baldmosher
Well-Known Member
Anyone still playing for clubs in the Champions' League would surprise me.
We need better squad members, not more stars. Our first team is already exceptional. We will surely only be trying to sign scouted players from "lesser" (I hate that word) teams and pray that they perform as we hope, and make the grade, or perhaps even force a regular first teamer down the pecking order.
The various squad size limits have hampered our ability to fight on all fronts as a couple of injuries to key players means you're now pretty much shafted. I suspect with utd and City going out early with injury & selection problems UEFA have lost two huge cash cows for the knockout stages and might consider tweaking the squad rules for next season. Depends how many viewers Napoli and Basel gets of course but I can't see it being many compared to the two Manchester teams.
Going out of two cups so early means we don't really *need* anyone for the run-in. Even if we beat Liverpool next week, the schedules aren't that hectic, unless we really do intend to go a long way or even win the Europa. A half-hearted loss to Porto over two legs seems a likely outcome but it's a good chance for new players - especially those with European experience - to make their mark in our squad.
Lots of dead wood leaving too, hopefully - although if we are paid cash for any of them, that would surprise me.
We need better squad members, not more stars. Our first team is already exceptional. We will surely only be trying to sign scouted players from "lesser" (I hate that word) teams and pray that they perform as we hope, and make the grade, or perhaps even force a regular first teamer down the pecking order.
The various squad size limits have hampered our ability to fight on all fronts as a couple of injuries to key players means you're now pretty much shafted. I suspect with utd and City going out early with injury & selection problems UEFA have lost two huge cash cows for the knockout stages and might consider tweaking the squad rules for next season. Depends how many viewers Napoli and Basel gets of course but I can't see it being many compared to the two Manchester teams.
Going out of two cups so early means we don't really *need* anyone for the run-in. Even if we beat Liverpool next week, the schedules aren't that hectic, unless we really do intend to go a long way or even win the Europa. A half-hearted loss to Porto over two legs seems a likely outcome but it's a good chance for new players - especially those with European experience - to make their mark in our squad.
Lots of dead wood leaving too, hopefully - although if we are paid cash for any of them, that would surprise me.