Know what makes me happy?

We can put out an exponentially better starting 11 than last season.

I just mentioned this about the Mackem's in their board. All of their signings have added some good squad depth and filled some key positions, but I don't think that any of their signings provide improved quality or ability to their starting 11. I can't see how any of the new players will make their team harder to beat compared to last season.

Now with us on the other hand, we haven't signed many players, but some of them are increasing the quality of our starting 11, along with players returning from injury. For example:

Cabaye - A much better CM performer than Nolan. Lots of goals, but Nolan was always our weak link in CM play, and now that's been greatly improved.

Ba - It's unreal how much better he is than Shola and Lovenkrands. We finally have a good quality striker who can bag goals.

Ben Arfa - Up there with Tiote and lethal in the CAM role.

So that's three players coming into the starting 11 next season who are going to significantly improve the ability of the squad and the team. Then we have players who won't necessarily improve quality, but they will add good squad depth, like Gosling, Abeid, Vuckic, Marveux (not sure how good he is yet to be honest) and so on.

However, we just have to hope that the players gel and play together well. Sometimes player combinations can be great on paper, but not so good on the pitch. It depends how well players form understandings with each other. Let's just hope that everyone slots together well. If they do, we could be much more difficult to beat compared to last season.

 

nothing more to say really

 

REP for a positive, logical, well-put post.

 

we have a great starting 11,but when injuries and suspensions start to kick in things might get ****ty

 

When I read the thread title "Know what makes me happy" I was HONESTLY going to reply with simply "Jigsaws? " as it was the first thing that came into my head.

Then I saw how serious this article was. Great read though Chappaz. Give me a minute to compose myself and I'll come up with a proper reply.

 

buzz kill lol

 

Ba, Ben Arfa and Cabeye, three great signings that will really make us tick. Really liked what I saw of Ben Arfa and especially Cabeye on Friday. Can't wait for the new season to start.

 

You know what, I agree with you We have potential in depth too, applying to Gosling, Vuckic, Marveaux and Abeid. Could be a good season for us, especially with Gosling, he has a lot to prove to us now.

 

As you said, I expect our central midfield to be the most improved, obviously, judging by our signings so far. I expect Cabaye to be the engine of the team, so to speak. Him linking up with Ben Arfa next season will make us very strong when we attack, and hopefully we'll have a significant amount of fire power up top to be able to turn those chances into goals!

Obviously our back four hasn't really improved greatly, and it may weaken due to Jose leaving, but I think Colo and Simmo will continue to play at their best after the seasons they had - and having Saylor from the start and hopefully injury free will also definitely be an improvement!

Can't say I see an improvement in attack though, which I'm sure we can all agree with, but that should be addressed soon enough (hopefully..)

 

All good stuff, definitely a stronger first XI although the squad does still seem a little light and we've already started picking up injuries. I can't wait to see Ben Arfa and Cabaye.

 

Nice avatar AH

 

Good to see some positivity for once! Rep

 

Cheers man Thought I'd pay respect to the great man after Darlo.

 

Defence is the only area where we won't improve unfortunately, and may even go backwards slightly if Jose leaves. However, Simpson has been steadily improving over time, so hopefully that improvement will continue, and S Taylor was cracking in the last few games before the end of last season, so let's hope this continues too.

As for attack, I can personally see a massive improvement just with the addition of Ba.

Rouen - 22 goals in 26 apps
Mouscron - 8 goals in 12 apps
Hoffenheim - 37 goals in 97 apps
West Ham - 7 goals in 12 apps

No matter where he's played, including the EPL (in a **** West Ham team) he has been a better than 1 in 2 striker. He's an absolute ****load better than Lovenkrands and Ameobi, and we will be a far superior attacking threat with him in the team compared to having that woeful Ameobi/Lovenkrands partnership in the second half of last season. Providing he stays injury-free, it's a collosal improvement to our attack I reckon.

Plus, if Pardew sticks to his word and brings in at least one more good striker, then we'll be better still. Not sure if he'll be better than Ba though. I really think people underestimate his ability. Clubs are paying £20million+ for players with a similar goalscoring record to Ba.

 

Chappaz.. YOUR MISSING ONE STRIKER THOUGH.. he's BETTER THAN LOVEN/AMEOBI BUT INFERIOR TO BA IN ABILITY.. <<<<<<<Avatar is a clue.

Otherwise, a very good article worthy of a bucket load of rep!

 

Saylor getting a good run of games will be good if he can stay clear of injury. He's the clear choice between him and Willo when he's on form, but he goes and bloody ruins it and gets an injury. Hopefully he can keep up his goals to games ratio too haha

Aye, can see what you mean about attack. But in comparison to the position we were in at the start of last season.. we did have Carroll after all. In comparison to the end of last season, of course we've improved. Plus, I basically see Best (with his form coming from an actual run of games) as an improvement on this time last year too.
In terms of goals, Ba could turn out to be a like for like replacement for Carroll.

 

Ba is basically a good Ameobi

 

Plus, we can't forget about Sameobi!!

 

Abeid, Ferguson, Vuckic and Kadar can all be added as squad members now as well

 

I only hope he doesn't score in our away games.