We still have not replaced Richy. We have not replaced Gordon. We need someone to push Dom up top and cover. Many of us hoped that Onana might be a box to box midfielder with goals, not sure what to think yet, but he is still finding his feet. Those are the things we desperately need to fix as if we do not find the players to put the ball in the oppositions net we will be stuck at the wrong end of the table again next year. Brighton have scored 70 goals to our 33. NSNO.
We didn't replace Gordon. He should have gone in the summer and us bought accordingly... bad squad management by Kev the red & Frank 'my uncle was a top manager' Lampard
We did replace Richy... with McNeil & Maupay. Yes one is toilet and the other was toilet for half the season.... but thats what we did.
I think the big issue is that while one turned out ok, the other just doesn't work. I can see the rational in turning one player into two players and covering out FFP shortcomings. Maupay was just a bad hire (it happens), but we are so low in goal scoring quality that we simply couldn't afford for it to happen.
We've needed to effectively replace (or give him 6 months off to actually recover from the point he is deemed fit) DCL since Dec 2021 - this for me is the larger scandal.
We also replaced Digne (who was on the decline so IMO a decent sale), with a defense minded LB & a RB who is always cropped. The LB is totally not what the PL requires (at present... he might come good lol). The RB is either bad due diligence or bad luck. again - can see the rationale but the execution is woeful.
Thats how I see it anyway - some good ideas badly executed, and some terrible decisions at the squad management level.
My concern is that what we should do this summer is sell Onana & Pickford (or actually ANYONE in the squad... no one is beyond selling) for any outrageous bids that may or may not come in, and buy a replacement AND another player or two to go straight into the first team with high ceiling potential or instant impact (or both). However given the guy in charge oversaw Maupay I am not confident he can execute this plan with any net positive outcome.
