With the Goon squad this morning relegated to around Liverpool´s standard, now is the time for the club to "up the gear" and cement fourth spot for years to come. Don´t get me wrong, AvB should be aiming to nip Chelsea´s heels throughout the season and give third a go but knowing that RvP isn´t going to finish in the top four is a great confidence boost. Mr Chairman; back the manager in bringing in a top forward to play along side Defoe, hedging the money against Champs League qualification in 2013/2014
Haven't we been here before? An opportunity presents itself where we can become an established top 4 team and what happens...... tumbleweed..... don't hold your breath! The sale of Modrid to Real will tell us where our Chairman presently stands on transfer matters. If we get the full asking price that the papers suggest we will now get, maybe even this weekend, the opportunity is there to spend a portion of that on a real quality forward. Will he, won't he? We'll see. I don't hold out too much hope with stadium plans most likely top of the agenda.
As much as I hate to say it, I wouldn't completely rule Ars*nal out of top 4. Year after year they sell their star player and yet always seem to get CL qualification. Lets not forget they've strengthened with the signings of Cazorla, Podolski and Giroud. Chelsea don't scare me, despite their "impressive" signings. Hazard, Oscar and Marin don't play the "10 men behind the ball" formation Chelsea are used to playing, I can't see the likes of Hazard tracking back 30/40 yards when the opposition is on the attack, same goes for Marin and Oscar for the matter. I think they'll struggle more so than Ars*nal this season. And without Drogba (arguably the Prems best all round striker for that past few years) I can't see them dominating any time soon. Liverpool haven't strengthened to the point of where I see them as a top 4 challenger again, Joe Allen is yet another over priced average Brit in my opinion and Borini doesn't look a world beater, good player but nothing special. Think it will be another exciting season, I reckon the top four will be the same as last year though with maybe us pipping Arsenal to third if we can bring in a top drawer striker or two.
Arsenal ATM have a far better squad and 'first XI' than us. As it stands I go City Utd Chelsea Arsenal for top 4, Levy has a few days to sort our mess out and then maybe I might think differently.
Not really. Man City happened. If they hadn't won the lottery, we'd have finished 4th, 4th and 3rd in the last three seasons. Unfortunately, that sort of thing is completely out of our control.
I honestly think we will struggle to get top 4 this season. As someone mentioned Arsenal are always there and there about regardless of who they sell. Chelsea's squad looks impressive and the new signings look like they have great potential, but they surely cant start with Mata, Hazard, Marin and Oscar so maybe only 2 of those at once will be on the field. RDM had a great if not lucky end to the season and I think he may just be found out this season. Liverpool are coming from a long way away and I dont see them gaining that much with the couple of players they have bought. The two Manchester clubs will dominate and will fight it out for 1st and 2nd again I believe and if RVP stays fit for UTD and forms a good partnership with Rooney they could be devestating. MY predictions are as follows Man Utd Man City Chelsea Arsenal Spurs Liverpool Newcastle Everton
Without two new strikers (one of which has to be a marque signing), we cannot expect to finish in the top 4. Indeed, I would say that a top 6 finish would be a struggle. I cannot believe that Levy has allowed the club - for a second time - to get to the threshold of a new season without adequate strike-power. Unless, of course, AVB really is setting us up to play some exotic new formation, such as the 4-2-3-1 that I have been advocating for some time. It worked well for Roy Hodgson last night. Its a system that gives our lone striker plenty of support, without him having to hold the ball up (which Defoe isn't very good at doing). Even so, it's a risky strategy to adopt, and our lads are going to have to improve on holding on to the ball, if it is to work.
I don't think we'll get CL football this season either. Even if we get the players we need to fill the holes by the end of this transfer window, it's too late to expect miracles from the outset. there's too many factors to consider which could easily take time for everything to come together. for me, it's City top, United 2nd (if they get a marquee CM, I might even change my opinion and say they could be winners) Chelsea 3rd, Arsenal 4th. Newcastle and us fighting for 5th and 6th Everton and Newcastle fighting for 7th and 8th. However, if Everton play like they did in the 2nd half of last season, they could also be fighting for 6th, IMO. we're just no where near ready right now, and it's a real shame.
HI NSS, plenty of balls have been kicked pre-season, and also most of the players lining up over the weeked for us and our rivals are known from previous Prem seasons. We also know that JD is a failure when played as a sole striker in the Prem from before, for example. Of course he may astound me, and doubtless others by being a success this time. But my expectations are based on previous experience, what else can one base it on?
Now WOULD be the time to sign the players we need to make top four as likely as possible. But for it to be at all likely, we've got to sign an Ade-level striker and a first rate playmaker. I happen to think this will happen, at least in theory. It would be crazy to torpedo all the investment made in the club by not having at least these two players--and probably a good back up winger, second striker and new keeper. As to leaving it this late--well, it can't help, but I'm not convinced it will hurt that much, as long as we get the right players, and they work in the club. And as for locking up fourth...I wish, but struggling for fourth may be the best we can hope for this year. Both Arsenal and Chelsea are something of a mystery this year. It may well depend on whether either or both click. And we shouldn't forget Newcastle.
That's the Spurs way, my friend. Yet, we do need to differentiate this from the Mousers' "this season will be our season" nonsense. We expect, but we do not delude ourselves. If anything, we run ourselves down.
Well its not my way mate, I shall say this once and once only as I'm not getting into it with anyone. I have never been less optimistic about a new season, that is all. After the first 5 PL games I'll discuss it.
We've got the sixth largest resources but our squad strength is up there with anyone's except City. If AVB is any good we will be third or better.
City - United - Chelsea- big gap - Arsenal - gap - ( then Liverpool - Everton - spurs - toon but not sure of order). In short we is ****ed...AVB has left me very very underwhelmed...really hope I'm wrong but I ain't holding my breath
Champions League qualification won't happen unless we bring in 2 more strikers and a centre midfielder to replace Luka and I can't see that happening. No Adebayor, King and Modric leaves us much weaker than last season, throw in the fact we have a new manager as well and it could all easily go wrong. No matter what, its gonna be another emotional season at the Lane.
AVB isn't the problem. The lack of striking options is the problem. One needed to be brought in early and integrated into the team. Its likely to be mid septeber/october by the time NEW STRIKER gels into the team and the new system now. By which time our league aspirations could be in tatters and AVB could be under pressure through no fault of his own.
1. Sold a very good player who underperformed for the 2nd half of last season and wanted away at a decent price. 2. Lacking a target man and strength in depth but who scored for England on Weds night? 3. Without reinvesting then achieving anything - let alone finishing above the Gooners - will be tough. But we will still be above you lot and it is great comfort that everyday we can look at our club and think, "at least we're not Mousers"!! Now run along and WUM somewhere else.....
