Re: Rival Thread: 2014-15

[Helmer]

One thing I wanted to mention after watching this deadline day madness for the other clubs, is that regardless of how you feel of the quality of players we signed, I'm very impressed at our management's ability to identify and fill problem areas in the squad. Although there's some argument as to the quality of the players in each spot, we ticked every single box we had at the beginning of the offseason for positions needed (with the possible exception of a backup keeper - the least important of all the necessities).

Seeing Arsenal and ManU spend big yet fail to address their biggest problems just reminded me of how important it is to accurately identify thin parts of the squad and then do your utmost to fix them. We've seen in recent windows how frustrating it is to go into the season with a part of the squad already being the worry, and it's nice to be able to honestly say that I'm not worried about our depth anywhere on the pitch.

It is interesting how, Liverpool, Chelsea and City all adressed this in similar ways, bought early and effectively for what they needed.

None were active on deadline day and all three now have the best and most complete squads while Utd and Arsenal needed extensions on the deadline to sign players yet they still have massive holes in their squads.

I would agree it's nice heading into the season feeling comfortable with your squad. It's also nice heading into deadline day knowing that your club doesn't need to make any signings.

both of you, liked your posts

[RedOranje]

I fail to see how Shaw can definitively be labeled as an improvement over Evra, especially given his apparent fitness issues.

[Art Morte]

While I don't rate Shaw yet, it's hard to say that losing Evra at this point weakens their team.

[RedOranje]

If it leaves them playing Young/Valencia regularly at LWB or LB then I think it absolutely does weaken them.

[BeautifulGame]

They have better squad than we had last year so i can safely assume they'll make a good push for 4th regardless of how mediocre they keep on playing.

City and Chelsea for the top 2. Arsenal, Liverpool and United for the rest two CL places. That's from me. Spurs will fade away, Everton look clueless in defense surprisingly, Early season blues probs.

Not really surprising given their age. Distan Jagielka and Barry are declining and with EL games it will get even worse.

[Art Morte]

ManU losing at Leicester and Tottenham losing at home to West Brom go some way making this weekend less awful

[mr-r34]

Think about the gap we've cost our self in the last 2 games for fourth, FML.

[Helmer]

:drnking: we are the drama queens of the EPL, we will do all the shite thing before we go to finish in top 4
the sun is out here, concert in the city, celebrate

[McAgger]

Screw the gap, this weekend was like a get out of jail free card.

[iftikhar]

Screw the gap, this weekend was like a get out of jail free card.

[mr-r34]

Screw the gap, this weekend was like a get out of jail free card.

Hardly, with our defense playing this way we really dropped the ball against in the last 2 games, we should of had no problems beating them.

[Red Alert]

It's not even our defence anymore, we're not very great going forward anymore either. We're still too heavily reliant on a 19 year old...

[Helmer]

Would you people take Özil into our starting XI, right now? Just hypethetical, will ya?

[Art Morte]

Would you people take Özil into our starting XI, right now? Just hypethetical, will ya?

A bit of a weird question to ask since there's zero chance of Özil joining us, but no. Our next attacking signing should be a natural goalscorer, whether he plays striker or attacking mid or winger.

[McAgger]

If we have everyone fit then no I wouldn't take Ozil.

Coutinho, Sterling, and Lallana can all provide enough creativity that we don't need Ozil. And I don't like Ozil's style of play.

[Red Alert]

i'd have ramsey, sanchez and the ox over him assuming we were to deal with le arse

wc player but terrible terrible fitness/attitude

[Helmer]

I can already see them drawing lots of games. I am really sick of hearing LVG's miracle making scums title contender I mean wtf is dat!!!

:fapfest:

I know, I know, relax !!!!

[mr-r34]

How are we above arsenal/united/spurs/everton with such a *bleep* disgrace of a start so far hahahahha

Imagine we had actually played decent, we would of opened a 5-7 point lead on them all.

[mr-r34]

If Arsenal and United get clicking and get on a run of form, and if we continue this horrid form i think we might be in deep shit, we really need top 4 again this year.

[Red Alert]

^ What's the point?

Look at the players we just brought in with CL... we could of got them if we finished 6th ffs.

Better chance winning the league / going far in the league finishing without Europe if we're going to target the players we set our eyes on lmao.

[iftikhar]

Everybody is helping us, except us and freaking Chelsea.

[Nishankly]

ewveryone bar chelsei is *bleep* shit thsi year

[Art Morte]

I'm just thinking that had we managed to sign Sanchez instead of him going to Arsenal, our 4-3-3 might actually work.

Anyway, it does offer some consolidation that even though we are only 11th, we are sandwiched between Everton and Tottenham.

[Helmer]

eveyone is shot this season, I cant believe it, now for the love of God, I just hope that we start picling right after the international break and start getting points.

[mr-r34]

Man honestly, thank god spurs, everton,united and arsenal have been shit this season, or it would of been over for us.

[Helmer]

f*** my keyboard!!! Sometimes I just cant manage to type it in the first go and get it right, BR has still chance to recover from all the blunders he has done this season. Lets see if relaises whats going wrong the club

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