Change the formation multiple times. Leave out Mahrez. Bring Mahrez back in. Play albrighton on the left. Play him on the right. Play him as a right wing back. Put Ulloa in goal - it hardly matters anymore. Why?
Because this is a machine that has, right now, broken completely. It relied on the cogs turning together, the sum being greater than its parts. If one cog fails, it affects the performance. If 4 or 5 fail, it's game over. And that is exactly what is happening right now
This season represents an unforgivable complacency at all levels of the club from top to bottom. From the lavish cars given to every player after the title win, to the multi million pound contracts, the OK magazine photo shoots. The club reeks of contentment. And when you're content you're not driven, you're not hungry anymore - you're....fine really.
Everyone at the club has to take responsibility. The owners, Rudkin, Ranieri, and most importantly the players. It's an environment that's been created from the success of last season but it certainly wasn't inevitable.
This team now are at a major crossroads. They can continue in the same vein with the club adding players that contribute little and they will be relegated. The rest of the league doesn't care that we won the title. Or they can get back to the basics. Back to the desire and the hunger that won the league
This isn't a bottom 3 side. It's a mid table side with genuine quality in it. But unless something drastic is done - starting from the owners, we will see an exodus of players from this club the like of which we haven't seen before. Blackburn and Leeds provide all the warning sides. It's time to take note Top. It's time for something to happen
Contentment and Complacency.
posted on 28/1/17
We honestly couldn't do any worse if Sven was DoF. I mean Ivanovic?! Jackson Martinez??!
Just waiting for Robinho to be linked....
posted on 28/1/17
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 28/1/17
I don't think we're in for Ivanovic to be honest like you say we'd have to be desperate as he's done as a Premier League player. He'd choose China over us even if we were interested.
posted on 29/1/17
comment by Your Honour (U17603)
posted 28 minutes ago
I don't think we're in for Ivanovic to be honest like you say we'd have to be desperate as he's done as a Premier League player. He'd choose China over us even if we were interested.
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There's some pretty strong reports coming out saying we are in for him. Decent sources as well....
posted on 29/1/17
Going to West Brom according to most reports today.
posted on 29/1/17
Apparently we've bid for someone called Mboji but as usual it's been rejected becsuse we've not offered enough. Ridiculous!
posted on 29/1/17
comment by Champions of England (U21032)
posted 20 minutes ago
Apparently we've bid for someone called Mboji but as usual it's been rejected becsuse we've not offered enough. Ridiculous!
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What's ridiculous is bidding for more players who haven't got any experience of this league. Think Hernandez, Benalouane, Musa......
posted on 29/1/17
comment by Blackstarr (U12353)
posted 1 hour, 15 minutes ago
comment by Champions of England (U21032)
posted 20 minutes ago
Apparently we've bid for someone called Mboji but as usual it's been rejected becsuse we've not offered enough. Ridiculous!
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What's ridiculous is bidding for more players who haven't got any experience of this league. Think Hernandez, Benalouane, Musa......
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Also true but that's been the case since promotion anyway so nothing new.
posted on 29/1/17
comment by Champions of England (U21032)
posted 38 minutes ago
comment by Blackstarr (U12353)
posted 1 hour, 15 minutes ago
comment by Champions of England (U21032)
posted 20 minutes ago
Apparently we've bid for someone called Mboji but as usual it's been rejected becsuse we've not offered enough. Ridiculous!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
What's ridiculous is bidding for more players who haven't got any experience of this league. Think Hernandez, Benalouane, Musa......
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Also true but that's been the case since promotion anyway so nothing new.
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The difference is we used to have more of a balance. Ulloa was signed after promotion having smashed it up in the championship. Cambiasso may not have been a prem player but had experience. Huth was signed from Stoke after we got promoted.
So for every Kante there was an experienced head being added to the squad. That's gone out the window. Look at what we are bringing in now. Musa, Hernandez, Benalouane, N'didi, Zieler, Mendy.
It's not so much in the targeting as the club will identify a huge range but the policy of actually prioritising these ones and no adding in experience or older players who might have played in this league.
posted on 29/1/17
I think the policy has been building for the future but I know what you mean and I do agree.