Fancy 2. Either 2 go up automatically like Norwich and Watford did recently or if it's 1 in the top 2 could well have 2 runners left in the playoffs.
With the squad as it stands we’ll be lucky to make the playoffs. Don’t know what drugs Ristac is on if he thinks we’ve got the best forwards in the division. We have Bamford, an untried Rutter, who can’t seem to stay fit and we’re yet to see who’ll still be here at the end of August.
Very difficult to predict, I’m unconvinced about the mentality or overall quality of the squad we currently have. Think unless we go up automatically we’ll miss out. Reckon we might have a chance of the playoffs, so I’ll go 5th. If we add a proven LB and 20 goal a season Hitman, we might make 2nd.
Name a team that has a better forward line that they can select from than Gnonto, Sinisterra, James, Summerville, Harrison, Bamford, Rutter and now Poveda joining the party
I can’t because I never watched the championship last year. Let’s see who is here at the end of August. I’m not having Poveda as our saviour based on two preseason games. Bamford won’t finish top scorer in the division this season.
But your last comment was “Squad as it stands” my prediction is “squad as it stands, if the window shut today”.
If you’re going to start nitpicking on uneducated sweeping starements on here, you’re going to be a busy lad Gessa.
Just think we were very poor last season with a very unbalanced squad. Also remember us going nowhere until Bielsa came along and some of those players are still here a few years and many injuries older. We don’t know if the sparingly used U21 are going to be able to step up to men’s football. I will probably be completely wrong but I just don’t share your optimism.
My take is as of right now we will have one of the top champ squads on paper but LoL is right about the balance of it. No proven reliable fit goal scorer, light in midfield and defence. Loads of wingers. Still enough to be challenging as it stands but I’d want to see the squad balance addressed before the window closes.
there’s going to be uncertainty up to the end of the window.. so it’s a tough gig for Farke to get us organised for the first month of the season. If we can get off to a good start I’ll join the optimists.
Last season, I think there would have only been Eire more negative than I. Wakey possibly but I’d have placed myself in the bottom three for doom and gloom. For me, 90% of the blame was at the feet of Orta and Jesse. I didn’t believe the squad was as bad as the results, just terrible coaches. We got rid of Jesse and it was circus time, would anyone have believed in around 18 months from Bielsa we’d have finished a season with big Sam in charge. When Farke was first mentioned, underwhelmed was an understatement but I’ve been hugely impressed with his mannerism and the reports coming out from the players insinuating we’ve finally got someone in who can actually coach. Yes we need to keep them, but the likes of Drameh, Summerville, Adams, Sinisterra and Gnonto, possibly Ampadu are head and shoulders above anyone in this division in their respective positions. I’ve not included Harrison or James but what great options. I expect to lose a couple, I’d equally expect them replaced with players filling more pressing positions. Archie Gray looks like he’ll be a huge hit this season, Cresswell is no weak link, Darlow was outstanding for Hull. It’s easy to continue feeling negative after the past 24 months and be blinkered by the horror show of relegation, but we know why there was a dressing room divide and lack of commitment, players like McKennie unfit and uncaring, the players with loan releases. You might knock Cooper, but he was the one who kept all the players in the dressing room after the spurs game and let off a tirade of abuse that those who want out better **** off straight away and there was even one report he pinned one player against a wall for not trying. We need the passion and fight and experience of Ayling and Cooper in the squad, we’ve a great blend of youth and experience, we’re going to bring the right new faces in, the 49ers have brought in some great behind the scenes people, like Gretar Steinsson and Nick Hammond, new faces will arrive. I’m not trying to preach to you, just explaining why I’m full of optimism for the season ahead. If we were in the PL we’d be fighting another relegation battle, this is the reset we need.
Imagine if we’d all known about Ampadu being available at such a low fee, if we’d known then so would a few other clubs trying to snatch him or at best driving his value up through the roof We’ve not brought Gretar Steinsson or Gary Penrice in to remain quiet in the transfer window
I can see the business is being done so covertly that even fabuloso romantico is not itk. Docs mate has gone very quiet with his rumours. My take on incomings is to prefer two mids and a striker first. Left back i can see us giving byram a monthly rolling contract and being stuck with junior asprin. We can't expect archie to play 40 games at his age. Oh if we had arsene venger to convert one of our wingers ala terry henry. Now that was coaching of the highest level.
