So, we have finished 5th and 11th. I predicted 8th before this season with the goal of clearing out the deadwood and going for top 4 next season (likely finishing 4-6th).
Looking at the squad, he has basically changed the squad to look like this:
GK-- Robles
LB -- Baines / Oviedo / Garbutt
LCB -- Mori / Galloway
RCB -- Stones / Jagielka
RB -- Coleman
DM -- Barry / McCarthy
CM -- Besic
LW -- Cleverley
ACM -- Barkley / Tarashaj (summer)
RW -- Deulofeu / Lennon
CF -- Lukaku / Niasse
What can we see from this:
A-- This is a massive squad overhaul with 12 new players coming in as well as 3 more coming through (ignoring browning etc).
B -- The money spent is less that alot of other teams in the league including i think Stoke and Newcastle and massively affected by the lukaku fee.
C-- The defence with the exception of Mori for Jagielka has not been improved "yet" with the focus mainly on the midfield.
D--;Howard/Hibbert/Gibson/Osman/Pienaar/McGeady/McAleny/Kone/Mirallas will all likely be moved on in the summer after Naismith and Junior recent departures. Thats 11 down to 9 players still needing shifting, it cant be good for morale to have all these players in the squad but not able to be moved on.
E-- League position can usually be calculated in terms of wages as a benchmark. This showed us "overachieving" before under
Moyes. However i wonder how we will look once the 9 squad players are removed and if we are over or underachieving?
F-- Martinez has changed the playing style but also the culture of the club, if you want to be the new barcelona it doesnt take a couple of seasons...it takes a few years and money. Even if you look at wenger, he had the anelka transfer fee along with a top keeper and several more players at their peak but spent big money on stars, Martinez has only bought one star at big money.
G -- For his system to work it needs players throughout the squad to know their jobs and have great technical ability. Clearly hes improving the squad step by step with the money he has and spending on quality and a mix of stopgap signings. Now with more money he can improve the quality in a few more areas.
H -- He has improved every player he has signed. He also has improved the value of the squad by well over £100mil. When he has money he spends it on quality and we should expect the same this summer.
If he is given the summer and sizeable funds (£50mil tv money and moshiri cash) he logically will add top quality and also improve the value of the squad. If by Xmas he isnt performing around 4-6th then he will leave the next manager a great platform.
I -- The players who fans are afraid of leaving such as Barkley, Lukalu and Deulofeu have already said they are happy and looking forward to mext season with us. The only one left is stones who may leave anyway or may stay if he sees signings being made.
Im not sure what people expect in terms of this massive overhaul of the club but im happy with the long term outlook and aee no risk keeping him till at least xmas.
