Everyone's favourite thread. So I bumped it.
A lot of people have an unnatural amount of hate for Rangnick - which reminds me of people's hate for Jose, but I digress.
I hope ETH does gut this squad in the summer. We've seen that thread recently with players' wages and that's one - pretty healthy - reason to do some house cleaning. One of the more puzzling questions is whether we continue with the two right backs neither of whom really has cemented their place, despite ample opportunities. Victor and Harry. All the midfielders bar the first XI starters. Dave or a tactically suitable keeper. There is just so much to do. I don't put too much stock in what the manager says now while he's obviously having to preserve some dressing room balance, but we all bought into the hype which was just because Erik ten Hag is better than anything we've seen since SAF here, but the job is still the same as what Rangnick laid bare.
I'd sign neither loan-signing, let go of Donny, Harry, Victor (he's open to it and there's interest it seems), Henderson, Dave too if we're going to play some amalgamation of total football, Scott, Fred, and if there are decent offers for Martial. Fred is possible the most contentious of the lot, as he does serve a purpose. But he's on 120K and his bottom level is horrid. I think we need to both increase the pace in our team and make sure that the technical level starts to be befitting a major club, not least in terms of passing.
We've done OK in the league given last season, but still very little to show for money spent on fees and wages and the drop off in quality for any suspension or injury is unacceptable unless it is down to promising players being given a chance because there's a focus on the long-term.