I remember Allan Smart scoring against Bolton and the joy of it but then a few days later thinking who from the squad would be good in the Prem, it made me think what a hard season was ahead then. I´ve put red for those who I think can cut it in the Prem and a ? after those who might, the others I doubt they could. Goalkeepers Gomes Bond? Gilmartin Defenders Angella Cathcart Pudil? (but well out of favour atm) Hoban? Motta? Layun? Paredes? Connolly Savic Ekstrand Doyley Doherty Midfielders Guédioura Abdi Anya Watson? Tozser? Munari? Smith Byers Murray Forwards Deeney Vydra Ighalo? Forestieri? Mensah Sort of means to me we need to sign Gomes (I think he is out of contract at the end of the year?) Two better full backs wouldn´t go a miss either, Guédiora needs to sign again plus another decent holding mid, Abdi is never fully fit for a good run of games either. Up front they deserve a shot at it after the goals this season. Given what we have, who do you think can cut it and what areas are to be improved if we are to stay up? After all looking at the table now at the bottom end of the Prem it is a tough ask ahead of us, not impossible but a tough one. In the Auto promotion slots we have more time to prepare too...I know it seems a bit cold to think like this now, after all have done so well this season. But I hope our owners are thinking like this now...
Great thread Mex - hope you had a fantastic weekend btw! I would add Watson, Forestieri and Ighalo to red. Would also be happy with toszer, motta, hoban and Pudil getting a chance. I like layun but have my doubts.
The paradox with Bond is that he may be a very good keeper if he a gets a decent run of games but that would mean Gomes being out. I would imagine they'll be looking to loan Murray out to get match-fit, possibly to a Championship side (it seems a bit strange adding that last part ).
Although I agree that we should sign Guédioura, I do wonder why he has not been played more by different managers when he has been in the EPL.
Of our squad the big step up from the Championship to the Premiership will be problems enough but Matej Vydra is my worry for the Premiership. Yes he might have the ability to stick the ball in the goal and of our squad he is one of the few who have played in the Premiership, but he wasn't too successful. Admittedly he was with a poor (by EPL standards) team and the chances he had were not condusive to his confidence game - even if that has changed more recently. I think if he starts well he will continue well and improve, but if he doesn't... As to the rest of the squad I would second DanStarkey's comment and add JCP, I think he will be an asset.
As I've said previously, I think it's the defence that needs most work. 2-3 top quality need to be brought in there. I'd stick Tozser and I think Watson in red too. Can't really understand Layun. His pedigree says he should be straight in the team but somehow we haven't seen it yet. Brum fans seem to be raving about Fabbrini...
No disrespect is intended for Diego but he is far better than any other player that Birmingham City or Millwall have.
No. If I could I wouldn't be surprised. To give an example, though. Most people assume that Deeney will succeed but Pudil won't. I suspect people would be surprised if the opposite turned out to be the case. The type of football that is played in the Prem is different because the players have better technique, and better footballing brains. They think faster and can do things with the ball that lesser players are unable to do. Sometimes these attributes cannot be displayed in the Championship as well as they can be in the Premier League. I can't comment on individual players because I don't see them enough, but I think that is true for many fans. However, I also think that the club have been recruiting players with the Prem in mind, which is why we have people like Layun in the squad. As a wild sort of prediction, I wonder if Ighalo could turn out to be more successful than Deeney, in terms of goal scoring. Ighalo reminds me of people like Denis Law, that Liverpool Welshman, who's name escapes me at the moment, and Alan Clarke. They were predatory goal scorers because they got into the right place at just the right time, and could then put the ball exactly where they wanted it.
I have just noticed that the Prem season this year finishes on 24th May - is that usual? If so some of us might want to think about next year's holiday planning with the later finish in mind
I think Layun in a new country and a crazy league with a pregnant wife will fare much better next season in the prem. We're all at least a little bit disappointed with the way it has gone for him this season but none more so than Layun himself. Personally I'd put him in red. Form is temporary and all that....
So we´ve got a decent core there, just need a few defensive signings and tie up those who are / were on loan then. Europa League it is then!
