Good post.
Players like Veretout have talent but are not physically ready for this league. As you said he got bullied off the ball and I remember him looking completely shattered after 60 minutes in his early games.
He was a little like how El Ghazi looked when he first started for us last season.
So yes there is value to be found abroad if we’re prepared to give the players half a season to adapt to the league.
I used to be a sceptic of women’s football but I don’t see the big deal. I think it’s good to promote it as much as possible it while it’s on the up. Especially as England could actually win a World Cup.
My 4 year daughters eyes lit up when she saw me watching football the other day and realised it was women playing. It might have inspired her.
Edit: then she went back to her iPad.
I really want this signing to happen. I want to see players with fantastic fitnesss levels that can press all game. Can you imagine both Philips and Mcginn in your face all game. Teams will hate us.
I actually think some players from Europe take a while to get up to speed with the speed and intensity of the game in England. Can we afford a few months of players settling in?
Let’s face it, we are paying over the odds for anyone we sign because the clubs don’t have to sell and we taking their biggest assets.
I keep hearing there’s better value in Europe. But I still haven’t seen a Premier League club find this better value. Unless I missed it?
According to Wiki he played 23 games for us and left on the last day of January! Hard to believe.
I think he was actually improving and played all games in Bruce’s new manager bounce.
It’s pretty much a season to forget though.
He’s got a wand of a left foot. It’s probably even better than Hourihane but because he has so much more to his game the quality of his passing doesn’t get mentioned.