- Feb 18, 2006
- 6,409
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Time to be optimistic. While I'm frustrated at the lack of progress on transfers I'm hopeful that by the end of the window we will have a quality replacement for Walker, Barkley and hopefully a wing forward like Keita Balde. If we managed that and the other teams don't add much else I'd be quietly confident about challenging again, with Wembley of course being the wild card.
Once again I think the so called experts / pundits confuse money spent, not even net spend, with automatic improvement in results. I'm not that convinced by the transfer activity at our competitors so far. I also don't think they account for the abilities of the manager. I think we have the best manager with the least ego who can both improve individuals and make the sum greater than the parts. Last year his challenge was to figure out tactically how to defeat teams who defended deep and he did this by moving to a very fluid formation that interchanged seamlessly between 3 and 4 at the back. This year he needs to figure out how to overcome the high press employed by Klopp and Guardiola, I have no doubt he will do this.
Chelsea - have replaced Zouma with Ruddiger, might be an upgrade but unclear, replaced Matic with Bakoyoko, unclear this is much of an upgrade, and Costa with Morata, I actually think this is a backward step as Costa has been so important to Chelsea. However, I very much doubt they are done and if they add then I expect them to be the main challengers for the title.
City - can't argue with the quality of their acquisitions but they still have a weak spine, particularly if Kompany gets injured. Their problem last year was defending and while they have improved their FBs I still think they will be suspect defensively.
Liverpool - I don't get their business, they so need a GK, at least one CB and a quality LB and all they've done is sign an average LB and yet another speedy winger. I think their season will be very similar to last year, they will look exhilarating at times but ultimately be undone by their defence and CMs.
Goons - no doubt Lacazette is quality but the Sanchez saga will hang over them, if he goes it hurts them badly and if he stays it will be talked about all season. Like Liverpool their weaknesses in central defence and midfield haven't been addressed, the final aspect is the poisonous fan split on Wenger, a few bad results and that will rear its head. Famous last words but I don't see them getting back in the top 4.
United - totally over hyped in my opinion. Replaced Ibra with Lukaku which I don't see as an upgrade, bought a fairly average CH in Lindeloff and added another water carrier in Matic. Their issue last year was turning draws into wins at home and they haven't done anything yet to address this.
Everton - spent a lot of money to buy over half a new team, very rarely does this work out. Add to this that they've sold their top scorer and are definitely losing their top creator and again I'm sceptical Koeman can move them forward as much as the media think.
So come on Mr Levy get us the final pieces to our squad jigsaw and let's complete the series:
2015/16 3rd
2016/17 2nd
2017/18 1st
COYS !!!
Once again I think the so called experts / pundits confuse money spent, not even net spend, with automatic improvement in results. I'm not that convinced by the transfer activity at our competitors so far. I also don't think they account for the abilities of the manager. I think we have the best manager with the least ego who can both improve individuals and make the sum greater than the parts. Last year his challenge was to figure out tactically how to defeat teams who defended deep and he did this by moving to a very fluid formation that interchanged seamlessly between 3 and 4 at the back. This year he needs to figure out how to overcome the high press employed by Klopp and Guardiola, I have no doubt he will do this.
Chelsea - have replaced Zouma with Ruddiger, might be an upgrade but unclear, replaced Matic with Bakoyoko, unclear this is much of an upgrade, and Costa with Morata, I actually think this is a backward step as Costa has been so important to Chelsea. However, I very much doubt they are done and if they add then I expect them to be the main challengers for the title.
City - can't argue with the quality of their acquisitions but they still have a weak spine, particularly if Kompany gets injured. Their problem last year was defending and while they have improved their FBs I still think they will be suspect defensively.
Liverpool - I don't get their business, they so need a GK, at least one CB and a quality LB and all they've done is sign an average LB and yet another speedy winger. I think their season will be very similar to last year, they will look exhilarating at times but ultimately be undone by their defence and CMs.
Goons - no doubt Lacazette is quality but the Sanchez saga will hang over them, if he goes it hurts them badly and if he stays it will be talked about all season. Like Liverpool their weaknesses in central defence and midfield haven't been addressed, the final aspect is the poisonous fan split on Wenger, a few bad results and that will rear its head. Famous last words but I don't see them getting back in the top 4.
United - totally over hyped in my opinion. Replaced Ibra with Lukaku which I don't see as an upgrade, bought a fairly average CH in Lindeloff and added another water carrier in Matic. Their issue last year was turning draws into wins at home and they haven't done anything yet to address this.
Everton - spent a lot of money to buy over half a new team, very rarely does this work out. Add to this that they've sold their top scorer and are definitely losing their top creator and again I'm sceptical Koeman can move them forward as much as the media think.
So come on Mr Levy get us the final pieces to our squad jigsaw and let's complete the series:
2015/16 3rd
2016/17 2nd
2017/18 1st
COYS !!!
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