Choke on it. We have ambitions perhaps more than you like
Just honest and open question - what do you suggest we should do during next 2 transfer windows?
I think if not everyone than 95% people in this thread are in agreement that as things stand now, Winks should not be our starting player (at least in 2 ppl midfield).
Also everyone agree that we should improve our midfield options - buy someone better than Winks who could push him down in the pecking order.
But what are you rooting / arguing for? That we should sell all the players who we will not see as future stars / nailed down stating players?
If that, what would be the alternative? That we'd buy bunch of new players with one go and hoping that they would all blend in seemlessly? Or should we then just put all of our hopes to those "higher quality starting players" and expect them to carry the load? And what if another Ndombele situation happens?
The way I see it - we need massive improvement in midfield.
We currently have -Winks, Sissoko, Lo Celso, Ndombele, Gedson, Skipp
From what we have seen right now I would divide them to following groups
- most likely long time starters (Lo Celso);
- unknown situation that could turn out to be good or not (Ndombele)
- squad players / fill gap solutions (Winks, Sissoko)
- untested prospective players (Skipp, Gedson)
What do you suggest? That we'd do cleancut in here and... ship on everyone except tested quality (even with a a stretch adding Ndombele here whose situation and future we don't know much) in Lo Celso and Ndombele + prospects in Skipp and Gedson? But what if young guns don't repay the trust and we cannot count on them and new players don't fit in either?
I find it way more reasonable and sustainable to acknowledge that Winks and Sissoko are players who we can use for filling the gap. We should bring in the player/players to improve the quality, then test them in the squad, hopefully get some more info about prospects. THEN when we have some track record of new players + prospects - move on those that are surplus to requirements (and if say Lo Celso and Ndombele has proven them as long term quality + new signings have fitted in well + prospects seem promising, I have no issue moving Winks and/or Sisosko on); keep best players + have some players that are fine with rotational role.
Building strong squad is not a task that can be done in space of weeks. Nor should we gamble too much with one go.
