Yes. And what's more which other of his project players have really, really justified not just the investment in them, but the fact that we haven't signed players at crucial times so as not to hamper their development? Honestly - I'm struggling to think.

Even the king of them all, Cesc, has 'repaid' us lately with tepid, disinterested performances. He is following a well-trodden path of captains who leave us as shadows of their former selves. Nasri seems intent on following the Adebayor/Flamini/Hleb model - break through and then believe the hype and believe that the club is beneath you.

Is there not some point at which a rational manager would realise that its not working...