At the time of Florian Lejeune’s loan move to Alaves last month, most Mags (including myself) probably felt as though it was a smart deal for all parties.
That said, this was based on the assumption we’d bring in another centre-back, with it seeming pretty certain that it would be one out, on in on that front.
A few weeks on, it’s looking more and more likely that the clock will strike 11pm without us bringing in a replacement.
A seemingly imminent deal for Arsenal’s Rob Hodling fell through, but we still had another month to find someone to cover for Lejeune – and we needed one based on our sudden lack of options at the back.
Right now, Federico Fernandez is our only fit central defender.
Bruce stated on Saturday night that Lascelles could return to training next week, but with Schar at risk of another spell on the sidelines, Lejeune back in Spain and both Dummett and Clark struggling to stay fit, we suddenly look short in an area where we used to be spoilt for choice.
With all the above in mind and our sudden lack of urgency to bring in a centre-back, our decision to let Lejeune leave is looking like a short-sighted on.
OK, he may benefit hugely from some regular game time in Spain and is believed to have done well so far – helping them to another clean sheet in a 1-0 win over Athletico Bilbao over the weekend – but we’re going to look a bit silly watching him shine at Alaves if Schar’s shoulder injury is bad and the likes of Clark and Dummett can’t stay fit.
We clearly wanted another centre-back as Rob Holding was all set to sign if Arsenal didn’t pull the plug, making this transfer U-turn a bizarre one – especially now we have a few new injuries to worry about at the back.
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typical shambles of a club with the fat cockney c*nt and bruce the eXcuse in charge couldnt run a p*ss up in a f%cking brewery unbelievable incompetent pair of tossers
kev the mag(Quote)
Olly – I would have kept Kelland Watt rather than Lejuene.
We have 5 first team CBs in Lascelles, Fernandez, Schar, Clark and Dummett (who can cover CB – as can Kraft at a push). So Lejuene wouldn’t be happy down that list. But Watt would likely expect and accept it. Working with those CBs he’s bound to learn from them, and I would have played him CB instead of Kraft in the cup games.
Lejuene isn’t the future, but Watt could and should be. I’d recall him before Lejuene.
Sharpy17(Quote)
bruce = ashley’s puppet.
tom mc(Quote)
Issue with that is Watts would spend most of the season sat in the reserves.
OK, he might’ve been brought on vs Burnley and could’ve played in cups, but I’d argue that playing week in week out with Plymouth might give him a better taste of senior football than the odd game for us every few months?
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
This whole post could have been just one sentence long. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen someone manage to stretch out one point to such a degree.
Kudos, I guess.
WMD(Quote)