Cajun Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 Sorry, we will sell him as soon as he looks half decent. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BlacknWhiteArmy Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 That's a really strong spine for us. 4 potentially top class players with bags of ability there. It's a shame for Gosling that he's fit now, when the chances of him starting aren't looking so good, when we've had poorer midfields since he joined. He might have had a good preseason but there's technically better footballers playing ahead of him. Can see him being a utility man for us this season though and he'll get plenty of time off the bench. Seems a likeable lad as well. Who's the fourth "potentially world class"? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hughesy Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 Best central midfield since? Speed+Lee Nah, Lee was just about on his last legs when Speed arrived. Speed - Dyer was a better CM. Not when Speed first arrived. And they were brilliant together in the first half of 2001/02 before Lee left. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallowgate Toon Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 That's a really strong spine for us. 4 potentially top class players with bags of ability there. It's a shame for Gosling that he's fit now, when the chances of him starting aren't looking so good, when we've had poorer midfields since he joined. He might have had a good preseason but there's technically better footballers playing ahead of him. Can see him being a utility man for us this season though and he'll get plenty of time off the bench. Seems a likeable lad as well. Who's the fourth "potentially world class"? I think Ba, Cabaye, Tiote and Ben Arfa are four top class players. Potentially Cabaye and Ben Arfa and perhaps to a certain degree Ba due to a lack of being proven in England. Oh and never said world class, just top class, all semantics and whatever but different meanings for me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BlacknWhiteArmy Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest schmuck Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 Our whole midfield is in good shape now -----------------------Ben Arfa---------------------- ------------------------Vuckic------------------------ Marveaux-------Tiote-------Cabaye-------Barton --Jonas--------Gosling-------Abeid--------Guthrie Jonas and Gosling would most likely be the first to get the nod to cover for any absentees, but it's good to see on the whole some pretty high quality cover across the board. That second string could really do some damage in the League Cup. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan_Taylor Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 Our whole midfield is in good shape now -----------------------Ben Arfa---------------------- ------------------------Vuckic------------------------ Marveaux-------Tiote-------Cabaye-------Barton --Jonas--------Gosling-------Abeid--------Guthrie Jonas and Gosling would most likely be the first to get the nod to cover for any absentees, but it's good to see on the whole some pretty high quality cover across the board. That second string could really do some damage in the League Cup. That is pretty pleasing to look at like. Adding a striker and lb will make it a very good summer for us Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowlingcrofty Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 Our whole midfield is in good shape now -----------------------Ben Arfa---------------------- ------------------------Vuckic------------------------ Marveaux-------Tiote-------Cabaye-------Barton --Jonas--------Gosling-------Abeid--------Guthrie Jonas and Gosling would most likely be the first to get the nod to cover for any absentees, but it's good to see on the whole some pretty high quality cover across the board. That second string could really do some damage in the League Cup. That is pretty pleasing to look at like. Adding a striker and lb will make it a very good summer for us A 4th CB is an essential purchase IMO. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan_Taylor Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 Our whole midfield is in good shape now -----------------------Ben Arfa---------------------- ------------------------Vuckic------------------------ Marveaux-------Tiote-------Cabaye-------Barton --Jonas--------Gosling-------Abeid--------Guthrie Jonas and Gosling would most likely be the first to get the nod to cover for any absentees, but it's good to see on the whole some pretty high quality cover across the board. That second string could really do some damage in the League Cup. That is pretty pleasing to look at like. Adding a striker and lb will make it a very good summer for us A 4th CB is an essential purchase IMO. Aye, actually you're probably right Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Antec Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 Our whole midfield is in good shape now -----------------------Ben Arfa---------------------- ------------------------Vuckic------------------------ Marveaux-------Tiote-------Cabaye-------Barton --Jonas--------Gosling-------Abeid--------Guthrie Jonas and Gosling would most likely be the first to get the nod to cover for any absentees, but it's good to see on the whole some pretty high quality cover across the board. That second string could really do some damage in the League Cup. -----------------------Ben Arfa---------------------- ------------------------Unproven------------------------ Marveaux-------Tiote-------Cabaye-------Barton --Jonas--------Unproven----Unproven------Shite Bit more accurate imo, way too early to be calling anyone high quality cover Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkie Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 I'd say midfield and attack are looking pretty strong on paper, assuming the addition of another forward. However, a quality centre-back is essential if we're looking at a battle for the top 6. Williamson and Taylor just aren't good enough. It's a real pity we aren't after a quality partner for Colo, given the money we have to spend. Ship-jumping issues aside, if we've genuinely turned down Bassong at half the price we sold him for, it's hugely frustrating. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 We have lost Nolan's goals, but that midfield is much better than last season's. We also have Routledge for the time being. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinotheprehistoricgeordie Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 I'd say midfield and attack are looking pretty strong on paper, assuming the addition of another forward. However, a quality centre-back is essential if we're looking at a battle for the top 6. Williamson and Taylor just aren't good enough. It's a real pity we aren't after a quality partner for Colo, given the money we have to spend. Ship-jumping issues aside, if we've genuinely turned down Bassong at half the price we sold him for, it's hugely frustrating. Think of the agent fees man Seriously though, I think a left back should be next on the list of purchases. Don't want to see Enrique leave on deadline day and Pardew to complain that he didn't have enough time to replace him. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Antec Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 Our whole midfield is in good shape now -----------------------Ben Arfa---------------------- ------------------------Vuckic------------------------ Marveaux-------Tiote-------Cabaye-------Barton --Jonas--------Gosling-------Abeid--------Guthrie Jonas and Gosling would most likely be the first to get the nod to cover for any absentees, but it's good to see on the whole some pretty high quality cover across the board. That second string could really do some damage in the League Cup. -----------------------Ben Arfa---------------------- ------------------------Unproven------------------------ Marveaux-------Tiote-------Cabaye-------Barton --Jonas--------Unproven----Unproven------Shite Bit more accurate imo, way too early to be calling anyone high quality cover Edit: Actually, stick Ferguson on the left, Jonas on the right and Guthrie in the middle/on the bench Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkie Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 We have lost Nolan's goals, but that midfield is much better than last season's. We also have Routledge for the time being. Something that really, really shouldn't be skipped over. The Nolan argument has been done to death but the fact is, we've sold our top scorer and replaced him with someone who's never played in the division. Hopefully the addition of two new strikers (and HBA) will compensate, and our style of football won't rely on a limited, but potent, centre-mid. There's no wrong in being optimistic about the players signed. Ignoring the £35m issue, the squad has filled out and it looks technically better/quicker. But there's still so much up in the air. The absolute pisstake of a pre-season tour only adds to the uncertainty surrounding team chemisty, given we haven't had a chance to play our best team. What's frustrating is that come Christmas, we'll have been held back by no-one but ourselves. Thanks in part to a garbage pre-season and, more pressingly, the frugality displayed by the owners. There's every chance we'll finish 2011 in a reasonable position in the table, but everyone from the top down will know it could've been more. The same will probably apply to May as well, given the inflation that goes on in January. The squad looks better than last season but there's still some gaping holes imo, all of which are exacerbated by the fact we are in a position to fill them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Venkman Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 We have lost Nolan's goals, but that midfield is much better than last season's. We also have Routledge for the time being. Something that really, really shouldn't be skipped over. The Nolan argument has been done to death but the fact is, we've sold our top scorer and replaced him with someone who's never played in the division. Hopefully the addition of two new strikers (and HBA) will compensate, and our style of football won't rely on a limited, but potent, centre-mid. There's no wrong in being optimistic about the players signed. Ignoring the £35m issue, the squad has filled out and it looks technically better/quicker. But there's still so much up in the air. The absolute pisstake of a pre-season tour only adds to the uncertainty surrounding team chemisty, given we haven't had a chance to play our best team. What's frustrating is that come Christmas, we'll have been held back by no-one but ourselves. Thanks in part to a garbage pre-season and, more pressingly, the frugality displayed by the owners. There's every chance we'll finish 2011 in a reasonable position in the table, but everyone from the top down will know it could've been more. The same will probably apply to May as well, given the inflation that goes on in January. The squad looks better than last season but there's still some gaping holes imo, all of which are exacerbated by the fact we are in a position to fill them. great post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 Seems a bit cynical to already be preparing the "we could have done better" criticism even if we do quite well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkie Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 Probably, yeah. That's just how i see it though. The squad we have now could win the league on goal difference next year, but if we spend the £35m, we could win it by ten points. Exaggerating, obviously. But with a bit of investment, the squad could mount a genuine attack on the top 6. Currently, there hasn't even been 'a bit' of fluttering. And currently, i wouldn't say with any degree of certainty that we'll have a real shot at Europe. We might, sure, but an N'Zogbia and a Bendtner would make it pretty likely imo. We have a budget sat there that could certainly see us take our squad over the likes of Everton, Bolton, Stoke, the Mackems and whoever else is in that 6-12th melting pot - but it isn't being spent. Admittedly, i'm looking into a crystal ball, but i'm just trying to sum up what i feel is most peoples' frustrations. Certainly mine. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
midds Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 You're bang on Yorkie. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 I agree with all of that basically, I just won't spend the whole season saying "it's brilliant we're in X position, but we should be in X+3" Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pleno1 Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 ffs. keeping the ball/possesion and not being overran saves alot of goals, its not just about scoring goals its about being solid and keeping the ball/momentumn in oppositions half. Nolan was basically a bystander away from home when we were deep and he couldnt "sneak in behind the defence" he lacked the pace to get beyond the front 2 when we were struggling. We now have genuine pace in the team and a much bigger threat away from home. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Antec Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 Probably, yeah. That's just how i see it though. The squad we have now could win the league on goal difference next year, but if we spend the £35m, we could win it by ten points. Exaggerating, obviously. But with a bit of investment, the squad could mount a genuine attack on the top 6. Currently, there hasn't even been 'a bit' of fluttering. And currently, i wouldn't say with any degree of certainty that we'll have a real shot at Europe. We might, sure, but an N'Zogbia and a Bendtner would make it pretty likely imo. We have a budget sat there that could certainly see us take our squad over the likes of Everton, Bolton, Stoke, the Mackems and whoever else is in that 6-12th melting pot - but it isn't being spent. Admittedly, i'm looking into a crystal ball, but i'm just trying to sum up what i feel is most peoples' frustrations. Certainly mine. Spot on Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lotus Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 Seems a bit cynical to already be preparing the "we could have done better" criticism even if we do quite well. It's not a giant stretch of the imagination to think that however we do, we could be doing better with more/better players that we could easily have afforded to sign. It's what every club does to climb the league. Hardly an epiphany, like... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimplyAnth Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 It's a pretty miserable way to support your football team though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkie Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 Don't see how it effects your support of the team. Being frustrated by the fact that a massive windfall of cash isn't being reinvested (at the expense of a local number 9 who looked the fucking nuts) is pretty standard iyam. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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