If the EPL consisted of the following teams only, where would we finish? Aston Villa Everton Fulham Liverpool Newcastle Norwich QPR Reading Southampton Stoke Sunderland West Brom West Ham Wigan For me top 3-4, certainly top half and most certainly not bottom 3. In reality, these are the teams we can and are competing against. I truly believe when all is done, we will comfortably remain an EPL team.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but did Wegner go to Arsenal without previous English league experience? Murinhio? Houllier? Benetez? Some of the best managers the premier league have seen. Ok, granted at bigger clubs with bigger war chests, but also bigger expectation. I think Laudrup will do just fine. RE: The new manager unsettling the squad, Sousa did that didn't he? And we had a better finish under him than we did under Martinez. I think some people are just looking for negatives which sometimes aren't there. I'm more confident going into this season now than I was last season. If it does fail, I'll just worry when we have to, I'm not going to worry now when I don't know what's going to happen
"do you think we are as strong as last season" I don't know. And neither do you. But we actually look alright. Consider the players. We've lost one player who, for all his attributes was guilty of slowing our play down when going forward and was far too ready to pass backwards or sideways when there was an option forward. That will change this season imo. We've lost Caulker and replaced like for like, if not improved on him. We only had Siggy for 1/2 a season and replaced him with a very decent player indeed. Tactically, could Laudrup be any worse than one-plan Rodgers? So on the face of it we look as good if not better. Time will tell.
Why take them out? wwcoi, you should know that this year we are better placed to compete against these teams, at home at least anyway. We took 4 pts off Liverpool, so I don't know why you want to take them out. Both Everton and Newcastle 'over performed' last season and Newcastle in particular will struggle to reach last years heights. The second season syndrome fallacy means that we have a years worth of experience under our belts, experience we didn't have last year and we did fine. I know there's been changes but still, being realistic all we have to do is score more points than three other teams from the list As a second season team we now know what to expect and I doubt we'll be intimidated as we were by Everton, Norwich, QPR, Newcastle last year. We know what to expect this year, we can compete with these teams. We are in the EPL on merit this year.
why? Liverpool are a much better team under Rodgers, we have never beaten everton in our history, and the toon are a big team with better players. all three teams are far stronger than us and should have no problem beating us at their own place and wont lose at the liberty.....they are too big and we wont get away like we did last season as an unknown factor....the others in the league is anyone's guess...
"Liverpool are a much better team under Rodgers" - How do you know, they are in the same situation as we are, new manager etc. "we have never beaten everton in our history" - We've rarely played them or been in the same league as them. Anyway, what has gone before counts for nothing now. With your incredible, its too hard so lets all give up now logic, Notts Forrest must still be a European heavyweight because they won the European cup, are they still a big team in Europe? "toon are a big team with better players" - Now I'm confused and smell something very odd. No Jack would say that, ever, are you sure your not "a casual fan"? "they are too big and we wont get away like we did last season as an unknown factor....the others in the league is anyone's guess" Disagree with you entirely buddy. But I do wonder why, in every single post you make, you are so pessimistic about our chances. No "I'm just being realistic" answers allowed.
How can you confidently say that Liverpool are going to be a better team under Rogers, yet we can't be a better team under Laudrup? You can't because you don't know yet, and most Liverpool fans aren't that confident. In fact, I've seen Liverpool fans bemused that their club didn't go for Laudrup themselves. Instead they took our rookie manager and paid us 7 million for the privilege to go and get Laudrup ourselves I think I trust Jenkins choice of manager over FSG's choice, his record is pretty good so far
All we really have again at the start of another big season is a hope and desire that our team will once again reward us fans with a great return for our support and that HJ and the boards choice of ML will be a revelation and a very good fit for us again. I dont expect anything but hope we stay up and do it well, anywhere around 10th place would be fantastic while beating a few big teams on our way punching above our weight again is possible.
Jeez, talk about the prophet of doom lol. Personally I don't see you being involved in a relegation battle, why should a new manager automatically mean you may be relegated, why should having a small change of playing staff automatically mean you may be relegated. Look at us we had a new manager and a shedload of new players and did a lot better than the pundits reckoned we would. I'd say your glass is half full not half empty, c'est la vie and enjoy the ride
cardiff you cant comment ...you have never been in the premiership to know what its like. Its far harder than lower league. you have to be realistic in this league and not assume because we finished 11th last time that we will do the same again. we have lost key personnel including Rodgers and we look to be losing a couple more, so we are not as strong as we were unless the guys who take their place are better than them and there is no evidence of that yet....so until we see the first few results then you cant say we are stronger....as long as there are 3 teams worse than us then i dont care but nobody can say anything for certain as we dont know.....
It's vital we adapt to the change in the playing sysytem quickly as the first 6 games will hopefully bring us points as well as confidence and belief. Interesting how ML wants the wingers to come off the touchline and support DG and get between the lines. As said on these boards we may get more goals but hopefully more than we concede.
I'm hoping there's not too much change to adapt to, but agree that we need to get into it pretty quick. If we don't pick up points from the first few games, the next lot get a hell of a lot tougher. We may have been better off having some of the big boys first so there would be less to lose for dropping points early on
SA9 that's a fair point. Think some of our senior players are a bit confused at present so fingers crossed for Sat!! 5 -3 win!
I went to the game. Wales won't be going anywhere near the World Cup Finals based on that performance.
