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One of the main problems we have had since 2011 is that we have been stuck with an ageing, frequently failing spine of the team. Up until the end of last season it was quite depressing how much of our best side was signed by Bruce (or even Keane) - the likes of Bardsley (for a long time), Brown, O'Shea, Larsson, Cattermole, Wickham.
Various managers have come in and failed to improve things. O'Neill went for what he thought was quality rather than quantity but Fletcher and Johnson were inconsistent and he wasn't given time to turn things around with that approach. Di Canio let the clown De Fanti squander millions on absolute shite (Celustka, Dossena, Roberge, Diakite, Mavrias, Moberg Karlsson, Altidore, etc) in the arrogant belief that he could take a group of shite players and get results. Poyet was proven to be out of his depth and short on experience, as he believed that Championship players like Bridcutt and Buckley, and South Americans like Vergini and Scocco, could be turned into an effective squad.
As a result, we always fell back on those players who were left behind from the Bruce era.
With the transfer window shut, this summer feels like the first time we have made a convincing step forward. The defence still looks a little vulnerable IMO, but M'Vila, Toivonen, Lens, and Borini, look like the basis of a new team to me. It feels like Advocaat has brought in the right amount of fresh blood, of a good enough standard, that we can move forward, not just try and cling on with an ageing squad bought four managers ago. Brown will hardly play this season, O'Shea won't need to play every week at the age of 34, Larsson and Cattermole will have to fight for their place.
I'm still worried about our defence, but after years of mismanagement, one window was never going to put everything right.
Even if Advocaat does leave at the end of the season, it feels like he has been the first manager here in years who has actually built the foundations of a decent team.
Various managers have come in and failed to improve things. O'Neill went for what he thought was quality rather than quantity but Fletcher and Johnson were inconsistent and he wasn't given time to turn things around with that approach. Di Canio let the clown De Fanti squander millions on absolute shite (Celustka, Dossena, Roberge, Diakite, Mavrias, Moberg Karlsson, Altidore, etc) in the arrogant belief that he could take a group of shite players and get results. Poyet was proven to be out of his depth and short on experience, as he believed that Championship players like Bridcutt and Buckley, and South Americans like Vergini and Scocco, could be turned into an effective squad.
As a result, we always fell back on those players who were left behind from the Bruce era.
With the transfer window shut, this summer feels like the first time we have made a convincing step forward. The defence still looks a little vulnerable IMO, but M'Vila, Toivonen, Lens, and Borini, look like the basis of a new team to me. It feels like Advocaat has brought in the right amount of fresh blood, of a good enough standard, that we can move forward, not just try and cling on with an ageing squad bought four managers ago. Brown will hardly play this season, O'Shea won't need to play every week at the age of 34, Larsson and Cattermole will have to fight for their place.
I'm still worried about our defence, but after years of mismanagement, one window was never going to put everything right.
Even if Advocaat does leave at the end of the season, it feels like he has been the first manager here in years who has actually built the foundations of a decent team.
