07-11-2015, 09:04 AM
Looking at some of the businesses we have done this summer, and it's pretty clear that we are in house cleaning mode too. Players like Muntari and Bonera would have never been allowed to leave given their relationship with management, and both are now gone. Even Mexes needed Berlusconi's direct interference to get a one year deal at over 60% pay cut to stay. This makes me think that all those other useless players are most likely going to be shown the door as well soon. Since they have contract with us, it is not as easy as the free agents, but I honestly do not see many of them staying at all.
Part of the reason I think ELS is being sold right now is the Pato case. If we all remember, we kept Pato one year too long and his price fell from 40M to 15M. A year can really make a huge difference in a young player's career. The year before, Pato was an ultra talented striker who has had a few injuries. A year later, he was a talented striker who couldn't stay off of the trainer's table. As Bill Belichick say "I would rather get rid of a player one year too soon than one year too late". I wonder if the doctors have determined if ELS's injury problems are recurring and cannot be fully recovered from, and that's what drove the sell. If you would notice, Niang is still here and even got an extension. We could have easily sold him for some cash and we decided to keep him.
Part of the reason I think ELS is being sold right now is the Pato case. If we all remember, we kept Pato one year too long and his price fell from 40M to 15M. A year can really make a huge difference in a young player's career. The year before, Pato was an ultra talented striker who has had a few injuries. A year later, he was a talented striker who couldn't stay off of the trainer's table. As Bill Belichick say "I would rather get rid of a player one year too soon than one year too late". I wonder if the doctors have determined if ELS's injury problems are recurring and cannot be fully recovered from, and that's what drove the sell. If you would notice, Niang is still here and even got an extension. We could have easily sold him for some cash and we decided to keep him.