Looks like Shaq will be on his way then. I reckon we'll make 1 more main signing if he's sold but I'm struggling to work out whether it will be a CM or FW.
A lot depends on how the manager intends to use the squad. How much faith does he have in Keita? Does he shift Ox to cover for the front three? How much will Curtis kick on? Does Origi still have a place in the squad and what about his own ambitions at his age and with a world cup round the corner? Are we serious about giving Minamino a chance and does he the minerals to make it? How much are we going to use Elliot? What about worst case scenario planning in both of these areas? Where would we most feel a loss?
Keita is the real spanner in the works for me. Every time I think of the midfield I think if this guy was just fit and came fairly close to fulfilling his potential we might be alright. I quite rate Curtis, too, but being the engine room I think we might lack a bit of bit and physical presence/durability if we didn't add there.
But I feel equally important is a forward. I don't truthfully look beyond Salah, Mané, Bobby and Jota. The rest is just a young kid and some OK back up but if one of the main guys or one or more are injured/suffer loss of form it is quite thin really.
As well as AFCON this year that's two of the three gone as well as Keita, if he even makes it to January fit, so we'll have them missing which is even more worrying.
I'm really surprised at people pinning hopes on Keita staying fit. We get linked with players who have a bad injury record and people are quick to highlight how many games they've played and how "I wouldn't go near him with that record" etc. That player's probably played more games than Keita over a three year period yet people are still putting their hopes on this guy and will be happy to enter our season with him replacing a guy that played untold games per season for us.
Since Naby has been with us he's played 58 games. Most of Nabi's appearences have been from the bench.
In that time Gini played 110 games. Most of Gini's games have been as a starter.
It's absolute insanity to think a guy with Nabi's numbers can replace a guy with Gini's numbers. Everyone that's happy to see Shaqiri go because of his injury record need to check stats .Keita has played 13 more games than Shaq. That's 4.3 more games per season than the guy you're happy to see go because of his injury record.
Last year Nabi played ten games for us. The year before he played eighteen.
People are actually suggesting we rely on a guy that's played twenty eight games in two seasons for us? Shocking.
I feel like people are placing their hopes on Nabi as a defense mechanism to fsg not doing what they're meant to and signing a replacement. I don't want to get in to an fsg debate I just needed to make that point.
It's like letting salah go and relying on Shaqiri as his replacement.
I'm hearing talks of fans being happy with Minamino as our backup striker. Wtf?! The guy couldn't get game time at Southampton. He's looked like a deer in headlights everytime he's played. We signed the wrong one from them lot.
« Last Edit: Jul 27, 2021 11:21:26 am by Salah10 »
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