39 points was safe

[Barry Sanchez]

Lets see these pearlers on our European march next season..........

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

Rofl lol's..............

 

Come on, answer the question...

[UpweySaint]

Lets see these pearlers on our European march next season..........

 

Ok the all conquering talk may be a bit much but do you not fancy at least a mid table consolidation season next term?

 

Bookies have us at a 10-1 shout to finish in the top six and 7-1 to go down ... looks like even they fancy us for upper mid table

[CB Fry]

Lets see these pearlers on our European march next season..........

 

Plenty of us knew 39 was enough without being "we're off to the Champions League" mentalists.

[S-Clarke]

What a weird thread.

[Barry Sanchez]

Ok the all conquering talk may be a bit much but do you not fancy at least a mid table consolidation season next term?

 

Bookies have us at a 10-1 shout to finish in the top six and 7-1 to go down ... looks like even they fancy us for upper mid table

 

If we keep Shaw, Schneiderlin and the usual suspects even without buying anyone we should be safe or almost due to more cohesion in the team and the crap coming up, mid table easy or should be with a few good signings.

[UpweySaint]

If we keep Shaw, Schneiderlin and the usual suspects even without buying anyone we should be safe or almost due to more cohesion in the team and the crap coming up, mid table easy or should be with a few good signings.

 

Fair play, no harm being a pessimist so long as you can be objective. I'd like to think we could push into the top half and I'd love a run in the fa cup but anywhere above fifteenth i'd be ok with myself though I imagine NC may well feel otherwise ...

[Saint_clark]

The clappers celebrate their wisdom because another team fails, christ alive.............

 

What if they had played their league game on the saturday and still lost? Would we have succeeded in staying up with a hard fought point, or would it still have been down to their failure? The fact is that once we had all played the same amount of games, we were mathematically safe. WE got ourselves those points. WE succeeded.

[Barry Sanchez]

Fair play, no harm being a pessimist so long as you can be objective. I'd like to think we could push into the top half and I'd love a run in the fa cup but anywhere above fifteenth i'd be ok with myself though I imagine NC may well feel otherwise ...

I dont llike Cortese but I admire the drive and ambition, we shoukd be asking for more, we need a trophy.

[Lord Duckhunter]

I didn't think 39 would be enough and I'm glad I was proved wrong.

 

Instead of all this Wigan love in from the media, Niall Quinn sounded like he wanted to have Dave whelans love child on sky, their supporters should be asking questions of their players and management. To play like they did against Swansea and then perform so well Saturday and for 60 minutes Tuesday, would seriously **** me off if I was a Wigan fan. When you look at sheite like Norwich and Sunderland the past month, you have to wonder how they didn't catch them up. Unlucky against spurs, but Swansea home should have been a Ginnie. Total bottle job from them that night. We went down and west brom and Bryan Robson were dog turd, and they must feel the same way in the cold light of day.

[BlakeySFC]

I hold my hands up, I didn't think we'd stay up at the start of the season due to the (perceived) lack of quality players we brought in.

 

Luckily most of the players we brought in last Summer have complimented our L1/NPC squad perfectly and we've managed to push on and might just get 10th if we beat Stoke on Saturday (although I think the match will be a draw personally).

 

I honestly thought 39 points wouldn't be enough to stay up. I'm extremely pleased i've been proven wrong, it'll be a wierd experience on Sunday having a 'meaningless' end to the season for the first time I can remember since the 2005/06 Season when we all clapped Parhars off at the end of the match (V Leicester I believe).

 

The big question for me is, should there and will there be a pitch invasion?

[max_saints]

well this makes alpine's latest classic even better !

 

those who want to relive that golden 20 minutes of the best thread of the season:

 

http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?44802-We-re-going-down

[OttawaSaint]

Pretty funny. Dalek had his 39 points thing on a clipboard and copied and pasted it into about 5 different threads. Even after it was explained time and time again that the likelihood of ALL the games going against us was 1000/1. There's one thing getting a bit nervous about relegation when it looks like it is so close, but another thing to spam the board for 3 weeks every single day.

[Saint Without a Halo]

I'm not apologising, just admitting I got this one wrong.

 

It takes a great person to admit they were wrong well done!

[Saint Without a Halo]

This is exactly why bookies use weighted probabilistic analysis to compile odds and why we have been safe to all intents and purposes since the Reading match.

In reality there is no such thing as 100% safe! Even mathematically safe on points leaves open other risks such as relegation for breach of regulation by the league via a points deduction. So ultimately safety is a state of mind where the probability of being unsafe is so remote as to be highly unlikely and insigniifcant. This was the stage we reached after the 2-0 win at Reading.

 

Compare such reasonable analysis with those of the panicky doom mongers who are comfortable to assume that all oppostion will win all their matches, a series of 15 plus matches will go only one way and we will lose all our remaining matches by putting aside all precedents, form and logic.

 

In the end it is clear that reasoned analysis is not HAPPY CLAPPING if the analysis had supported relegation we would have been equally veherment that the stats point to us going down!

Edited 15 May, 2013 by Saint Without a Halo

[Barry Sanchez]

I didn't think 39 would be enough and I'm glad I was proved wrong.

 

Instead of all this Wigan love in from the media, Niall Quinn sounded like he wanted to have Dave whelans love child on sky, their supporters should be asking questions of their players and management. To play like they did against Swansea and then perform so well Saturday and for 60 minutes Tuesday, would seriously **** me off if I was a Wigan fan. When you look at sheite like Norwich and Sunderland the past month, you have to wonder how they didn't catch them up. Unlucky against spurs, but Swansea home should have been a Ginnie. Total bottle job from them that night. We went down and west brom and Bryan Robson were dog turd, and they must feel the same way in the cold light of day.

crap teams

 

The League this year has been pretty substandard.

[Saint Garrett]

Swansea are a good side. One of the best ive seen this season. Those first 20 minutes at their place we took a real hammering.

[trousers]

I'm extremely pleased i've been proven wrong,

 

You highlight why it's so much easier being a pessimist. When you're wrong you can say: "glad I was wrong" and when you're right you can say: "told you so". There's an element of satisfaction in either outcome when you're a pessimist.

 

(That's not intended as a judgement or character assassination, just a general observation of human behaviour)

[mulletsaint]

Well, I got this one wrong. can't win them all.

 

Anyway, we have bigger fish to fry now.

 

Keep predicting away on the bad stuff mate, with your hit rate I always sleep more soundly.

[mulletsaint]

Can't wait to see what hilarious ruse that painfully unfunny dullard comes out with next, on the back of such classics as "yo-yo strategy", "17th place in the Championship" and "39 points".

 

My sides are aching already thinking about the comedy value of whatever the new line of mirth-making will be.

 

TBH I don't have a problem with Dalek. Yep he's often wrong and comes over like a stuck record, but rarely does he come across as abusive, sneering, smug or up his own arse like some chaps on here. You don't have to be wrong to be a ****.

[Batman]

I didn't think 39 would be enough and I'm glad I was proved wrong.

 

Instead of all this Wigan love in from the media, Niall Quinn sounded like he wanted to have Dave whelans love child on sky, their supporters should be asking questions of their players and management. To play like they did against Swansea and then perform so well Saturday and for 60 minutes Tuesday, would seriously **** me off if I was a Wigan fan. When you look at sheite like Norwich and Sunderland the past month, you have to wonder how they didn't catch them up. Unlucky against spurs, but Swansea home should have been a Ginnie. Total bottle job from them that night. We went down and west brom and Bryan Robson were dog turd, and they must feel the same way in the cold light of day.

 

Wigan can't play like they did on sat very week as, quite frankly, they have a poor squad. Their starting 11 costs less than £10m. They constantly sell their best players and would do again, even if they stay up

 

It's like when we played brilliantly against man united when in league 1 and struggle to beat Bristol rovers at home

 

Poorer players can't play at those levels consistently.

[eurosaint]

TBH I don't have a problem with Dalek. Yep he's often wrong and comes over like a stuck record, but rarely does he come across as abusive, sneering, smug or up his own arse like some chaps on here. You don't have to be wrong to be a ****.

 

I agree, I once called him an arsehole, which I regret (was in a bad mood and his negativity niggled me!) basically he's not in the same league as the likes of Alpine and Barry Sanchez who go out of their way to be obnoxious !

[Barry Sanchez]

Wigan can't play like they did on sat very week as, quite frankly, they have a poor squad. Their starting 11 costs less than £10m. They constantly sell their best players and would do again, even if they stay up

 

It's like when we played brilliantly against man united when in league 1 and struggle to beat Bristol rovers at home

 

Poorer players can't play at those levels consistently.

 

They have 2 or 3 players who would do a good job for us.

[Barry Sanchez]

I agree, I once called him an arsehole, which I regret (was in a bad mood and his negativity niggled me!) basically he's not in the same league as the likes of Alpine and Barry Sanchez who go out of their way to be obnoxious !

 

Now come on I am many things but obnoxious? I think you are getting confused with the said word and caring...............................

[eurosaint]

Now come on I am many things but obnoxious? I think you are getting confused with the said word and caring...............................

 

It's nothing personal, just that your opinions and postings come across as aggressive, negative and sometimes just plain stupid !

IMHO of course !

[Cabrone]

Turns out 39 points was enough but when Wigan were 2-1 up against a nothing to pay for Swansea it was looking a very different scenario. Swansea could have just folded but credit to them they kept on at it.

 

Wigan aren't a bad team and we really weren't far off being in the merde until the draw at Sunderland.

 

I thought once we'd got to 39 the odds were always in our favour but I understand those who felt differently.

[Turkish]

Was always most likely to those with common sense.

 

Could be that 35 would have been enough.

 

Should we be surprised by now that Dalek, Turkish, Alps and Barry were wrong with their predictions, again?

 

Despite Turkish saying anyone who thinks this squad could finish 10th NEXT season is deluded - even after crap start, with one to go, we have decent chance of 10th this season if we win this weekend.

 

You are sweet with your little obsession with me and making things up abot what i'm meant said. So to address your points.

 

How was i wrong in my predictions? i think you'll find i said 39 points was enough and we were safe. i actually said way back 38 would be enough and so it has been proven.

 

i also said we wouldn't finish 10th this season, i maintain we wont and i'll be very happy if i am wrong (for once). What i said was deluded was to think that this squad with no new signings, was capable of finishing 6th next season, which is what you claimed it was. Well done for completely making things up though.

Edited 15 May, 2013 by Turkish

[Barry Sanchez]

It's nothing personal, just that your opinions and postings come across as aggressive, negative and sometimes just plain stupid !

IMHO of course !

 

Cool have a lovely day.

[alpine_saint]

Turns out 39 points was enough but when Wigan were 2-1 up against a nothing to pay for Swansea it was looking a very different scenario. Swansea could have just folded but credit to them they kept on at it.

 

Wigan aren't a bad team and we really weren't far off being in the merde until the draw at Sunderland.

 

I thought once we'd got to 39 the odds were always in our favour but I understand those who felt differently.

 

This. Very easy to be smug in hindsight. If Spurs hadnt scored again Wigan in the last few minutes or Swansea hadnt somehow woken up, it might all have been different.

I predicted 40points back around the turn of the year, so dont consider myself to have been that far away.

[hutch]

And loses to Doctor Who every time! Give up mate and join the positive side. Its more fun and you have her on your side...

 

I don't think so. Try this one.

[Batman]

This. Very easy to be smug in hindsight. If Spurs hadnt scored again Wigan in the last few minutes or Swansea hadnt somehow woken up, it might all have been different.

I predicted 40points back around the turn of the year, so dont consider myself to have been that far away.

 

what about the perfectly good goal we had ruled out against swansea?

[Barry Sanchez]

what about the perfectly good goal we had ruled out against swansea?

 

What about the weakest/diving of penalties against Villa?

[Batman]

What about the weakest/diving of penalties against Villa?

 

of the dodgy reffing that ruled out a 2nd at home to arsenal

 

a season is full of if's and but's but you generally end up where you deserve and it was clear that a team that have been poor all season (wigan) were not going to in 4 out of 5 in the league

[Glasgow_Saint]

Or Norwich penalty miss

[Daren W]

I get the feeling a whole lot of old posts are going to be trawled through and brought back over the next week or so...

[Glasgow_Saint]

I get the feeling a whole lot of old posts are going to be trawled through and brought back over the next week or so...

 

me too - hope someone digs up my post from December where I said 38 points + a decent GD would be enough

 

sadly the SWF Mr Hindsights prefer to pick-on / bully easy targets like Alpine, Barry and Dalek

[NickG]

You are sweet with your little obsession with me and making things up abot what i'm meant said. So to address your points.

 

How was i wrong in my predictions? i think you'll find i said 39 points was enough and we were safe. i actually said way back 38 would be enough and so it has been proven.

 

i also said we wouldn't finish 10th this season, i maintain we wont and i'll be very happy if i am wrong (for once). What i said was deluded was to think that this squad with no new signings, was capable of finishing 6th next season, which is what you claimed it was. Well done for completely making things up though.

 

Lol, no hard feelings genuinely makes me smile. Tbh wound me up a bit initially with you randomly bringing me into threads I hadn't posted on and making up quotes but clearly silly to let your fun spoil saints web.

 

Dalek amuses me and realise similarities.

 

Just to jog your memory ( use search if you like but both remember).

 

You called me deluded for saying this team would finish top ten NEXT season.

 

We both know as prompted long debate about how much young squad could improve, second season effect etc.

 

People have different opinions. Personally think few ignore realistic outcomes and are overly pessimistic and have turned out that their predictions were too negative. No problem, just opinions.

 

However, when you claim your view is right and others are deluded it can't be a surprise that your failings amuse others

 

Obsession is maybe after any defeat asking where is nickg with his stats? Or maybe when a reasoned debate explaining why a poster saying "39 points needed is a fact" caused you to jump in, not understanding the discussion and start posts with 88-0 predictions.

You can see from other peoples reactions that all you did was show you hadn't followed the discussion but your bizarre interest in a 3 posts a day poster ( most of those boring statto posts!) Made you jump in.

 

I wonder what you will pretend I have said when responding to this?

 

Maybe just ignore me.

[Dig Dig]

This. Very easy to be smug in hindsight. If Spurs hadnt scored again Wigan in the last few minutes or Swansea hadnt somehow woken up, it might all have been different.

I predicted 40points back around the turn of the year, so dont consider myself to have been that far away.

 

If we'd won every game this season, we would have won the league.

[SaintBobby]

I am bemused as to why anyone ever thought 40 or more points would be needed. I think the bottom three have been consistently averaging less than a point a game all season, so over 38 games you would expect the relegated teams to be on 38 points or less. Why on Earth some argued that we'd need up to 43 points is hard to say. Still, it does give a good steer on whose tips to trust over the Summer months and beyond.

 

One particular tip I'm glad I didn't put money on was that Wigan were "certain" to beat Arsenal.

[farawaysaint]

of the dodgy reffing that ruled out a 2nd at home to arsenal

 

a season is full of if's and but's but you generally end up where you deserve and it was clear that a team that have been poor all season (wigan) were not going to in 4 out of 5 in the league

 

They gave me a damn good scare over the last few weeks.

[Turkish]

Lol, no hard feelings genuinely makes me smile. Tbh wound me up a bit initially with you randomly bringing me into threads I hadn't posted on and making up quotes but clearly silly to let your fun spoil saints web.

 

Dalek amuses me and realise similarities.

 

Just to jog your memory ( use search if you like but both remember).

 

You called me deluded for saying this team would finish top ten NEXT season.

 

We both know as prompted long debate about how much young squad could improve, second season effect etc.

 

People have different opinions. Personally think few ignore realistic outcomes and are overly pessimistic and have turned out that their predictions were too negative. No problem, just opinions.

 

However, when you claim your view is right and others are deluded it can't be a surprise that your failings amuse others

 

Obsession is maybe after any defeat asking where is nickg with his stats? Or maybe when a reasoned debate explaining why a poster saying "39 points needed is a fact" caused you to jump in, not understanding the discussion and start posts with 88-0 predictions.

You can see from other peoples reactions that all you did was show you hadn't followed the discussion but your bizarre interest in a 3 posts a day poster ( most of those boring statto posts!) Made you jump in.

 

I wonder what you will pretend I have said when responding to this?

 

Maybe just ignore me.

 

No, i called you deluded for saying this team, with no additions, was good enough to finish 6th next season. And it is deluded.

[alpine_saint]

No, i called you deluded for saying this team, with no additions, was good enough to finish 6th next season. And it is deluded.

 

Jesus, did he really say that ?

 

There's happy-clappy, then there's taking it to a whole new level

[Turkish]

Jesus, did he really say that ?

 

There's happy-clappy, then there's taking it to a whole new level

 

he most certainly did.

[Whitey Grandad]

I'm not apologising, just admitting I got this one wrong.

 

Not really you were very close, as the Duke of Wellington said: "It has been a damn nice thing-the nearest run thing you ever saw..."

[Window Cleaner]

Wigan can't play like they did on sat very week as, quite frankly, they have a poor squad. Their starting 11 costs less than £10m. They constantly sell their best players and would do again, even if they stay up

 

It's like when we played brilliantly against man united when in league 1 and struggle to beat Bristol rovers at home

 

Poorer players can't play at those levels consistently.

 

correct; real ability brings consistency. If good performances were limited to good players the FA cup would have no sense. You can win a cup with mediocre players but you can't survive in the Premier League.

[KelvinsRightGlove]

correct; real ability brings consistency. If good performances were limited to good players the FA cup would have no sense. You can win a cup with mediocre players but you can't survive in the Premier League.

 

A large part of quality is consistency.

 

Anyone can hit a wonder strike once, doing it over and over and over is what separates the pros from the plebs. Ok, it's certainly a lot more complex than that, and there are some things that yes, only the very best can do.

 

This is why we love cup competitions so much. Ultimately, the best team wins the league. Over 38 games, the team at the top is there because they are the best, earning the most points over the course of the season, playing every team home and away. Cup competitions allow teams that aren't able to sustain performance over 38 games a chance to win something by raising their game for 7 games.

[Dalek2003]

me too - hope someone digs up my post from December where I said 38 points + a decent GD would be enough

 

sadly the SWF Mr Hindsights prefer to pick-on / bully easy targets like Alpine, Barry and Dalek

 

Thanks for the sentiments, Glasgow, but I can take it, I have a metal skin !

[NickG]

What i said was deluded was to think that this squad with no new signings, was capable of finishing 6th next season, which is what you claimed it was. Well done for completely making things up though.

 

No, i called you deluded for saying this team, with no additions, was good enough to finish 6th next season. And it is deluded.

 

Jesus, did he really say that ?

 

There's happy-clappy, then there's taking it to a whole new level

 

Alp - I don't think that the glass house you are sitting in is a good place to criticise other peoples' predictions - particularly as we have disagreed now three seasons in a row, I have been right, you wrong each season. In the autumn you were saying we would be so far adrift by Christmas we would be as good as down. I said that we would be safe before the last game of the season. You are the deluded one mate - your views are proving unrealistic all the time.

 

well this makes alpine's latest classic even better !

 

those who want to relive that golden 20 minutes of the best thread of the season:

 

http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?44802-We-re-going-down

 

Turkish - this is the conversation, we are both talking about next season.....

 

Turkish - If we can add 3-4 quality players in key positions in the summer and keep what we have then i dont see why we cant finish top half next season. (reasonable post)

 

Nickg - We are 5 points of top half now, after poor start, during the season we have added Boruc, Shaw, Yoshida, Ramirez etc. About 8 of first choice 11 are under 24 so should get a lot better next season. I don't see why this squad couldn't finish top half with out adding anyone (reasonable post)

 

Turkish - Bore off Nick. Anyone that thinks you shouldn't add better players and keep improving is a total lemon. ( offending and your usual trick of trying to start an arguement making up something someone said - who said they think we shouldn't keep improving?)

 

Nickg -There is no need to be disrespectful to other posters. Try just replying to post. Doubt anyone thinks we should stick just with what we have, or that it is likely.

You say we could make top half if we added several key players - if we add several key players it won't be with the aim of scraping few places higher. If squad stays together - next season when players are older, more settled etc, still improving in many cases, where do you think they would aim/achieve? Top half?

 

Turkish If this squad stays together with additions then we will probably finish anywhere between 10th and 20th again. We are seriously lacking in a few positions. A commanding centre half, decent cover in the full back positions and central midfield and in the attacking midfield role where we realisitcally only have 4 players comepting for 3 places. If we get lucky and dont get any injuries or players having dips in form then we might be alright, if we do then we could well be in another relegation battle. That's why we need strength in depth, 3-4 quality players in the postions i mentioned. If you can find some stats which "prove" that over 38 games then 11 adequate to decent players are good enough for any premier league team then please feel free. (fairly reasonable post - discussing football)

 

Nickg - agree about CB, as much as like cultured defenders think through season need strong leader of defence - big character and physically. Claus looked good with one alongside him, improved Fonte when Jos settled, Yoshida could prove to be very good with a top partner - is Forren commanding type?

 

Full-backs - first choice plenty good enough. Cover is weak, as others pointed out what level will come to club our size as back up to 17 and 20 year olds? Agree would want improvement but no idea what age/level.

 

Requirements for midfield are harder for me to say now we have so many formations. 2 CM and 2 wide was simple! Reckon CM both first pair and back up pair good enough for top half.

 

Forwards Lambert, Rodriguez, Ramirez, and Mayuka looked good range...but Mayuka??

 

Wide midfield probably would be my priority not sure its best position for Ramirez. Would like a top attacking player to improve team, plus a young fast player player...impact sub to use an Adkins term.

 

Think current squad fair aim - 6th to 9th, most likely 8-13th.

 

Will be interesting to see ambitions when start seeing ins/outs.

 

Sure stats can show some teams who look like they are moving forward, optimistic for season, will hugely under perform and vice versa!

 

Turkish If we play the 4-2-3-1 formation which MP seems to favour then we have 4 players good enough for the 3 attacking midfielders, Ramirez, lallana, Puncheon and Rodriguez- Rodriguez we'd also be looking at for the strikers role, so given that we have 5 decent players playing for 4 positions. This is no where near enough depth. For whatever reason Mayuka cant get a kick and De Ridder and Guly are no where near good enough.

 

i still maintain that we need a left back. relying on a 17 year old still learning the game, whose body is still developing and like all young players will have dips in form. Even if it's bringing and experienced man in on loan so shaw can be brought in and out of the side and eased through rather than depending on him as we are now.

if you geniunely believe there is enough depth in this squad to finish 6-9th then you are seriously deluded, persoanlly i think it's just Nick G and his misty eyed, grinning optimism. We might with some quality additions but we are several players away from being anywhere near good enough.

 

 

 

I am sorry, I did think you had said I was seriously deluded for saying this squad could finish 10th - you actually said 9th.

 

You have made up me saying that this squad is capable of finishing 6th. You can see I said 8th-13th.

 

 

If Sunday's results go as bookies think we will finish this season in 11th.

If Sunday's results go as bookies think, except Reading winning 1-0 to WHU we will finish 10th this season.

 

After our start, late signings, lack of GK at start etc - don't think that makes climibing to 9th deluded, is it?

[The9]

Assuming you haven't got me on your ignore list. Who is on your ignore list?

 

No, you're not. I have a lot of empathy with you, I was that bad once too.

 

A lot of the others were on that page though, it was amusing.

[Turkish]

Alp - I don't think that the glass house you are sitting in is a good place to criticise other peoples' predictions - particularly as we have disagreed now three seasons in a row, I have been right, you wrong each season. In the autumn you were saying we would be so far adrift by Christmas we would be as good as down. I said that we would be safe before the last game of the season. You are the deluded one mate - your views are proving unrealistic all the time.

 

 

 

Turkish - this is the conversation, we are both talking about next season.....

 

Turkish - If we can add 3-4 quality players in key positions in the summer and keep what we have then i dont see why we cant finish top half next season. (reasonable post)

 

Nickg - We are 5 points of top half now, after poor start, during the season we have added Boruc, Shaw, Yoshida, Ramirez etc. About 8 of first choice 11 are under 24 so should get a lot better next season. I don't see why this squad couldn't finish top half with out adding anyone (reasonable post)

 

Turkish - Bore off Nick. Anyone that thinks you shouldn't add better players and keep improving is a total lemon. ( offending and your usual trick of trying to start an arguement making up something someone said - who said they think we shouldn't keep improving?)

 

Nickg -There is no need to be disrespectful to other posters. Try just replying to post. Doubt anyone thinks we should stick just with what we have, or that it is likely.

You say we could make top half if we added several key players - if we add several key players it won't be with the aim of scraping few places higher. If squad stays together - next season when players are older, more settled etc, still improving in many cases, where do you think they would aim/achieve? Top half?

 

Turkish If this squad stays together with additions then we will probably finish anywhere between 10th and 20th again. We are seriously lacking in a few positions. A commanding centre half, decent cover in the full back positions and central midfield and in the attacking midfield role where we realisitcally only have 4 players comepting for 3 places. If we get lucky and dont get any injuries or players having dips in form then we might be alright, if we do then we could well be in another relegation battle. That's why we need strength in depth, 3-4 quality players in the postions i mentioned. If you can find some stats which "prove" that over 38 games then 11 adequate to decent players are good enough for any premier league team then please feel free. (fairly reasonable post - discussing football)

 

Nickg - agree about CB, as much as like cultured defenders think through season need strong leader of defence - big character and physically. Claus looked good with one alongside him, improved Fonte when Jos settled, Yoshida could prove to be very good with a top partner - is Forren commanding type?

 

Full-backs - first choice plenty good enough. Cover is weak, as others pointed out what level will come to club our size as back up to 17 and 20 year olds? Agree would want improvement but no idea what age/level.

 

Requirements for midfield are harder for me to say now we have so many formations. 2 CM and 2 wide was simple! Reckon CM both first pair and back up pair good enough for top half.

 

Forwards Lambert, Rodriguez, Ramirez, and Mayuka looked good range...but Mayuka??

 

Wide midfield probably would be my priority not sure its best position for Ramirez. Would like a top attacking player to improve team, plus a young fast player player...impact sub to use an Adkins term.

 

Think current squad fair aim - 6th to 9th, most likely 8-13th.

 

Will be interesting to see ambitions when start seeing ins/outs.

 

Sure stats can show some teams who look like they are moving forward, optimistic for season, will hugely under perform and vice versa!

 

Turkish If we play the 4-2-3-1 formation which MP seems to favour then we have 4 players good enough for the 3 attacking midfielders, Ramirez, lallana, Puncheon and Rodriguez- Rodriguez we'd also be looking at for the strikers role, so given that we have 5 decent players playing for 4 positions. This is no where near enough depth. For whatever reason Mayuka cant get a kick and De Ridder and Guly are no where near good enough.

 

i still maintain that we need a left back. relying on a 17 year old still learning the game, whose body is still developing and like all young players will have dips in form. Even if it's bringing and experienced man in on loan so shaw can be brought in and out of the side and eased through rather than depending on him as we are now.

if you geniunely believe there is enough depth in this squad to finish 6-9th then you are seriously deluded, persoanlly i think it's just Nick G and his misty eyed, grinning optimism. We might with some quality additions but we are several players away from being anywhere near good enough.

 

 

 

I am sorry, I did think you had said I was seriously deluded for saying this squad could finish 10th - you actually said 9th.

 

You have made up me saying that this squad is capable of finishing 6th. You can see I said 8th-13th.

 

 

If Sunday's results go as bookies think we will finish this season in 11th.

If Sunday's results go as bookies think, except Reading winning 1-0 to WHU we will finish 10th this season.

 

After our start, late signings, lack of GK at start etc - don't think that makes climibing to 9th deluded, is it?

 

Did you really just type out our entire conversation?

 

Is quite simple Nick, if you think this squad should aim to finish 6th-9th and if I'm not much mistaken 6th in encompassed by 6th-9th, then you must think this squad is good enough to finish 6th. It's not difficult is it.