You're right, I wouldn't call any of them a waste of money as such. They all have potential, the balance of the players recruited can be criticised I think. Recruiting so many younger ones at once has left them wide open for needless abuse.
How many games do they get before they get called 'dog shit', 'waste of space', 'donkey', 'lazy', 'they just look thick'. it's vile.
Have seen EMC called all sorts previous to his last run of games, but any normal person will know that time and minutes breeds confidence. He will only get better now (with time), people singing his name. I had a chat with him about his song, it's amazing what that can do for a player.
Same with Simms, first full season at this level last year, I thought he had a decent return for a then 22 year old, just moved to a new home with a young family, finally finding a place to settle. Came up with some good goals and assists against Wolves, Man U etc.
Doesn't mean he will go into his next season flying, he's young. Also requires the whole team to be at it, which lets face it, none of them were. Passing sideways and backwards all season, because of low confidence. Nobody spotting the runs and having the balls to play them. Now we are finally loading the box with players and crosses, he deserves to be given minutes.
Being dropped after having 2 good games with goals against Watford and Luton couldn't have done the confidence any good.
We all saw last season, once they stopped dragging him off after 55/60 mins each game, he came good.
Can already see the difference under FL, he likes to get stuck in on the training pitch too from what I've heard, which the players love. He's spending individual time with all of them, which I think is good man management.
Agreed, sure up the defence and stop playing sideways / backwards, we're going to improve rapidly.