Agree on Delph as well.
Agree on Delph as well.
This is a big part of the problem.
Aye, he's decent-would be excellent for us, for example, or a West Ham, Southampton, etc (not saying we're comparable at the minute but that's where we're aiming in the medium term) but Swansea are wanting north of £40 million for him which is just insane. I know it reflects their view of how important he is to them but, still...
And this has a knock-on effect on the prices of the players in the tier below him-which is. effectively, where we're shopping, imo (or should be shopping.
Ah, well, 'hi fans' is slightly different. They bought him on the strength of his European champs performances and on some highlights from his time with us. Difference is his highlights were the only times he performed whereas with other players you might have to chose which ones to include.
You could almost make a case for one of the media myths about us working in our favour for once. The big-club-loving, Southern favouring media don't really give a shit about us and only glance our way in the hope that there's a laugh to be had (and, to be fair, we've given them plenty of opportunity) and are usually content to thrown around generalisations, hyperbole and downright lies to suit their 'deluded Geordies hound their managers out and demand cups/success/titles agenda. in the case of Sissoko, they based almost everything on the stand-out games and on what he was capable of when he could be arsed. Spuds bought into that and, lo and behold, £30 million quid and 'hi fans....'
It's strange as in one sense we could buy players for all positions. Ritchie plus maybe Shelvey and Mbemba could be the only ones I'd keep as starting players if I had my way.
In another sense, I feel like we have a squad that's pretty big and could be good enough to survive in the PL, though not much more than that I'm afraid.
I would buy a CM next to Shelvey. Hayden is decent enough, but he shouldn't be starting games and I just don't rate Colback.
Ideally we'd get at least a new LB, another winger, maybe a GK and possibly a striker, but I'm starting to get a little impatient though I know it's irrational.
Gueye from Everton, lads a beast .Couldn't belive one of the big boys didn't go for him last season .