25 Jul 2015 19:23:25
I know we all get a bit miffed and respond emotionally when the popular media write us off as relegation certainties. But, let's look at it coldly. As a team that has just avoided relegation for the past 3 seasons, how are we placed, with 2 weeks to go to the new season, when compared to how we finished last season ?

Goalkeeper : Number 1 choice at the end of last season has gone. Guzan is not rated by Sherwood (and he knows it) and no sign of a new keeper = WEAKER

Centre half : Vlaar gone and replaced by Richards.Vlaar was never my cup of tea but Richards has largely been played at rightback, . Let's be generous and say = THE SAME

Rightback : If Hutton gets injured we now only have Bacuna, who most are not convinced about= WEAKER

Leftback : A problem area for years and one we seem to have done something about = STRONGER

Midfield : Only bought one player and he is going to need a stellar season to replace the one we have lost = WEAKER

Forwards : No need to spend too much time on this= MASSIVELY WEAKER

Be honest, you may not like it but you can see where the harbingers of doom are coming from
We need a right back, a midfield player, a goalkeeper and 2 forwards. And all of them need to be better than what we already have
Can you see that happening in the next 2 weeks ?

1.) 25 Jul 2015
25 Jul 2015 20:04:57
I see your point, but, do think things will be different this season.
I seriously think it was the negative mentality that has made us struggle through recent season, start a game with mentality to defend a nil nil, will lose way more than you win.
Although the personal wasn't a Utd, arsenal or a Chelsea, I do think they where better than where we finished! Sounds stupid I know.
I still believe in guzan, feel vlaar was a turnip, and feel the snake and Big Ben will be replaced.
Everyone else who has left was squad players.
If ts believes in youth, may be from there, but I also think we are far from finished in this window.

Anyway, with a desire to win, I really think this season we will be an easy top half, hopefully more.

Utv

2.) 25 Jul 2015
25 Jul 2015 20:21:55
Have faith Mendax, the last day of the transfer window can throw in a couple of players itself and I do honestly believe that a few more signings are on the way anyway and hopefully they go smoother than the present one. I'm still a believer that the takeover is not over yet either, maybe it's my wishful thinking but I say let's see what the next couple of weeks brings before condemning ourselves to another season of disappointment.

3.) 25 Jul 2015
25 Jul 2015 21:39:50
I disagree with your point regarding Guzan. I don't care what Sherwood or you think about him, you won't convince me that Shay Given was better than him. Admittedly Guzan didn't have his best season last year, but the previous 2 seasons he was one of our few standout players and at times won us points on his own. Remember that in his last 2 games Given shipped 10 goals. He is not at fault for this but I can't help but think a few of those wouldn't have gone in if Brad was between the sticks. When Sherwood joined last season I distinctly remember him saying that he hadn't watched much of us over the past few seasons - therefore we as fans who have seen Guzan every week for 3 years probably have a better opinion of his quality, and I remember a hell of a lot more outstanding performances from him than bad ones.

4.) 26 Jul 2015
25 Jul 2015 22:14:47
I have to agree with Flackie on this one Mendax.
Sorry to point out that you forgot the Manager = A lot Stronger.
We cannot say with any certainty that Gueye is not as good as Delph he has not kicked a ball yet, and as Flackie said we are far from done in the transfer market.
Let the window close, let the season start and come Christmas if thing are not better than last year I will be amazed, a winning mentality that Sherwood oozes goes a long way.

5.) 26 Jul 2015
25 Jul 2015 22:50:10
Totally agree Andy.
Well said

6.) 26 Jul 2015
26 Jul 2015 01:27:56
Andyvilla, you've missed my point totally on Guzan
I actually like him as well. My point is that in the goalkeeping position,as with all the other positions other than leftback, we are weaker overall (ie Given was a better back up to Guzan than Steer is)
Flackie, we are going to need a lot more than a desire to win to get us through this season safely. Lerner has to spend every penny of the £40 mil we have just gained from sales on at least 4-5 quality acquistions and maybe hope that one 1 or 2 from the youth team step up

7.) 26 Jul 2015
26 Jul 2015 03:33:55
Sorry Mendax but it didn't read that way to me - but even still we complained for ages that Guzan never had anyone seriously pushing him for the first team spot for a while now, and Given shipped goals left right and centre when he played in the league. I don't think Jed Steer would have done any worse TBH. The difference now is he is off the wage bill, and has been replaced with Bunn. So we still have the same issue as before - no one to really push Guzan except we aren't paying ridiculous wages to a keeper who won't get a game - STRONGER (If only slightly)

Also your off the mark at right back. We have sold Lowton who never played at right back all season, so neither of the managers wanted him. We played Hutton and Bacuna when we had him so we might as well move him on - Stronger (Frees up money and a place in the squad for a potential new signing)

Do I think we will have the necessary signings in place in 2 weeks - No - but neither will any of the other teams, hence why deadline day is such a big deal these days. And VillaDave hits the nail on the head - New Manager = MUCH STRONGER. They both had the same players and Lambert couldn't get them playing. Sherwood could. If we had of had Sherwood since the start of the season and he replicated his form for the whole season we would have finished comfortably in mid table. Except now he has the opportunity to tailor a squad to the way he wants to play now, so in theory we should only get better.

8.) 26 Jul 2015
26 Jul 2015 09:06:27
Another point worth thinking with the squad that ts is trying to build is flexibility.
With this, we have players who can comfortably play two, poss three positions, and change formations and tactics. Richards is prime example, you give our rb as a weak link. I actually really like Hutton there, and am not convinced in bacuna, but we also have Richards now.

We don't know what our younger players are truly like, how they will fit in, I guessing ts might pull a few gems, as with spuds youth set up, I'm sure he played them, and heard a few names.
This season is the kick on year. I have no doubts that this year will be totally different to previous three. We might even push for Europa League.

9.) 26 Jul 2015
26 Jul 2015 12:16:30
Blimey Flackie , you're getting a bit ahead of yourself there mate (hope you are right though)
Villadave, you are of course absolutely right about the manager
I realised as soon as I had posted that I had forgot to mention him
Andyvilla, I'm a bit gobsmacked at your remark about right back; you are saying we are stronger because, although we are a right-back short on where we finished last, we have a place for a new one. Thus making us stronger ?
We must be much stronger upfront using that logic as now that we have lost Benteke we have room for Messi

10.) 26 Jul 2015
26 Jul 2015 15:53:56
Well Mendax - I'm assuming that with well over a month left of this window that Sherwood has enough time and money to bring in a RB as its obviously a problem position for us. If the season started today, it could be argued that we are slightly weaker at RB, but as Flackie says we have Richards as cover now so yes I feel we are a little stronger.

Slightly blasé remark about the striker positions, obviously we can't sign Messi upfront, but I think its well within our means to buy a RB better than Hutton. Replacing Benteke's quality will be much harder though, but if Sherwood can actually get some goals from the midfield and buy two strikers who can get 10+ goals each, then we should be stronger overall.

I just think that we shouldn't jump on the bandwagon with the doom mongerers until all of the personnel is in place, and so far I am pleased with the business Sherwood has been doing.

Got to say Flackie that Europa league might be pushing it a little, but I admire your optimism. I think realistically if we can have a building season where we just stay away from the relegation zone all season, and finish mid table playing a better brand of football I will be over the moon. Then we can really start to kick on.

11.) 26 Jul 2015
26 Jul 2015 16:08:12
I must say I get a get a lot of what Mendax is saying. I am feeling a little nervous and frustrated.

However I am impressed so far with Sherwood's signings. Amavi has made us stronger on the left, Richards has made central defense stronger Vlaar was Shite. Gueye I will have to reserve my opinion but looked pretty good against Walsall so there is a possibility we are in the same position didn't seem worse than Delph. Attacking midfield I reckon is stronger slightly because he has given Grealish a chance which Lambert was wasting, as long as he has more faith in Gil too. Massively weaker up front and Ayew is not the same quality as Benteke. Keeper we are in the same position, Given is over the hill.

Versatility is looking better, especially as our squad numbers have decreased.

In my opinion, new Right back is needed. A decent replacement for Cleverly. New decent striker to partner Ayew is essential (Weimann is gone, and Gabby just not good enough, Kozak is squad player). The keeper we can leave as is, we have to prioritise on other areas mentioned.

12.) 26 Jul 2015
26 Jul 2015 17:29:05
At the end of the day we could probably argue all day about strengths and weaknesses in various positions (it's half the fun of the game)
One thing we can all agree on (I think ) is that Sherwood has to be supported by Lerner
If not, we are in for a long hard season, again

13.) 26 Jul 2015
26 Jul 2015 20:56:00
True that Mendax. But define what you mean by supported by Lerner. I can't see him putting any money in apart from the Benteke money. The Delph sale paid for Gueye, and other player sales have covered a large portion of Amavi's fee. I hope he gives Sherwood 20 million on top of player sales but honestly I don't see it happening.

14.) 26 Jul 2015
26 Jul 2015 22:41:39
I think he needs to spend the Benteke money plus the Delph money Andy.
And that's not including the buys already made
Had we not sold Benteke and Delph, I would have expected us to have spent in the region of 25-30 million on new players if we were hoping to avoid relegation fears this year
We now need 2 new strikers which is going to cost us 20 million and we still need a rightback and an attacking midfield player.
Whaddaya think; 35 million ?
Let's not forget we pocketed about £4 million from the Weiman and Lowton
sales. We should comfortably be able to spend the kind of cash I'm talking about
Whether we will or not is another matter

15.) 27 Jul 2015
27 Jul 2015 00:01:35
I hope your figure is right Mendax but I just don't see it - for me the club knew Delph was leaving and Gueye was his replacement, not Cleverley's. I also think that by shipping out a lot of the fringe players they agreed to get Sherwood Amavi. I reckon we will spend around 30 million and for that we will get 2 strikers, another midfielder and maybe a couple of other cheap players and loans to cover positions. I'm not to disheartened by this because I think Sherwood can assemble a competitive squad for that - but more would be great! I think a key area for Sherwood this season will be bringing through some of the younger players and the board will finance him into doing this by not investing much.

16.) 27 Jul 2015
27 Jul 2015 20:44:26
I don't see it myself mate, to be honest
Lerner is playing a dangerous game with our club and I don't like it
The sooner he goes the better