any thoughts on the up-coming season

Even without Iniesta and Xavi, Barca would still be a very good team, and muller most teams in La Liga.

The biggest problem area for me was the full backs and the defensive midfielders. Figueroa was caught out of position in virtually every game, and the defensive midfielders did not cover as well as they should have done. If the full back pushes up, they are supposed to drop into the space left vacant, and they didn’t always do that. Melchiot was too slow getting back at times, and the same happened again.

Diame looks good on the ball and can be creative, but he isn’t the quickest at getting back or slotting into the back four, so you need a Cattermole type of player to do this. Thomas isn’t good enough. He’s had his chance, and he tackles well, but isn’t up to it in my opinion.

I’ve big hopes for McCarthur, who looked a good player in the couple of SPL games I’ve seen him play (if you get a chance, watch it next season, despite any preconceptions, there are some good players and good games), and I’m sure he’ll be eager and motivated. Perhaps he can play there, and be a Scottish, less hot headed Cattermole.

I’m optimistic of a lower to mid table finish again, providing N’Zogbia can be replaced. Rodallega can easily be replaced with a better option (Moses perhaps), N’Zogbia might be more difficult, but if the money is right, two decent players can be brought in – for his original purchase price.

Bramble is a good defender, but not a good footballer. He isn’t a massive loss if you’re trying to play football as football should be played. Scharner was a quality centre half, who wanted to play in midfield. Good luck to anyone who takes him on. Melchiot is too old, the two released keepers aren’t good enough, and if Scotland goes, then so be it.

But, what do you do with Gomez? I’m still convinced there’s a good footballer in there.

All in all, decent dealings so far in the transfer market, but don’t bank on Europe just yet.

Off soapbox – bedtime.

No need to laugh. It’s all down to opinions sonny.

Although, your other input on this thread is that you’d like to see two up front. Is that with wingers playing on their right sides of the pitch, and none of this fancy-dan passing across the field, cutting inside rubbish? Proper English football, that’s the way to win games (bar the recent World Cup where nearly everyone played one up front, except England.)

Here we go, another one who wouldn’t spot a footballer if it jumped up an nutmegged him. If it’s not sliding in mud and hoofing the ball in to the stands then it can’t be a proper footballer. Much easier to jump on the “Scotland and Gomez are the reason we lose 9-1, 8-0, 2x 4-0 and 2x 5-0” bandwagon. :roll:

I think the lack of transfer activity in the centre of midfield (other than McArthur) means that the midfield will probably be made up of those that were used last year. I agree that Thomas – ye old bewildered one – will see little action and there is a good chance that Gomes will be given a go again. if he is, I hope it is in that spot behind the front man because he is wasted there and would rightly get crucfied.

I think Watson will figure this season too, it may be that Diame is given licence to get forward with Watson and McArthur/y sitting a bit deeper.

Overall come 14th, I think the squad will look a bit stronger than it did this time last year. Whether it perfoms any better or not is another question altogether.

A far bigger question for me is will the weather brighten up for tonight or will I have to wear my scarf and obligatory brown shoes.[/quote]

Whilst I do like my blood & thunder type players I do believe i can spot & appreciate those who can master the finer points of the game. However, I saw nothing whatsoever last season that convinces me Jordi Gomez is any way capable of playing top flight English football – too slow in thought & movement and too lightweight. He may have it “up there” but so do I & I’m still $h!t

In midfield I hope McArthur plays the anchor role if he’s good enough with Diame alongside him coz I think Diame & McCarthy alongside each other leaves the central midfielders too exposed. The “in the hole” player should IMO be either McCarthy or Moses.

i think its down the flanks where we struggle – I think as someone else has pointed out if you have full backs you want to push forward the wingers or somebody needs to cover them & they need to track back to cope when the other teams full back pushes forward. Neither Rodallega or N’Zogbia seemed capable or willing to do that last season & IMO that’s why Figueroa & Melchiot looked overwhelmed at times last season

Griff – having seen the weather forecast on GMTV before I left for work I’d take your waterproofs. I wouldn’t wear tan shoes either as they tend to stain in wet weather

StandishWalker – I think its naive to say teams succeeded because they played 4-5-1 & that other teams failed (i.e. England) because they played 4-4-2. IMO the teams that played 4-5-1 were successful as they had the players good enough to play in that system. teams that didn’t (although I’m only really speaking about England here coz) they didn’t have the personnel to play 4-4-2.
Last season I said all along that Bobby should be playing 4-4-2 as that system suited the playing personnel he had far better than 4-5-1 did but he persisted with it & played nuemrous square pegs in round holes & for me it went horribly wrong more often than not last season. If he is going to persist with 4-5-1 I have no problem with that coz it can be an extremely successful system & produce great football but he had this close season to get the right personnel in to play that way – time will tell if he has & I really hope he has

We’ll win a few, lose a few, and draw a few.

Boselli will do well and be gone in January, after which we will tail off anf finish 14th.