by banana » Wed Aug 24, 2005 6:21 pm
I know Rafa is competent and has a great coaching staff and this will make us a good team as we will train well and have a formation and tactics that works.
BUT his dealings in the transfer market this summer, well I'm not impressed. All right, I will give him credit for not letting himself be played like a fool. He will definately not splash cash on overly expensive players or get fooled by greedy agents and mercenaries. Several of his offers have been rejected, and he has not been willing to raise his offers or get caught up in a bidding war. This is however starting to look like big problem.
His only true success this summer has been Reina.
Rafa wanted to sign the following players this summer:
1 goalkeeper
1 or 2 centre halves
1 right back if there is a good candidate available
1 right winger
1 midfielder
1 left winger
1 striker
Goalkeeper
First choice: Reina
Verdict: success
We got our man, although at a fairly steep price
Right back
First choice: Miguel
Second choice: Cicinho?
Verdict: Failure
Snapped by Valencia and Real
Centre half
First choice: Milito
Second choice: Andrade
Third choice: Luisao
Fourth choice: Meira
Verdict: Failure. We are down at fourth/fifth choice and still no centre half coming this way
Right winger
First choice: Joaquin
Second choice: Figo
Third choice or lower: Stelios, Solano
Verdict: Failure. We will maybe get a squad player from Villa or Bolton as a short time solution
Left winger
First choice: Gonzales
Verdict: Almost successful, but then the transfer was cancelled by the authorities.
Striker
First choice: Kuijt
Second choice: Crouch
Verdict: Potentially successful. Rafa got his second choice, and may still sign his number one since Morientes is so sh!te.
Other:
Signed Zenden on a free and Sissoko as a replacement for Diao and Biscan. Both good squad players. Success.
Youngsters:
Extremely successful. Signed a lot of very good young players. Our reserve team will be much stronger this year and we should be able to promote a few of them to the first team over the next 5 years.
To come:
I know the next week will be full of action and we will maybe get as much as 5 players. But so far I am very concerned. Could we go into the season with no decent wingers, a vulnerable backline and unproven strikers?
If football is banned in heaven. I'd rather go to hell.