Summer transfer madness thread

[RussellC]

So the inferior squad on paper played better as a team. How did it go for them the next season against all those better squads?

Exactly. they were also extremely lucky with injuries and had no European football to deal with. No-one can argue that they deserved to win the League, but similarly no-one could argue that they had the best squad, either.

[PeterWithesShin]

We didn't have the second best squad when we finished 2nd under SGT. Which is why the season before and the season after we were nearly relegated. Things like manager, tactics, team spirit, confidence, momentum, luck etc all play a part.

[willenhall villa]

We're being linked with Ojo from the red scouse. If that's the case I hope it's a no no for Ojo. He was on loan at Wolves and was shite. He wouldn't give us anything we haven't got already.

[cdbearsfan]

So the inferior squad on paper played better as a team. How did it go for them the next season against all those better squads?

Exactly. they were also extremely lucky with injuries and had no European football to deal with. No-one can argue that they deserved to win the League, but similarly no-one could argue that they had the best squad, either.

Well, there's the thing. I wouldn't say we were massively lucky or unlucky with injuries last season, it was about average. Our "best squad in the division" looked totally incapable of scoring on several occasions when Kodjia was out, and sometimes even when he was playing.

We've strengthened at centre-half and right back, but we weren't lacking in these positions anyway. Looking at it so far, Whelan is the only acquisition that strengthens us in an area in which we were lacking. We still lack quality creative players, which is why I struggle to see the argument that we have the best squad.

The "best squad" would have had enough attacking and creative options to ensure that we scored far more goals last season.

[Ads]

They've added Asombalonga and over paid for him given his injuries and the time it takes the chunk to get match fit. But he is decent and quick when he actually is fit. They're solid at the back and unspectacular in the middle of the park.

I don't think they've overpaid for him in the current climate, prices rising every season. He cost the same as Kodjia cost us last summer, is 2 years younger, and has got a 1 in 2 goals to games ratio for 2 seasons in this division, Kodjia had only done it for one season. Also only 3m more than McCormack, who was turning 30 when we signed him.

I expect Assombolonga to be top scorer or not far off this season and think Boro will be our biggest promotion rival.

He's only played 32 games last season, missed nearly all of the previous season and didn't play 30 games the one before that. Given he's a tubby fellow, I cannot think that helps when he's coming back.

I think he'll do well up there, no worse that Forest, I just think they've over paid for a player who has a habit of missing a third of a season.

Forest on the other hand have flogged their goal threat and their captain in 6 months and replaced them with Murphy. I'd be surprised to see them stop up this time.

[RussellC]

So the inferior squad on paper played better as a team. How did it go for them the next season against all those better squads?

Exactly. they were also extremely lucky with injuries and had no European football to deal with. No-one can argue that they deserved to win the League, but similarly no-one could argue that they had the best squad, either.

Well, there's the thing. I wouldn't say we were massively lucky or unlucky with injuries last season, it was about average. Our "best squad in the division" looked totally incapable of scoring on several occasions when Kodjia was out, and sometimes even when he was playing.

We've strengthened at centre-half and right back, but we weren't lacking in these positions anyway. Looking at it so far, Whelan is the only acquisition that strengthens us in an area in which we were lacking. We still lack quality creative players, which is why I struggle to see the argument that we have the best squad.

The "best squad" would have had enough attacking and creative options to ensure that we scored far more goals last season.

I'd agree that we weren't 'massively unlucky' but we definitely suffered with injuries. Kodjia and Hogan being the main 2. Don;t forget the AFCON as well. That definitely disrupted us.

The main thorn in our side though, was how unsettled the squad was. A change of Manager (and coaching staff) and a shed-load of new players in January.  Players that had only joined the club in the summer going out on load in January too. Bruce is mainly to blame for this, IMO, but it definitely didn't help.

This season SHOULD be a completely different story. Settled(ish) squad, full pre-season together, cover in most areas, no AFCON. I'm convinced we have the best squad, and there can be no more excuses.

[Damo70]

Leicester went up, stayed up, won the Premier League and then had a good Champions League run. I would settle for that for us in the next four years.

[Hookeysmith]

This season SHOULD be a completely different story. Settled(ish) squad, full pre-season together, cover in most areas, no AFCON. I'm convinced we have the best squad, and there can be no more excuses.

You are missing one major factor

Plan / Method / coaching / players allowed to express themselved

[exigo]

We've got the best squad on paper. It's just a shame football's played on grass.

[peter w]

yep - speed or coke would be better.

[Matt Collins]

The concept that the best squad doesn't necessarily finish top doesn't seem that hard to get your head around to me!

Atletico?
Leicester?
Man City should win the league most years on paper

[boozey182]

The hope I am clinging to is that Bruce has spent the last 8 months building his squad, but he just did it in the wrong order. In January he added the decorative bits (Lansbury, Hourihane, Hogan) which will provide flair and creativity*, and this summer has added the foundation (Whelan, Samba and Elmo) to provide graft and stability. We desperately needed the foundation in January, and we didn't/couldn't get it, so we were incredibly fragile and had to play in a negative way. Now there are absolutely no excuses for Bruce to fail. He's been backed and he's had time. This is his squad now. It should be enough to get us promoted automatically, and anything else must be seen as a catastrophic failure.

*As much as a Bruce team can have flair and creativity

[PaulWinch again]

I'm not sure promotion through the play-offs would be 'catastrophic failure'.

[Mister E]

This season SHOULD be a completely different story. Settled(ish) squad, full pre-season together, cover in most areas, no AFCON. I'm convinced we have the best squad, and there can be no more excuses.

You are missing one major factor

Plan / Method / coaching / players allowed to express themselves

Exactly.
Looking at player-for-player comparisons is only half the story, it's as important to look at the way in which squads gell, the way that individuals' talent blends with the complementary talents of others and the way in which teams learn from defeats. And, the way in which teams exploit set pieces and operate to an agreed winning gameplan.
The quality of the manager, coaches and support staff comes into this equation.

[eamonn]

Leicester went up, stayed up, won the Premier League and then had a good Champions League run. I would settle for that for us in the next four years remainder of my life-time.