Na mate, it wouldn't last, I get on with 99% of them and the ban was for nowt. Just the 1% of dickheads have a problem. Anyway, that's not for here.
What do you lot make of Drinkwater? He's a friend of a close friend of mine, they went to school together. A player I've never bothered keeping tabs on if I'm honest.
He was rated VERY highly when we were in the championship, bossed the midfield completely, to the stage where people thought England may be calling after a season in he premiership, but for whatever reason was a bit of a disappointment and never really stepped up and progressed as expected last season. We all hope for more this season as we know he is better than he showed last year. Quite a likeable player.
He's still young, in midfield terms, and I think he could genuinely be good this season. Hopefully he's been watching Cambiasso and picks up a few ideas. Was so excited about him last season, but he showed some glimpses of quality, and with a strong defensive midfielder I still believe he could be real asset.
Good luck fellas! The way our pre season has gone I can see this being a tough game but you never know.. I loved your battle late season and admired NP's resistence! I really enjoyed watching Vardy terrorise the oppo! All the best for the season!
How do you think the game will go? Weak areas and strong areas? From a Sunderland point of view, looking at the current line ups, I would expect Lee Cattermole to boss that centre midfield and whoever else he plays alongside, will be either Rodwell or Larsson. We should also be very strong down the left side with the pace of Van Aanholt and Lens. Should Kaboul not start the first game then I am worried about the lack of pace we have in the centre of defence, especially with a quick and tireless worker like Vardy. Unless Giaccherini is fit then we are still short of a creative player in midfield to link up the play and create chances. We are suspect down the right side too, although some of my own fans may not agree on that one. I think we will boss the midfield, but struggle to create anything. I wouldn't be surprised to see another 0-0, maybe even 1-1 this time.
I feel we are very weak in central midfield. Unless we get at least 1 quality signing in there, we will struggle. Our strong points will be Albrighton on the right, who can put in quality crosses and Schlupp on the left with his power and pace, although his final ball can be lacking at times. Hopefully we will have Mahrez playing the number 10 role and with his skill, can open up any defence.
Why is everyone writing off King and Drinkwater? Kingy didnt look out his depth at any point last season and we all know how good Drinky can be. Yes we need a midfielder or 2 but Kingy and Drinky are still more then capable at this level
If you stand still you go backwards, let alone if you don't replace your best player. I'm sure King and Drinkwater are fine, but don't you want better? we need a CM too, more desperately as teams around us strengthen. Lot of money kicking about that's going to bring in a lot of good players. We've got to keep improving and progressing or it will be another long season. Not just us, same applies to the Mags and West Brom, none of us have brought enough quality yet imo.
But Proud, we are now at a point where we shouldn't be pinning our hopes on players that "don't look out of their depth" and just getting by. With the best will in the world King and Drinkwater are good Championship players. Yes I agree they won't let us down when called upon or be"out of their depth" but they will not take us to the next level. That is why I'm keen to see what "quality leader" Ranieri is hoping to bring in. We need a couple of quality center midfielders. Let's see where we are come the Sunderland game.
The Mags think that Price dictates quality Mitrovic - 13m, a 20 year old from the Jupiler league who has no experience of playing in a good standard domestic league. He has played at International level for Serbia, scoring one goal in thirteen appearances. He has scored 2 goals in 13 Champions league games. Doesn't seem so prolific when he steps up... Wijnaldum - 14m, I'll give them that one, quality player who should do well in this league. Mbemba - 8m, another 20 year old from the Jupiler league, again no experience of playing at a high standard domestically. This guy wasn't even guaranteed a game for Anderlecht. Now, this player was born in 1994 when he signed for Anderlecht in 2012. He was however playing for his former club La Grace in 2006! He would have been 12, but, his registration for them shows he was born in 1988. Now to add to the confusion, he registered for the ACON in 2012 and his registration for that shows he was born in 1991. God knows who he is and exactly how old he is! West Brom James McClean - We know all about him, he's not premiership class and never will be. Also a disruptive character, bad signing. Bakary Sako - Left Wolves at the end of last season and has been without a club since. WBA have offered him a contract and a deal looks imminent. Can't see him terrifying premiership defences though.
Mags have got a defence like a ****ing sieve and can't score goals. so putting a lot of faith in expensive kids at each end. I fear for them me.
We all know that Andy King goes "missing" during games and Drinkwater never got going last season. I fear that if these 2 play most of the season together, our defence will face one way traffic. It is obvious we need 2 quality signings in there. On last season's performances, I would start with Hammond over Drinkwater.
For me Andy King is still improving each season and his regular appearances for Wales are helping confidence wise ... Drinkwater's fall from grace is both dramatic and worrying and hasn't yet shown any signs of turning around... when he came on against Sunderland in that penultimate game he did little more than foul constantly.. a cop out from a player lacking in confidence ant wanting to absolve himself of any real responsibility.. maybe Ranieri can change that ...
Do we? Not for me. More like the work he does goes unnoticed. Drinkwater had the double whammy last season of heavy expectation at a level he's never played at before AND having to compete with a world class player to get in the starting line-up. This season it appears he doesn't have either of those worries (by the look of things) so could (and its a big "could") find his feet this season.
