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Did we have a better playing staff at the start of the season?


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Did we have a better playing staff at the start of the season?  

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Ignoring what's been spent or recouped, just in terms of the squad.

 

Between the last game of last season and the first game of this, the changes have been...

 

In

Demba Ba

Sylvain Marveaux

Yohan Cabaye

Mehdi Abeid

Gabriel Obertan

 

Out

Patrick Mclaughlin

Kevin Nolan

Ben Tozer

Daniel Leadbitter

Fraser Forster

Wayne Routledge

Jose Enrique

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The only major depreciation is with Enrique, as Ryan Taylor is nowhere near a suitable replacement. I was gutted about Nolan when he was sold, but having watching in play for West Ham against Leeds, he was practically invisible. I love him as a player and a captain, but perhaps it was wise to not be saddled with him for the next 3 years. That said, we've added Ba, and not lost any strikers, so by default that has made us stronger in that area.

 

So my vote goes to stronger, as much as it pains me to say Ashely and Pardew have done something somewhat decent in this transfer window.

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The only major depreciation is with Enrique, as Ryan Taylor is nowhere near a suitable replacement. I was gutted about Nolan when he was sold, but having watching in play for West Ham against Leeds, he was practically invisible. I love him as a player and a captain, but perhaps it was wise to not be saddled with him for the next 3 years. That said, we've added Ba, and not lost any strikers, so by default that has made us stronger in that area.

 

So my vote goes to stronger, as much as it pains me to say Ashely and Pardew have done something somewhat decent in this transfer window.

 

If the front line and midfield are improved, it's only slightly.

 

The back line is severley weakened by the loss of Enrique though.

 

Not watched any championship football, but the reports I've heard about Nolan have been glowing.

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Vote yes. But only just. That is itself is wrong though. With the £35M from Carroll we were told it would all be reinvested we should be much stronger. I know the window hasnt closed yet but we've had since Jan to find a forward and we all knew Jose would be off.

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The only major depreciation is with Enrique, as Ryan Taylor is nowhere near a suitable replacement. I was gutted about Nolan when he was sold, but having watching in play for West Ham against Leeds, he was practically invisible. I love him as a player and a captain, but perhaps it was wise to not be saddled with him for the next 3 years. That said, we've added Ba, and not lost any strikers, so by default that has made us stronger in that area.

 

So my vote goes to stronger, as much as it pains me to say Ashely and Pardew have done something somewhat decent in this transfer window.

 

If the front line and midfield are improved, it's only slightly.

 

The back line is severley weakened by the loss of Enrique though.

 

Not watched any championship football, but the reports I've heard about Nolan have been glowing.

 

Tbf, the only game I've seen was the West Ham v Leeds one, but in that he was quite bad. Missed a sitter right in front of goal, and was huffing and puffing his way into oblivion. His impact on the game was negligible.

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I voted No.

 

We dont have a left back, nor do we have REAL options for goals.

 

Ba & Obertan has limited Premier League experience. The others have come from a lesser league and will take time to settle into the Premiership. So, as I see it, this weakens our squad from the start of last season.

 

One of the KEY things we dont have from last season Squad Harmony. Thats a big factor for lesser players. If they feel wanted and have good craic in the dressing room, well, they play a notch or two higher.

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The question was, 'Is our squad stronger than at the end of last season', I believe.

 

Yes it is well done?

 

If its weakend by a lesser harmony, well, its not as strong is it?

 

/edit. I am assuming you were aiming your post at me?

Edited by wykikitoon
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Nailed on no. Our most consistent and best defender over the last two seasons gone with no replacement and no recognised left back in the squad. Anyone who answered yes is kidding themselves or has misinterpreted the question. But, the window isn't shut yet....so comparing final day vs opening day is a pretty pointless exercise.

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The question was, 'Is our squad stronger than at the end of last season', I believe.

 

Yes it is well done?

 

If its weakend by a lesser harmony, well, its not as strong is it?

 

/edit. I am assuming you were aiming your post at me?

 

Correct, but you said 'this weakens are squad from the start of last season', which wasn't the question haha.

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Nailed on no. Our most consistent and best defender over the last two seasons gone with no replacement and no recognised left back in the squad. Anyone who answered yes is kidding themselves or has misinterpreted the question. But, the window isn't shut yet....so comparing final day vs opening day is a pretty pointless exercise.

 

It's what the predictor said though :lol:

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The question was, 'Is our squad stronger than at the end of last season', I believe.

 

Yes it is well done?

 

If its weakend by a lesser harmony, well, its not as strong is it?

 

/edit. I am assuming you were aiming your post at me?

 

Correct, but you said 'this weakens are squad from the start of last season', which wasn't the question haha.

 

 

Its still a lesser harmony. so :lol:

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Hard to say given we've seen next to nowt of the new additions in our colours. What I would say is Carroll, Enrique and Nolan were all massive players for us last season and I'm not convinced any of those three have been adequately replaced. Certainly the case with Enrique.

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Nailed on no. Our most consistent and best defender over the last two seasons gone with no replacement and no recognised left back in the squad. Anyone who answered yes is kidding themselves or has misinterpreted the question. But, the window isn't shut yet....so comparing final day vs opening day is a pretty pointless exercise.

 

It's what the predictor said though :razz:

You argued we'd be stronger if we bought any striker so with signing Ba I assumed you voted yes :lol:

 

I also, in my first post on it, should have specified more clearly that I meant after the window had shut. I got side-tracked by you not accepting it as a measurable prediction.

 

Notwithstanding these caveats, I reckon it's yes. The extent of the loss of Enrique is for now not certain as he might get replaced. Marveaux, Obertan and potentially Abeid have brought some excellent depth and options to our midfield and our attack is a whole striker stronger. Am not even discussing Nolan, as Cabaye is clearly a better option in the middle alongside Tiote who carried Nolan last season with his exceptional work rate and efficiency with the ball.

 

Do I get a point?

 

Anyway, the window hasnt shut yet so there is still time to sell even more of our best players.

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Who is going to get the goals though? We're way weaker now for goals than we were last season. Cabaye might turn out to be a better in the engine room than nolan, but that still remains to be seen. Early days i know but I haven't been massively impressed so far with him. I'm more concerned with who will get the 20-30 goals a season that Nolan and Carroll would have got between them. Shola never gets into double figures and ba usually misses half a season.

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Who is going to get the goals though? We're way weaker now for goals than we were last season. Cabaye might turn out to be a better in the engine room than nolan, but that still remains to be seen. Early days i know but I haven't been massively impressed so far with him. I'm more concerned with who will get the 20-30 goals a season that Nolan and Carroll would have got between them. Shola never gets into double figures and ba usually misses half a season.

I went to a few pre-season games and he was our best player in those games, and the two games we've had so far this season we haven't exactly tried to play a passing style or went for it. Although his determination has really impressed me, as well as some of his basic passing play. Once Ben Arfa is back, we hopefully get another striker and the likes of Marveaux play, I think he'll be massive for us. Makes a huge difference having those kind of outlets in front of you.

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