Smirking_Saint

Regardless of who you think is better neither ings nor austin would fit with the way we play which woulfd be a pretty fundamental flaw tbh.....

We wont go for broke and I doubt that the 30 mil is 'burning a hole' Im sure if the right player comes up then we will potentially stump up the cash for them. We need a back up keeper, but this will likely be an older aquisition, you wont likely get a brilliant keeper as backup but hopefully someone who could certainly do a shift if required. The other area we are lacking is backup to Pellè considering he is fundamental to how we play. Someone like Benteke or Bony. But both of those are unlikely. Harry Kane has been mentioned. Again unlikely in reality. Something else to think about is how we stand on FFP, although recieving funds this year we spent a lot out, no doubt paying reasonable wages aswell.

Who is better as a team then ?

My question is why is it so unbelievable to think that the news would more likely view gap between the likes of city and utd as the true gap for a title contending team ?

Early days yet, I think Id rather wait and see how we are after the Dec run. And that will be a big test. Can we finish top four ? Unlikely IMO but there is a genuine realistic hope, essentially there are a few teams stuttering this year, apart from Chelsea of course. If we hit that run with confidence high and a lack of injuries then we could be in with a shout, but winning enough games in that run to maintain a top four finish ? Probably unlikely, as much as I am hopeful Genuinely think we can reach the final of the league cup though, and hopefully top 6 I can dream about top four though, its possible, but like I said, unlikely

Since you are struggling to understand what I am saying they were 9 points clear from who were their nearest rivals in the title chase in all reality

Yes you are It was an excellent pass and move goal and a good finish

So what exactly is your issue ? That they regard Man Utd as a bigger club ? Because they are ? Whats the issue with that ? We are in an excellent position, but Id suggest the best we could hope for in reality is top 6, maybe, just maybe, top 4 at an absolute maximum But what do you want ? Fanfare when you walk down the road with your stripes on ? Get over it Besides, lets not get carried away, we have played two of last years top 6 this year, how did we get on ?

Agreed cb People need to stop being so precious

Why ? Do you genuinely believe we will be challenging at the end of the season then ?

DT has a history of not being a loyal fan, and is in a few words 'a bit of a tit'

Im pretty sure he is talking about replacement due to his age, not due to him being poached

Yup, very good wins but like us, although flying high none are expected top 6 teams

We have been ruthless against opposition we have played, and yes can only put points on the board against those put in front of us but in reality we havn't played anyone with a real pedigree except for liverpool and spurs, of whom, despite battling performances we succumbed to. All that aside though, its been refreshing the way we play, I loved last season under poch but under Koeman we retain much the same pedigree from a defensive unit point of view but added to that is a real flair. As Ive said before, december will be our acid test, but if we reach it with a low injury list and our current high confidence Im sure we will gain enough to hopefully provide tye basis of a top 6 finish

Good prospect, Id certainly be happy with this.

It was certainly exaggerated, thats what a journalist does after all, and yes of course there was an exaggeration from the players that left, I had heard before however that things were not rosey between MP, the players and the board. I went as far as to say they were incompetant, which I agree is too far now. For one reason or another communication was poor, though realistically it must of been a difficult time evaluating the position with what was in essence an entirely new board

It sort of makes me laugh that because everything turned out rosey that everything that Blackmore spoke about was complete crap. Its just immature to think so. There was a lot of bad blood between some at the end of last season, the upheaval did have an affect. Although there was a raft of spin on both sides of the fence I have it on good authority that there was a great deal of tension in the ranks before, thankfully, the club got a hold of things. Nobody was right and nobody wrong really, the club has vindicated its decision to let those that forced their way out go, a large part was a money, but there was ambition involved, and the club was questioned on that, ultimately the players that left and some of us posters got it wrong, the ambition was there. Ill hold my hands up and admit I was one of those that worried, as I said before I hear a lot from the corridoors in the club and plenty were worried about how things were handled early on but now Im assured theres never been a better attitude around the club. But Im not going to apologise for that worry, nor would I apologise for my positivity now and during last season.

This really, strong everywhere else Plus I find it a bit early to soley blame Poch, however he needs to shoulder some blame in reality

Nothing groundbreaking really, he took off adam and walters and added some more pace into his attack. It gave them more options upfront and effectively pushed us back a bit, and made us think twice about camping so far forward As others have said though, despite effectively playing with 4 attackers they didnt really look particularly threatening

Whilst you are right, charlie is too. We are much much stronger as a squad (and possibly first 11) then we were last year however we are still vulnerable if Pelle or even Tadic gets injured. Of course they are now more replaceable then they were last year, however Pellè is a big part of how we play and realistically long or j rod, as much as they'd do a job will not replicate his effectiveness. Tadic is just irreplaceable, not really anything we can do about that tbh Im not moaning btw, for a club our size its excellent to only have a real hole in one reservist. I can see us finishing top 6, aslong as injuries are fair to us. Again, December is our acid test.

Not fussed about gallagher it has to be said, Id like to see us bring someone in so he can go and get some game time elsewhere. As for Jay Rod and Long (I know you didnt mention long) I think it would change our game too much, but then finding adequate cover for Pelle would be difficult. Itll be a hard job finding backup for him I could potentially see Yoshida moving on, if a young player is ready for 1st team action (4th choice) Id also like to see Bertrand and Toby signed up permanently but I dont think itll happen until the summer. Theres an obvious reason why there are so many 'loans' in the EPL this year, it offsets the cost until next seasons FFP calculations are made.

Think this is our season in all reality, we have a good squad and pretty much all of the established top six bar chelsea are stuttering. Theres a good chance everton, liverpool and spurs at least could finish below us, all having tough times. I said to the old man today that December time is our acid test, luckily its pre ACON and touch wood we dont look in any injury trouble so far. Hit that period in good form and with a stock of good players then I think we can have some good results of which could see us concrete in a good finish.

The only position I think needs immediate strengthening is back up to Pellè, I think Long could do a job if he had to, but ultimately our game hinges on playing with him. But thats basically it, which for a club our size to require perhaps one player is incredible really

Not that i noticed this time

Yup, definately needs a goal. But he is a hard worker and a decent player, got a lot of time for him, great option