So anyway if we've covered the compulsory Allam debate I reckon we've got a competitive squad and a good manager who should get the best out of them. A lot of our rivals are also in a similar position, so a lot will come down to luck with injuries and suspensions and whether decent players and managers can adapt to each other. Another huge thing is confidence and the 12 goals scored so far is a good foundation for that, but it would be good if we could get a sustained period at the top of the table because the automatic positions are nearly always taken by clubs that have been up there for big chunks of the season. Basically we need the players to believe they can do it.
2 or 3 players short , not sure what was said to Leonid when he came here but I'm sure he was expecting a bit more
I think we've got a starting 11 that's pretty good, although I doubt we'll be anywhere near an automatic promotion spot, but I think we're a few short of a decent squad to allow for injuries or losses of form
Agree. I genuinely think people are positive about our transfer window activity he managed to reduce everyone's expectation. Things were looking that horrendous at one point. It's been a disaster. We're excited because we signed someone from one of the weakest teams in the league. What happens when Daws is out for a lengthy spell (he has every season he's been here), one of the Chelsea centre backs is suspended and he wants to play 3 at the back? Top half at xmas, hopefully new owners then have to decide whether to push on.
Maybe my glass is half full, but we have 4 specialised CBs and others who can fill in if necessary and it's 4 months to January. Yes we could have a defensive disaster, but so could any team. We have a lot of options in midfield and good attacking players for this division. I just don't buy this perception that we have an inferior team. Who are these inferior players?
Me too, it was hopefully we have new owners not hopefully push on. While fluking promotion through plays offs would be unlikely but possible, it would be disastrous. We don't have many who would cut it in the Premier league.
Not sure it would need a disaster. We can expect a lengthy Dawson injury and centre backs get suspended by picking up yellow cards. It happens in that position. Once players are filling in, it impacts on other positions. Brucie always had 5 cb's and still needed Livermore/ Huddlestone as emergencies. As DBT says, we have a good first xi. Not sure how good, but the marathon that is the Championship requires a strong squad. We are woefully weak in some areas. It does give young uns opportunities so for the long term that can only be good. Agree we have a lot of good options in midfield. Not sure about attacking, plenty of depth there but I really don't know about the quality. Dicko wasn't good enough for Wolves. Hernandez out for most the season. Not sure how good Campbell will be. And Dio is NOT a 'good attacking player for this division'. Turbo if his head is right and Bowen though he's a kid cant expect him to do it consistently all season. He'll need resting from time to time. I don't like the continuous dismantling. You 'build' a team for promotion, it's not Championship manager. I expect top half and am absolutely fine with that. Does that make my glass half empty? Not sure.
2 in every position is the rule of thumb. Its massively imbalanced. I just picked up we bought another frigging goalie in the window!!
Come the end of the season, we're not going to have many left, wherever we finish. It'll pretty much be Grosicki and whoever signed on a permanent this window.
For a team playing 3 at the back to have 4 CBs is ridiculous, especially when Dawson is virtually certain to get injured. It means we'll be playing somebody out of position, or Slutsky will be forced into changing the way we play.
I think the Bolton win has probably given some people to much optimisim, we have got some good players but I don't think we have a good squad. I think a number of other clubs have bought better than us and have more quality in their squad. Our trump card? Slutsky. He seems like an excellent manager so far who has impressed me a lot. I reckon we will be top half, if Dicko turns into a 20+ goal striker (I don't think he will) we might make the play offs. If we re-invested the money we sold I think we would be up there as I think Slutsky is as good as most managers in the league. I reckon (as always) that opinion is clearly polarised some people are blinded by their hatred of the Allams and some people are blinded by backing everything Ehab does no matter what.
