Jamie Redknapp, Olivier Bernard and Calum Davenport Vs Jay Rodriguez, Steven Davis and Nathaniel Clyne. Major contest, that.....
Well, considering we have seen the former three play for us and the latter three haven't played for us yet it's a bit unfair. People seem to have already given Rodriguez 15 goals next season. Championship to premiership is a big step up. If Rodriguez gets into double figures next season he has done really well. Also, you could say Niemi, Svensson and Fernandes or Gazzinaga, Clyne and Davis. People seem to be writing off our previous spell in the first division, when actually we had some really good years (like 00/01 and 02/03 when we finished in the top half, and 01/02 when we only just missed out. Even in 03/04 we did the double over Liverpool and were solidly mid table). We also had some really solid pro's in the 90's and 00's. James Beattie was a cracking centre forward for several years, Oakley, Marsden and Lundekvam were all solid professionals, as were the likes of Paul Telfer and Jo Tessem. If some of our current players do as well as they did then they've done well. Even Rory Delap isn't that bad, and perhaps we never used him correctly. He has been a regular (even an integral figure) at Stoke and has made knocking on for 400 top flight appearances, so he can't be that bad a player.
Would of Could of there/their/they're your/you're ^ these drive me mad. I forgive people for using 'amount' and 'less' when not appropriate.
I could of been pissed off with Fatletiss but decided not to be, their easy mistakes to make and it would of been harsh to have a go. I agree with you're post.
Well, we aint gonna hit the ground running thats for sure. We must beat Wigan, hopefully pick up a point against MU, and then build from Arsenal.
Godders - good thought-provoking question - damned if I can think of an intelligent answer! Of the teams promoted last season - it was QPR who went for the 'usual suspects' and only just survived, whereas Norwich bought players to match their work ethic. I think Steven Davies is a class player with huge amounts of experience and has played alot of old-firm derbies where the pressure is immense. That should help settle the midfield and I firmly believe that Lambert does not care who the opposition is because he is a techncially brilliant striker of the ball and has natural composure in front of goal - again irrespective of who the opposition are. He will score goals and hold the ball up and distribute it well. There will be a learning period for many of the squad, but technically I think we are good, the style of possession football we play will help us, at times, hang in a game. The squad spirit is excellent and I think that will help us also, but it will be challenging.
Not praise just realism. Telfer was a regular in our best season in living memory, and was first choice for a number of managers. Delap has made 400 top flight appearances. I'm not saying either of them are world class or great players, just that they were both solid top flight players, which their stats (top flight appearances etc) bear out. If Telfer had played for us last season then I have no doubt he would be held in the same regard as Richardson, Delap would be held in the same regard as somebody like Hammond or Cork, if not better. And vice versa if we had had Richardson or the like when we were in the premiership, he would not be regarded so highly.
To be fair to Paul Telfer, you knew what you were getting with him. A tigerish fighter, who was as fit as a butcher's dog, and that was it. Plus he scored that unexpectedly nice end of season goal against Newcastle [it's always Newcastle..!]. Apparently his pass completion ratio was amongst the highest in the club, at the time, which means I must have had my eyes shut or he never passed the ball, or Saints basically gave the ball away at practically every opportunity [actually, there might be some truth in that]. With Rory we expected some proper fireworks. £4.3M was certainly not chicken feed [still isn't] and we were a little more deserving than the odd good game in five [perhaps ten], plus that bicycle kick, which showed Rooney how it is done properly. Oh yes, and two of his throw-ins produced goals. Not the best of value, I'd say.
