Right, whining time is over. So, where are we ?

I,m as disappointed as the next person with the last week of nothing happening, but what is done is done. Time to take stock as to where we are in comparison to 1 September 2011.

the following is a lsit of the players availabe now, or expected to be avialabe in the next week or so, and who can realistically be regarded as senior squad players. This is done from memory, so please correct any errors or omissions.

Forwards:

2011: Best, Ba, Shola, Lovenkrands

2012: Cisse, Ba, Shloa, Campbell

comparison: improved. Cisse is better than Best. Lovenkrands was at the tail end of his career, Campbell is at the very beginnings.


Midfield:

2011

Raylor, Jonas, Guthrie, Marveaux, Cabaye, tiote, Obertan, Sammi, Smith, Vukic, Perch

2012

Jonas, Abeid, Ben Arfa, Obertan, Anitas, Abeid, Bigi, Cabaye, Tiote, Sammy, Marveaux, Vukic, Perch, Fergie

comparison: improved. more bodies and more quality. Guthrie replaced, at least, by anitas. The youngsters have improved. HBA is avialble. New faces in the door. Raylor is the only loss.

Left Back

2011: Raylor, Perch. Anyone else ?

2012: Santon, Perch, Fergie

comparison: improved. We have Santon, more than makes up fpor Raylor. (As I recall, Fergie was injured last September, otherwise he is a nuetra;l factor: still improved)

CB

2011: colo, saylor, willo, perch

2012: colo, saylor, willo, perch, good

comparison: no real change

RB:

2011: Simpson. Raylor, Perch

2012 Simpson, Perch Tav

Comparison: Weaker. Raylor out, Tav unconvincing at the moment

GK

2011: krul, Harper, Ellkiot

2012: Krul, Harper, elliot

comparison: no change


So, progress is being made, I suppose.

Howay the Lads

 

The big thing though - we'll be playing a lot more games due to the Europa League.

 

I agree yeah...

Problem is, if you went through the top 8 prem teams from last season i'd say they've improved also, some significantly!
I really don't want to put a downer on this summers transfers, i like the fact we've moved some deadwood on & bought in some young hungry players. I'd just of liked a few quality signings to help us improve on last season

 

Don't geet me wrong. this isn't an "all is rosy" thread. this window represents a big missed opportunity for me. Just trying to take a step back

I really can't be arsed to do a team by team comparison, so what are other's thoughts on the top 8 then and now ?

Man City and Chelsoea have obviously improved. Don't know about Man U. they've made some signings but lost Rooney.

Are Aresnal and Spurs stronger or weaker ?

Everton: any change ?

Liverpool: are that italian striker and Allen a signficant improvement ?

Sunderland have strengthend in the last week. Anyone else made big strides ?

 

The most worrying thing is that the lack of improvement has been in arguably our most needy areas - RB and CB. Our midfield has been strengthened brilliantly for minimal cost, we needed to do that in all positions so that we could cope easily with the Europa League. I still see us top 7 and in the knockouts of Europa mind.

 

a good way of looking at it.. but Europe will be a drain we haven't had before..

 

The squad is strong in midfield, weak up front and at fullbacks. Take a look at your list, if Perch goes down, you have a lot fewer players all over. Which is why it's so bad.. We'd do well to survive till January having to play in Europe, the 2 cups and the league. Cisse/Ba better not get injured. Can you all imagine how much weaker we would be if they did.

 

For me i see Kadar, Smith, Guthrie, Donaldson, Best and Lovenkrands gone. Total 6. Not counting Forster who was out on loan. Incoming we have Anita, Bigi, Good and Amalfitano. Total 4. Granted a few youngsters are a bit better now and we didnt have Cisse till Feb but can we really see a bigger stronger squad for this season given the extra games we have to play? I accept that some of those leavers didnt play but had we been in the Europa then i suspect they would have and who is to say who out of Bigi, Good and Amalfitano will play in the first team this season outside of the Europa unless the small squad creaks more this season.
Hope to be surprised though, ever hopefull and certainly the europa will benefit our fringe players but worry about our depth at the back and up front.

 

The way I look at it, we have a stronger starting 11, but a smaller squad!

 

I think we've got an immensely better midfield but worse everywhere else!

 

This. We've got a lot of depth in midfield , but everywhere else dangerous depth