So as it stands we only have 1 more point than the 69 we achieved in the supposedly awful 6th placed finish in 13/14 under AVB/Sherwood. A season which lost two managers their jobs
Of course, it is unanimous that we now play more attractive football with greater stability and a core of English players supplemented by foreign talent
However, this is a results business, and the main reason for the greater enthusiasm for this season is that we sit in a higher position in a table. One that now guarantees us champions league football again
However, it is clear that this lesser points tally needed to achieve this feat is lower. Namely because the big clubs have flopped this season
However, although there is always at least one big club which has a relatively bad season, we can expect the majority of them to be much better next season. Not necessarily a huge force like they once were, but enough to get back to their average amount of points per season, roughly 80. This applies particularly to Chelsea with no European distractions, and City under Guardiola
Arsenal have had a poor season yet are breathing down our necks typically, and they always manage a top 4 spot. Then there's Liverpool who have improved under Klopp, as well as Utd's big spending and, of course, Leicester, who if they retain their key players shouldn't slip too far
So, naturally, top 4 will be much harder to achieve next season. Forget a title challenge with the amount of points we drop, it won't happen
It goes without saying that our core XI is good but our squad depth is lacking, and with increased competition next season we have to be ruthless with some players. Carroll's contract runs out and Mason needs to be moved on, he offers nothing even as a squad player
Ideally but not too unrealistically, I want our squad looking like this:
Lloris
Vorm
McGee
Walker
Trippier
Rose
Davies
Jan
Toby
Wimmer
New CB (someone young with good potential? Not as young as Carter-Vickers though)
Dembele
New DM (someone experienced as competition for Dier, ideally somebody with more ability on the ball)
Dier
Bentaleb (I'd give him another chance although I suspect Poch will foolishly persist with Mason)
New playmaker (not essential but somebody of Payet or Mahrez's ilk would really boost our quality)
Eriksen
Alli
Lamela
Son
Chadli
Kane
New ST (Batshuayi has been regularly mentioned)
N'Jie
Then academy players like Onomah, Winks, CCV etc can serve as further back up
I would be interested to see Pritchard in pre-season but he must be 23 by now and probably isn't the standard we require
Perspective (We need to strengthen)
posted on 9/5/16
comment by Chris H (U15205)
posted 18 minutes ago
"Interestingly I actually think there is a good player somewhere in Villas Gueye"
Kill yourself m8
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posted on 9/5/16
Gueye reminds me of Kante
Bojan and Wijnaldum would be pointless signings
Mane would be a decent buy, would mean N'Jie sold though probably
posted on 9/5/16
Furthering HRH's comment, I think the points total will be as low for the next few years.
Since the TV money the PL is far richer than other leagues and thus even the lower teams can attract players that they previously couldn't. (Shaqiri, Payet, even Iturbe although he hasn't been a success)
Meaning that the quality of the traditional lower table teams is increasing. Some days you may just face a player/team who are having 'one of those days'.
posted on 9/5/16
Maybe so, but I think when the big clubs get their act back together they will be able to hit late 70s, early 80s points totals again
posted on 9/5/16
Who is to say we won't do so instead?
Past glory is no guarantee of future success.
posted on 9/5/16
comment by Edinspur (U1109)
posted 49 minutes ago
Furthering HRH's comment, I think the points total will be as low for the next few years.
Since the TV money the PL is far richer than other leagues and thus even the lower teams can attract players that they previously couldn't. (Shaqiri, Payet, even Iturbe although he hasn't been a success)
Meaning that the quality of the traditional lower table teams is increasing. Some days you may just face a player/team who are having 'one of those days'.
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Agree with this. Unless Pep or Jose or Conte Buck the trend and smash it again.
Think pep may surprise a few people. Not 90 plus points but 85 plus
posted on 9/5/16
Not sure about Pep.
Did a blinding job at Barca, but he was like a pig in sheet there. A club that shared his ethos - the exact same one - and also blessed with several of world's finest players in their positions.
At Munich he went to a side that were top of their game already.
City need a lot of surgery. The forwards are second to none, but there are several positions that need looking at
posted on 9/5/16
Not knocking Pep as a coach there, just think this is a whole new challenge for him.
posted on 9/5/16
comment by HRH King Ledley (U20095)
posted 12 minutes ago
Not knocking Pep as a coach there, just think this is a whole new challenge for him.
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It is. But if anyone has the talent to win the Prem playing keep ball it is him
posted on 9/5/16
It is clear that we lack strength in depth, ideally we should have two quality players of equal ability for every position, so that when we rotate or replace injured players it does not affect the teams performance.
We also lack a plan B, we could do with some more pace and trickery, another couple of CF options, one with height and power and another quick fox in the box type, and some better CM options.