I like them both too but we struggled a lot last season when one was out as it allowed the opposition to double up on one wing without the pace on the other wing to exploit the space. Townsend looks okay but he's not ready for the PL and I'm not sure he ever will be, although Rose might be pushed back up from left back which would be useful. With the Europa League and hopefully a better League Cup run I think we should be able to keep 4 wingers happy and that's the number I think we need to start the season. Judging on our first few friendlies it looks like we're playing somewhere between 4411 and 4231 so I'd have VDV first choice in the middle behind the striker. As for Moutinho, I guess it depends what we get for Modric but if we're being asked to pay £30mill plus big wages I'd rather we got Dembele for half that, he looked very good as a playmaker last season and I think he could play the Schweinstieger role in a 4231 well. If we went into the new season with Friedel; Walker, Dawson, Kaboul, Ekotto; Sandro, Modric Replacement; Lennon, VDV, Bale; New striker. 2nd choice Cudicini; Naughton, Caulker, Vertonghen, Fryers; Parker, Huddlestone; New Winger, Sig, Rose; New Striker(2) with Gallas, Livermore, Carroll(TOM!) and Defoe as extras we'd have quite an impressive squad, if the new players are any good. That's still 4 players to sign though and which is why I don't think we should be spending all the Modric money on a replacement.
I think top 3 will be City, United and Chelsea....In no particular order. History suggests Arsenal will be favorite for that fourth spot, but both Liverpool and Tottenham can compete. Really dont know what to make of Newcastle, wouldnt write them off, but dont think their squad is as strong as the other six. Start of our season is going to be very difficult, but if we get through that with a few draws and winning the matched we should do then that could put us in a positive position for the rest of the season
This is just a lie... They were sitting in 3rd position with 10 games to go, 7 points ahead of Arsenal who were 5th position.
He's putting his vision and his reputation ahead of short term success, which is a different matter. There was a brief moment in which O'Neill looked like he would replace Arsenal with his Villa side. But, he didn't. And with the signings he made - always British and the football he plays, he will never break the top sides that are around today. He couldn't break the top 4. Now there's a top 6, maybe 7 that are way ahead. He won't break that. If he was Spanish or French or something he wouldn't get half the favourable press. He left Villa in the lurch and they still haven't recovered.
these 2 will not be our starters...it will be Kaboul and Vertognen..plenty of pace and intelligence in there..both are footballers and not hoofers...not saying it will be easy..just saying you have the wrong 2 as our main centrebacks.
its funny when people lie to themselves. i dont think you know the true extent of the downfall.....and why...im surprised since it was well documented..but maybe your 1 footballing brain cell struggles to take it all in.
I cant see anyone overtaking Man City and Man utd for top 2. Other than them theres good sides but nothing special so it will be difficult but not that unlikely we get top 4. Chelsea - I would expect them to be top 4 but this is certainly not guaranteed, really they were poor last season as their 6th place finish suggests. Hazard and Oscar should be decent signings but there's no telling how they will perform, same with Torres. I have a feeling they will miss Drogba and if Di Matteo doesn't have a good start they could well be under alot of pressure early on. Arsenal - Never finish outside the top 4 but could be vunerable this year. Not improved defense so far this summer and losing Van Persie will be a big blow. Personally I think they'll still be in top 4. Spurs - I dont expect them to be as good as last couple of years, currently they dont have a top striker and Modric is leaving. Unlikely to play 4-4-2 as previously, so will the players be able to adapt to the change of system? Will Villas Boas get the players playing for him? I have my doubts. Cant see them making top 4. Newcastle - Some good players but I'd be amazed if they do as well as last year Liverpool - Need to get off to a good start. I think our defense is going to have to be excellent because we are not going to be among the highest scorers I feel. Suarez will have to score more goals and Gerrard will need to stay fit most of the season if we are going to make it. Most likely positions in my opinion: 1-Man City 2-Man utd 3-Arsenal 4-Chelsea 5-Liverpool 6-Spurs 7-Newcastle
Should be an interesting season. For me: 1. City - Have won a title and will want more. Pessure is now off them after last year and they will feel they should be dominating now for a good few years. Would be surprised if they didn't win it by a good few points. 2. United - You wouldn't put it past them to react from last year and go on and win. Fergie will be smarting from last year and be dieing to put City in their place. This will make United fight for absolutely everything and be tough to beat. However, in terms of squad strength, they're not that amazing. Fergie is what is keeping them at the pinicle curretly. They could win, or end up 3rd/4th. 3. Chelsea - I think will have had a huge boost from winning the Champs League and will go full steam for the title where I think they will come close. New signing have been good, but I have a feeling there will be a few times where commentators will be saying "Drogba would of finished that" "How Chelsea could do with Drogba right now". There is the question mark over the manager, but if he gets it right then Chelsea will have a good season. 4. Arsenal - RVP not signing is a blow and the whole row over the letter from their Russian co-owner is unsettling for the club. Arsenal will be good as ever, but if there is a bad run then Wenger will teeter on going. Arsenal fans are very quick to call for his head which is understandable given the lack of trophies. 5. Spurs - Like us, tough to call. Modric going is a blow, but Bale staying is a greater bonus. I think AVB will have a point to prove which makes me think they will do well. They're like us but with a slightly better/more balanced squad. If AVB starts badly then he will be under immediate pressure. 6. Liverpool - a bit of a jamble atm if i'm honest. Last years problems in terms of squad havent really been rectified. We still need 2 wingers and a replacement for Gerrard. Borini may be the edge up front we need - but I don't know his game to be honest. It's good the likes of Reina & Skirts are staying and Lucas is getting fitter. With him back we look so much more solid which puts the emphasis on our forwards. Goals look like they might still be an issue. The start to the season is key and Rodgers could really do with starting well. I like his style though! 5-7th. 7. Newcastle. Still a really good team but can they keep it up? 8. Everton - Don't care.
The funny thing about Aston Villa and the top 4 was that they always deliberately got knocked out of the early UEFA Cup/Europa league stages so they'd have less games in a season but because of O'Neill's lack of rotation they ended up being tired toward the end of March anyway and only managed to qualify for the UEFA/Europa next season. So getting knocked out of the Europa meant their whole league campaign and finishing 6th had been pointless.
Personally, I see Man City retaining the league with Chelsea pushing them hard, more because of the signings than the manager (how to put pressure on on a young unproven manager that's overrated because of half a cup win already). You can't right them off so I expect Man Utd to be the top three too. Arsenal losing RVP is going to be a massive blow but they are looking to recruit established (partly at least) players this summer which they have not done for a while. Much like us, Tottenham haven't done much in terms of incoming transfers but have a squad that have been together for a few years. We both have new managers too. Newcastle were strong last year but the test will be this season, no one expected it last year so they was playing without pressure. The expectations in Newcastle will have risen now, plus the others teams in the league are more aware of their threat too. I can't see them doing as well as last year but I think it is 50:50 whether they will be challengers. My opinion may change if we sell Carroll to them
we have players who have bedded in immediately, which is a running theme with those scouted by Carr, going back several windows we have a top four quality goal keeper, we've done some more business under the radar again this summer and it looks quality we are a club that was up there, recently, and with some of that squad still around, so it's less dizzy than it may appear to those with short memories we have rock solid business behind us, meaning we don't have to sell, can move quickly in January (again), have very attractive cash up front terms for those we buy and won't have board room twitchiness effecting the team we also have a stronger bench than people give us credit for, last season we had quite a few injuries and the ACON to deal with and still came fifth. at one point we had our first three centre halves out and we also had more than one long term injury IMO, that puts us up amongst the likes of Everton, Spurs, LFC etc who are all strong too (in different ways), but not really all that much stronger, they just cost more and I think that warps peoples impression somewhat. i don't buy this overachieved label we have from last season, because when I look close I just see a very well run team
