- Jan 26, 2005
- 3,760
- 9,505
Take a look at our squad, who are the best players in the side. Are they players that we have signed for riduculous prices? Journeyman who have suddenly found a home? Superstars who demand attention?
The answer is a simple no. How can you describe our players: realised potential, not, generally, realised at other clubs and signed but players who have progressed year upon year to become the player they are today.
The most disappointing part of our transfer business, for me, is not the younger players who we have signed, who have not quite made the grade, but the likes of Sissoko, Aurier and Moura. Not becuase they are bad players, but simply because we had players in those positions from our youth team who could have played alot more and their growth has been stunted.
For me enjoyment of football is not watching us spunk huge fees on overhyped Barcelona or PSG cast offs or sign anyone in particular, it is watching the progression of players within our squad. We are in the position we are now because we have finally found a manager who believes in our ideal, who makes players better, who trusts the players. He treats the players as people, not objects to be thrown away and replaced with shiny new things.
When I watch an Eriksen or Kane and I see year on year progression, I see Dele playing different positions, becoming more effective, growing. When I see Vertonghen becoming the best centre back in the league after gradually becoming better and better year on year. Watching our players become a TEAM, something which seems to be lost on some clubs.
Yes we have bought no one, but we have also not sold anyone. How many of our players expressed a desire to leave? This summer - 0. Even the players who once expressed a desire to leave are now wanting to stay. People say, we need to sign to 'freshen things up', what does that even mean? Players, like people (yes sounds strange but they are people) like anyone create bonds and the more they are together the more they can grow. When of course you have 'bad eggs' this can lead to regression, but we have the opposite. We have players who have a need to improve and a level of professionalism which is second to none.
Everyone is so quick to write us off, we have made no signings, yes. Would I have liked a Grealish (very much our MO) - yes, would Zaha or Martial improved us - probably. But we did not get them, because the clubs did not want to sell. If they did they would have sold them for incredibly inflated prices. Why bother?
We are not in it for the short term, we have made it in to the top four and we have improved in some way year on year, on the pitch. And I fully expect us to do so again. I am proud of our club and unlike the world and his wife, I believe we are the second best team in the league. And us and ONLY us have a chance at stopping City and winning the Premiership.
To dare is to fucking do, so quit your whining and watch us rise.
The answer is a simple no. How can you describe our players: realised potential, not, generally, realised at other clubs and signed but players who have progressed year upon year to become the player they are today.
The most disappointing part of our transfer business, for me, is not the younger players who we have signed, who have not quite made the grade, but the likes of Sissoko, Aurier and Moura. Not becuase they are bad players, but simply because we had players in those positions from our youth team who could have played alot more and their growth has been stunted.
For me enjoyment of football is not watching us spunk huge fees on overhyped Barcelona or PSG cast offs or sign anyone in particular, it is watching the progression of players within our squad. We are in the position we are now because we have finally found a manager who believes in our ideal, who makes players better, who trusts the players. He treats the players as people, not objects to be thrown away and replaced with shiny new things.
When I watch an Eriksen or Kane and I see year on year progression, I see Dele playing different positions, becoming more effective, growing. When I see Vertonghen becoming the best centre back in the league after gradually becoming better and better year on year. Watching our players become a TEAM, something which seems to be lost on some clubs.
Yes we have bought no one, but we have also not sold anyone. How many of our players expressed a desire to leave? This summer - 0. Even the players who once expressed a desire to leave are now wanting to stay. People say, we need to sign to 'freshen things up', what does that even mean? Players, like people (yes sounds strange but they are people) like anyone create bonds and the more they are together the more they can grow. When of course you have 'bad eggs' this can lead to regression, but we have the opposite. We have players who have a need to improve and a level of professionalism which is second to none.
Everyone is so quick to write us off, we have made no signings, yes. Would I have liked a Grealish (very much our MO) - yes, would Zaha or Martial improved us - probably. But we did not get them, because the clubs did not want to sell. If they did they would have sold them for incredibly inflated prices. Why bother?
We are not in it for the short term, we have made it in to the top four and we have improved in some way year on year, on the pitch. And I fully expect us to do so again. I am proud of our club and unlike the world and his wife, I believe we are the second best team in the league. And us and ONLY us have a chance at stopping City and winning the Premiership.
To dare is to fucking do, so quit your whining and watch us rise.