I know we're all looking over at Villa park envious at their summer spending spree but If we'd signed a 29 year old injury prone striker for nearly 30 million our fan base would be up in arms. Fair play to Villa though. The Grealish sale gives them financial room to crazy and that this signing feels like to me. Ings will get you goals but he'll just as likely miss half a season as his legs seem to be made out of the same fragile material as James' goolies!
Yes he had his injuries but they were mainly in 2015 - 17. He has played 91 PL games and 9 cup games in the last 3 seasons. I would be happy with that number of games played. As Villa play one up front he won't be needed to play all 38 games each season. There is no question it is a risk buying Ings but that is reflected in the reported 25m fee
I think that's what it isn't the terrible signing some people are suggesting. It's unlikely he'll play every game of the season - nowhere near - but he'll score.
I agree about the lack of goals/assists. I'm hoping Gray could do quite well but we really need a RB who can contribute.
You have summed up our difficulties very well in your post, though I think you could include Holgate in this list and possibly Mina. We have a large section of our squad who are not good enough or injury prone to mount a concerted challenge over a season. We have brought them in on very good deals which makes them very difficult to move on so we are stuck with them until contracts run out. We have needed a serious look at our recruitment policy for a long while, maybe what we are seeing now is the result of this. I would be content to see us not squandering vast amounts of money on average players for a window or two if it meant we were consolidating. We have moved a few on this window so we probably have some latitude to get someone in, but make it someone who we need, someone who will help us and not someone who will become a burden over the next while. I am as frustrated as anyone when I read the news about who is going where and we don’t feature but we have had a few years of throwing money at the problem maybe this is us taking stock. Something we need to do.
I still think that at least in the short term Gomes, the one we mustn't name and Rodriguez could and should have a role to play in our XI or the squad.
I actually forgot Iwobi!
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