3 players I have watched in the last couple of days who really symbolise our predicament: Raphinha, Adams & Gakpo. The fact is that all players want to be playing in the stupid so-called Champions League (or their agents tell them they want to!) So somehow, Orta (who I think is unjustly criticised) must find some young gem who is a) better than who we have already, but b) can't be so good (yet) that he will think he can hold out for a CL team. And even if he finds one, we've got 2 years with 'em before they move on (at least at a profit.) So Raphinha obvs falls into this category..........so does Adams who we will lose sooner or later. Maybe Sinisterra. And Gakpo obvs doesn't and we've got no chance of signing him. All this rubbish "oh we've got to go out and sign a LB and a striker in January" completely ignores these factors. There aren't many players out there who fit that profile. One of the things we have tried to do is to take advantage of the propensity for the megaclubs to have huge squads and try to grab players whose careers have gone stale due to lack of playing time. Ie Firpo & Roca. (Mixed success...........and pretty big pricetags for a gamble.)
So..............OK "Orta has GOT to buy a LB this january!!!" scream the knowalls. There were 32 LBs who were starters in the WC. No doubt all the top countries LBs already play in the CL so that probably rules out 10 of 'em. So we must look at the "weaker" countries.( I got all excited about that Alphonso Davies of Canada then I found out he plays for Munichscum. ) Of that 20-odd probably half would be no improvement even on Firpo, and of the others how many might be actually available? Antonee Robinson, for example. He;s looked good for the US............less so really for Fulham. Would Fulham sell him? Would he be worth shelling out 15 - 20 mill? My point is............Orta's job is not as simple as many people think. _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: https://mailman.gn.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email leedslist-unsubscr...@gn.apc.org Find us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/leedslist/ Rest in Peace Guy, and wear your hat!
