I have gone for Poor. I understand the Butland sigining but if he has chossen us because he is more likely to play then that means Begovic is gone in the Summer. The new Left wide man hasnt played a game since August and fills a position that we are already over loaded in - He is also uproven. 1. Neither KJ or Crouch moved on and whilst I think they are both capable they are not deliverying what we need. It would have been ideal for one of them to have moved on and to have either given Jerome a good run or picked up a strong fast frontman, Bent would have been good but Odemwinge would also have been an option. 2. We are struggling without a RW at the moment and Ince, Bentley would have been good options. 3. We are deperate fro FB's and both Hutton and Warnock went on the cheap. I acknowledge that they have not had runs in their teams, but they have played and been successful at this level and would have been an improvment on what we have. 4. We havent lowered our wage bill as of yet with players going out on loan. Upson has (what a waste of money) but the likes of Pennant, Palcious etc... are still here and wont feature in TP's teams moving forward. All in all we havent adressed our weaknesses, trimmed the squad or its cost and solved our main problem in that we cant score goals!
Smither's I'll go with poor for the following reasons. 1. Jack Butland everyone, and I mean everyone really rates this young man, I was well impressed with his interview, just after his signing was confirmed on Sky. The plus side, we have come the Summer a very, very good keeper. Which like you means that Begovic will leave. Probably to Utd. NOT sure why Fergie has not looked into buying him in this window? As De Gea continues to make what might still be costly "cock up's". 2. Brek Shea? Looks good, reports are excellent and there are some very, very good player's in the U.S. right now. No doubts Brek is one of those but. Having not played since August scares me, and 2nd T.Ps history signing player's like this makes me shudder tbh. Is he fit now, who knows. He sill needs a visa/permit etc. Add to that unless he is and out and out winger, not that much changes for me. 3. We all Knew that FULLBACK we're oh so obvious you named just two and there are others out there who are (fullbacks) not Wilson, Whitehead etc. That pisses me off the most Smither's. Because UNLESS we can defend well. Something we DID very well is no longer. Our recent goals against is to be blunt A joke. We'll see in a week or two IF TP has learned anything from the Wigan debacle. I doubt it otherwise he would surly have (done something yesterday or earlier) That tells me one of two things. He's either that stupid he can't see it or he thinks we're OK as we are. Take your pick cos I know I can't work him out! Best I can do Smither's I went out tea time till almost 11 so it's pretty poor for me apart from Jack Butland signing.
Sorry Guys had to go for a Joke. After 5 years in the prem, we still do not have premier league recognised full backs which in turns means square pegs in round holes still. Also not too sure about Brek yet as i don't fully know how his fitness is. Also we did not clear out enough dead wood!
Well said Smithers that encompasses everything that I was thinking myself. With luck Brek may bring a gun with him and fall out with Pulis!!
I`ve voted a joke,because none of the problem positions have been sorted. Will Brek Shea ever see the 1st 11? We`ve been here before. I remember being happy when we signed Palacios and Tuncay but they and a few others were never `STOKE` fit( in other words they couldn`t run round like headless chickens with the emphasis on getting back in defence rather than supporting the lone striker up front!!) It doesn`t matter who he`d have brought in Whitehead,Whelan and Walters will still be the first names on the teamsheet and the `tactics` will stay the same. Everybody seems to think we`ll be safe,but to be honest I can`t see who we are going to get the 10pts from the way we are playing.Only one team seems to be playing as bad as us and that`s Villa.I can just imagine the Reading game when they are battering us in the last 15mins and our `defence` is continually hoofing back to them..... Le Fondre then comes on as sub. and GOALLLL!! Ok I`m being particlarly pessimistic this morning,but to be perfectly honest I can`t see where the next win is going to come from. I just hope to God I`m wrong!
I've gone for poor, I'm pleased about Butland and Shea, but disappointed we never signed a fullback, which is what we needed most. I think we only needed the one, as Cameron looks like he's filled the RB position, and I can't remember him putting a foot wrong I've got a feeling Shea will be out in at LB, which might not be too bad, he can't be worse than Whitehead or Shotton! I also thought the same about Palacios and Pennant, if they aren't playing, and there hasn't been any sign of them doing so, we should have sold them, regardless of fees, I think we all knw we've lost money on them, but there's no point letting them sit on the bench and losing more on their wages!
I voted good but reading the posts on this thread I maybe should have gone for poor. Butland is a good signing but that to me suggests to me that Begovic will leave in the summer and I like him and hoped that he would stay. Shea may be good but I can't see him being 'ready' yet. And apart from Delap and Upson leaving on loan we have not recouped any money on outgoings. If KJ and Crouch were told they could leave then I can't see either being too bothered to still be here. JP and WP won't feature for the remainder of the season and we remain short on full-backs. Does anyone know if loan deals can still be done between PL clubs as I thought a loan deal for Jenkinson was being strongly mooted over the last couple of days? So we will no doubt continue with the same formation and tactics through the remainder of this season. I just hope we accrue the required points to ensure safety.
Don't think loans can be done now PP, unless it's an emergency loan, which my might be entitled to, as we're low on even make shift LBs! But I doubt it will happen, seen as we've managed with Whitehead\ Shotton\ Wilko, and apparently Wilson is back in training, not sure what stage he's at yet though, could still be a while before he actually plays.
I think you are right Sandor, It's a massive chance missed in not getting a fullback in. And so (because we've used numerous player's) TO fill those fullback roles it's not like we've not got a goalie FIT eg Tommy or Beg's both out and even then, 3rd choice Nash? would have to play. In short all clubs now have to hold what they have and get on with it.
