I knew it was too subtle/unfunny (delete as applicable). Ghezzel sounds a bit like guzzle. And most of you like the odd tipple. Still not funny?
That would be a very shrewd signing. He's currently touring Europe probably looking for a club who'll give him the biggest wages, as I've alraedy read that his representatives we're talking to Milan, Roma, Monaco, probalby a number of EPL clubs ecc. Which is why I think we won't sign him.
You've missed a lot mate, we need your wisdom on 2 subjects: Straw and roundabouts. It's absolutely vital we get your thoughts on both these things
Yes. In a startling change from previous seasons, we haven't sold any of our best 11 players. Yet. In other news, some fans are getting agitated at the lack of new signings to replace the players who haven't left. Yet.
Why does it always look the same five minutes after you come back home following a long holiday? Fats, do you mean a new shirt since the monstrosity I saw? (I only call it a monstrosity because I saw your wife's face when she looked at it; I loved it). I love straw (barring the last one) and I'm not allowed near roundabouts (or swings) since the injunction. Why haven't we sold our team? What is Les thinking? Has there been a meltdown? Genuinely, it's weird catching up. Vin
Yes - may have arrived the week we saw you, can't remember. Two. One she says is "okay" the other......
Probably telling you what you already know, but JRod went out the back door and ended up at WBA, We signed a young CB Bednarek who so far hasn't really impressed. We also signed a shed full of youngsters, the future is well covered, the present is still in limbo, no way is the current squad going to be any better than mid table.
As I have just mentioned on the VVD thread, this is the first season that we only have one desirable player that is exciting interest. I have no problem with Jay going....he wasn't getting chances and was stale here....I fully expect him to do well at WBA, but won't cry as I doubt that he would have done the same here.
The issue we have is that players who are happy to stay here aren't good enough for where the club has stated it wants to go (regular European football). The players who are good enough to help us reach that goal attract interest from the teams already playing European football and want to leave for money/more chance of winning things/regular European football. I can't see a way we can achieve the stated goals under the current owners and the way they want to run the club, just staying a comfortable mid table side is a big achievement in itself.
Thanks for the bits - I hadn't realised we'd signed anyone. Too much fluff to get through. He looks like one for the future. Regarding the quote, as you may recall, I've run a "guess the finishing positions" competition for the past couple of years. Two seasons ago the average prediction was 11th. We finished 6th. Last season the average prediction was 11th. We finished 8th. We certainly don't have a worse team than last season and we might, just might, have Charlie Austin available for more than a third of the season. We'll also have Manolo for the full season rather than settling in through the second half of it. I think we're in for a good season and challenging the top eight, but I guess it all depends on the definition of "mid-table". Vin
We did finish 8th, but with 17 points less than the season before. We haven't really strengthened since then and we're likely to lose our best player. We also have a new manager and while Gabbiadini is class, Charlie Austin isn't the messiah and is likely to be out for at least 3-4 months. Having Long & Gallagher as our back up options is a prospect I don't really look forward to in terms of aesthetic football and goals. Apart from that, I am looking forward to the new season. Pinning my hopes in Boufal & Hojbjerg coming good.
Gabbi started very brightly....got injured and hasn't had much luck on his return. Have a feeling that Charlie may be our top scorer this season.....if he stays uninjured.
Hadn't realised that Charlie was still out. That's what comes from missing all the summer gossip. I'm not expecting messiahdom from him, just a reasonable number of goals. Still optimistic, though. Vin