He's alright is Barton. Clearly we could have done with him, but I'm not sure how he'd have fitted in with that early season dressing room? It was only when Rafa arrived and Lascelles came to the fore that our squad finally grew a set of balls. Would he have made that happen earlier or would he just have upset everyone is the question.
I cant see Barton or Nolan at the club. Barton was an average premier league player with the right attitude for the role that would have been required for him and that is graft and hard work. He wont come now and Ashley wont have him. Nolan - hmm..... I think his legs are shot. I do not think he is the player he once was (obviously due to getting older) and I dont think his legs would cope with the Championship if I am honest. I watched quite a bit of Championship football last season and I tell you what, its a bloody hard league. Nearly all the players are strong, athletic and fast. A lot of our softies in the current squad would absolutely hate it. Of the key players in our squad... I can see Mitrovic finding his level. I can see Colback finding his level. I can see Mbemba doing ok. I can see Tiote doing well. Darlow would be fine. Krul may stay and would be ok. Elloitt will do ok. Lascalles would be fine. I am putting Shelvey here because he would probably do a good job but might want away - I dont know! Dummett should do ok. Anita - might do ok I am unsure so i am putting him bottom of this list. Janmaat would probably do ok, but I can see him leaving. Perez would be useless, he would be bullied off the ball. Gini...... he would hate it! He will be off this summer anyways. Sissoko...... he will leave but might actually be ok for the Championship. Colo would be crap, he is to slow now. Thauvin would get beasted every week. Aarons will leave. He might do well but I think he will leave. Saivet........ I don't understand why we signed him? Townsend will leave. Taylor - no comment. Cisse will go. De Jong will either be injured or leave. Riviere can leave. If I have missed anyone of any more significance then point it out. Half our squad will be gone. Finally, I also want Rafa to stay but..... I am unsure if he is the right man for the Championship?
I think the Championship is often overrated in terms of what a tough and physical league it is - yes, there is an element of that, but remember last time we were in that league, Andy Carroll was destroying defences before being constantly injured in the Prem, and "delicate" players like Lovenkrands and Routledge were on fire in that league. Not so much an issue of toughening up the team imo, just filtered out those who think they're above that league and won't be bother, a la the Leyton Orient dressing room in 2009; I expect to see the back of Sissoko, Cisse, Jamaat, Wijnaldum, Coloccini, De Jong and Aarons, possibly Krul, Tiote and Mbemba. If Rafa stays will be a major factor on whether some of the above stay though.
