The fact the manager chose a 17 year old kid and a last minute loanee over Keita (and Ox) is as emphatic a statement as he could make about their chronic unreliability. It is also the final nail in the coffin of the idea that there can't possibly be any midfielder in world football who is, has been or was available and capable of adding meaningful depth to our squad ahead of our busy season.
I see it ultimately as a good sign, as we belatedly accept that sometimes too much loyalty can kill you, just as sure as none at all. If neither player had cost so much and there wasn't this reflexive need to defend the status quo at all costs just because of past glories we would have binned both off a year or two ago. They have been fortunate to be part of such successful teams, a fact which has helped mask their own pretty meagre contributions. We have had worse players of course but not many where the opportunity cost has been so great.
Logged
