I'm quietly optimistic about next season. The new transfer committee (can never remember how to spell that word) targets actually look promising and are improvements on the players in our squad they're replacing so far. We seem to have an idea of how we want to play and are looking for players who will fit that system. A few years ago, we were asking if Suarez and Carroll would work together. Now, I don't even ask that question; I can see how Mkhitaryan or Aspas could fit in or how Alberto is +++ better than Shelvey for our system. Not necessarily a believe that it's a new era, but it's another step forward hopefully. 5th or 6th and significantly closer to CL football and I'll be happy. I don't think Arsenal or Spuds are much better than us and can't see Everton being up there again next season.
That's what I mean about building we need to have a plan in place that takes us forward it wont always go smoothly but what we don't want is to scrap it all and start again if things don't go to plan.
Got to say I'm with MFG on this one at least in part. We'd undoubtedly have been better off with Mandy than Borini last season and IMO Spearing would have been more useful than Mr Sideways. In fairness though all managers make some good buys and some bad. If we judge Joe Borini as bad buys already then we must judge Sturridge and Coutingo as good. In reality of course it's too early to judge any of them fully (including the manager)...just as it was too early for Rodgers to judge Carroll. We all make mistakes...Rodgers did....Kenny did....Rafa did. How Rodgers reacts and learns will go a long way to deciding if it's a false dawn or new era.
Well said, and I pretty much agree. The whole club from top to bottom is now pulling in the right direction - buying young talented players and playing attacking football. The problem with Arsenal is that they have CL football and IF they finally decide to invest, they could seriously pull away from us. In terms of our squad strength last season, we were pretty much on par however they still finished massively ahead of us. Now they look to be targeting players like Higuain so I fear that the gap could widen. Spurs have a better, well rounded squad than us and it showed when we played them last season - we may have won 3-2 but I though we were lucky as Spurs were dominating (with ease) up until they gifted us 2 goals. They have a young talented manager with a big reputation around Europe as well a new Technical Director who also has a big name around Europe. Not to mention Chelsea and Man City who will inevitably invest more this summer, and whilst we may dismiss Utd because of Moyes, they will surely be in the mix (as always). I am confident because once Coutinho and Sturridge settled, our form was on par with the top 4 (bar Man Utd). A whole season with the two of plus some additions, and we can make a good go of it.
You can't use the most obvious facts to argue against him Dev, you have to pick out certain facts. Like... If you take away all of Sturridge's goals from last season, Carroll would have more goals than him. #GuruOfKnowledge
the simple fact is carroll misses the target way more than he gets it on target, especially headers. That is what consigned him to the rubbish tip and what sent comolli and kenny to the dole queue. quite simple. had carroll been a guy who took his chances when they came he'd have succeeded. he fluffed his lines and frankly borini is the same. The thing is why defend one and no the other?
This is what annoyed me most about Carroll - if his touch and control etc went down the pan, at least he could do damage with his head, but even then he was awful up until the last couple of months.
Carroll and Borini both had unlucky starts with injury ect different types of forwards that are not a straight comparison. I doubt Borini would have had the impact Carroll did when he came on v Chelsea in the FA cup final and I doubt Carroll will get many goals like Borini's for Italy the other day. Totally different player types
