Some well rounded posts in here. Thought I'd leave it until after work before having another crack at this topic.
I may have derailed myself slightly in my opening post, (nostalgia, & a bit of U2 had me quite inspired. With a tad of excitement). Didn't mean for a Rafa - Kenny debate. What I meant to add was that, does anyone believe that the likes of our under performing signings that Kenny has brought in, will become key first team players in the future? Aka spine players?
The likes of Henderson, Adam, Downing, Carroll. Let's even throw 'the kids' in to the mix, Kelly, Flanno, Spearing, Sterling, Suso, Eccleston, ETC.
My personal opinion is that the players that have come through from the academy, have shown much more grit, determination, and dare I say potential, than the likes of the players brought in.
I'm completely lost on
Adam. His early comparisons to Xabi Alonso are beyond a joke, & his 'specialist' set-pieces are even worse. Well at least he didn't cost £20m+. Over-rated waste of space.
Some could say the same for
Downing. Completely on the fence with the lad. Read a 'stat' that he's not made an assist all season? I'd still give him another chance, I thought he's played well, but gone really quiet in most parts of the season. Perhaps he needs confidence.
Henderson seems to do a lot of tracking the man, and the ball. Goes missing throughout the game too often. Hope the experience from this season takes him on leaps and bounds next time around.
We finally come to our No. 9,
Andy Carroll. Last but not least.
Price tag aside. He's had his up's and downs. I just can't work him out. It's not that he's not good enough, there is definite potential in the lad, if played right. He just seems to be... lazy? Or does he lack enough awareness? People are far too critical of him, than they should be. I think he's going to come good, if given enough games, and not dropped after he has a good game. Another issue on confidence.
For me, we're not a million miles off what we want. We're close and it will come down to some smart signings in the summer. Doesn't have to be big name signings or big money signings just smart.
Spot on. We need to be smart, and assess who stays and who goes, come the summer. The smart signings will be key.