Who is KG?

I was thinking of Kagisho Dikgacoi (everyone used to call him KG)

The current woeful form of Mateta and Edourd is the main problem
for the club.
But the recruitment strategy also needs close analysis.
The club paid a reported £1 million for Plange. He is considered
inferior by the club to the aforementioned two.
He must be pretty awful !

I don't know if I'd go so far as to say "really good", but it certainly had its moments. But that's only on the basis of doing half the job.

As I see, there are two parts (or halves) to recruitment:

1. Player replacement
2. Player signings

In terms of 2, we've done pretty well. Eze, Olise, Guehi, Andersen, Schlupp, and Hughes, have all looked to some degree or another like decent signings, some very good indeed. Edouard and Mateta have been disasters, but they're very much the minority. More signing have been good than bad. Unfortunately, both of our terrible signings have come in the same position, so that's had a greater impact than it should.

In terms of point 1, though, our recruitment has been awful. We have simply not replaced key players, and as a result, the squad suffers from having a number that are way, way past their sell-by dates. Ward should have been put out to pasture two years ago, Clyne at least a year ago, Luka two years ago, Tomkins two years ago, McArthur probably two years ago, and Conor was never replaced at all. That's left six yawning chasms in what's a small squad to begin with. Most of the above can barely even contribute for ten minutes off the bench, let alone provide competition within the squad. Heaven knows I love Joel Ward, but he was just embarassing today. And to add insult to injury, we've repeatedly recruited sick notes. Nathan Ferguson? Seriously? He was broken before we bought him. How was that ever going to end well? Chris Richards...great player, but perpetually injured everywhere he's been. What was the point? Someone to keep Ferguson company on the physio's table?

The reality is that the success of a handful of our signings has obscured the fact that our overall recruiting strategy has been appalling and now we're paying the price for it with an unbalanced, weak squad that has no depth and provides the manager with no alternatives when the going gets tough. In short, we're a mess.

Sydenham by birth. Selhurst by the Grace of God.

To be fair a million these days is a couple of weeks wages for some. I think the majority on he thought the purchases of Anderson, Geuhi, Doucoure, Olise, Eze, Hughes, Eduaord were excellent when we signed them. Personally I had never heard of Mateta or Ahamada before we signed them. I don’t think any of them have been a disaster (Max Meyer style) but clearly some better than others.

We have had a really tough run of games. We have tried to play Royball and we have ground out a few welcome points. But now we play teams we can and should beat. Confidence is low. But we look a far better team on the front foot. We need to stick with a front three Zaha left Olise right and Edouard in the middle. Doucoure Lakonga and Schlup in midfield and our best back four if fit. We need to play on the front foot and attack especially at home.

I want to write something positive .... but watching the Arsenal debacle today made it clear that it will take a herculean effort to stay up, because we have so many weak spots that the teams below us will exploit. Our team identity needs a reboot.

Two weeks to reignite passion, grit, determination and team spirit.... then we can cover off the weaknesses and perhaps exploit some explosive counterattacking football.

Better get someone in charge real fast!

Edited by radicalsteve (19 Mar 2023 8.53pm)