I think Norgaard can play a bit more than Jorginho. The problem with Jorginho is that he was never very good defensively and with no legs he basically became unplayable in situations where we were trying to see out matches. So you’ve got a backup DM that can’t come into matches to hold leads and allow your starter to get off the pitch. Jorginho basically never subbed into matches until the last five minutes, he could start the occasional match but was completely useless as a player to bring on. Norgaard can at least do that.
Zubimendi is definitely a point of failure but a plan B of Rice/Norgaard splitting time at the 6 in case of a Zubi injury is no worse - probably better - than whatever Plan B Liverpool have if Gravenberch gets injured or whatever Plan B City have if Rodri gets injured again.
I would have preferred Partey for another year for the same reasons you have said (continuity, lets Zubi settle more gradually, etc) but I don’t think its a hugely important decision, at least compared to getting Zubimendi in the first place, signing a striker, and addressing LW.
I agree, keeping Partey would have been easier for Zubimendi to adapt to playing in the PL but if we get a quality striker and LW, then most supporters will consider to a good window.
I’m not happy about losing Partey from the squad but at least the solution to that loss has been Premier League tried and tested. Having two new DM’s come in without any prior experience playing here would have been considerably more risky I feel.
What I do despise however is the attempts by the spin doctors online that have been trying to persuade people this guy is a step up over a certified European elite midfielder. Fucking Shane Warnes and Muralitharans everywhere that try make every single thing about the club a stroke of genius.
The comparisons should stick purely between Zubimendi and Partey. This guy should not even be entered into the conversation.
Indeed. Whether this signing or Zubimendi will be good is yet to be seen so I’m not buying the hype for now.
Saying all that I am encouraged by the fact that we’ll have allot of depth in midfield and based on the rumors of another CB coming in I can see Miles get some time in that left 8 also.
