A month or so ago I put an article out saying how I thought last seasons and this seasons squads compared. Many of you are of the opinion that this seasons squad was an improvement but I think not. In goal, Mig with Westwood backing up. Last season Mig with Coglan backing up. No real change there although I wonder if Gordon will ever play again. Defence. We've lost Anton, Mensah and Onouha and gained Wes and O'Shea. Is that a step up? At least Wes and J O'S are not on loan so that's an improvement. Midfield. We've lost Zenden, Malbranque, Muntari and Henderson. We've gained Gardiner, Vaughan, Larsson. Is that better? Strikers. We've lost Bent, Gyan, Welbeck and Campbell (who I think was about ready to feature last at the start of last season) and we've gained Bendtner, Wickam, Dong. Who would you rather have? I haven't included Roarie Deacon or McClean as they haven't featured yet. Have we improved the squad by spending HALF of what we've taken in on selling players? Have we improved the positions that were weak last season? Midfield goals possibly but the left? Is Ellis Short pleased with what SB is doing by being canny in the transfer market and not having to touch any of the TV money, gate receipts, merchandising money etc. We must be making a decent profit seeing that we are now a selling club. We need AT LEAST 2 left backs, 2 left midfielders and 3 top strikers to be an improvement on last years squad. What do you lot think?
Thing I have to disagree with is that you are a selling club. Look at your books in the last 6 years and you'll find a net spend comfortably inside the top 6 in the country.
Yes, it was a bit tongue in cheek, being a bit selective. It does ring true over the last couple of transfer windows though Chiek.
Agree with comments on keepers. Defence: Mensah hardly played last year and most on here were calling for Anton to be sold because he was right off form, so, Brown and O'shea are a real improvement. Alas, failure to secure a natural left back has perpetuated the imbalance. Bramble's stupidity and Anton going after showing form has left us thin again. Surprised he didn't go back for Onuoha, should try again in January .... he can play centre of full back. Midfield: On the face of it the youthfulness of Gardner, Vaughan and Larsson has got to be an improvement over Zenden, Malbranque and Muntari, but we missed the boat by not signing a midfield leader with the sort of drive that will see Henderson become a very good player. I wonder if a fit Meyler may be the longer term answer, he is better than the WildCatt. Forwards: Disaster!!! Bendtner is a great acquisition and hope we sign him permanently, but he can not do it on his own. Sess is a good player to have in the squad and on his day a good acquisition. Whickham and Ji, are for the future. But, we still need two more forwards with proven ability, a target man and a'kevin phillips' type
Much is made of the fact that Bruce has balanced the books but in key areas, we are very much weaker. We have a good back 4 in Bardo, O Shea, Brown and Turner (if he can get fit) but nothing outside that with Richardson and Elmo poor full back material and Laing just an 18 year old kid with zero experience. In midfield we lack pace in all areas and I cant say Gardener has been the revalation promised so far. Vaughan is a good player we havent seen enough of yet and Larsson is carrying an injury. However, up front, we are vastly inferior. We have lost Bent and Gyan and repalced them with Wickham and Ji and an on loan Bendtner (who like Welbeck proably wont be here in August 2012). Instread of replacing Bent and recruiting Bendtner on loan, we have a very raw talent in Connor who at £8.2m is our 3rd highest transfer record but who isnt ready for the demands of weekly football at this level and Ji who is willing but not an EPL striker imo just yet. We may see the best of them next season (unless there has to be a relegation fire sale in the summer) but for this one they are not the answer. Bruce and Quinny must share the blame together for allowing our striking options to become so depleted this season and if the hugs and kisses between manager and chairman are to be believed, its born form the realisation that they are both up to their necks in the clarts if this all goes tits up in a few months time and willhave to be explained to Ellis Short at some point. I can only imagine what his reaction to the statement we have no strikers at the club when we spent £11m on Wickham and Ji and they arent even ready to play in a season we are ultimately struggling to score goals in? Better them than me to be honest.
Midfield is stronger or is that just more of them? Defence is very good first team, after that we are struggling. Attack is far weaker again an on loan striker and 2 unproven strikers who will only play bit parts up until at least Christmas. Goalies no change so not improved.
We are hugely weaker than last season. Certainly weaker than at the start of the season particularly up front (Jones and Bent and then Welbeck) compared with what we have now. No Henderson now. Larsson has added a lot but Gardner is probably inferior to players sold even prior to that such as Whitehead.
yeh thats what i have been saying for months now are replacements after we sold our stars are not up to the mark like you say gardner is most certainly not that big step up from whitehead and we all know about our strikers
Would the attack be so bad with Asamoah Gyan still in there or would it still be so weak? We lost a player due to greed to a second rate UAE club after the deadline had closed and after he had shaken the managers hand and said "I'll play for Sunderland" - Not the managers fault IMO. Bramble's idiocy - also not the managers fault - without these 2 bits of stupidity I think we would be stronger than last season - but due to these I thiunk we are about the same... Juswt because we look weaker as we haven't got the results (we deserved to win on Saturday gone - and Bendtner was awesome in every part of his play - a class above every other player on the field) - we haven't played that badly this season - just haven't had the luck when we've needed it. That said - I am certainly not in the bruce in camp ATM. His completel lack of playing one of our strikers prior to a game when he will have to pick one of them completely bamboozles me - he needs to play Wickham or Ji against Arsenal but hasn't given either of them a start this season!! Got to be having a laugh!
Not sure mate and I certainly don't blame Bruce for the greedy self centred twat leaving (too much?). Bramble is not first choice now that we have Brown and O'Shea (again don't blame Bruce for this one either) as I said the first team defence is good but when the injuries strike we struggle.
Me and I think most posters on here agreed with that when the signings were brought in early. I personally still think it will come good, if i am wrong i will hold my hands up and admit it. Not SB's biggest fan, he's tactical nous is zilch, he's substitutions baffling however, i would rather have syphilis than MON. Would take Moyes but thats about it. Going for a gargle or eight so all of you waiting to slag me off for my views will have to wait for a response.
