Simple point really: build from the back. I know it’s not glamorous, but if you don’t stop conceding you don’t win anything. Over the last two years our recruitment has, to my mind, got that basic order of priorities wrong and it’s cost us time and results.
History tells you where to begin
Think back to when Walter came back after the Le Guen mess. First thing he did was sort the defence and you could see the effect straight away — the team became harder to score against. That’s the blueprint: sort your foundation and you give everything else a chance to flourish.
Loans and last-minute panic haven’t helped
Last season we relied heavily on short-term loans at the back, lads who understandably had one eye on the future because they knew they weren’t long-term here. That makes building any cohesion impossible. Then this year we seemed content to run with the bare minimum of centre-halves until the final weeks of the window. Injuries arrived and suddenly we were scrambling for cover. It felt like recruitment was reactive rather than planned.
What should’ve happened
As soon as the window opened the priority ought to have been clear: secure three proper centre-backs, bring in a first-choice right-back and then a sensible backup left-back. That gives you a spine and allows the manager to shape the team without constantly worrying about whether you’ve got bodies to put on the pitch. Instead we’ve been patching holes and hoping it won’t be a problem — and it has been a problem.
To be fair, it’s easy to look clever buying flashy forwards, but truth is those signings don’t mean much if you leak goals every week. Fans want ambition, yes, but sensible ambition. Get the defence right first and everything else becomes easier. Isn’t that the basic footballing common sense we all expect?
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