We didn't buy a decent (obviously we can't afford brilliant) big, athletic striker

That one decision alone doomed us before a ball was even kicked. Pukki (and I love him) simply does not have the attributes, pace or strength, to play lone striker in the Prem. One of the reasons our attacking midfielders can't score goals (and that was striking both last time, with Buendia, Hernandez & Stipermann all scoring plenty in the Champs but almost zero in the Prem, and this time when they have literally zero) is that Pukki can't hold the ball up to give those players time to get around him and play off him, or distract defenders to create space. Any long ball to Pukki is basically conceding possession.
Even Sargent (who is pretty hopeless) usually makes us look better when he's on the pitch simply because he has the athleticism/physicality to disrupt Prem defenders. Even an average one would make us way better. Should have focused money there (and DM), not on endless defenders and lightweight attacking midfielders who are all much of a muchness with the players we already had.

Posted By: mr carra, Dec 15, 07:14:40