Finally it's shut so we can look forward knowing a lot more about where we and our rivals are as far as squad strength is concerned
We didn't particularly need anyone in a forward position other than for a plan b out wide so Sinclair may well fit the bill as Adam Johnson was never going to cut it for me,ok as an impact player for 20 mins but that's about it.Dont know a lot about Sinclair but if he is willing to put the work in that Johnson wasn't then he may find himself on the pitch far more often than has been suggested
Cover at centre half was always the area we wanted strengthening and Nastasic sounds like he will be ideal.Although Savic was supposed to be a top young player but he turned out to be inferior to titus Bramble which takes some doing
With Kolorov proving time and again he is the left back version of Savic it's good to see Maicon come in as cover and with Zabaleta Clichy and Richards we are well catered for there now
Nigel de Jong was likely to go and as sad as that is we move on and Garcia & Rodwell more than make up for his departure so with Barry back in a few weeks we are looking strong there too
Hopefully the Garcia signing will enable yaya to play further forward to where he's at his best and for me he's the best attacking midfield player around currently so when he's sat back babysitting the back line it's just a waste
As for our rivals I'm really pleased utd haven't strengthened the areas I felt were lacking last season.If they had bought someone like Fellaini or Garcia to play behind Carrick I would be much more fearful of them.All utd seem to have done is increased their goal threat when they were fairly potent anyway.Still not convinced they are particularly strong in either full back area but we will have to see
Chelsea incredibly haven't bought what they needed up front or at the back but concentrated on flooding their saturated midfield options again.
Consequently I don't believe Chelsea are the threat they should've been given the improvements they could've made and are fairly reliant on Hazard & Torres to provide the assists/ goals needed to challenge
Arsenal have simply been let down by their board and are a less ambitious club than QPR these days and it would really surprise me if they are top 4 in may
Spurs are a work in progress with AVB and I think Dempsey will do well for them but missing out on Moutinho means they are probably weaker than last year
Newcastle were very quiet in the window but have most importantly kept all their players so more of the same from them I think as they are a well organised decent side.Missing Ryan Taylor for a while now so how they fare juggling a smallish squad with PL and Europa will probably be key
Liverpool will almost certainly be more of a threat under Rodgers and they've bought well with the excellent Allen a massive improvement on Henderson and Adam.Couldve done with Dempsey as putting the ball in the net has been the Achilles heel for a while but raheem Stirling looks a much better option to Downing to provide Suarez with far better service.
Losing Lucas will be a big blow though but Rodgers seems far tactically astute than Dalglish for him to be missed as much as he was last year
Thoughts ?
We didn't particularly need anyone in a forward position other than for a plan b out wide so Sinclair may well fit the bill as Adam Johnson was never going to cut it for me,ok as an impact player for 20 mins but that's about it.Dont know a lot about Sinclair but if he is willing to put the work in that Johnson wasn't then he may find himself on the pitch far more often than has been suggested
Cover at centre half was always the area we wanted strengthening and Nastasic sounds like he will be ideal.Although Savic was supposed to be a top young player but he turned out to be inferior to titus Bramble which takes some doing
With Kolorov proving time and again he is the left back version of Savic it's good to see Maicon come in as cover and with Zabaleta Clichy and Richards we are well catered for there now
Nigel de Jong was likely to go and as sad as that is we move on and Garcia & Rodwell more than make up for his departure so with Barry back in a few weeks we are looking strong there too
Hopefully the Garcia signing will enable yaya to play further forward to where he's at his best and for me he's the best attacking midfield player around currently so when he's sat back babysitting the back line it's just a waste
As for our rivals I'm really pleased utd haven't strengthened the areas I felt were lacking last season.If they had bought someone like Fellaini or Garcia to play behind Carrick I would be much more fearful of them.All utd seem to have done is increased their goal threat when they were fairly potent anyway.Still not convinced they are particularly strong in either full back area but we will have to see
Chelsea incredibly haven't bought what they needed up front or at the back but concentrated on flooding their saturated midfield options again.
Consequently I don't believe Chelsea are the threat they should've been given the improvements they could've made and are fairly reliant on Hazard & Torres to provide the assists/ goals needed to challenge
Arsenal have simply been let down by their board and are a less ambitious club than QPR these days and it would really surprise me if they are top 4 in may
Spurs are a work in progress with AVB and I think Dempsey will do well for them but missing out on Moutinho means they are probably weaker than last year
Newcastle were very quiet in the window but have most importantly kept all their players so more of the same from them I think as they are a well organised decent side.Missing Ryan Taylor for a while now so how they fare juggling a smallish squad with PL and Europa will probably be key
Liverpool will almost certainly be more of a threat under Rodgers and they've bought well with the excellent Allen a massive improvement on Henderson and Adam.Couldve done with Dempsey as putting the ball in the net has been the Achilles heel for a while but raheem Stirling looks a much better option to Downing to provide Suarez with far better service.
Losing Lucas will be a big blow though but Rodgers seems far tactically astute than Dalglish for him to be missed as much as he was last year
Thoughts ?
