No, the sale of Mane, Pelle and Big Vic (without adequate replacements) killed our mojo. Despite that, Puel got us to a cup final, no goals conceded, all against PL clubs, and we deserved to win.
At least we have Qatar to look forward to. Apart from the stadium slave labourer deaths, playing in the "winter" to avoid 120 degree heat, terrorism, and a host nation ranked at about 180th that has never played in a WC, it's the perfect choice.
Now that the excitement of England's thrilling WC qualification is over, we can concentrate on the mundane PL. Gabbi for Redmond, will it ever happen? Can we score more than 0 goals? So many questions.
I don't think so. I'm sure he really believes that Long can score 15 or so goals without Mane next to him, as long as the right manager is in the dugout.
Spot on. I was (still am) worried that this was going to be another Nicholl->Br*nf**t and Luggy->Wigley/Saggy disaster. We all know the rumours that Puel lost the dressing room (or at least some of the senior pros), and if so it's not just Reed and the fans that are to blame.
Anyway, what's done is done, and it's far too early to write off MP. Defensively we're light years ahead of 2004/5 (even in goal if FF can replicate today's performance). So maybe just a Redmond-Gabbi swap can kick-start the season.
They want more money for the same reason the 70-year old multi-billionaire Koch brothers want more money (who buy politicians to lower their tax rate and gut environmental regulations to increase their profits).
Greed.