r0cafella

Shevey lacks the dynamism to play as our 10, Rafa likes his 10 to make piercing runs and control space defensively none of which Shelvey will do. Also Gayle is clearly our main goal threat and as a poster mentioned earlier it appears Rafa thinks Gayle needs a partner to be effective. In an ideal world we would play 433 with Hayden sitting behind Merino and Shelvey but that would most likely leave the 3 attackers isolated. It’s simply far too simplistic to assume we would have been better with Shelvey in the side.

His net spend with us is what? Less than 10 million? We are clearly buying players which are some way down his list. Given everything I’m not sure what people expect?

Ashley is the only one to blame for this, if Rafa was actually able to get the players in we needed we would have been fine. Divide and conquer works every time.

He is a bit of luxury player and we won’t have the players to get the best out of him in this league sadly.

We will struggle again sadly, the complete lack of investment has left us hobbled sadly.

He works hard, and can link the play as long as we play it to feet, as Rafa explained if we can control the game Joselu will have some utility. As for the lack of Shelvey we shouldn’t play him when playing a 2 imo as he’s a liability defensively.

I know it’s unlikely particularly as the takeover is looking unlikely but if we did win him he would be our best player imo

I would take king in a heartbeat he would be a massive upgrade on Perez

Thanks for posting that snippet Dave, I sincerely hope it isn’t true mind if it is we are stuck with him. :/

I hope he works on the teams off the ball movement and positioning between the lines as well as passing angles, we’ve looked so static and predictable and such poor movement really does hurt both Shelvey and Merinos passing ability.

Let’s not forget who’s really at blame here lads and that is Ashley he has once again got us in a relegation dog fight because of his sheer stupidity.

We look so bad in translations no players running forwards, no players moving between the lines. Even when teams don’t press us particularly hard or high we struggle to retain possession for very long. We really need investment in January.

Another costly individual error. Must be driving Rafa mad

We did have about £12m to spend on Murphy, £5m to spend on Joselu, and £4m to spend on Manquillo. Which would have left us without cover at full back or on the wings. Sure we could have spunked everything on a striker and left the squad depleted but thankfully Rafa has more sense than that.

Doubt Charnley even knows much if I’m honest.

Not really we didn’t have 15million to spend on a striker.

Thanks for posting btw [emoji106]

It’s gone so quiet on this front, I hope no news is good news and negotiations are progressing nicely.

Not debating that either, just pointing out some posters tendency to believe a player who isn’t playing is a lot better than the guy who is playing which is a common theme.

Looked lazy and sluggish last night, his supposed work rate appears to be sporadic at best.

Manquillo is indeed poor but people shouldn’t conflate Mbembas ability either.

His link up play isn’t that bad but everything has to be into his feet as he’s not adept with his chest or head.

Can see why Rafa doesn’t trust him, his decision making is appalling.

The amount of individual errors in this game was mind boggling, good job wba are as bad as us.

He wanted Abraham’s plus another forward and we ended up with a Joselu, no one should be surprised by this predicament given what he’s had to work with his. Isn’t his net spend with us zero since taking over, he’s good but can’t work miracles.