Squad contracts up in 2019

[chiefBlueCFC]

Some people 

Sell 11 first team and main backup players? Including both left backs, our only back-up right back and 4 out of 5 attacking players.

I'm not sure whether to laugh or cry.

I've never looked at it, is that really how Fantasy Football works?

Well it worked on FM19 and FIFA 19 for me so it'll clearly work in real life

 

[charierre]

That's a noble idea but unfortunately it doesn't always work that way in reality. Emerson was very good at Roma before he got injured so there was every reason to believe he's as good, if not a better full back than someone like Alonso. In fact, apart from Alonso's set piece taking, he may very well be. Plus, unless you buy a proven world class star (and those are rarely available and when they do they have a long line of suitors and a huge price tag) you always take a risk on pretty much any transfer target out there. If we had a shot at signing Marcelo or Alaba and went for Emerson instead, then I'd agree it was an odd move.

My concern is more along the lines of who was doing the scouting for some of our recent buys. I thought Bakayoko was sh*t long before we signed him. Had no idea about Zappacosta's existence, but the fact that he doesn't belong at that level should have been obvious to anyone with a pair of eyes. And the list continues.

I honestly don't see the player everyone is seeing in Emerson but that's another matter. My point is to create competition for places the players have to be up to the job. You don't buy squad players or that is a downward spiral, those are generally within the club at youth team level. You are correct in the view of who is packing the players.

I can just imagine the conversation Conte had with the board.

'I want 200m to spend on new players' 

'How is this going to improve the team Antonio?'

'It won't improve it one bit they are all worse than the players we already have Marina'

'Ok you can have the money'

It beggars belief how much money we have wasted in the past few years on players who would have struggled to make the early 90s team.

 

[Sindre]

I honestly don't see the player everyone is seeing in Emerson but that's another matter. My point is to create competition for places the players have to be up to the job. You don't buy squad players or that is a downward spiral, those are generally within the club at youth team level. You are correct in the view of who is packing the players.

I can just imagine the conversation Conte had with the board.

'I want 200m to spend on new players' 

'How is this going to improve the team Antonio?'

'It won't improve it one bit they are all worse than the players we already have Marina'

'Ok you can have the money'

It beggars belief how much money we have wasted in the past few years on players who would have struggled to make the early 90s team.

If we had actually built on Conte's title winning side with the likes of Van Dijk, Sandro and so on instead of wasting it the way we did we'd be the best team in the league now i'd argue.

Instead we wanted to "save" money and now that has cost us an incredible amount of money. Not only on fee's spent for averages but also missing out on CL.

Its a massive, massive shame. We really had the chance to establish ourselves as the top dog in this league and the club completely squandered it.

 

[Skinnedy]

Well it worked on FM19 and FIFA 19 for me so it'll clearly work in real life?

But I pour in about 40 goals a season with Morata, so I don't think we can count on FIFA....

 

[Skinnedy]

You don't buy squad players or that is a downward spiral,

Here's the thing, and let's get back to Scouting... they weren't brought in to be squad players.

Zappacosta was to compete with Moses at RWB. 
Emerson was a discount buy, to compete at LWB...  because he was coming off of an injury.

Unfortunately, nearly that entire window was coming off of an injury, bought at a discount with business in mind... Bakayoko, Rudiger, Barkley, Emerson.. all of those players were coming off of serious injuries. Drinkwater arrived hurt as well. It was crazy.

I don't think any of them were bought with the idea that they would be riding the pine. Each of them believed they'd be playing 1st team. This cartoon kind of reminds me of the transfer business that year... lol...

 

[axman2526]

We've lost a game so obviously our players are all terrible, oh and the coach has no idea what he's doing, and his signings are all terrible etc.... 

HIS signings are all terrible? Pretty sure I have said elsewhere on here Kepa and Jorginho have been doing pretty darn good. Sarri did not sign Morata or Zappacosta. Only one he "signed" or rather loaned is Kovacic and it is not that he is a bad player, it is a choice between him and Kante for me unless we look at Kovacic to compete with Kante. Our midfield offers no goals with them paired with jorginho. This is about building a Sarri squad he can trust to play his football. We need to go all in on Sarri or he will fail.

Some people 

Sell 11 first team and main backup players? Including both left backs, our only back-up right back and 4 out of 5 attacking players.

I'm not sure whether to laugh or cry.

I've never looked at it, is that really how Fantasy Football works?

Ah hello yorkley,  please dont cry fella it is just football and it is Christmas time. Be happy

Seriously though you think we should keep all those players? Which ones have shown they are good enough as long term prospects?

If Sarri is to succeed he needs HIS type of players for his system. Other than Luiz, Cesc and Pedro I dont see any of those listed playing the Sarri way and all 3 of those are the wrong side of 30 so get 1 year deals from us or longer term offers at other clubs. Luiz already turned down a 1 year new deal  So can we count on them for the long term if we are truly to support building a Sarri team and squad? There is Kovacic we could try and keep if Real are willing but is he worth what it would cost or would investment be better used in other areas?

 

[axman2526]

Revolution not evolution.  Seen this same cr*p over and over again. Different manager, same players downing their tools.

Gut the squad and bring in players who want to play for the shirt. 

 

[axman2526]

I posted yesterday a team in mind so as not to give Liverpool another helping hand in the city match day thread.

A completely different 10 to the one picked. Only pedro.

Willy, zappa, Cahill, Christensen,emerson, kova, ampadu, RLC, pedro, giroud, Willian.

I have a difficult time imagining they would have done worse or tried less.

Our golden period is done, we need a solid rebuilding and to find new team leaders.