Firstly, This is my first post on a forum so be gentle (tried on 606 a couple of times but the mods would never allow them to be published, grrr). Secondly, I have just been reading the BBC Article about Billy focusing on only bringing in loan signings who are better than what we have and it got me thinking...Does he mean better than our first 11, or better than what we have as squad players and what sort of player would fit into each bracket? Considering we are in the top part of the championship, there would be a strong argument that the players who are not good enough to be part of the first team squads of lower end premier league sides would not be good enough to improve on our first 11 (I am sure they are a couple of exceptions to this), and if the players are that good, the managers are unlikely to want to let them go (as seems to be the case at the moment). I have read all the comments on Spearing, Spector, Sears etc but I cannot think of many players who I would see being available, have the desire to come to the championship and be of a quality that would make it worth while for us to bring them on board! Any thoughts?
If you listen to it all mate, BD says he'd rather play some of the academy lads than get in bodies just for the sake of it. So, that must mean he is referring to any loanees needing to be better than the whole squad, rather than the team. Having said that, if you look at how players we've currently got out injured, our first XI and entire squad is the same 11 players ;-) I think you can also assume BD is getting frustrated , he certainly sounded as much about the loanees. Still, it's not like clubs want to let their best players go out on loan. I'm personally starting to get seriously anxious. The reason: so many games coming thick and fast and an ever depleting squad, which was already incredibly ssmall compared to some of ourpromotion rivals .
I would love us to bring in some quality players but Im not sure there are any available, its the time of year when even the PL are playing twice a week and no one will want to deplete thir squad, I fear the only people available are kids and thats not what we need, I was hoping this 25 man squad thing would free up some players but It doesnt seem to have made a blind bit of difference (unless your Cardiff or fester).
TGO, I know it's highly unlikely but you never know. Going to have to keep positive that King Billy will work his magic and some manager will owe him a favour ........
Agree with pretty much all of the above, I guess one of the points I was trying to make is that in the position we are in, it is damn difficult to get the right quality of players in for anything resembling sensible money. TGO- Too be honest mate I thought the same, the 25 man squad rule would free up numerous quality young players or seasoned veteran but it appears not. Yak- Did someone not once say 'you cannot win anything with kids?', if you listen to Billy we already had a 'young, inexperienced squad', going for an average age of 14 at this rate! Trees- Me too, got to have faith....Billy and the team will have numerous contacts throughout the game and in the position we are in (challenging for promotion, play football the right way, good bunch or lads for them to gel with), you would think if anyone can get in players of the quality we would be looking for, it would be us. Hell, after all. Leicester and Cardiff can only have so many loan players right!
Ha, but Mr Wenger has been proving it right for the last 5 years! Also, I want emoticons, where would I get them?
Dr if you press reply rather than post quick reply, you get the emotions. failing that go advanced or if you familiar with 606 the emotions are identical
If I remember rightly it was Hanson that said it on MOTD during the Beginning of the Giggs, Scholes, Butt, Beckham etc... era That was many years ago though. It comes down to a question of quality doesn't it. If we had a crop of young players like Dawson, Jenas, Prutton (who was quality then), Reid etc then I would say we would be fine, not sure the current 'seniors' are there though. That said I hear some fantastic things about our youth sides and it does look like we will be seeing more players of quality coming through than in the last 3-4 years. Lets be honest, our youth side has been more of a feeder side for Notts of late!
Didn't man U win the treble with youngsters? that said they were a good bunch in Becks/scoles/Giggs/& the Nevilles. There seems a great team spirit amongst the lads now, KOnch seems to have settled in well, even saying he hopes we go up auto as he doesn't want to watch us on the sidelines in the P/O's. Auto promotion would be a dream. P/O's are a bit of a nightmare for us.
They're a dream for me Yak. I wish some would just enjoy the season and forget the expectations. The lads seem to be doing so well. I see Bill is saying we won the Euro cup with just 14 players and even seems to be looking at the youngsters now too. having them train with the first teamers.
It's an incredible fact. Somebody will have reminded Billy of that, probably ND. But, it's a totally different game nowadays. All the improvements in sports science have introduced recovery time. Players are probably marginally fitter than they were back then today. Their diets, excluding Judas, are also vastly improved. It's therefore not a case of the players not being fit enough nowadays to cope with the games. But the relatively recent thing of recovery-time for players between games makes a big difference. They really have to adhere to these things. Also, in the past, it would actually take players to virtually have to have their leg hanging off to not play a game, as they'd be deemed soft by his teammates. The level of precaution that sports science brings to the modern game can seem frustrating at times. They dare not take the risk nowadays. Whereas in the past, the would care 2 hoots if a player had a slight knock or niggle ......
I wouldnt say that Man Utd in 99 was full of youngsters, although they did grow through the 1st team for several years before. They were 23/24 and had the likes of Keano, Schmeichal, Sheringham, Cole, Yorke and Irwin around them
Yeah Bobby I agree, by 99 that team had evolved and was one of the best sides I have ever seen. Trees - I am not an expert but it is apparently down to the level of strain they put on their bodies. Picture two cars facing away each other with a piece of rope tied to the back. While they are standing still the rope is loose so it is harder to snap by putting pressure on it (Average Joe) the cars pull away from each other so the rope tightens, its now easier to break but still quite strong (olden day footballer) The cars keep going so there is immense strain on the rope, with the slightest touch capable of snapping it (modern day top level footballer). Not the most technical way of explaining it, but hope you get the jist! As for the Auto's, it is still all to play for, I was out with a QPR fan last night who said they feel they are pretty much up, but we should have confidence in our own ability as we are a really good side!
