It's all subjective! Nobody's right or wrong really. Can't wait for the season to actually begin now so we can all see!
To call this window just ' fairly decent ' is a gross understatement. Sorry , Malts, I respect your intelligent posts but I really don't think you are presenting a balanced viewpoint
But surely, until a ball gets kicked in anger, any club's window is going to be 'fairly decent' at best?
Just out of interest, why do you think Bournemouth are giving themselves a decent chance of staying up, Malts? I think the signings they have made thus far have been distinctly average myself. I certainly wouldn't trade our signings for theirs. Re. the bit in bold, if you're referring to Perotti and Inler then you're right, we did miss out on them. In all honesty though, how many top-level clubs manage to sign every single one of their targets? I really think that this was always going to happen, and even this time last month I thought the same. I think it's been quite a good window so far.
I understand your thinking in a way. But in my eyes it has been an excellent window so far. We have targeted our weakness which was the defense and bought in international quality defenders. Added quality with Prem experience into the midfield, who are real battlers. Now we are looking at adding quality and competition to our attacking ranks. Added to the players tied up on longer contracts it couldn't really of got any better. Plus we are still heavily linked with Inler and Gestede. Juardo and Berghuis seem to be very close too. It's better than a dream come true.
We will see. From what I have seen of him, he is far less consistent, but has the potential to surpass Trippier in a few years time.
I'm not an apologist for Bournemouth. I'm looking at their summer activity from the point of view of hoping they mess it up, because obviously I want them bottom 3! (plus I'm looking at them with my FF head on). At no point did I say I'd trade any of our signings for theirs...what I said was I wish we could have signed Gradel. I think he will do well for them. So, by signing him, and adding some more firepower to a side who already score lots of goals and are strong on the flanks, I think they've given themselves a better chance of staying up as a result of his (expected) signing. If you want an individual discussion on their other recruits, I think Distin will give them valuable experience but personally is too old (I prefer us signing Prodl), Atsu is an exciting player, the 2 keepers they've signed are solid, but I don't know much about Josh King. Mings is promising but I think they've paid through the nose. Obviously, on paper, our window has been much better-looking.
Has Gradel signed for Muff then? Plus would you take him over Berghuis or Jurado? Yes he scored more last season, but apart from that I wouldn't call him proloific.
Gut feeling based on Howe's comments about not going overboard with signings ... borne out of frustration IMO and missing out on Gradel could well be why.
No, but as with Gestede, a player's most recent season is the most relevant isn't it? I know he was on pens, but 17 goals in La Ligue was a very decent season. Would I take him over Berghuis? I'd be very happy with either, or indeed Perotti. (if I'm truthful, there was a tiny bit of me wanting us to sign Gradel to stop him going to Bmouth too lol)
Since I got my I-pad for my birthday, my typing has deteriorated dramatically! Plus it's currently 38c here so writing anything is difficult! Ligue 1
Hi BRLR , how are you ? Happy with the new signings , or worried about the squad being too big ? Anyway , have a good day .
Hi WT , am good thx . Am well happy with signings to the point that I'm exited like a Labrador with a new leg to hump . I do feel it maybe it too much too soon , but if someone said " Shall we sign another one ?" Id wag my tail and shag their leg .
If we had signed Bournemouth's signings instead of ours, I would be seriously disappointed and concerned for the coming season. The likes of Distin and Mings are not what is needed. People are saying Mings might be better than Trippier in a few years...well, that won't help them next year, will it? And that's the important bit. Most of us saw our last two Prem campaigns unfold and we know the reality. We're going to be playing teams that face players like Rooney, Aguero, RVP (RIP) and Costa on a semi-regular basis. They're used to dealing with excellent attackers, far better than anyone Bournemouth (and us) have playing for them. Recruiting for the next few years isn't going to keep you up. Distin is practically on a zimmer frame, Mings is nowhere near the finished product (and spending 8 million on him is surely going to limit their other acquisitions). King? If he's the answer I will be extremely shocked to say the least. Gradel might work out well but equally he might not. He's just had an absolute purple patch that is head and shoulders above the rest of his career. Perhaps it's the real player coming out, but equally he might have just had the best season of his life and never replicate that form again. Even with Gradel I just do not see Bournemouth staying up unless three other teams are beyond dire this year (in fairness, very possible looking at some of the teams near the end of the last season).
Agreed. They need to get busy in the transfer market pronto. WBA, Toon, Sunderland, Villa, might be down there scrapping it out with them - possibly Swansea too if the wheels come off. It wouldn't surprise me to see Everton have a poor season also. But those 3 for the drop IMO as it stands.
Amidst all the fairytale narratives about little old Bournemouth's rise from the 4th division, this, to me, is one of the unfortunate consequences that a lot of media and fans have overlooked. Whilst it's wonderful that they have made it to the Prem, they have never been there before. They are mostly busy feting Matt Ritchie and Callum Wilson, and talking about how talented they are and how they can make the step up. They don't have a frame of reference like we do, to teach them exactly what happens when you take a Championship squad into the Prem and expect good things. Burnley were in some ways a breath of fresh air, but let's be honest, they just weren't capable of staying up, and I don't see why there should be such a huge difference as it stands with Bournemouth's squad. The breadth and quality of our signings has blown me away, and I was expecting some good players to begin with. We've recruited as though we were an established mid table team, and as long as that one stumbling block of 'chemistry' can be achieved, our window will have been a million times more successful than Muff's.
Still mystified that despite all the signings we are still favourites to go down Illogical really even based on last years teams. We finished above Norwich and only behind Bournemouth because of the last kick of the season
We are building strength in depth, admittedly taking a risk on the new signings making it in the PL; Having a squad where every individual can justifiably be considered a first team player in their role will be key to staying up, or if things start well, keeping the momentum going. It's tough on some, but it is the most practical way to approach the new season. Having two 'elevens' with the potential to survive in the Prem is an incredible situation that most of us wouldn't have even dreamed of a month ago, but it may just become a reality, with a bit of luck on our side; that is, the players living up to reasonable expectation. It seems also that, for some, creating such a situation is a little bit scary, and I can understand that. The idea of getting all these players to gel whilst keeping the old hands and peripheral players contented is really quite daunting. But for me, having this good strength in depth across the board is more likely to keep us up rather than just tweaking last seasons team. I am gutted that Toszer has gone, that Pudil may struggle for game time, and that Slav did not get the chance to lead us into the Première, but I am delighted with the ambition of the Pozzos, and their committed attitude to achieving it. As for this team being better than GT's eighties team(s); I'd say not necessarily as a first team, but as an overall squad, most certainly. And I think that is massive.
I think we've given ourselves the best chance possible of staying up, and frankly that's all any of us could have asked for. We've not rested on our laurels, we've not taken a sentimental approach. Yes, you got us up but now you have to prove yourself worthy of a place in our team in the higher league. We've shown ambition this summer and in life fortune quite often favours the brave. We now sit just 16 days away from the start of the most exciting season for many years, probably since 82-83. Bring it on
