Happinesstan

I'm jus pulling yer leg a bit. Obviously the lack of pace at CB is a concern, but we seem to have managed to overcome it, through teamwork. I suppose relying on that teamwork will eventually prove costly so I definitely agree with the need for more pace, just think our attacking capability is our biggest priority, which will produce benefits to all other departments.

On what fucking plain do you exist?

It was a joke man. Anyway, I've never felt like that for a long time. Even against Everton and Chelsea I thought I'd end the game disappointed with a draw.

Yeah, it stinks. All about the brand though, innit? Best team got to have the best players or things look weird.

I really don't. It's just one of the legends I associate with the game. I can't get into it these days. Too much worrying about upsetting a player for not complimenting his haircut. Their attempts at reality remove the gaming aspect from it. I don't see how you can say defence isn't working. It works very well, aside from a few rash moments. Those rash moments can be better eliminated by increasing our ability up front.

It doesn't matter in those games but in the ones I mentioned, the ones that included the current defence that is in question, he would have made a difference to the incidents that leave us questioning our defence. Of course, improve every player, but we can't improve them all this summer so we need to prioritise. I think more quality upfront is a higher prioriity than battening down the hatches in defence.

Use Offside Trap, man.

Or didn't watch us before. People who didn't watch before don't know that we didn't even play the game of football.

I'm guessing the first price quoted will be inflated by the time he lands.

We NEED a LB and a RW, with cover for Wilson. I don't see that as particularly challenging.. Anything after that is a bonus.

I can see your point, especially if we read into Targett having not yet signed, and against the top teams I think it was proven to be true. And I guess we need to be improving against the top teams if we want to progress, so I'm all for it. But I have to say I can't imagine where we'd be if Wilson had been fit all season. Chelsea would have been in the rear mirror by the time Burn made his error. Same against Everton, where it was his determination to win a game that had been there for the taking for 90 mins, that led him to a rash decision. If we'd taken our chances in that game he would have kept his head in that moment. Those two games shattered our illusions and we were broken going into the Spurs game. Actually we were pretty solid against Liverpool and it was only Man City that really destroyed us at our best.

I totally agree. But if we're pushing top 6 with a floor of tenth, that would be progress.

Anybody know which plane Edwards is on?

Had to read it again, ye bugger. But it doesn't. It says that the initial prices we've been quoted are inflated. It's not news, it's just what happens. He's making assumptions based on what happens. He's a narcissist cunt who can't go on holiday without looking forward to checking his phone the minute the plane lands.

With a fully fit first eleven, as we are currently [less a LB], we're a definite top ten team. Start the season like that and introduce new levels of ability as the season progresses, and when appropriate, and we should push the top 6. That would be my plan for the season

That said, I agree he'll need to maintain that kind of form for the future. But I think he's got it in him.

I think that's harsh on the lad. The game did seem to pass him by on occasions, but you could see he was still alert. I'm prepared to think it was just him acclimatising to the new set-up. Thought he was excellent towards the end.

If we're going the attacking FB route then it would be a good idea.

Haven't you learned to take this shit with a pinch of salt?

Apart from those drubbings we've had a brilliant defence. Obviously if we want to improve we need to do better against those big teams. It's easy to say we need to improve the defence, but the return of Wilson against Arsenal showed that we can control the game in the opposition half.

Still hoping.

Starts brilliantly [Nina Simone's New day, perfect] But why the shite music is louder than the gobshites is baffling.

I'm hoping it's 442 and he's buying Lodi for the left wing. Not saying get rid of Maxi but a bit of competition for his place should invigorate him. If it doesn't then see ya.

I think the team we finished the season with is more than adequate to guarantee a top ten finish and I would be more than happy to start next season with that team. Of course we'd need to sign Targett for that to be possible and I can't believe we haven't. Obviously we're not Man City but we need to do what they do with their players. Buy them young and keep them hungry by not making them instant first team certainties. Allow them to settle in and absorb the club for 6 months, or even a year. Now, whether or not we can afford to be so pragmatic is a different matter. Going to Man City for 100million and a huge wage is going to alleviate some of the disappointment of not playing 50 games in your first year, whether we can offer that as a top ten team is questionable. But I think we can find the players, like Bruno, who can make it happen. I think I'd avoid anybody unwilling to follow that model.