- Nov 15, 2018
- 19,598
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If we end up selling Aurier then the recruitment team really need to look at themselves as that would be two high priority positions over the last few seasons in RB and ST that we’ve completely got wrong and had to sell a few seasons later (Aurier & Janssen)Ricardo would have been perfect. At the time, I think Poch was emphasizing positional flexibility between a back four and a back three with wing backs, Poch and/or Levy's team might have been concerned that Ricardo and Trippier are both wing-backs. Aurier certainly had the physical build of a true fullback and might have appealed as more of a like-for-like Walker replacement. In fairness, when Ricardo first arrived at LCFC, Puel wouldn't play him in the back and had him as a winger. He's still not perfect defensively, but the upside is there for a terrific fullback on both sides of the pitch who has improved quickly.
I really hoped this could be a breakout year for Aurier and didn't expect it to be another disaster. I am probably foolish for hoping there's still a player there somewhere. When his head is screwed on he can make some excellent defensive plays, and links well with Sissoko going forward, has put in a few wicked crosses of his own. But the percentage of time with his head screwed on is a relatively low percentage. Costly defensive errors and giving away possession and fouls cheaply and dangerously.
Our priorities should be:
1. CM - N’domble
2. RB - AWB
3. AM/ST -Zaha
+
CB & AM if Toby & Eriksen go (?? & Grealish)
Also depends on long term fitness of likes of : Wanyama, Winks, Lamela etc as if they are all crocked we’d need another CM & AM on top of the above.