No more excuses Irons – we need players NOW
Some may not have been, but many will have been entirely shocked at the quality gulf between two teams that once operated at the same sort of level.
As a former midlands football reporter for national newspapers, and having seen the Leicester of the past regularly, their emergence to the sort of level we saw last night was mind bending.
They are a much much better team than the Matt Elliott, Robbie Savage, Neil Lennon team of my time and which contested Europe under Martin O’Neill.
What hurt to was watching a player who could have been ours two years ago – Kelechi Iheanacho – producing a proper striker’s performance following Jamie Vardy’s injry, looking incredibly comfortable on the ball. So far this season has a total of six goals from 10 games in all competitions.
Just eight of those have come because the PL and shows the patience employed at a club which has risen to the heights.
We had the chance to sign the lad from Manchester City who at the time wanted a buy back clause included which we refused – maybe understandable – but it was clearly a big mistake.
We were also allegedly keen on James Maddison but the previous Hammers regime preferred Pablo Fornals who played a bit part last night under Moyes.
We expected defeat last night so we chalk it off but you looked at Leicester’s youthful effervescent approach alongside us with the likes of Zaba at 35, Snodgrass (now injured) 32, Noble 32, the now seemingly entirely gone Lanzini and despair is not far away.
We have been writing all season that we need power and pace in our midfield but with 10 days left of this window we are still no closer seemingly to getting anyone.
I was told at the start of the window that such a player was an entire priority – we’re still waiting and it’s not good enough.
Should we not find such a player – or someone close to it – it will represent epic failure and it doesn’t matter a flying toss who it gets put down to – the board or the manager.
The blame game gets nobody anywhere except leaving us livid over something about which we can do nothing. That doesn’t mean we don’t care. It’s just reality.
It’s been as clear as day for months what we need and if we don’t get the player we want and manage to keep Antonio fit there is huge trouble ahead.
If money isn’t found or the manager can’t make up his mind who he wants the term ‘dicing with death’ doesn’t get close to our situation.
I said yesterday we could stay up. I still think it may just be possible but if we don’t overcome Brighton we can start preparing ourselves for the EFL.
There could be an horrific tragedy unfolding and with the right signings it could all have been avoided.
Moyes will need to be the Messiah or miracle maker some touted him as on his arrival to halt this slide. He didn’t look much like one last night.
He needs to decide on signing and however much it takes the board needs to dig up the dough and FAST!
There can be no more excuses!