The Mail Bag
This year it will be different
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After yesterday's fine performance, one is left thinking: "If only..."
In my view, and without going into the detail I calculate that we are a minimum of eight points short of what we deserve. In other words, short of competing for a Champions League place. I think it is now time to prepare for next season and why not do it now?
Our players have demonstrated that with a positive attitude we can beat the best. So what do we need? Well, I don't think that this summer will see massive spending by anyone, therefore I hope our "crown jewels" are safe.
So, assuming we have little money to spend, what can we do? I would suggest cover at left back (Baines has had, in my view, a fine season but I thought he looked very uncomfortable defensively yesterday). Also, if Donovan doesn't come back, we need wide pace. Another creative midfielder would be a bonus but apart from that we seem ok. Let's get it right this time. I will be very happy to be wrong about David Moyes.
Andy Crooks, Posted 21/02/2010 at 11:51:34
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Your ridiculous assertion was shown up big time yesterday!
We have a lot of work ahead of us, and only 12 games left. It’s going to be very tight.
That aside, I’m actually quite comfortable if no one else is sold or bought.
Let’s hope that in 2010/-1 we can really turn this Sky Four Crap on its head. "What if......" we’d maintained our form in the Merseyside Derby?
At one point last season I am sure we were 10-13 points behind Villa but still finished ahead of them.
Last game of the season we’re at home to Pompey, LFC away to Hull. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to pip them for 5th with Hull fighting for their lives to avoid the drop???
We have to keep our present squad and add a goalie- which I believe is on the cards.
Rob, sorry mate just cannot agree with you at all.
Have you noticed when we score he doesn’t go to the scorer but directly to the bench to discuss proceedings. His organisation is far and above any other player we have in the squad without exception. Experience at the top level is at a premium in our present squad and Neville has it all.
Yes without doubt he is not the most gifted player but look at every successful team theres ever been including the 80’s teams we had. They always had the 100% professional who was never a household name. Gabriel, Harris, Lyons, Mountfield the list is endless.
If Neville was dropped tomorrow who would take responsibility in the present team.
Nevilles’ knowledge of present teams, their players and the way they play is of great importance.
Once Heitinga has the local knowledge at this present time he looks the most obvious long term
Sign Senderos on a free; I believe his contract is up in the summer (straight replacement for Yobo, hasn't really cost us anything), and use the funds from the sale of Yak and Yobo to buy a winger with pace whether that be Donovan or someone else.
I believe that Seamus Coleman deserves a chance to start. I also believe that Shane Duffy, whom I have watched for some time, will be a top class player. The main point of the post you refer to was to comment on the signing of Senderos and the effect it would have on a young player.
Heitinga definitely has captain quality written all over him and I can’t wait to see him paired with Jags, two great defenders and he can pass the ball out too.
By the way, the MLS players are on strike delaying the start of the MLS league — possibly options for Donovam to stay.
Neville has not been the same since his injury maybe time is catching up with him.
Off the wall — Anichebe also looked good on the right wing when we played him there last year (In fact even Shandy Andy looked good in cameos) emphasising the point we NEED somebody with presence on the RW NOT a central MF like Ossie or Arteta.
Donovan has what we need on the right .....pace and plenty of it.
Did someone earlier suggest big Vic for this position? Surely not!
The way I see it, we are where we are in the league because we deserve to be there. If we deserved to be higher, then we would be higher.
I think that if we get our full sqaud fit, with a pre-season under their belt to gell, we honestly do have a team already that is capable of challenging for third or fourth. Our squad isn’t deep enough to seriously challenge for the title over a season, but I do think our first team squad is now basically as good as any in the league except probably Chelsea’s. Massive props to Moyes for that.
I do agree that ideally we need a quick winger, but Pienaar and BIly on the flanks is acceptable imo. Yakubu will benefit massively from a solid preseason, and I think is starting to rediscover his sharpness, I’m happy for him to stay for now.
So I think the main focus should be just on building squad depth - get in a few squad players and a sharp winger, get everyone fit, and we’re sorted.
Yes, the table doesn’t lie. But you can’t help but think that the first half of the season was a bit of an abberation compared to the side’s and manager’s actual abilities. There was clearly a massive fug over the whole club that took until the new year to lift. Moyes has to bear some responsibility for his management of that, but I think it’s fair to suggest that if we hadn’t had to deal with the Lescott debarcle, and if Moyes had had some proper resources early in the window to bring in players that had a chance to settle, then we would have been a strong shot to be challenging for CL places right now.
One can only hope Moyes and the club as a whole learn their lessons from that experience.
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1 Posted 21/02/2010 at 15:45:06
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Nobody to be sold. That is definitely the priority.