I’m not convinced we will/can find 3 or 4 decent replacements in the January window. I’d far rather get through this difficult period with the squad we have than buy or loan some bang average players who take time to get up to speed with our game.
I agree.
We are top 7 having achieved that with injuries, Europe is the aim and I think we will do it
Our next lot of games still without some big players and we are going to struggle to win games without that quality that they bring, we are quite predictable and easy to defend against atm. No way we finish above man u, Chelsea for defo and then Newcastle or west ham will be hard also
I should also add “…and are maybe lumbered with for seasons to come”.
This is where I’m at too. As I said in the main match thread I’m a bit worried by some of his recent interviews. Last night he said twice ‘Barco is not a winger’ which seemed to me like he’s asked for a winger and been told no because we’ve signed Barco. His contract extension remains unsigned. I don’t necessarily disagree with the club not to be held to ransom in January (although we do desperately need an athletic DM who is more developed than Baleba), but I think RDZ is frustrated that his own ambitions to finish top 4/7 are not, in his eyes, being met. I think there’s a good chance he moves on in the summer which would be a shame as a watching fan as his football is the best I’ve ever seen us play.
We have done well to achieve that position, but it's worth acknowledging that we are ahead of Chelsea and United by a single point with Newcastle and Wolves a further 2 behind.
Problem is when we get the bulk of the injuries back in a few weeks we would have a very big squad and probably 3 first team players not even making the bench.
You might be right. But I personally wouldn’t read too much into an emotional guy being interviewed post match in his second language.
Running out of steam?
Add Mitoma, Enciso, Fati, Adingra, Veltman to the squad last night and it’s a different game different story.