It's hard to see us not in another relegation fight next year. We will have moved on a few key players and removed players that never get a game. The likes of Coleman, Davies, Keane and Townsend will be getting games...yikes
We played last season with Godfrey, Mina Delph and DCL largely out injured and with a bunch of other players out for periods. Adding to this barely any real consistent contributions from Holgate, Keane, Gomes, Gbamin and Iwobi (until the final months).
Alli and VDB were wasted loans/transfers in the end. El Ghazi was bewildering.
We ignore Siggy and Tosun.
Allan, Doucoure, Digne’s form were not great overall.
Gordon was good but needs to improve the end product. Richy was great at the end but not clinical enough during parts of the season.
Only Pickford, Myko (albeit short) and Gordon you can genuinely say had good overall seasons. We struggled at right back and had no natural DM.
It was a perfect storm and culmination of poor recruitment over the last 5 years. The one good thing for Lampard is that whatever happens improving the team will hardly be a challenge. The players who have already left do not weaken the squad. Tarkowski based on his injury history alone strengthens the squad even if it’s argued he doesn’t strengthen the team.
We had probably 10 players on the payroll that contributed very little indeed.
Brentford struggled before Eriksen. Leeds look to be losing at least one of their better players. Out of the promoted teams there isn’t one that stands out as being a Brentford or a Leeds when first promoted.
Lampard now has a great opportunity. Fan expectation is rock bottom.
We are much more attractive as a loan destinations for players from top 6 sides as we are not in competition with them.
Under Lampard our home form has been improved.
The fans know what to do if we start to struggle.