All of the new signings. I expect about 50% of signings to succeed and we seem to have hit 100% with this lot (though it's still early, so someone or other may fade). Still a remarkable hit rate for low-priced signings - by current standards, that is. Vin
My biggest surprise is how much I haven't missed Rickie. We all wished him well moving to Liverpool, but I think it's ended his premiership career and I feel sad about that.
Biggest surprise so far is definitely how good Koeman has been. The players from last year who could easily be disgruntled or unsure have picked up right where they left off and remarkably have improved still further. And the new players coming in seem to have integrated seamlessly. I don't think there are too many managers that could have pulled that off. Second biggest surprise is Tadic. I didn't think he would fall on his face, but the level he is playing at right now is on par with just about anyone else on the planet. Pelle has definitely been better than I thought, just not the same level as the other two. I thought Bertrand was going to be pretty good, and he's been pretty good. Shane Long is the least surprising transfer in the history of non-surprising transfers. He was already playing in the Premier League. There was nothing he had to adjust to, or anything unknown about him. I had a pretty clear idea of what to expect, and he's done exactly that.
Agree to an extent but he is playing a different role. Biggest surprise- Cork scoring. More than once. Biggest surprise in signing terms- Bertrand. I thought he would be solid but unspectacular, he is solid and great in attack. Don't miss shaw at all, especially his fragility. I guess with Pelle its not a surprise he has hit the ground running given his record, I think we're all just relieved he has transfered from Erdivisie to EPL (as oppose to player like RVW et al).
That'll end when Carroll returns. I bet West Ham fans will be desperate for Carroll to take a knock in training, once he eventually becomes available for selection.
This more than anything reminds me that our current position means nothing. Great start to the season but thats all it is. The real results will be the end of the season. Happy to just enjoy the ride till then.
But it's no good being great at the end of the season if you've been rubbish at the beginning. As I keep on reminding people and they still don't get it - The first match is every bit as important as the last. One day, one person will get it. Then it'll spread. Thankfully, those that matter, Southampton FC, get it better than anybody.
It frustrates me so much when the press say something like Steven Gerrard's slip "cost Liverpool the title" when they lost exactly as many points losing to us in September as they did in the game against Chelsea. Or the Hull game (3-1 if I recall); never mentioned once. If they had won either of those two dull early season games, they'd have been safe, Every point counts. Vin
None of the signings. Unlike some people, I went in with a completely open mind and was happy to give them all chance. With none of signings, did I originally feel let down at hearing them sign. So no, not any of the signings. My biggest surprise has been the amount of goals from the CMs. Three from Morgan, two from Wanyama, two from Cork, if I'm not mistaken. That is superb. Two from Cork!!!! Two!!! (Three if you can't the Cup),
Heard someone on Sky suggesting Cork might be the answer for Arsenal!!! Shows people are noticing what he is doing....but please give this guy a new contract. We would have to pay decent money to replace him...without any guarantee the newbie would settle in.
Or perhaps he will play well in their new system like their current strikers. He might have been shown up by being forced to play in a system that involved wingers banging crosses at him while he had to nod down and hope Nolan was there. Playing with Sakho/Valencia (I can't see all three playing), Downing in a central creative role and Alex Song is a different proposition
