So start of the seasons looks like........

still time my friend

 

Are you really that idiotic?

 

Only an opinion, settle down. I believe Carroll is an awesome talent who on his day with the right supply is unstoppable. Ba has a pretty average career record, and is yet to set the world alight. He did well in a struggling West Ham side but his overall play was so so. Plus you must remember he was putting himself in the shop window for his next contract. Carroll is 22 years old and therefore should continue to get significantly better (particularly as a tall stiker when he learns to use his physique even better than he does now - think Quinn or Crouch) Ba is 26 and is what he is although players can continue to improve to the day they retire. But obviously he does not have the development in him that Carroll does, so given Carroll is already a significantly better player for me now, barring him going off the rails, is a different league of striker to Ba. Hence the Harrods/Tesco comparison. Hopefully this clears up where my standpoint is, and you'll show a little more respect when commenting on peoples opinion rather than just abusing people. Just a thought but I guess it'll come with age.

 

First team of 2010 (Man Utd away)

Harper

Perch Colo Willo Enrique

Routledge Smith Barton Nolan Jonas

Carroll

Our subs who came on were Xisco and Ameobi

Even with your pessimistic outlook I'd say the XI you picked is stronger than the one that started the last season!

2010 vs 2011
Harper=Harper
Perch<Raylor
Colo=Colo
Williamson<Taylor
Enrique>Simpson
Jonas=Jonas
Routledge<Marveux
Nolan=Cabaye
Smith<Gosling
Barton=Tiote (arguably Tiote is better)
Carroll>Ba

Add to the fact that Barton and Enrique are still with us and may very well stay with us (at least til January) I'd say you have no real reason for concern that we are moving backwards.

 

http://www.therapistsearch.com/

(titus?)

 

I'm not sure why people are obsessed with comparing one starting 11 with another. The only way you can judge us is to compare the WHOLE squad of one season with another. A team for a particular game just gives a snapshot in time and could result in an unbalanced view due to injuries etc.

 

My point exactly, OP seems to be panicking needlessly when our SQUAD is definitley up on last season, because one or two players have stomped about and another few have been stomped on and gotten injured.

 

Well I think we're weaker but its all about opinions. The point is relevant either way you view it.

 

Yeah, I'm not going to bash you on the head for disagreeing with me.

I feel IF our new signings settle in and we use our academy kids as backup, bolstered by one or two reasonable signings (not getting ahead of myself) we'll be a stronger squad than last year and should be good for a mid-table finish. Ba's record matches Carroll's though granted Mandy has time to improve, one more striker of at least Best-quality and either the retention of Enrique or a top flight replacement and I think we're fairly solid.

 

For me there is no shame in Ba not being in Carroll's class. I think people underestimate just how good Carroll is and will be. I'm hoping Ba does well and his knee holds up but I think we have to be realistic. You have to judge him as you see him. If everyone gets in their head he is our saviour in terms of goals, and that he is a direct replacement for Carroll then I think he's on a hiding to nothing. Stats can be deceiving sometimes and whereas Ba may have managed similar goals to games as Carroll, he doesn't cause the mayhem that Carroll does. They have signed Ba because he was a good deal. I believe they have signed him as a back up to whoever the main striker they get. At least that is what Pardew keeps suggesting by saying he wants a number 9. Mike may have different ideas but that is beyond Pardews control.

 

was trying to remember that one as well.

 

I do get the feeling Ba will be our main striker with someone like Long or Goodwillie as their immediate backup. I'm not getting my hopes up for a big signing, as much as we need one and I fully take on board your comment about overall contribution, Carroll is one of those players who are difficult to replace for a mid-table club like ourselves (same would apply for Enrique). I do think though that with Ben Arfa and Cabaye we have a more creative midfield to support a lone striker and the emphasis on pace AP seems to have should mean Ba doesn't get isolated up front. Nolan for all his goals was slow and without Carroll suddenly looked less special (not knocking him, he's still good I just feel he's past his best very early).

 

No doubting Nolan needs a Carroll type to really shine. He's a good reader of the game but not the most athletic. I'd have preferred to keep him and Barton to help the likes of Cabaye etc settle in and ease the pressure on them. But from the clubs perspective they'd rather retain the likes of Guthrie as back up on cheaper wages. Its kind of understandable given our finances. Plus Nolan as club captain would have been difficult to keep happy if not always first choice. As it happens with Ben Arfa injured again we could use him right now as a 2nd striker! I think Pardew wants a first choice striker. I'd be worried about Ba as our main striker as I think you have to expect him to miss a fair few. This knee is obviously suspect if Pardew had to pull him out of the game on the artificial pitch. The one sign we may not be getting a striker is that they haven't moved Lovenkrands or anyone on.

 

When you display your moronic opinions you deserve abuse. If you say something that deserves respect then I'll give you some.

Carroll is really not that much better than Ba - If at all. If we're going with supermarket comparisons it's basically Tesco and Morrisons. There's very little in it.
No one has any idea how Carroll will turn out - He's a good but not great striker at the moment, and there's just as much chance he'll stay at the same level, as there is that he'll become great.
Let's also not forget that he's got a taste for the drink, and frequently gets involved in stupid behavior as well. This significantly counts against him.

Don't get me wrong, I would prefer Carroll, but there's not as much of a difference between them as you seem to think, and you seem to be placing more value on what he could be, rather than what he is.

 

I'm sure your lack of respect towards him will keep Warm Pouch awake at night. It would for me as I'm a sensitive soul.

It's a difference in opinion and that does not constitute the need for your starting comment.

I'm getting sick of posters abusing each other because they have altering thoughts and opinions. If we all thought the same then this world would be a dull place indeed and would negate the need for a forum to air alternate thoughts on situations or players.

 

After his loan spell I actually thought Pardew would pick up on the fact Routledge works better as a second striker than a winger. Oh well.

I have the feeling we'll be seeing a new striker in within a week, a feel it in my bones.

 

I would very much hope Warm Pouch has enough of a life outside this forum to not care - But as he brought up the topic of respect I thought I should explain why I wasn't giving him any.

I agree that this world would be dull if we all thought the same - And this forum would also be dull if everyone was too busy trying to be 'respectful' to each other instead of saying what they actually feel.
There's nothing wrong with having differing opinions, but there's also nothing wrong with someone giving you "abuse" if you express them in a dumb way.

 

Screwfix is more expensive and has a better range

 

I'll keep that in mind as the wife expects me to have the lounge finished before Xmas.

I started about 3 months ago. Still in the 'design' phase...

 

The big issue is four of our new players between them have 12 premiership games under their belt so its not proven they can cut it in england,can u see them given the same amout of passsion when the **** hits the fan ?? Skilfull players but can't see them having the grit we had last year. plus all have been out for months. if injuries kick in we are screwed. not negative just harsh facts