lawrietimson

I think the idea is that by adding the back-up of these players, the club looks more stable as there are at least three or four players to cover each position. This will then encourage big players to come as they will realise that formations will be kept consistent, therefore they won't be played out of position. However, it does look like we are just signing these players that will be able to provide cover for the squad, and it will not be this transfer window in which we get a big player that will improve the squad dramatically.

A bit of a risk i think, but i am overall quite pleased with this. Although he will probably spend large amounts of time injured, the quality he at least used to bring is something which would give us a bit of a lift at the moment. I am interested to hear how much we are paying for him though. Sky sports are also making it sound like we are looking to get Henrik Larsson as well, just thinking that we need to start building the midfield area and not start adding ageing, injury prone strikers, although as i say, pleased with Saha.

How many defenders can you fit on one pitch? We made Blackburn look like Brazil.

There it is, the beginning of the end.

Actually more interesting then living in Kendal.

If you live near Kendal get down to see some games. Found out the other day that Leon Osman's brother Carl, plays for Kendal. Leon came down the other day in order to watch his brother play against Sunderland in a friendly. Absolutely immense .

Shame, i really like city. Watched the match and wasn't very impressed by what was on display. City had a few good chances and were unlucky not to get a couple of goals, but they didnt seem to really care about getting a result it seemed until the last 10 mins or so. Petrov seemed to be getting angry with players of his own squad (which last time this happened ended up in a red for him for kicking leon osman). I still think they will step up to the mark on the second leg and still win on aggregate.

2 B's, a C and a D.

I have to agree with what Lawro is saying. With such a small squad it will be impressive if we end up in the top 10, especially when everyone around us seem to be building impressively. I also have doubts about whether we will have a full season of the injury prone Arteta and Cahill and would be very suprised if we see Manny in an Everton shirt again. Could be worse though, could be battling it out with hull and stoke.

Well said. I am honestly enjoying being a blue at the moment, I think as soon as the first few games are out of the way everyone will settle down and realise it wont be as bad as people have been imagining . Still would feel a lot better about being a blue if we made a signing, but hey, Que Sera.

Hope it is not too late to get Cana, although I have a feeling it will be if they want 20m for him. Got him on Football Manager and he is an absolute mentaller, got 4 reds in a season and was the most disciplined player, but also the most successfull tackler. Not saying we need more cards though, just saying it would be good to see him crunch a few reds on a derby day and maybe take ronaldo down a few times.

Just a few more hours till i get mine. The exams seemed to go ok so i will hopefully get into manchester, but can never be too sure. Good luck to everyone else.

I had heard that there was going to be a swap deal with warnock, but he then came out and said he was staying. I cant see him leaving us this season and I wouldnt be suprised if we saw more of him, even if it means lescott moving over to take a centre back role every now and then.

I totally agree with you, but i've heard manny has been impressing staff and players during training and friendlies, so getting him might not be as easy as everyone thought at the start of the transfer window.

http://www.nsno.co.uk/news-3637.html Is anyone else a bit worried about this. Although we got both Phil Neville and Tim Howard from United, is it worth buying him? I know after a lot of hype about him being the next Beckham and that he would soon be a first team member he was unlucky with injury for a while, but it seems he has been a major flop for them. What does everyone else think?

I don't think it would be that good a move. Although it is only on loan which is better than just moving in to buy him, he was criticised last season for being such a flop for Juve, i think people just remember him for his great goal for chelsea against united, but i dont think he will be anywhere near the quality that we would like from him. But even so, would be at least someone in the squad.

I agree that pound for pound we are the best team in the premier league, however, we have a very small squad and need to make signings. I'm not saying that you need to spend big money to get the return, as you have rightfully pointed out with those players, although I count the Yak as a fairly big signing. However, a player like Moutinho that would cost a lot, is a player who would vastly improve our side. However I do agree that there is nothing more satisfying than spending a small amount of money on a player and seeing them do well. However, you must admit with the big signings that the teams around us are making, in comparison to the lack that we are making when there are clear holes in our squad (as shown in our form in recent friendlies), it is a bit intimidating and there is a daunting task ahead if we want 5th without making big sigings which would guarentee a return.

I think Ireland, although an idiot, is a quality player. I agree with the Osman comparisons, but I think he still has room to grow only being 21 and he has shown flashes of absolute brilliance this season. I think next season will be the season he shines more, but i dont think it will be for everton unforunetly as i cant see him leaving city and us buying him.

It's all very well saying that these teams are buying players that will be replacements, but if you look at the money that, especially spurs have been spending on them and the quality of them, it is quite clear that we need to make some signings, even if it is just to bulk our squad out. Spurs haven't just been replacing players, but adding quality (Bentley 18m, Dos Santos 8.6m, Gomes 8m, Modric 16.5m). If you then look at teams like City who have spent around 19m on striker Jo, it is clear that these teams are improving and spending fast. Although we might have got 5th last season, it is clear that there will need to be at least a few signings, hopefully some that can make a major impact on the first team line-up, that will allow us to still have the edge over teams that look likely to challenge us.

I think we are running out of time to sign "a good quality player", but hope that you are right. However I have a feeling we will just sign a couple of alright players and not get anyone that will truely affect the first team. Having said that, i do really hope we have the time and the funds to sign Moutinho, if not i think someone will get blamed for the waste of a good opportunity.

I really really hope it is moutinho, but i have a feeling we will panic before then and get a few less known players in just to settle the club's lack of transfer activities.