The View from Away – Transfers 2019

Veteran Defenders?

A few other thoughts about the club next year. Aaron Cresswell is 30 in December 2019 and his health and contribution decreased this year. While Masuaku did cover very well, he is not a natural LB, so while I believe we will find a LB for a starting role and Masuaku will be moved on, it is conceivable that Cresswell may also move on this year. I have stated that I think Ogbonna will be moved on, but if we can somehow move Reid on, then I would suggest Angelo would remain with the club as a 3rd or 4th choice back.

The size and length of Reid’s contract make it hard to see that he would be moved on, and I can’t see him tearing up his own contract. I did not talk about the young keepers that appear to be improving (both Trott and Anang) nor Johnson. I believe all of these players will spend another year in the U23’s with occasional first teamwork, so I see them more about the future rather than next year.

There have been some concerns that Rice will be moved on. I don’t see that currently, but not out of any altruistic POV from the club side, but rather I expect the board believes that his value is likely to go up over the next few years. I do expect that he will be moved on in two to three years if the club does not move into European competition. The club should have a timer running in their management offices that tells them how long they have to step up with Rice or sell him on and re-invest.

This article is built up of reading, listening, watching, and my gut feelings about the manager and the board. I take NO offense if people disagree with me. I love this club and want us to win every match, but we appear some ways from that. I believe that the leadership is on its way to help us with that, but we will need judicious work by the player recruitment teams to get good business done and done early.

The players need time to gel, and late additions do not make sense for us this year. Pellegrini has said he wants to do business fast, and that should give us a sense if I’m on the same page as the manager or completely off. Either way, it has been a decent (if not great) season (finishing 10th), and next year looks like a reasonable time to improve our consistency and move up the table. #OLAS!