Where could we be by the end of the season?

I agree. Some canny players and a very organised squad. I'm confident that we can currently put out a stronger starting 11, but as a unified team, they play well.

However, they do have a fairly small squad, and, like us, once their main players are injured their back-ups are quite a step down in quality in most positions. This won't bode particularly well when it comes to tackling the Europa League and Premier League at the same time.

Everton will certainly improve, but losing Arteta is a big blow, so their squad is more frail than ever. I just can't see them having the same kind of ability to grind out results this season. They are pretty much the only team to have been weakened whilst surrounding teams like Newcastle, Liverpool, Fulham and so on have strengthened, so I'd be amazed if they can pip any of us to 7th this time round.

If I were to be conservative, I'd say we'll overtake either Everton or Fulham and grab 8th.

 

If injuries are kind and we strengthen well in January then I genuinely don't see a reason we can't finish 6th-7th. HOWEVER being Newcastle and being in the real world, we're bound to pick up a few key injuries along the way and probably not buy anyone in January so...

10+ and I'll be happy.
13+ and I'll be content.
13- and we're going backwards

HOWEVER

If we finished 15th but won a cup, I couldn't care less. Good cup run and prem surivival and its gotta be seen as a success?

 

Atm I'm feeling confident of 7th or 8th, but 31 games later I might not be so confident haha

 

Hardly shot down, I just felt that "being dissapointed" with finishing anywhere below 7th would be harsh.

A top ten finish would be a brilliant season.

 

Sunderland in the top 7 or 8?



Their front man is a 6ft 5 barrel of ****, and their other two strikers are unproven and not even getting games.

The only real quality player they have now is Sessegnon. Larsson is alright but nowt amazing.

 

To be fair Larsson's a great keeper, made a fantastic save against us.

 

8th on goal difference

 

Sunderland's best player has been injured for past year and is out for another year - Frazier Campbell

 

I'll be happy with a top ten finish and over the moon with a top 6 finish(very unlikely IMO).

Everton despite losing Arteta still have quality in the likes of Osman(on his day he's class), Cahill(hard working and awesome in the air), Fellani(Class), Rodwell(Potential is there..) and the likes of Drente, Coleman, Barkley, etc.. aren't bad. There strikeforce is quite average though. Saha on his day(when he's fit) is quality but can be inconsistent, Anichebe I don't really rate to be honest but is a decent squad player and then you have a inexperienced youngster in Velious and a unproven talent in Denis Stracshitso(whatever he's name is.. he's on loan from some South American team).. but there best aspect has to be there defence which is massively reliable, solid, consistent and experienced! Hibbert/Nevile Jags Distin Baines.. better than our defence IMO!

Fulha and Stoke will have extra pressure with the Europa League and considering there squad players aren't that great then I could see them struggling to end in the top 10. I think we can nick 7th if most of our key players stay fit and play to there potential(Cabaye, Krul, Tiote, Ba, Ben Arfa, Colo & Saylor).

 

Problem is though I've said this about Everton for the last 3 years! They never spend yet still come through. The first 11 they can put out is still impressive and that youth system is first class. Obviously you have young Coleman and Barkley being two of the more recent ones. I do wonder where they'd be without their youth system. Of course we are looking none too shabby in that regard also.

 

lerl

 

IMO -

I think it could finish like this -

Man Utd
Citeh
Chelsea
Spurs
Liverpool
Arse
Toon
Villa
Stoke
Everton
Fulham
Qpr
Sunderland
WBA
Norwich
Bolton
Wigan
Wolves
Blackburn
Swansea

 

It looks about right tbh. Although, think Norwich could go down - their lack of quality will tell by the end of the season imo

 

09-10:

Diniyar Bilyaletdinov £10,000,000
Sylvain Distin £4,000,000
Johnny Heitinga £6,000,000

10-11:

Joao Silva £500,000
Jermaine Beckford Free
Jan Mucha Free
Magaye Guaye £1,000,000
Apostolos Vellios Nominal

11-12:

Players bought: No one

Players sold:

Jermaine Beckford £4,000,000
Mikel Arteta £10,000,000
Yakubu Aiyegbeni £1,500,000


Everton aren't big spenders, but this is the first season in a long time where they have not only not spent a bloody dime, but they've also sold one of their key players. Everton tend to hold themselves together well, but this window has been their toughest one by far since the Premier League began, so time will tell whether they can hold everything together so well this time.

 

True but look at last year. By rights they should have been ****ed! And they've signed Drenthe on loan (class and throughly enjoyed reading about him laughing at Phil Nevilles stepover) and some south american lad. They'll be there or there abouts with no Europa football. How they got 7th last year I'm not sure given their start. Moyes really does work miracles for all I'm not too fussed about their style of play.

 

This. But they better hope none of there key players get injured because otherwise I don't see them ending in the top 10 this season. The likes of Distin, Jags, Baines, Howard, Fellani and Cahill IMO are all considered vital to there success.

Same with us to be honest.. if any of Colo, Saylor, Cabaye, Tiote, Krul or Ba get injured we'll be ****ed.

 

I totally agree with the fact that we will struggle if we get injuries. Our first 11 is class but we have a very thin squad.

Due to the fact we ALWAYS have a point in the season where we have an injury crisis, I'll say 9th 10th or 11th.

 

Apart from Manure Citeh and Chelsea, the other positions can go to anyone, Arsenal are lackluster as a team, Liverpool are a bit soft and poorly managed and Spurs look the part but there players are a bit of a spoiled bunch which doesn't help and Bale and Modric are very good players but are over rated in my opinion. Villa are average and Agbonlahor has dragged them through to his credit and Everton have even less depth and quality than us and Stoke and Fulham are just standard teams as for Newcastle, we're a very good team but the depth is made of average seniors and very good young players.