are actually being affected by FFP, instead of spending a world-record fee for a defender (or thereabouts), dodgy 3rd party shenanigans included.
I see the summer 2015 as a turning point, obviously showing real intent with a superstar signings in KDB, but I rate Sterling as another very good signing and while Otamendi gets a lot of justified shit and I question whether he has any defensive nous sometimes, there are many many worse defenders in the Premier League who are not as exposed as him and look better only because they play in solid, conservative set-ups. Anyone who watched WHU v LIV yesterday, please explain to me what the fuck José Fonte, a European Champion of last year, was doing for Sturridge's goal. Delph is just making up the numbers, and were it not for his woeful injury record, I'd see him as a solid signing as well.