Bruce should be our manager next season regardless of whether we stay up or not. He's already demonstrated he was the best manager to get us out of the Championship. I think we're in with as good a chance of staying out of the bottom 3.
Anelka was the Premier League top scorer in 2009 when he wasn't even a regular starter, he's a class act, can't believe anyone wouldn't have him here.
Think there`ll be a number of clubs involved in the scrap to avoid the drop come the end of the season, us included tbh. For me the teams that will be there or there abouts will be; Crystal Palace Cardiff Us Stoke (Hughes has a track record of failure) Sunderland (Di Canio effect will piss most of the team off) WBA (without Lukaku different team again) Newcastle Southampton Naaaaarwich and possibly Everton (Moyes will be a hard act to follow) As long as our confidence isn`t shot after the first month of fixtures I think we`ll still be in there shouting with a chance of survival come the end of the season
Rather then think of what Anelka was, i'd rather look at what he is, which is 34 year old who flopped in the Chinese league.
He was a sub for virtually his entire time there as he was a player-coach. When he did play, he was rarely even the main striker. He also admitted afterwards he was homesick a lot of the time and he also hated his time there. The man is still a great striker, no matter what you think of him.
Debut against Hannover 96 - The Sweden international partnered new signing Nicolas Anelka in attack – and the latter proved influential in the game at the Gleisdorf Stadium. Second game against Puskas FC - Nicolas Anelka fired his first Albion goals as his new team eased to a comfortable pre-season win over Puskas FC Academy. The summer signing pulled the strings in the first half and showed his calibre with quality finishes in the ninth and 27th minutes. Third game against Derby - New boy Nicolas Anelka was again at the heart of the Baggies’ most promising moments while, at the other end, Ben Foster’s brilliant late save to deny sub Michael Jacobs earned Albion a second successive shut-out(Anelka won MotM). They might only be pre-seasons, but it sounds like he's up for it to me.
He hardly flopped, he was also managing the side at the same time, hence why he didn't make as many appearances. What he is, assuming it was a free transfer, is a striker with a vast wealth of experience, a clinical finish and good footballing brain. If he'd offered to sign for us Bruce would've had him in a City shirt before the ink was dry. And why does the fact that he's 34 make one jot of difference? I'm guessing you wrote off Deano when he signed for us; he was 37 then. What the **** does age have to do with anything except sell on value of players, which subliminally suggests your already trying to flog players who haven't signed for us yet. Being over 30 doesn't suddenly turn you **** at football. Being a no-talent lazy arse does that. Messrs Faye and Koren might have something to say to those who think our squad should be made up of teenagers.
I agree, to a certain extent. Deano may have been old when he signed for us, but he never got a look in, when we reached the BPL.
You've got a fair shout at it. There were some pretty ordinary sides (us included) last season. I reckon WBA plus any of the clubs finishing 11th - 17th and the three promoted teams could be in the mix. Nobody gave us a prayer over the past two years and we finished 12th and 11th. Spirit and effort will take you a long way and a bit of luck doesn't hurt either. I reckon we'll probably be OK as I think we've bought well but if the new boys don't gel we could struggle.. Good luck in 13/14 - I'm sure you'll put egg on a few faces regardless.
I expect us to be a relegation scrap for most of the year, struggling for goals but never say never, last time we got off to a flier & then dropped like a stone. This time as long as we don't get hammered I think we have as good a chance as any of the others in the bottom half. The ones I expect to be down there with us: Palace Cardiff Newcastle Villa Fulham Southampton Sun'lan Possibly Everton (Martinez effect), Swansea (European footy), Stoke & West Brom (don't see them getting better only backwards for them).
according to todays Fail.. SB reckons we are ready for chelsea. Dear Mr Bruce? our midfield need looking at... unless you feel your son is up to it. which I dont think so, championship was his level. http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/read...ntinue-track/story-19618767-detail/story.html good news is that he is tracking midfielders
