We seem to have a lot of academy products who go out on loan and then just move on. You have to assume they aren’t good enough. Our youth set up hasn’t produced anything in years now.
I must have been watching two different games. Don’t care about xg. But I can recall really good chances across the two legs for Wright, Sheaf, Rudoni, Kitching, Mason-Clark and Saka. Some multiple.
To be honest this not able to play against the low block thing is a fallacy for me. I think it’s more that we just weren’t quite clinical enough in lots of those games. Take both Sunderland games. We created lots of chances (beating the low block) but just didn’t take them.
The original great escape. Won the last three and survived a Stoke penalty that cannoned off the crossbar down onto the line. The margins don’t get finer. I’d not heard the Regis to Bordeaux thing before!
If we flip BTA for 3m odd and offload Simms we’ll need two good centre forwards for £6m. That’s a difficult ask. I’d keep BTA and have a 2-3m punt at a back up.
Not sure athletic box to box midfielders exist any more. The role has been carved up into several niche parts. I agree the key movement is Sheaf. Stick or twist. I think we may be forced to stick after this season but he’s a quality championship midfielder so it’s no bad thing., I’d be happy...