Jesús García Pitarch - binned

[eamonn]

Yes, Lerner/Lambert had given-up at that point. We should expect a marked difference in approach this time.

[LeeB]

Yep, we went down the route we did and achieved our primary aim for the season and now we a squad that is still young, with experience of playing at this level. All that suggests that, as tight as it was, we didn't get things wrong last summer. By doing it the way we did we have the basis of a squad that we can build around over the next 2-3 seasons. If we'd gone all out for premier league experience we'd either be looking at replacing most of those signings over the next year or 2 or we'd have had a much smaller squad and still be in the process of building that base.

This year reminds me of summer 2013. Lambert's first and we also stayed up from an unlikely position  given our from from December 2012 up to the March.

We had Guzan in good form back then plus Vlaar, Delph and a front 3 who ended the season all in excellent form so stronger spine than now arguably. Benteke also u turned that summer from joining Spurs.

That was the time to push on. Instead we just did exactly the same transfer policy as 12 months before and signed (deep breath) Helenius, Kozak, Luna, Bacuna, Okore and Tonev.

I really hope lessons have been learnt.

That really was the shittest of all shitty transfer windows. It even had those brown UPVC frames.

[Dave]

Yep, we went down the route we did and achieved our primary aim for the season and now we a squad that is still young, with experience of playing at this level. All that suggests that, as tight as it was, we didn't get things wrong last summer. By doing it the way we did we have the basis of a squad that we can build around over the next 2-3 seasons. If we'd gone all out for premier league experience we'd either be looking at replacing most of those signings over the next year or 2 or we'd have had a much smaller squad and still be in the process of building that base.

This year reminds me of summer 2013. Lambert's first and we also stayed up from an unlikely position  given our from from December 2012 up to the March.

We had Guzan in good form back then plus Vlaar, Delph and a front 3 who ended the season all in excellent form so stronger spine than now arguably. Benteke also u turned that summer from joining Spurs.

That was the time to push on. Instead we just did exactly the same transfer policy as 12 months before and signed (deep breath) Helenius, Kozak, Luna, Bacuna, Okore and Tonev.

I really hope lessons have been learnt.

That really was the shittest of all shitty transfer windows. It even had those brown UPVC frames.

Dunno about that. Considering the summer after was Senderos,  Kieron Richardson, Joe Cole and Carlos Sanchez the one above feels like the summer of '95 in comparison!

[exiled on the wirral!]

The more I think about the more I'm amazed we stayed up when the consider the fact that after NewYears Day precisely 1 goal game from a Centre Forward.

[LeeB]

Yep, we went down the route we did and achieved our primary aim for the season and now we a squad that is still young, with experience of playing at this level. All that suggests that, as tight as it was, we didn't get things wrong last summer. By doing it the way we did we have the basis of a squad that we can build around over the next 2-3 seasons. If we'd gone all out for premier league experience we'd either be looking at replacing most of those signings over the next year or 2 or we'd have had a much smaller squad and still be in the process of building that base.

This year reminds me of summer 2013. Lambert's first and we also stayed up from an unlikely position  given our from from December 2012 up to the March.

We had Guzan in good form back then plus Vlaar, Delph and a front 3 who ended the season all in excellent form so stronger spine than now arguably. Benteke also u turned that summer from joining Spurs.

That was the time to push on. Instead we just did exactly the same transfer policy as 12 months before and signed (deep breath) Helenius, Kozak, Luna, Bacuna, Okore and Tonev.

I really hope lessons have been learnt.

That really was the shittest of all shitty transfer windows. It even had those brown UPVC frames.

Dunno about that. Considering the summer after was Senderos,  Kieron Richardson, Joe Cole and Carlos Sanchez the one above feels like the summer of '95 in comparison!

At least those players had had the ability to play in the top flight even if it was long gone on most cases.

Not one of those young guns went on to perform at anything like the level we'd bought them for. And they missed out Bowery.

[Mister E]

The more I think about the more I'm amazed we stayed up when the consider the fact that after NewYears Day precisely 1 goal game from a Centre Forward.

I take that as a positive: add a decent striker an someone who can provide the ammo and we're well-set for next season.

[Sexual Ealing]

Sheff U have a striker called David McGoldrick. He's no out and out goalscorer this season in fact his return for goals is low in the premier league.
McGoldrick however is highly effectively to the way the team at Sheff Utd play .
It's what Keinan brings too in his link up play and the way Villa play aside from goals .
If he's comparable surely it's to the sheff utd front man.

Maybe too Wesley will bring that to the party rather than any major hope of 20+ goals

Would be happy for 12-15 from either and a decent link up play.

Good points, VIA.

[aj2k77]

The more I think about the more I'm amazed we stayed up when the consider the fact that after NewYears Day precisely 1 goal game from a Centre Forward.

I take that as a positive: add a decent striker an someone who can provide the ammo and we're well-set for next season.

If Davis ever scores 12-15 goals in the Premier League then I'll donate a ton to any charity you wish. He's a great lad no doubt but he's not a top division striker.

[paul_e]

I think strikers scoring shit loads of goals is rarer than people imagine in the top leagues and I can see it going further away from that over time. Strikers are, in my opinion, the most specialised position in the game after goalkeepers and some one who does a lot of good work with their back to goal can be more valuable than an out and out goalscorer if you build your team around them. For example our strikers got 6 goals between them, which isn't great, but they guys played on the wings for us got 18 between them and we got 9 more from central midfield.

Look at Liverpool as another example, the 2 genuine centre forwards in their squad are Firmino and Origi who got 13 between them out of 85 they scored in total.

Goalscorers don't have to be centre forwards any more, this is why I think Jacob Ramsey could have a big future, he plays in central midfield but he scores goals (6 in 12 for the U23s and 3 in 7 on loan at Doncaster). Before the season started I said I'd be happy with about 15 goals from the strikers so long as the wingers and midfield got 25-30 and the defenders got about 10. The strikers let me down but I still think that holds true and I'll be hoping for similar next year.

[Richard E]

The more I think about the more I'm amazed we stayed up when the consider the fact that after NewYears Day precisely 1 goal game from a Centre Forward.

I take that as a positive: add a decent striker an someone who can provide the ammo and we're well-set for next season.

If Davis ever scores 12-15 goals in the Premier League then I'll donate a ton to any charity you wish. He's a great lad no doubt but he's not a top division striker.

He won’t score 12-15 in his career let alone one season.

[Des Little]

The more I think about the more I'm amazed we stayed up when the consider the fact that after NewYears Day precisely 1 goal game from a Centre Forward.

I take that as a positive: add a decent striker an someone who can provide the ammo and we're well-set for next season.

If Davis ever scores 12-15 goals in the Premier League then I'll donate a ton to any charity you wish. He's a great lad no doubt but he's not a top division striker.

I’ll match your donation if I spend a night in with Kylie Minogue and the Corrs sisters.

[brian green]

Davis only cost us a round of drinks and worked his bollocks off to help keep us in the Premiership.  I think you should give the lad a break.  Save it for wastrels like Hogan and McCormack.

[N'ZMAV]

Davis only cost us a round of drinks and worked his bollocks off to help keep us in the Premiership.  I think you should give the lad a break.  Save it for wastrels like Hogan and McCormack.

True.


Would be nice for him to score a goal every now and again though

[RamboandBruno]

Davis only cost us a round of drinks and worked his bollocks off to help keep us in the Premiership.  I think you should give the lad a break.  Save it for wastrels like Hogan and McCormack.

Agree with this. I’m not sure if he’ll make it or not, but I’d definitely keep him around as a squad player. He had that poor miss against Arsenal and whilst that could of cost us, the more interesting thing for me was the way he out muscled the defender to latch onto Grealish’s through ball. I just don’t think for a minute Samatta would of even got into the position to shoot. If Davies is coached well and gets one or two to build his confidence, he may get a few more.

[Sexual Ealing]

I think strikers scoring shit loads of goals is rarer than people imagine in the top leagues and I can see it going further away from that over time. Strikers are, in my opinion, the most specialised position in the game after goalkeepers and some one who does a lot of good work with their back to goal can be more valuable than an out and out goalscorer if you build your team around them. For example our strikers got 6 goals between them, which isn't great, but they guys played on the wings for us got 18 between them and we got 9 more from central midfield.

Look at Liverpool as another example, the 2 genuine centre forwards in their squad are Firmino and Origi who got 13 between them out of 85 they scored in total.

Goalscorers don't have to be centre forwards any more, this is why I think Jacob Ramsey could have a big future, he plays in central midfield but he scores goals (6 in 12 for the U23s and 3 in 7 on loan at Doncaster). Before the season started I said I'd be happy with about 15 goals from the strikers so long as the wingers and midfield got 25-30 and the defenders got about 10. The strikers let me down but I still think that holds true and I'll be hoping for similar next year.

Agree with all this.