Chile Are On Our Case

Or maybe they are just massive idiots ? Who knows ?

 

FIFA statement here:

https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/worldcup/qatar2022/news/fifa-statement-uk-government

Doesn’t mention anything about October, though that’s not a great surprise.

 

Pozzo wins.

 

??

The first line is literally:

"Based on positive signals and constructive dialogue FIFA has received from the UK government towards the international match window in October".

 

FIFA have backed down without any agreement regarding October. Probably realised they have no legal right to block an employee of another organisation carrying out the terms of their contract after failing to travel to an international match due to pandemic quarantine restrictions.

 

Indeed. Massive idiots who have somehow managed to achieve 2 promotions, 6 seasons in the prem and the close miss under GZ. Maybe they weren't aware of the AFCON and made no attempts to cover this, one window early ? Could have avoided wasting money on Dennis and brought a cheap quality home grown striker ? Could have sold Sarr ? Could have bought some quality back ups who would be prepared to only play a month of the season ? I just prefer to think they were aware of these issues in making their choices of where to invest and for what ever reason we are where we are. They could have made poor decisions of course, we will see. We've had what most seem to consider a good window yet some people (not you) just look for any reason to moan about how little we got for Hughes & Chalobah, why we paid £12m + add-ons for Gray x years ago, why we gave Deeney a 5 year deal, why we can't just build a comfortable mid-table prem squad, and ignore the bigger picture.

 

Hugely successful (ludicrously, consistently lucky) idiots, if so.

 

They aren’t idiots. They just did what they always do. Prioritise investments in player trading and greasing their agent relationships (Louza) over the needs of the squad (which was as minimal as adding a competent body in defence). It’s the model.

 

Or maybe they thought Louza would better adapt to prem football ? Maybe they didn't think they'd get Kucka and Tufan ? Maybe they thought the defence did so well last season, and with Cathcart and Kabasale as back up, that it wasn't the main area of concern ? Perhaps they chose to focus on our impotent strike force and midfield expecting to lose Chalo and Hughes having lost Doucs and Capoue <12m earlier ? Maybe they did have a CB lined up but he chose to go elsewhere at the last minute ? We just don't know.

 

Masina and Kucka are probably the 5th/6th choice centre backs. Kiko and Sema are probably the 3rd and 4th choice left backs, one of the midfielders could slot in as 4th choice right back. I dont understand why we are so light at centre back but overall you have to say the window has gone extraordinarily well in terms of incomings and outgoings. Getting Deeney Gray and Nate (who was also highly overpaid) off the wage bill. Getting an ok deal for Hughes given the situation, bringing in Dennis Cucho Sissoko Kucka Etebo and Rose who have all looked promising plus Louza, King and Tufan who could come good and keeping hold of JP, Sierralta and Sarr is pretty good going. I'm just worried about how the players are gonna click together, if the tactics are gonna work and if Bachmann is gonna rise to the challenge. I think we'll have a much clearer idea how this season is gonna pan out after today's game.

 

Were we linked with a bigger deal after Louza? The kid could be good, but it's still a strange deal for that amount. I'd understand it if they thought Sierralta and WTE is a perfectly adequate Premier League defensive partnership, but when Wilmot left, we were left with 4 senior CBs, of whom only 3 would be around during AFCON. I'd have been perfectly happy even with a Kean Bryan type deal as 4th/5th choice, but we couldn't even be bothered to do that

 

You're right, I meant (but didn't write) nothing suggesting the players must accept call ups in October in return for their nations withdrawing complaints now.

 

Yep maybe maybe maybe. Don't get me wrong. I think there has been lots of good business this summer. I just think over 4 or 5 seasons evidence they will prioritise speculative prospects from friendly agents rather than the needs of the squad and in this case it could be the difference in staying up. Just my opinion. Our goals are alligned to certain extent, but not fully. You have a different view which is fine by me.