Probably true! Maybe Cork puts in these top performances because he knows he isn't first team and wants to get in the starting 11 more regularly? I don't care which 3 of Wanyama, Schneiderlin or Cork play, they're all decent players.
This upward graph is about to hit a ceiling....only 7 more places to go...going to be seriously tough. It's like we have been on the upward climb in a roller coaster...we must hope it's a boring plateau at the top rather than a drop. I am happy if the players believe they are going to be top 4, but I would be happy to finish 6-8th next season...maintaining our standards and proving we are here long term.
By all means let's aim for top 4. It's better to aim high and miss, and all that. But anyone who would be disappointed by falling short of such an ambitious target is being unrealistic in the extreme.
Minimum requirements really, but probably realistic bearing in mind our probable transfer budget. Absolute necessity is another GK!
Agree about a new keeper but a new striker has to be the priority. With Jrod out for an unknown period any injury to Rickie and we are well and truly stuffed.
The U18's drew 3 3 with Stoke, one of the goals we scored was by A Trialist, perhaps he is the answer to our striking woes?
I agree with Fran. I am with everybody hoping we can challenge for top four next season or soon after. But I am also aware of how far we have come - and I think it would be a massive achievement to become established and consistently at this level (of performance and achievement). I used to be chuffed with us "doing a Norwich". Now that's the last thing I want to happen! I want to "do an Everton". I want us to have home grown talent and be financially viable, producing England players and playing good football - and be properly, and consistently challenging for Europe. And however long it takes to do this, if we don't slip back from where we are now I'd be very happy. I still think we desperately need a top class striker, and preferably a 'keeper. But other than that we can afford to be choosy, consolidating with players who can compete with the current squad (though there are some positions with great competition already).
Normally the best of the rest teams can all muddle around, so a team could come 8th-18th, albeit unlikely to come below around 14th or so. The teams below us, we are a lot better than: Newcastle have been **** since Cabaye left, Palace are good but their form won't last, Stoke are solid but far from great. The teams above us though, minus Everton due to the Europa League next season and Tottenham, who aren't that consistent, we are very far away from the current top 4 and also Man Utd, who will get a decent manager in and they've shown a bit more quality in the last month or two.
This was a strange season. The bottom was so far from the top that Saints and Newcastle lost a lot of games and yet are still 8th and 9th, respectively. Can't expect that next year...we have to improve our consistency.
Strange is the word, when we had a few little set backs, those below us had bigger set backs, I would hope next Season is more competitive throughout, but 8th place or better would be truly remarkable if it happened.
I thought we'd been quite consistent this year? Generally, we've beaten teams we'd hope to beat (except Villa, Spam & Sunderland), and fared less well (but not terribly, actually) against sides above us in the table. If you're saying we need to be more consistent to challenge for top four, then OK. But we've consistently played good football, pressed hard and won the vast majority of possession.
We also lost to Cardiff at home. Injuries haven't been kind to us this season, which is why we need to strengthen. Also possession counts for nothing without scoring, so we need a striker (someone in the Osvaldo bracket, but not him).
Agreed about possession - but still nice to see us playing the football we are and not going Villa-style. Also, we'd be better off signing someone like Hooper than someone like Osvaldo (if Norwich are going down), but I know what you mean. We definietly need a striker.
I think 7th should be the target, with Everton in the Europa I can only possibly see us overtaking them. Everyone else has the squad to cope with Europe and finish higher than us, with new signings to the core of the team I'd imagine next season to be transitional if anything, then kick on for Europa the following season.
We are all pretty sure that we need a CB, Winger, GK and a Striker soooooo here are some names Wishlist: In my order from left to right I'd 'like' Strikers, one from - Drmic, Immobile, Finnbogason, Rossi and G.Pelle Wingers two from - Cerci, Cabella, Griezmann, Muniain, Susaeta and Candreva Defenders one from - Benatia, van Dijk, Alderweireld and Astori Goalkeepers one from - ter Stegen, Coutrois, K.Navas, Begovic, Rui Patricio, C.Bravo and Reina What does everyone think, any you like the look of?
No British players at all? Lots I like the look of, most of them seem pretty optimistic though to be honest!
