Second Season Syndrome..

MAckem in peace!!!!

Just wondering what you guys think what will happen next season with Newcastle? Birmingham had a hell of a season last year and now lok at them, in sreious threat of going down...

I know you have that 35M from the sale of Andy "ladyape" Carroll. But do you think it will be invested wisely. Especially if you lose some players.

Just wondering is all. and well done to your team. Wosh mine would but in half as much effort sometimes.

 

Ask again in four months.

 

It truly depends on retaining the current players and bolstering the squad with better quality back ups.

A striker is a must because we can't rely on the current incumbents to guarantee safety for next season.

If the current players like Enrique and Barton are retained with a few added extras we should have enough to succeed next season without worrying to much about a relegation battle.

 

Thats what we thought = P

 

I'm not going to lie, it is in the back of my mind. Our current full-strength team is good enough to challenge for a top half finish, but once injuries and suspensions start taking their toll we have a pretty weak squad.

It's all down to who Pardew brings in during the summer really, and the players we've been linked with have been a mixed bag.

 

We'll not suffer from it because we have premier league quality team, where as Brum had a championship team playing every game as a cup final, and that sometimes gives them a boost

 

The squad looks a bit thin IMO.

 

This. This. Just this. 100% spot on.

 

We definitely need strikers.

We have a team good enough to finish 12-15th next season, but if we buy a quality striker, we could easily finish in the top 10.

Our performances should have us about 7th right now, but what matters is goals, and we've conceded some really ****ty ones and not scored enough.

 

I will wait to see who leaves and what quality of player Pardew brings before I comment about next season.

 

If we invest the money properly, we will be a top 8 no probs, if not we'll struggle again. Pardew said the squad not big enough heard that from Roeder, Allardyce, Keegan, Kinnear and Hughton, so hopefully Mike Ashley will have got the message.

 

repped for 'ladyape'

The second season syndrome has been niggling me, but we have a small squad and have been unlucky,we also have the 35 mil to invest in the squad so I'm pretty sure that we'll stay up next season.

 

ladyape

 

We need 1 RELIABLE centre back, 1 proven golscorer up front (gervinho?) and another striker with potential, keep the 3 midfield musketeers (Barton, Tiote and Nolan), hopefully retain Jose, better cover at LB than Perch (with Ben Arfa hopefully playing maybe Jonas could fill in). That should make for a comfortable season remembering that we will be almost getting two new signings without making a purchase in Gosling and Ben Arfa

 

Gervinho is more a winger or supporting forward, not really an out and out goalscorer.

Jonas is not capable at LB IMO.

Kadar will be returning and I'd gladly have him as back up to Jose.

 

Kadar? What about Ferguson?

Kadar is a CB.

 

While not his suited position, Jonas didn't perform altogether too bad in the role at the WC. Back up only, gotta be a better option than Perch

 

Id personally prefer Ferguson on the wing until he's matured a bit more. I think he is good on the ball, quick and agile, puts a decent cross in to, so would prefer him up there fo now...

Kadar has played at LB quite a lot. And, with him coming back wanting to fight for a place, he could make this position his own. (If Jose goes).

 

With a fully fit first XI and a new striker or two we should be pushing for top 6 imo. It's strength in depth where we fall short so back up what we have with some cover and find a mint striker, then we can get rid of deadwood like Smith, Kuqi and Perch etc. That'll do nicely.

Keeping our best players is more important than buying new ones for sure. There's no point in filling a bucket with sand if you keep cutting holes in the bottom.

 

Kadar plays LB and CB mate