We all expect a drop off and let’s be honest maybe we need to temper expectations. We ain’t winning the treble again. If the squad does suffer then a cup run would be most likely.
I have high hopes Foden will come into his own and link up with a settled Haaland. I would still expect a few more faces if only to cover the departures. I have faith in the management that has delivered unprecedented success.
Players come and go all the time. We probably miss out on more than we know about. The next one will want to be here, that all I care about.
Agree with all of this. Anyone expecting another treble isn’t being realistic. I think we have a chance at making more history, though, by winning a fourth straight PL.
Everything else would just be a bonus.
And for anyone worried about “missing out” on Rice, do a quick survey of the players we have “missed out” on over the last five years, especially the ones we chose to stop pursuing because the selling club were trying to take us to the cleaners.
None of them have done anything of particular note (whilst we have won many trophies) and some have actually gone backwards.
This isn’t the calamity some are portraying.
But it’s easier for me to feel that way, as I also don’t think he is as good as many are making out (which I think is supported by his club and country results; he’s never really looked to drag his teams over the line, unlike Rodri).
Would he have looked better in our team compared to West Ham or England? Absolutely — no one doubts Pep could make him a better player.
But is his ceiling anywhere near Rodri’s (or Dinho’s before him)? I genuinely don’t think so.
I think he is actually a pretty limited player; arguably even more so than Phillips, especially in our system. I know many will disagree with me there, and that’s fine, but stats do tend to support that stance.
And who knows if our interest was even genuine. Perhaps we were doing to Arsenal what we’ve done to United many times in the past.
Either way, in Txiki (and Pep) we trust.
