That would make me happy. But it would mean you'd have a hell of a job getting your Legoland Season Ticket refund.
Don't you think this shows how light our squad is then. 1 full back injured 1 suspended, a striker injured and we talk about being under strength, I thought this was a squad game now. Doesn't this show that our squad needs a lot of additions to make sure it is decent enough for the start of next season. If not 1 or 2 injuries next year and we could be in the same situation. Just think 2 injuries and 1 suspended and we cant cope.
"Don't you think this shows how light our squad is then. 1 full back injured 1 suspended, a striker injured and we talk about being under strength, I thought this was a squad game now. Doesn't this show that our squad needs a lot of additions to make sure it is decent enough for the start of next season. If not 1 or 2 injuries next "year and we could be in the same situation. Just think 2 injuries and 1 suspended and we cant cope." We have a squad but lightweight in quality . although Leon can't buy a minute atm. Emnes isn't and never will be a striker , a nuisance to the opposition but a striker he'll never be . Buy cheap buy twice seems to be the motto atm .
I agree with you, someone earlier on here said we were massively understrength I am staggered at this statement we are actually down 3 players and that has shown up how weak we are.
We have numbers for centre half position , no real cover now for the full backs ( Angel has confirmed that he can't play this diamond formation without cover in front of him , no disgrace there as we all age ), mid field options are plentiful but Monk seems reluctant to use Leon at all . Players brought in, Kingsley, Grimes ,Barrow are not yet ready and may not make the step up ( Barrow was substituted v Derby on Saturday but has been playing ). Hopefully we keep all our existing squad players with the exceptions of Olivera, Tiendalli, Donnelly, Tremmel. (we've been fortunate Fab has been fit all and in form all season). Cornell may get a chance yet but he didn't set the world alight at Portsmouth although he was 3rd choice there. We have money in the bank and we don't need too many new faces in but they have to be a bit more quality than we have at the moment .God help us if we did get into Europe as we would struggle with the existing squad .
I agree with you Boundy but there has been a lot of talk on here and in the media and from the club, that this is our strongest squad ever. yet 3 players out and we are struggling. Maybe the squad isn't as strong as some make out.
We definitely need the following players in my opinion: - A new backup goalie but getting a quality one who is prepared to sit on the bench will be difficult. Fresh cover at right and left back. 2 new strikers one like Giroud at Arsenal and one of the Kevin Phillips type. Oliveira looks more an attacking mdfielder than a striker to me and I don't think Emnes has the quality to be a starter in the Premier League. We are ok in midfield as I think Grimes and Fulton look ready to make the step up as attacking and defensive midfield backup respectively. We still need another winger with pace who can score goals. I am concerned that Montero keeps getting injured. Hopefully Dyer's rumoured knee problem will be sorted during the close season. Finally I don't think the diamond should be used all the time as it restricts our attacking options by overfilling midfield and leaving space out wide.
Not really TLF, the squad is the strongest we've had in recent years, imo, but this doesn't imply that it is a deep one. We are not a top 6 side, maybe in the future but not now, so we cant carry the financial burdens which would be imposed on us by stacking our squad with expensive, relatively un-used talent in order to compete. I think we've all seen where that path leads. Our first way is to buy 'plug&play' talent. That's players we know have the attributes we need to plug them into our system and perform well. Elsewhere they may be fringe players but here, in our system, they can be 'pluged-in' to be effective, and prosper. Siggy, Shelvey, Naughton, Fed and Cork are all examples of such purchases. Our second way is to keep the pressure on our fringe players to grow perform and we do this by arranging they go out on loan in order to improve while experiencing the first team football they crave but may not get here at that stage of their development. Our third way is to constantly add 'future' potential/talent to our club with the desire that these home grown players can reach first team quality and be starters in the future. At the beginning of each season we'll see some of these players. We are one of the few clubs who have dedicated department of youth scouts who ACTIVELY travel all over Europe, and beyond if necessary, to seek, study, report on young players specifically for our academy. Gorre, Grimes, Barrow and others were 'found' by through this policy. Our squad is constantly being developed, I doubt we'll ever see it full of expensive egos bought through fear of losing. Here, we organically grow our squad to best achieve the objectives we have as a club. It may not be as obvious as spending the cash, but so far its working.
For me, we need a back up keeper, a new LB to challenge Taylor at least, a RB to replace Rangel (think it's time he retired) with Jazz to cover both positions then as 3rd choice, 2 strikers (one of the quality of someone like Mitrovic) and for me 2 wingers who can run like lightening - Here I would possible have a bid for Scott Sinclair as he still has his pace and can cover both wing and striker as he for me is better than both Emnes, Oliveira and Donnelly rolled into 1.
I'm not sure about Sinclair Valley. I'd prefer that we take the reigns off Barrow and give him his shot
I'm not suggesting Sinclair at the expense of Barrow, but imo he is much better than Emnes, Oliveira and Donnelly.
Nope, but for me, these areas are in much need of quality/strengthening in the next one to three windows.
I am not talking about stacking our squad but we have lost a LB and a Striker and we have no natural cover. Even the bottom clubs will have cover of a reasonable standard, but we had to play a CB out of position at LB yet we are over run with options in other positions. If we can't afford cover in each position we have to be more intelligent in our signings.
We haven't been as fluid as other seasons, but to compare it to "hoof and hope" is downright insulting and not what a fan would usually say about his team, especially when it's simply not true. Statistics will even back that up. We've been more direct and played through the air a little more, but for me, the games have been more exciting and tactically astute, we've still scored some exceptional team goals this season, and in Montero have seen some of the most exciting wing play we've ever had. We have not been "hoof and hope", so I don't suggest that any fans go and support Stoke. But if you want perfection, I suggest you start supporting Barcelona. The rest of us will continue to cheer on the Swans, warts 'n' all.
Hoof and hope well if you think that in your little mind explain why we have had a successful season under a rookie manager... you could not make it up and another failed attempt of discrediting monk and his players....FAILED AGAIN
I felt the same as you here bigkidderz, but just couldn't be bothered to dignify his ignorance with a response, well stated............
We'll have to see what happens this summer but I agree we certainly need to add quality to the squad TLF
