Reasons for optimism.....

This is stolen from Owlstalk (amazingly there was something coherent on there) but I agree with virtually all of it & for those that are moaning & accusing those not moaning of blind optimism & happy clapping, then these are reasons why all is not lost.

"The club is debt free and we have actually been able to bid for players instead of sieving through the dross of free transfers.

I doubt there is another club in the division that can be so happy with their goalkeeping department. I don't think I would swap Weaver for any other keeper in this division and we have two great back up keepers.

The defence is well and truly sorted. We have a mixture of height, aggression and leadership. I couldn't believe my eyes in the pre-season friendlies when Bennett and Jones were actually talking to each other and getting everybody organised. It took me back to the days of Pearson, Shirtliff and Anderson. To cap it off we have strength in depth. Otsemobor, Jones, Reynolds, Beevers and Johnson would walk into most teams in this division!

We are not going to get bullied in midfield for the first time in literally years and years (barring a brief cameo from Palmer and Soltvedt). Prutton looks like just the kind of character we need and we have managed to get the Player of the Season of one of main promotion rivals, bl00dy brilliant!

We are the biggest football team I have ever seen and will therefore be a real threat from set pieces. I am sure this will win us three points from many tight contests.

We still need a few forward players but we needn't be worried. It is clear that we are going to bring in some of our targets. To the doubters, I would say that it is absolutely inevitable that the likes of MacDonald, Mellor, Roberts and ALF will move somewhere. I would be disappointed if we were not getting our targets because they were moving to other clubs but as things stand there is no need to worry at all. As Milan said on Radio Sheffield, it is like playing the stock market - right price, right timing. The players have all had pre-seasons at other clubs so will be fit and even if it takes a bit of time to adapt it is always easier for forward players to gel quickly rather than defenders.

We are incredibly lucky. We may still need some forwards but we still have two very good ones for this division. Madine (18 goals from 45 starts) and Morrison (11 goals from 28 starts). Most teams in this division would kill for a pairing like that who got 29 goals between them last season. We are looking to bring two more in, brilliant!"

Discuss.............