Is our squad as strong......

O O

OrigamiNinja

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10 Oct 2008
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As we thought it was at the start of the season?

For me no.

We have an extremely strong starting XI and at the start of the season I looked at our squad and thought 'wow', now I am not so sure.

The following are squad players who see regular games

Lescott - So many lapses in concentration it is unreal. Never seen a professional footballer who is so scared to have the ball. Whats with him being unable to pass a ball without knocking it into the ground first so it bobbles all over the fucking show?

Boateng - Been disappointing.

Richards - Very much hit or miss.

Vieira - No problems with him playing in European games but the two games against Leicester have shown that he is far too slow for the English game, even against 2nd rate opposition.

Milner - £24 million (yes i know it was £16 million + Ireland) is looking a helluva lot of money isnt it? Passing is woeful and "runs" like he is carrying Jo on his back. Him and Vieira alongside each other tonight looked dire!

Jo - The less said the better. Would be better off on Milners back!

We then have Balotellis injury problems and Adebayor being completely frozen out weakening the squad further. I saw Mancini say the other day that he was unsure whether Adebayor would be allowed to leave given Balotellis injury, my question would be "Why the fuck does that make any difference when it appears that Mancini has no intention of playing Ade no matter what"?

I dont marvel at the look of our squad the same way I did 3 or 4 months ago. 1st XI is something of great beauty but the rest? Hmmmm, not so sure now!
 
It isn't largely because the "squad" players who are judged by their transfer fees or past reputations like SWP, Lescott, Jo, Santa Cruz, and Bridge (before being loaned out) are no better than the Ricardo Fullers and Matthew Etheringtons of the Premier League, we just grossly overpaid for most of them. One thing is for sure, if we make no more signings, we won't be able to fill our 25 man squad list with over-21 players by the end of January. We could do with some genuine quality squad players but at the same time its hard to sign players who will accept rotation.
 
Blue Dan said:
Name a club in the Premiership with a better squad than us?
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Good point. If I was picky I'd like another world class CH to play with Kolo and I'd give Jo away.

But remember this is our first season together. How long did it take Evra and Vidic to settle?
 
alibobs36 said:
Lokks good on paper but sometimes paper thin at the back
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Unfortunately I think you are right. Looks much better on paper than they have shown on grass.

I would answer the poster above with... no team in the prem has a better squad than us but not a single squad player of ours has performed when given a chance to a level where you would say "That player is really pushing for a starting place"! At the moment the likes of Milner are only there to give the 1st XI a rest! Given the price we paid for Milner he should be keeping every single midfielder on their toes and really pushing for that starting spot but I know and you know that come Saturday, unless there are injuries Milner will be on the bench because he quite simply hasnt performed to the required standard!
 
We need someone with that extra mental strength, the legs and leadership - not a marquee name by any means - fook knows who that player could be though
 
yes it is. The two weakest links in the squad - Vieira and Jo - probably won't play again. They don't start in the league, they won't play with EL on the line, and they won't play as we progress further into the FA Cup. I think RM has given Lescott a very fair chance, and should Kolo or god forbid Vinny not be able to play, Boateng, Richards, and Boyata (who has turned in at least a 7 out of 10 performance in every game he's played for us Arsenal-aside) are available.
 
Mancio said:
Blue Dan said:
Name a club in the Premiership with a better squad than us?
Click to expand...

i would name 3 : united , arsenal and tottenham
Click to expand...

I started the thread but I would still say you are wrong on all 3! I think maybe I worded the title wrong. Maybe something along the lines of "Have our squad players done themselves justice"? would have been more appropriate!
 
Mancio said:
Blue Dan said:
Name a club in the Premiership with a better squad than us?
Click to expand...

i would name 3 : united , arsenal and tottenham
Click to expand...

Tottenham and Arsenal are close to us, but they too have many squad players who wouldn't be considered top class.

United? I disagree. They have a great team but a weak squad with many players who wouldn't get near our first XI in my opinion.
 
TFC said:
Milner had a good game tonight, he is definitely better suited to that central role.
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Definitely better in the middle but a huge disappointment so far and huge question marks as to whether he is good enough at the very top level! Knocking out good performances for a very direct Villa team is completely different to trying to be influential in a City team that play a completely different style that requires far more technical ability!
 
Our best 11 can beat anyone in the league. Some of our backups are not top 4 quality IMO. Jo, viera, lescott, rsc, swp, bridge etc. Yes i know some have left now more need to follow. Case in point is swp even the likes of fulham and Bolton are not that keen on him even for 3 - 4 million due to his wages and the fact its a long time since he was decent in the league. Milner is doing ok he is being played out of position and will definitely be a good signing long term he's young and his attitude is spot on. I also think boating and koralov will come good eventual they are quality players again young they have are just adapting to a new league and coming back from bad injuries.

Bobby is just dealing with a load of shit he has been left with IMO
 
I have no doubts we will add a couple before the end of the window.

Ade and SWP look like they are following Bridge and RSC out of the club, no way will we only bring one in.

Once we add a couple of players then the squad will be fine.
 
i think its as strong as i thought it was going to get....stronger with the addition of Dzeko

but i would like to see Boateng play @ CB instead of lescott. its clear zabba is much better at RB and i highly rate him he is slowly becoming a top RB in europe. and like someone else said we need to cover for silva. im not sure if we need a world class CB with boateng being as young as he is. could be a situation where we could bring in a World Class player who is older until boateng is fully ready to take over
 
What a thread, from our shit 2nd string to the the 'Big 5' having better 3rd string players. Defeatist?

Anyone remember Joey Barton (so obvious), he was Top!
 
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