Unbelievable

4th division?

If we had kept Ben Arfa, Santon, Yanga-Mbiwa (and Abeid?) rather than get rid for pennies and added to it what we have we would have one hell of a squad to go into the new season. As it is, it's one step forward then one step back.

This is it like. People can point to Colback, Anita, Wijnaldum and Sissoko all being better (which I don't agree with, but that's beside the point), but none of them are effective as a defensive midfielder breaking up play and imposing themselves against physically strong teams. Add to that Abeid was originally an attacking midfield player whose passing isn't too shabby either, and what you have imo is a specialist who, in that position, is better than anything else we currently have for that particular position, which just happens to be a crucial position if you want to play more attacking formations like a 433/451/4231. Probably sell him for a pittance too, so what even is the point?

Ah well, at least the likes of Williamson, Gouffran and Obertan got a fair crack of the whip and look like they will be involved plenty this season.

Utter madness.

Agreed. I wanted Austin ahead of Mitrovic, but now we've got the latter it doesn't make sense to get Austin in, unless we somehow manage to flog Papiss for good money. I think the same can be said for getting Wijnaldum in if we don't manage to sell Sissoko on. We seem to have spent decent money for once (although so far it has "only" been last year's reported profits - this year's profits are still in the bank effectively and that's before we even mention Mike Ashley putting some of his own vast fortune in, God forbid), but our weakest area by some distance hasn't really improved, and you could argue we have gone backwards a little so far, with only Mbemba coming in, with Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon and Raylor off the books. Now, Mbemba might hit the ground running, but he also might take a season or so to adapt. If we don't strengthen the defense before the window closes I can't really see us break into the top 10 this season.

They were allowed to look good, Gladbach seemed content to shoot from distance most of the time rather than try to open us up. It's a completely mad assertion. Apart from the fact that Taylor literally gifted them a goal, I vividly remember him rugby tackling an opposition player on a break (could have seen red in a competitive game) and Willo being completely done for pace out wide on another break. Then in extra time of the second half a complete missed pass over 3 yards spared both Willo and Taylor blushes again as they were completely out of position. And that is just a few incidents I remember from the top of my head where the central pair looked slow, weak or out of position It wasn't a solid defensive display, let alone a good one.

To FC Basel for eur 2.5m

Boetius is not absolutely dreadful like, not even close.

This is wrong like Mole. Before that incredible run of 6 wins on the bounce we were firmly rooted in the bottom three last season, and we all know how bad the second half of the 2013-14 campaign was as soon as we looked "safe" in January. It wasn't exactly inconceivable that we would have ended up in a relegation scrap if Pardew had stayed.

Wat? What? They hardly created anything of note. The fact that they hardly created anything of note is no indication of whether we were solid at the back. Whenever they did decide to venture forward we looked anything but solid.

Wat?

Good thing we have plenty of pre season left because we look nowhere near ready.

Fuck

21,088

Lucky not to conceed a second

If/when we get spanked by a good Southampton side it'll presumably be because the team need time to gel. Wonder how long "McLaren will need time to stamp his authority" before people realise nothing has changed. You don't think he needs time then? That everything changed the minute he walked through the door? Season haven't even started yet ffs. I think nothing will really change because we have replaced one mediocre manager (Pardew) with another one and so far merely invested sufficiently to keep us on par relatively with iur competition.

If/when we get spanked by a good Southampton side it'll presumably be because the team need time to gel. Wonder how long "McLaren will need time to stamp his authority" before people realise nothing has changed.

Not sure why they would be, Mclaren shouldn't have been allowed anywhere near this job to he honest. Yep

Sissoko did well there

Obertan is like a new signing

We look well prepared for the start of the season