I don't think so, no, although I haven't seen much of him in fairness. We certainly need someone who is going to get the goals but I think we need a number 10 who is going to create as well.
Last season I predicted we'd be relegated in 18th place and was very pleasantly surprised when we exceeded all expectations to finish in the top half. Therefore I confidently predict that we will be relegated this season, most likely in a heartbreaking 18th place.
We are going to be in the relegation zone after our first 6 games, that isn't really in much doubt as we have an horrific start. The question is how we bounce back from that. I suspect we'll get 2-3 points from those horrible fixtures and then only actually be one win from safety. After ten games we'll be up to 15-16th and then we'll sit 10-14th for most of the season; that is where we will finish. There's a chance we'll get an eyebrow raising player in January if we're doing worse (I can see Shaquiri coming in on loan or even transfer once he realises he isn't getting playing time at Liverpool) but I don't see us actually being in the bottom 3 come May. We will spend 5-10 weekends in the relegation spots at least though, most likely from the off!
I was thinking you were being overly pessimistic, but are first 5 games are ridiculously tough, in that we have Spurs, Chelsea, Man City and Arsenal, and the other one is Cardiff away, which will also be tough (although I hope we slaughter them cos I can't stand that dicksplash Warnock. After that Palace away, Leicester at home and Man U away....I'd be very surprised if we're not in the relegation zone after that first 8 games. A bunch of easier games up to Christmas, but I can see morale getting low and dressing room problems after that. So yeah, 17th looks like an achievement right now.
Most think we are staying up but are whinging about money spent, strange. What were they hoping we’d suddenly jump to European places by spending 100m?
Not really. Most seem to think we'll go from finishing 10th to either just scraping survival or actually being relegated. Out of interest is that what you deem as progression and would you be happy with 17th? Right now I'd take 17th. That is what Ashley has done to me.
The club is trying it's just that we need to accept we now cannot compete with the likes of Wolves and Fulham either. The list is growing.
As we were only 3 points off 9th, 5 from 8th and a not totally insurmountable 10 from 7th which was enough to qualify for Europe then by spending a bit, £100M not necessary, at least challenging for Europe and certainly improving a little whilst consolidating our PL place was very possible.
No they're Welsh so Mike refuses to compete with them on the grounds they shouldn't be in the English league.
I'd have to disagree. Everton will be a different animal this term. Liverpool, Spurs, Man C, Man U, Arsenal, Chelsea have the 6 places above them locked down. The investment of those 7 clubs over a 2-3 year period is not really catchable in a single summer. The likes of Burnley and Leicester have shown in recent times you are better off being frugal and hoping for an out of the ordinary season. I can't think of any others who have bridged the gap by spending. This is a gap that is getting wider too.
Ummmm....yeah basically. With minimal funding Rafa finished 10th last season, and not far off Burnley who qualified for Europe in 7th. Ashley knows Rafa's ambition, any having given him **** all to spent in the last 2 transfer windows, a decent transfer kitty was more than overdue given what he's achieved.
We spent about 20-25m net in the summer last season didn't we? In line with out competitors and looking at the accounts its all we had (probably then some). Rafa has had good backing since taking over. He was never getting 100m or anything like that. I would concede we look to have less than I expected this summer but then to be honest like most on here, I don't know feck all about running club in terms of finances looking at the most recent accounts.
