Beefymcfc wrote:PrezIke wrote:I am very very excited about Sterling, but I worry it may be the signing that helps us one place while elsewhere we fall further behind. It also seems we may struggle still with FFP, the available options for real quality, and the new realities of the insane transfer market.
Last year we should have went for Pogba rather than Mangala it seems. Now we won't get him and is Sterling really our "crack" signing? We cannot beat the other big clubs unless we pay far over market value because we aren't sunny Spain, or a large "cosmopolitan" city, nor do we have enough tradition just yet as a top club. It is what it is, but it seems our reliance on youth development may end up being our real long term hope, but that is not going to help us enough this season.
Sterling sure looks like he could be the big signing but he's not Pogba just yet, who is the type of player we need desperately.
I know it's been pre-season, but our defence and central midfield is looking quite worrying. Our captain better get his ish together or we may be in major trouble.
I disagree. Pogba's the type of player we need next season and Sterling is just what we need. I honestly don't think we'll get Pogba, he has dreams of going elsewhere whereas Sterling is what we have been missing in the speed/direct terms.
We still have a very strong squad, full of international talent and it's only a player away from being the best in the PL.
Cheers. Not sure what we really disagree with. I think we have a lot of quality in the team, but we might have had a better chance at Pogba last close season, which we instead used our kitty on Mangala for at over 40mil. I will admit I was in the camp for Mangala and not against the move, but hindsight leaves us wondering, should we have not went for the top midfielder first and then gotten the defender next? I don't think the our management saw what happened this year coming somehow, with Pogba's value going sky high and Barca coming calling. That may be partially why we splashed the cash on Sterling. Don't wait until it's too late.
Yet, the result is that we absolutely have a hole in our midfield, and Vinnie's form is worrying to say the least. Thankful for Denayer, as he may be of help, but he's still young and learning, and not one I'd like us to rely upon along with Mangala who I hope does better, as he has quality as well, and is not THAT young anymore.
KDB would be of help, especially with corners, and I believe we will challenge still, but unclear what our season will really look like as there are some real weaknesses.
One forgotten positive is that Hart, who had been a lightning rod for criticism the season before, has stepped up closer to when he was considered a top keeper. Pellegrini deserves some credit for that I believe.
I hope we will be motivated to prove the critics wrong. That is a key to our season, as complacency has been one of our greatest foes.