healthyaddiction

A good point. The way some people talk, you'd have thought we were a successful club until Ashley came along and messed it all up. We were doing much better. The seven years since ashley took over we've finished in the top half once. The seven years prior we finished in the top half 4 times (including twice in the top 4). Our worst finish was 14th and second worst was 11th. Since Ashley we've finished below 11th 6 out of 7 years (obviously including the year in the championship). Basically it's been a total fuckup.

They lost a lot of player on frees last summer (mostly the overpaid players from the O'Neill era) so that money was spread thinly to boost the squad. Other than Benteke no player cost more than couple million. It was just they bought several players. At least that's how I see it.

I'm sorry but the vast majority of the russian league is utter shite and the top of it is not up there with the top of the portugese league. I'm not sure how you can't see that.

I don't know. Lower than England, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and Russia definitely though. Outside of the European qualifying teams, there is almost nothing. This is irrelevant, though. The crux of what I am saying is that both the Erevidisie and the League in Portugal are significantly weaker than the Premiership and neither of these players will have experienced the week in and week out competition that exists in England. Plenty of players better than these two have struggled when making the move to a bigger league and Wolf hasn't impressed me when I've watched him personally. We'll see though. Honestly, good for Norwich. They've been at the top for a while now, so they should pursue a higher quality of player. All I have said is that there signings are risky. Even Redmond has only been decent at the Championship level, which could be said of Howson and Snodgrass. I'm not having the depth of the Russian league being held over the Portugese league. I'd argue the French league as well but the Russian league point is just not true.

The signings of Redmond, Wolfswinkel and Fer, combined with the fact they're trying to get more quality in (even though Alderweireld rejected them at least they agreed a fee and so i'm sure they'll move onto another target) means that I think they have a decent chance of a top ten finish. The major concern is that the next level if there is an injury to these players will be a step down.

Ok, so you've arbitrarily decided on your own european ranking system. Where would you rank portugal then?

Two players who are completely unproven in the top six leagues of Europe? It is not guaranteed to work, especially with what they will be surrounded by. Wolfwinkel is proven in a top six league. He has a one in two ratio in Portugal.

Yep. Gouffran's a very intelligent player, but without goals he's in danger of becoming our Ali Aliadiere. Gouffran did score 3 goals in 14 premier league matches last season, playing almost entirely out wide. While not an amazing return that isn't all that bad for a man changing country and in a team playing really poorly. He also created a few chances with his running such as against Chelsea and put a hell of a lot of work rate in. While he wasn't as good as Sissoko was at times, he probably was pretty consistently decent.

The powerhouse Mike Williamson.

So Pardew is going to play Williamson over MYM? Ferguson in midfield or defence I wouldn't exactly s*** myself if he played the odd game at left back tbh. In place of Taylor, yes he probably will.

Can you move Ferguson out of defence in that list. It's bothering me. edit: i'd also say that there is still a lack of creativity in midfield (particularly with Marveux's dodgy injury history) and Williamson isn't good enough given that he will play quite a bit as Taylor is also injury prone and I firmly believe that we will not see a MYM, Colo partnership unless absolutely necessary next season under Pardew.

Yeah, and we might re-sign harper to play up front.

Daniel Storey aka Colin Warris

I sincerely hope not. Who else is? I agree he shouldn't be near that role but who else is there? We need two wide forwards/wingers and a striker. And we can sell ameobi, Jonas and obertan to balance the squad numbers if we need to. Though I think I'd marginally be happier to lose tiote before Jonas.

Backup for cisse is shola, backup for gouffran is Jonas, backup for Ben arfa is obertan. Most of the rest of the team ain't too bad but the gap in those three roles is huge.

Where I say whole I mean shola. My tablet won"t fix the post.

You're right that the squad is not small particularly but it is unbalanced. We have about seven or eight players with av decent amount of first team experience for the three midfield roles but only seven for the four defensive roles and only three of an acceptable standard for the three attacking roles (I refuse to include whole and obertan). And the in the midfielders we have too few in the attacking creative role. So basically we have depth but not balanced and in places not of the right quality.

But they have five specialist centre halfs. All in all they have eight specialist defenders. Given Taylors injury record and williamson's ability we need to either get another defender or a more reliable centre half than Taylor.

I would be very happy with this And Sinclair and Gouffran offering depth in the wide roles ... if only.

Palace fans all seem quite pleased about signing him which I find a bit odd. When someone has pointed out Newcastle fans don't rate him they've just decided we're ignorant. I suppose this is a but like us when Neil warned us about him. Oh well they'll learn. Interesting side point the palace fans pointed out is that Holloway may well know Gosling from Plymouth.

I'm surprised anyone wouldn't.

Norwich really could end up quite good next year. Already have Wolfwinkel and Redmond. Linked strongly to Toivonen. That'd add a lot more quality to that attack that last year. Defensively Hughton is pretty good tactically so with that added attacking quality I could see them doing well.

He can play the wide forward role as well I believe. If he's the only striker signing we make then this is a poor move. If he is to add options, an Ameobi replacement for example, then it's a good signing.

The second point of wanting someone stronger and better aerially is a fair enough point, so I think it could be sensible to pick Taylor ahead of Mbiwa. I personally would like to see how Colo and Mbiwa would work but i'm pretty certain that won't be first choice next season.

I don't think any club is going to get involved until the charge is settled one way or the other. You could easily end up paying big money for a player who then ends up in jail. The trial isn't until September though so he'll either need to leave or be stuck in the championship for six months.