I can see why all of those comments are made, and you are right to describe the worst case scenario in simplistic terms. One or two things...we DO have some players who are technically very good, and who could easily be part of a successful side. Digne, Gomes,Bernard, in particular are top footballers. But it is no good enough if they are surrounded by some potential, some journeymen, and some unready youth/younger players. The main cause of our present predicament(and thank God for our reasonable start) was the waste of money in the Koeman era. I discount last season because Sam did what he was supposed to do, and his two main buys Tosun and Walcott were positive at least. In fact last season Walcott was well worth his place and Tosun worked hard and had a lot of potential. This season both are victims of, or contributing to the general malaise in the team. This season we were OK as a transitional team, up to the derby. I don't think the derby result caused our dip...there were too many positives to take out of our performance, despite the unlucky result. We should have carried on playing well after the derby. Professional players should not be destroyed by one result. Moshiri is probably aware that he has nearly crashed his trainset...and will be more circumspect from now on. An expensive lesson, but being astute, he will heed to it. Brans should by now have started his work for the summer, deciding on his forward plan with regard to players AND coaching staff. He has a very difficult job to do, he is now a director of the club, and so will probably get support in that area. But he needs the crowd to support him,and he needs a large number of players to show that they are least worth a chance next season.
