Lets buy Sigurdsson back then....I don't agree that Lamela is Eriksen's natural understudy/competition. We currently don't have such a player in the squad and I hope we strengthen here in the summer.
Lets buy Sigurdsson back then....I don't agree that Lamela is Eriksen's natural understudy/competition. We currently don't have such a player in the squad and I hope we strengthen here in the summer.
I don't agree that Lamela is Eriksen's natural understudy/competition. We currently don't have such a player in the squad and I hope we strengthen here in the summer.
Lets buy Sigurdsson back then....
Lets buy Sigurdsson back then....
Really? You think he'd want to be a backup and sit on the bench when he could probably get in the team of a midtable/top half side? Unless your name is Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, most players wouldn't want to be a bench warmer.
So what's your plan? Buy someone worse than Siggurdsson and Lamela so they are happy to play second fiddle to Eriksen?
When did I say that? Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't you the person who says you don't need to buy first teamers to improve your squad, "you buy better backups"? Apologies if this is not you.
Ideally, I'd like someone at Eriksen's level but that will be a tough ask given our wage structure so I would go for someone young with potential like Julian Brandt for example.
I didn't say he was a natural replacement, they're different players much how Alli and Son are different players to each other as well.
But if you want the right blend of attributes on the pitch at the same time you'd pair them how I have, imo
Firstly I wasn't being serious anyway, he obviously wanted to go because he wasn't getting enough game time. But Im sure he'd get plenty of games under Poch, don't forget Alli is suspended for first three CL games too so theres a spot up for grabs in CL games. There are plenty of players beyond Solskjaer who are 'bench warmers', or are you telling me Chelsea, Arsenal Emirates Marketing Project et al have no players except young players on the bench??Really? You think he'd want to be a backup and sit on the bench when he could probably get in the team of a midtable/top half side? Unless your name is Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, most players wouldn't want to be a bench warmer.
Regretfully Lamela has a really poor availability record. Furthermore, There must be some doubt that he be "happy", even if fit, to be on the bench. I still think we need someone much more aligned to Eriksen's playmaker skill-set.
obviously my position comes with the caveat that all is well behind the scenes, we can only guess there so if there are problems then i would probably have a different outlook - personally i don't think think we have to play with a carbon copy of Eriksen in the side to do well, we just need to have another highly creative player in his place, something we lack when Lamela is injured.
If you look at last season, which was the first that Lamela (and Eriksen) played in the same attack as both Kane and Alli, you will see that he was the squads best assist maker and second only to Eriksen for chances created* - so, overall, we know he: works well with both Kane and Alli, creates plenty of chances for his team mates, works well off the ball and that he suits Poch's high pressing game. If we are talking purely on the field then im not sure what more people want or what they expect us to do in the transfer market, seems an unnecessary gamble to me to try and find a better option than what we have.
*obviously stats don't tell the whole story but they at least help back up my view that he is a good creative outlet.