23 Jan 2019 14:53:37
These are my thoughts on our strikers:
Chica: At 140k our highest paid player. Currently no.2 to Arnie when they are all fully fit. IMO he would score as many goals as Arnie would over a season, he has just not had a proper chance with us. Joined to be our no.1 striker and that simply has not happened so I understand his desire to leave. Verdict - SELL as he breaks our wage structure, does not want to be no.2 striker, he's 30, and if Arnie was sold we would spend big on a new no.1 anyway keeping him no.2
Arnie: At 100k he is our best all round striker. I am convinced the China stuff is just to get a pay rise as he THINKS he should be the highest paid player and Chica is earning more as no.2 striker. Verdict: Call his bluff IF WE GET THE RIGHT OFFER (£40m) as he is 30 and we can get someone who is less of a nuisance, younger and over the course of a full season just as good. If not then keep him and see where he stands when Chica goes and we can say he is the top earner, reducing his leverage on salary. We may even get someone (Gomez) in summer who relegates him into no.2 role giving him even smaller leverage on salary. if he unhappy then SELL in summer.
Perez: For 4m he was not expensive as a backup, but in the end he clearly wasn't happy being backup and simply has not performed, and while on 85k he eats a fair chunk of our salary budget: Verdict: SELL, even accept £1 if it means he goes on a permanent basis with no wage contribution.
Carroll: Big salary at 90k, too many injuries. But more worryingly he doesn't suit MP game and the modern game players just go down now when they challenge him in the air. His best attribute is now not allowed in the game. Verdict: SELL now or let him leave in summer.

Overall I think strikers and CM are the next big focus areas for MP in his squad transformation. I would only keep Arnie if he will stay happy long term, if not I would like to see them all gone as they are all 30+, get a tenacious CM, keep Edmilson Fernandes and get two good strikers.

1.) 23 Jan 2019
23 Jan 2019 16:12:56
Phew that was a lot of typing and thinking Nick😂😂 your last paragraph said it all in one! Personally I agree with most you said except Hernandez, another pampered overpaid player, sell whoever we need to, Arnie although trouble is the only one worth keeping if he gets his head sorted, was intimated on here he has debt problems with bad investments, if that’s the case without being harsh, so do a lot of other people earning half and less that he earns in a week!

2.) 23 Jan 2019
23 Jan 2019 17:49:06
Of our four forwards (now that Arnie has made it clear he wants to move on) I wouldn’t keep any of them.

Get Gomez in soonest and support with Xande and Antonio in the short term. Then rethink in the summer.

3.) 23 Jan 2019
23 Jan 2019 19:56:14
Spot on marko.

4.) 24 Jan 2019
24 Jan 2019 13:17:19
Id take that Marko.

5.) 24 Jan 2019
24 Jan 2019 20:11:21
It’s Markro, lads!