Happy Face 29 Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Kelly 1219 Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 I voted yes because overall I think we do have a better squad. Not having a single leftback does make it very tight though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonTheMag 4 Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Face 29 Posted August 22, 2011 Author Share Posted August 22, 2011 I gave a null vote as I think it's too close to call. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 Slightly stronger tbf. It should be much stronger really though, given the sale of Carroll. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Face 29 Posted August 22, 2011 Author Share Posted August 22, 2011 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JawD 99 Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonTheMag 4 Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wykikitoon 19867 Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonTheMag 4 Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 The question was, 'Is our squad stronger than at the end of last season', I believe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Dynamite 6985 Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 Im going to be awkward and say Nolan isn't just a miss for his footballing ability but also for his leadership abilities on and off the pitch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wykikitoon 19867 Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 (edited) 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 August 22, 2011 by wykikitoon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OTF 7243 Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonTheMag 4 Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McFaul 35 Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 I'm abstaining, a yes vote is a vote for the mugs who think this regime are doing well for the club. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Face 29 Posted August 22, 2011 Author Share Posted August 22, 2011 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammynb 3343 Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 We've moved from a house of straw to house of sticks, still weak as piss during a bushfire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wykikitoon 19867 Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Gloom 21802 Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil 6 Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 Having no left back makes it close. But having Smith, Guthrie, Shola and Lovelyhand anywhere near the team is worse than Raylor/Perch at left back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChezGiven 0 Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 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 You argued we'd be stronger if we bought any striker so with signing Ba I assumed you voted yes 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Gloom 21802 Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 Was Nolan really carried? Tiote did a lot of his running I'll give you that but we're talking about our top scorer here. Hardly a passenger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChezGiven 0 Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 In terms of stopping the other team scoring more than us, then yes. If given a straight choice between him and Cabaye as a midfielder and we had another proper striker in, you'd want the better player in that role. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Gloom 21802 Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tooj 17 Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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