The WWE Issue Remains Unchanged

Woltemade, Wissa and Elanga.

Regular readers may recall that my opinion on the above three was that Eddie had a decision to make - to keep them or bite the bullet and get rid of one or more.

Two gambles: Young signings. Keeping last summers.

We've already discussed the gamble of signing young players.

But what about the gamble of keeping all three of last summers underperformers?

Forget the fees - if Eddie Howe didn't think that he could get a tune out of WWE this season then he had to tell Hopkinson and Wilson exactly that.

I don't know whether he did or didn't, and if he did which of those players he didn't want.

Eddie had all season to judge them and having lost a world class ST in Isak he was fully aware at the season's end that neither Woltemade or Wissa were close in quality.

As for Elanga, it was clear he was making no progress as the season went on and in no way looked the expected upgrade on Jacob Murphy despite his £55M fee.

But, it looks like all three will be here when the window closes.

And here is my take...

If the decision to keep all three is down to Eddie genuinely believing they will come good this season - then he has to take the responsibility if he is wrong.

If the decision to keep them was down to not wanting to suffer the inevitable loss in transfer fees paid - then from a purely football point that is wrong and has done nothing to address the weakness, especially at ST, that concerns the majority of fans.

Either way, both decisions are a gamble.

The Osula effect

The form, or lack of it, of the two WW's gave Will an opportunity to lead the line late on in the season. And boy did he rise to that opportunity.

He responded not only with goals but with the energy, pace and physical presence that had been totally lacking from our combined £124M signings.

This from a player who the club were prepared to sell for c£20M had Hoffenheim not backed out of an immediate signing and asked for a loan to buy deal.

Now, he is set to start the season as our No.1 ST and penalty taker.

And here is the kicker...

Our record signing Big Nick has been virtually written off as a lone ST in Eddie's preferred 4-3-3 and has even confirmed himself that his best position is in a front two or as a 10.

And, as yesterday's blog comments showed, most members don't believe that Eddie will change his favoured formation simply to shoe in Wolt.

If that turns out to be the case - what was/is the point of keeping Woltemade?

Mood swings...

After the Bamba signing my mood started to drift back from the wrong side of doom merchant back to my usual happy clapper side.

Young players always bring an air of excited expectation. And we've signed four.

But yesterday's blog comments on Woltemade - where some members also expressed doubts about Osula's ability to maintain his late form last season - have jolted me back.

Put it this way...

If Osula and Wissa fail to perform and fire in the goals will any fan be surprised?

The answer is, unfortunately, a definite no.

The "I told you so" criticism will rain down on Eddie and Wilson's head like a cataclysmic thunderstorm of biblical proportions.

I hope the clouds swirling around SJP clear.

If not, the Toon's ambitions for this season could be swept away.

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