This morning I made a vow. To stop looking at all the negative "players leaving" posts and to soley focus on the positives for the coming season. I've already turned my mood round such that when that season ticket drops on the doormat I will be buzzing for the first game of the season. I recommend this approach to all. Every time I mulled over those leaving I got angry, bitter and depressed. Time to face facts: Lallana (happy to accept the Lord T***beard label), Shaw and Lambert have gone Lovren and Schneiderlin will go Maybe 1 or 2 others will join the exodus Thanks and goodbye So, time to start getting positive - piecing together who we think will stay, those we know that we may buy, along with the knowledge that there will be more signings, the identites yet to be determined. Here's how our team may look for the start of the season: Boruc / New quality keeper (Marshall?) Chambers, Fonte, new quality CB, Clyne / Targett / new quality LB Ramirez, Davis, Wanyama, Cork, Tadic Pelle (Jayrod when back) Manager: Ronald Koeman (yes, Ronald Koeman) And of course that doesn't even include, JWP, Harrison Reed, Sam Gallagher, Yoshida, Sharp That team in my opinion is pretty exciting. Of course it will need strengthening in depth and much will depend on how the new signings get on. Koeman as a manager may not end up working out but to have such a big name and personality from World football is truely exciting. The Cortese / Slimy Poch era needs to be forgotten and it appears to me as though the Liebher's are serious about the club and never again should we be de-stabilised by such an unhealthy attachment to powerful individuals. The stripes are back, the legends are welcome, Staplewood and the academy are world class. I'm truely proud, excited and looking up. I will no longer consume my time with the wantaways. My outlook is a million times better for it. COYR
Sounds like you've been really shocked and upset by the departures as you've set your expectations pretty low. You've only factored in 5 signings - we'll get more than that, especially as there isn't that much excitement in attack in that line up. We need another striker and even last season we could have done with another CAM unless Ramirez really steps up. Hopefully you'll be more optimistic by the start of the season when the club have finished their business.
Yay!! I just really hope we get the majority in as quick as possible so they get as much preseason in as they can. Onwards and Upwards!!
I think we need to sign atleast 8-10 players, we had a small squad last year and so far 3 have left plus guly , with osvaldo,lovren and schneiderlin to go thats 7 players out!!! I would like to see some of the younger players come through Gallagher, Reed and Targett to get more game time but i would also like to see some ambitious signings any of these would make me happy Bruno Martins Indi Stefan De Vrij Steven Caulker Thomas Ince Jefferson Montero Ings , Tadic and Pelle are ok but fairly unknown so could be risky. I know some of the above players might be out of our reach but hey we've got 100m to spend might aswell give it a go
We are v. out of depth and if we Lose Schnierlin and Lovren we need to replace the 5 out before thinking about Squad depth. Amero > Shaw Dijk > Lovren Schnierlind > Witsel Tadic > Lallana Pelle > Lambert.
Fully agree that we are short of bodies in all areas, but I am truly concerned about players coming in and hitting the ground running. I'm usually a 'cup half full' kinda bloke, but to date I'm not optimistic, even the manager and coaching staff will take time to settle, and time is something you don't get in this league?
My expectations are not low but they will remain realistic. In my post I put together a team sheet which I already think looks half decent based on what we pretty much know. I did say there will of course be more players in who we don't know about right now and we've hardly scraped the surface of the war chest. I'm very optimistic and this post is for the like minded.
You think Pelle is better than Lambert and Amero is better than Shaw?! The problem is a lot of those players are good on paper, however few have played in the Premier League and we have no idea how they will adapt.
I think that the thing that jumps out is the lack of fire power, I hope we can add a lot of quality upfront as we need at least two prolific strikers to get us the goals to keep us going in the league.
I've seen Pelle on YouTube, he looks magnificent? Oh hang on a minute I remember watching Steve De Ridder..........er?
