Afternoon all, I have been posting on your boards and keeping up to date with things a lot recently and whilst many pundits have tipped you all for relegation I think you all have fantastic managers which will help steer you across the white line. DJ Campbell to QPR, Steve Morison to Norwich and Danny Graham to Swansea are the signings that catch the eye the most so far. Having assessed all three squads so and watched you in the Championship it seems all three clubs like to play good football and are attack minded which is probably emphasised by lack of defensive signings thus far. It's going to be a rollercoaster ride but given the fact sides like Wigan, Blackburn and Bolton all look shakey it may be possible for all of you to stay up. I am hopeful that is the case anyway. I'd just like to wish you the best of luck this season and I'm hoping to see you all play us at some point particularly Swansea as I have family there and as the First Welsh club in the PL it should give the game that extra bit of edge as well as the Chelsea connections at Swansea etc. Hope you all stay up and good luck with your seasons!
Thanks for the good wishes mate! We're all excited, understandably, and we're all hoping we stick to the principles of good football and building from the back... but at the same time if we weren't expecting a fair share of "backs to the wall" stuff then we'd be deluded. Hopefully the boys can step up and give a good account of themselves. Good luck for the new season.
I'm thinking that Newcastle are in freefall and Ashley wont splash the cash and that Wigan without Charles Insomnia will be complete tosh. Then one of Narwich or Swansea to screw up big style and we're in. Desperately need some results from the Everton Bolton & Wihan games to get the lads fired up. Personally I think Campbell & Bothroyd will do the business
Beef, Didnt you think that 3 seasons ago when you probably had a stronger squad than you have now. I think Newcastle could struggle a little this year. but you will be safe. 1 week and let the rollercoaster ride begin. I cant wait. Got my Man City tickets. counting down the days till monday.
I think QPR went into the close season with the strongest squad. They now have a discontented Taarabt and Kieron Dyer, and look to have the weakest squad from the promoted teams. I'm confident that Norwich have strengthened and Swansea also look pretty strong (Danny Graham and Scott Sinclair would IMO be good enough for any team in the bottom half of the PL). Can't wait for the season to begin!
The squad that took us down to league one definitely wasn't stronger than this one! The fact that Lee Croft won player of the season says it all!! I think this is probably the strongest all round squad we've had in 15 years. We've had better individual players in that time, but not a whole balanced squad. I think we're going to be OK, and I actually quite fancy all three of the promoted sides to spring a surprise or two this season.
I am sure that trundles-left-foot was talking about Norwich's last premier league team, which I have to admit did have better individuals than our current squad (Huckerby, Green, Helveg). However, we don;t have any signings from foreign teams who will take half a season to adjust, we don't have anyone wanting a last paycheck before their retirement and we have more depth in our squad! If Rudd and/or Ruddy can prove themselves to be good enough GKs at this level then I believe we will survive!
Please stop being so nice District.You're almost making me hate Chelski a little less,but only almost. Still good luck to you and you're team.Roll on October!!
Not just 15 years mate,i firmly believe this is the strongest squad we have EVER had.We have had some bloody good teams but this is the definitely the best squad.If you think im wrong then give me one better.
1993/1994 GK Gunn CB Prior, Butterworth, Polsten, Newman RB Culverhouse LB Bowen, Sutch CM Goss, Crook RM Fox LM O'Neil CF Sutton, Ekoku, Robins
Taking into account how the game has changed with squads (changing from just two subs for example), I think that broadly speaking the squads from Stringer through to the end of Walker (first time around!) were better.
Late 80's early 90's was certainly the best, until this team and squad proves itself then thats the way it is but it certainly is better than last time in the premiership...
