Either they are vastly overestimating the benefit of being tall, or we are underestimating it.
Personally I don't think teams can hurt our midfield with the ball on the floor but would still like to steal Stach to **** off Leeds fans.
The consensus that ****ing zian Flemming was better than Mayenda did actually hurt me though, I just ignore what they say as bait most of the time but that one actually almost made me bite.
I do however think we really need 2 new CBs, I love Ballard but he started a quarter of our games last season and Cresswell would be a nice like for like competition at RCB. Then I'd go heavily on a LCB.
One thing I have learned about footy supporters is they all think there players are better than others. It is natural. I think we will see them being excited about players they bring in, like we are. Probably overegg them, a bit like we potentially are.
They both finished well ahead of us last year. Naturally they will be confident enough based on that. Most supporters wont have deep knowledge of the likes of Sidiki or Talbi for example. And to be perfectly honest, there is a level of risk in all signings nowadays.
If I am being entirely impartial I look at us at this moment in time and wonder how much better we are off? Jobe and Watson gone. Habib and Talbi replacements? Reinaldo in is a player extra. Sidiki in for Salis? I am including Salis because he came with a big old rep last year, was going to replace Dan etc. He did look big impact off the pitch, which needs factoring in as a loss. I think we are bettee off, but not massivley just yet. Remains to be seen how well we replace Jobe's contribution.
Now of course it changes again if we sign petrovic and mika. Then we really start seeing marked improvements. Cresswell too would shift the needle a bit.
I have said this before, but I am going to repeat it. What we have that many promoted teams recently havent had is huge potential for improvement in our young players. I have said before how big the leap will be for Rigg this season. I think he will be a far better player in his second season. Much like Jobe did, but more improvement. Mentally he will be so much sharper in games. I would not be surprised at all if by the end of the season he is our best midfielder. Mayenda is another who I think will mature again this season. He probably has some physicality to come, frightening as that sounds. He will be bursting with confidence that is for sure. Mundle has a load of scope as well. If Neil stays he will love the premier league game imo and shine brightly. I even think Patto will get better. If we have Cuttler in I would love him to stay and compete, lets really see where his ceiling is because I dont think anyone could confidently say where it is currently.
All in all I would be confident of finishing ahead of Burnley, although they made a couple of really smart moves in season. Leeds is a wait and see for me. They are clearly fishing in a similar pond to us. But again, our team from last season, if we played the championship again this season, would be much closer to them. So I have confidence in us.
Lastly. Our coaching team looks to be getting a big lift. Two elite level coaches joining the ranks. Potentially one more to come. Every bit as important as the players we have in the squad.
Our future seems very bright. Now lets go and get Grealish - £40m, absolute steal.
