Our midfield will have to be better. It was non existent last year. Hopefully this year goals will come from other outlets than basically one player
Do you think this new keeper is better than Butland though? Defence - you have lost Peltier and gained an unknown - wouldn't say it was better Midfield - agreed, same Attack - much, much weaker but what about the manager?
Butland? He was competent, but hardly a world beater. Why mention him? Peltier? He was a poor #2 at RB & only played when Byram was injured. Good riddance. Manager? We're not appointing one. We have a Director of Football & a Head Coach, continental style. Jury is still out, admittedly.
1) Yes I think Kenny at his best was slightly better than him as well, Butland conceded 28 goals in 16 games and when you look at some of that opposition, Butland, Kenny and our new keeper not a lot in it hence why I feel no change. Our reserve keeper is slightly better than last seasons reserve 2) We have gained Charlie Taylor too who had a very successful loan spell. Peltier never featured much the second half of the season and went out on loan so with the addition of the Sampdoria guy we are certainly stronger. 3) Attack - I never liked Ross, we are only much weaker as we have lost our main striker, our season rests on who we bring in on this position as well as midfield. Manager - Stronger because you have to compare McDermott who was truly clueless (and I had been screaming for his departure) to a combination of Cellino his right hand man who finds the talent and Hockaday. Each has a job to do, Hockaday has to coach the players and pick the team, (hopefully the team will virtually pick itself). Cellino has the wheeling and dealing to do and the contracts leaving Hockaday to concentrate on the team. Throw in Carbone watching the youngsters and backroom staff are much stronger. You could also throw in financially stronger and ownership stronger Midfield has just inched towards being stronger with the signing of Federico Viviani - He might turn out to be a flop but he sounds promising and can't be worse than Stewart, Kebe, Pugh or Green You have to also remember TC that Smith and Murphy are entering their second season, both young improving players, Pearce improved on his second season in and I see no reason why these two can't Still don't think we are anywhere near the quality side I am hoping to cheer on but we are edging in the right direction, bring us in 2 quality attacking players and that could all change.
Managerial position improved as soon as clueless twat McDermott was fired. Butland was 3rd choice at Stoke for a reason - overrated - goalkeeping position improved Taylor back from impressive loan spell, Byram back firing on all cylinders, new signing from Sampdoria, Peltier the hapless out - defence improved Midfield with Bianchi and Viviani in, Green and Brown out - midfield improved Attack not as good with McCormack out and Morison back, but hopefully with Billy Big Bollocks gone team spirit improved. Haven't seen Doukara play so jury's out on him. Still time to bring in a new striker, maybe Delort? - attack worse but will hopefully be improved over the next few days.
worry about your own team TC 1 YOUR BEST DEFENDER GONE-NOT REPLACED. 2 MIDFIELD THE SAME. 3 BEST 3 FORWARDS GONE -REPLACED BY A NONE LEAGUE PLAYER WHO HAS LOOKED LOST IN GAMES PLAYED SO FAR. OW AND YOU HOPE TO SIGN A KID WHO FAILED TO HOLD DOWN A PLACE IN EVERTONS YOUTH TEAM
1 2 new defenders ta very muc 2 Our midfield are 10 unbeaten now after today 3-1 victory - 2 speed wingers on trial too 3 Super Lee Gregory opened his account with a worldy today
On reflection, I think McDermott was the worst manager we have had in many a day. You would have to question him bringing Kebe and Hunt to the club. The players looked seriously unfit. How many times did we concede in the last 5-10 minutes of halves. He seemed reluctant to make any substitutions even when things were falling to pieces out on the field. After the way Diouf acted last season, he should have never got back on the bench full stop. A totally gutless and uninspiring man who couldn't stop talking about his time at Reading. So to answer your question TC, having NO manager is an improvement on the manager we did have last season.
Thinking about what I posted above explains to me at least why Cellino hasn't appointed a 'manager' and went for the Hock instead. Most of the managers out there are just on the merry go round going from club to club. Some of them (like our last 2 managers) have a habit of recruiting their buddies on big wages. Cellino is no fool and is not going to be ripped off. We are lucky in a sense that we have someone who has a lot of experience in football. I think he worked out the culture at our club quickly and decided to nip it in the bud. After all, he is spending his own money. The hangers on are mostly gone. The Hock has came in and got them fit. We should be glad of it.
