The upcoming season

[Mark 'expert' Lawrenson]

Our squad overall is possibly stronger but not the first 11, no Kante, likely no Mahrez, 2!of the best City players ever.

[weller54]

17 minutes ago, Mark 'expert' Lawrenson said:

Our squad overall is possibly stronger but not the first 11, no Kante, likely no Mahrez, 2!of the best City players ever.

With Kante I think you can say the best three players ever! 

[chicagofox]

On 06/07/2018 at 16:02, danfox76 said:

I have a really good feeling about the upcoming season... we have a strong defence, a good midfield, and a strong attack.. not to mention a really good mix of upcoming youth, and experienced players

i feel our team is much stronger now.. then when we won the prem.

We had a piss poor defence at the end of last season. Hopefully solid summer investment will go some way to fixing that.

 

Our midfield is strong in terms of quantity. We need to work out the best midfield system, the best partner(s) for Ndidi, work out Silva’s best role/positioning, clear out a lot of dead wood in this area, and integrate new signing(s).

 

We need to sort out the Mahrez saga and how to replace him. Also need to determine What Ihenacho’s best role/position is. And like midfield get rid of some dead wood.

[ian_marshall]

Have to agree that we look like a decent PL outfit now. However where we finish will largely depend not just on ourselves but how well those around and just above us recruit. 

 

I'm really interested to see how Unai Emery shapes Arsenal ahead of the coming season, as I think that he'll either be amazing and have them challenging for the title or be a complete flop and they'll have one of their most difficult season's for a long time. Likewise, I'm intrigued to see how Chelsea do as I've got a feeling that they are really going to struggle this coming season as their preparations are turning into a joke and I can see a scenario where the club becomes quite toxic. The fact that there was a lot of unrest amongst the player's last season with Conte, they still don't know who is likely to be the manager next season, Abramovich's refusal to invest given the current political situation, N'Golo Kante likely to jump ship the second Real place their bid, and a number of key player's likely to return late for preseason training due to their progress in the WC, I'd be very concerned if all that was happening at our club. 

 

I have a sneaky suspicion that Puel will rotate the squad much more this season than we have seen from previous manager's and that some of the player's previously written off by the majority and who have had little opportunity may well step up to the table to show us what they are capable of. 

 

If we can get everyone playing consistently at 90% or above I think we'll have a good chance of making the top six. 

[OhYesNdidi]

13 minutes ago, ian_marshall said:

Have to agree that we look like a decent PL outfit now. However where we finish will largely depend not just on ourselves but how well those around and just above us recruit. 

 

I'm really interested to see how Unai Emery shapes Arsenal ahead of the coming season, as I think that he'll either be amazing and have them challenging for the title or be a complete flop and they'll have one of their most difficult season's for a long time. Likewise, I'm intrigued to see how Chelsea do as I've got a feeling that they are really going to struggle this coming season as their preparations are turning into a joke and I can see a scenario where the club becomes quite toxic. The fact that there was a lot of unrest amongst the player's last season with Conte, they still don't know who is likely to be the manager next season, Abramovich's refusal to invest given the current political situation, N'Golo Kante likely to jump ship the second Real place their bid, and a number of key player's likely to return late for preseason training due to their progress in the WC, I'd be very concerned if all that was happening at our club. 

 

I have a sneaky suspicion that Puel will rotate the squad much more this season than we have seen from previous manager's and that some of the player's previously written off by the majority and who have had little opportunity may well step up to the table to show us what they are capable of. 

 

If we can get everyone playing consistently at 90% or above I think we'll have a good chance of making the top six. 

The average points total for 6th place over the last 5 seasons has been 65 points. To achieve that we must gain 18 more points. If we get a fully motivated Riyad we could quite feasibly get close to the 60 point mark due to our transfers but if we end up selling him and replace him with Roberts I doubt very much we will get anything more than we did last season in terms of points. 

[ian_marshall]

4 minutes ago, OhYesNdidi said:

The average points total for 6th place over the last 5 seasons has been 65 points. To achieve that we must gain 18 more points. If we get a fully motivated Riyad we could quite feasibly get close to the 60 point mark due to our transfers but if we end up selling him and replace him with Roberts I doubt very much we will get anything more than we did last season in terms of points. 

I personally think we're capable closing in on the 18 points. Yes, it will be a challenge but we look a lot stronger at the back this season which should turn many draws into wins and prevent quite a few losses. If we can get more joy against the top 6 we have a chance as it prevents the points gap widening. Our main issue last season was that we had the 5th worst defence in the league with 2 of the sides relegated having a better defence. We look like we've addressed this with our transfer dealings so that will help massively. 

 

Whilst the loss of Riyad in isolation looks like a big loss in terms of assists, I think if we can add a small number of assists from more fluid full backs, and get our number 10 contributing more we'll easily replace the number of assists.

 

To put that into numbers, between Mahrez, Iheanacho, Okazaki, Simpson Fuchs, Chillwell, and Amartey, all managed 17 assists last season. If we can get an accumulated 8 assists from whichever players play the number 10 role this season, and a further 3 assists each from both fullbacks we'll have pretty much filled the void which in reality should be achievable. That's before we even contemplate adding another flair player of the Mahrez mould into the mix. 

 

There's still some way to go in this transfer window but as things stand I'm feeling quite optimistic that we can be very competitive over the duration of the coming season. 

 

[Nick]

I’m not optimistic at all until I know who replaces Mahrez, if Maddison is fit and where Puel intends to play him and which Jonny Evans turns up in a blue shirt.

 

And on top of all that it will of course depend on if we play like we did  the final few games of last season and not the 20 odd games of Puel dross which preceded it.

 

If all the above goes well we’ll finish anywhere between 5th and 8th.

[lcfc sheff]

This season if we are to have any success will be built on a strong defence, can’t just  hope to outscore the competition especially with Mahrez leaving.

 

hopefully the rumours of 3 / 5 at the back are true but we need potentially another centre back. Unless... we have any sort of faith in the youths 

[gurru991]

On 07/07/2018 at 01:38, weller54 said:

Our very best expectations can be finishing 7th.. 

But think we'll be mid table again. 

Think Puel will be gone by christmas! 

 

I think 6th is doable for an outsider this year.

 

I have no idea what will become of Puel .. Hero or Zero !! Who knows ..

[FoxinNotts]

What do you think to this line up, utilising our current squad;

 

Schmeichel

 

Pereria

Maguire

Evans

Chillwell

 

Gray

Ndidi

Silva

Albrighton

 

Maddisson

 

Vardy

 

Subs: Ward, Morgan, Fuchs, Iborra, Musa, Iheanacho, Slimani.

 

Personally, I think it’s pretty good. Top half of Prem material, if coached properly.

 

That bench (regardless of whether or not you think we should keep Musa and Slim) would scare the opposition. Diabate, Jak, Simo, Amartey, Mendy and Okazaki, can’t even get on it!

 

Basically, I wouldn’t be too upset if we were to not sign anyone else, get rid of the real deadwood in Benalouane, Ulloa, James (bless him) etc, and send out on loan our younger squad members, in Barnes, Kapustka, Thomas etc

 

Edited 23 July 2018 by FoxinNotts

[OhYesNdidi]

7 minutes ago, FoxinNotts said:

What do you think to this line up, utilising our current squad;

 

Schmeichel

 

Pereria

Maguire

Evans

Chillwell

 

Gray

Ndidi

Silva

Albrighton

 

Maddisson

 

Vardy

 

Subs: Ward, Morgan, Fuchs, Iborra, Musa, Iheanacho, Slimani.

 

Personally, I think it’s pretty good. Top half of Prem material, if coached properly.

 

That bench (regardless of whether or not you think we should keep Musa and Slim) would scare the opposition. Diabate, Jak, Simo, Amartey, Mendy and Okazaki, can’t even get on it!

 

Basically, I wouldn’t be too upset if we were to not sign anyone else, get rid of the real deadwood in Benalouane, Ulloa, James (bless him) etc, and send out on loan our younger squad members, in Barnes, Kapustka, Thomas etc

 

 

How the hell has Musa found himself on the bench  rather persist with Diabate 

Edited 23 July 2018 by OhYesNdidi

[FoxinNotts]

1 minute ago, OhYesNdidi said:

How the hell has Musa found himself on the bench  rather persist with Diabate 

 

Yeah, I know. I don’t think the footballing world thinks he’s as bad as we potentially do. 

My point was, having Musa and Slimani on the bench would be quite an imposing prospect for the opposition.

[StriderHiryu]

31 minutes ago, FoxinNotts said:

What do you think to this line up, utilising our current squad;

 

Schmeichel

 

Pereria

Maguire

Evans

Chillwell

 

Gray

Ndidi

Silva

Albrighton

 

Maddisson

 

Vardy

 

Subs: Ward, Morgan, Fuchs, Iborra, Musa, Iheanacho, Slimani.

 

Personally, I think it’s pretty good. Top half of Prem material, if coached properly.

 

That bench (regardless of whether or not you think we should keep Musa and Slim) would scare the opposition. Diabate, Jak, Simo, Amartey, Mendy and Okazaki, can’t even get on it!

 

Basically, I wouldn’t be too upset if we were to not sign anyone else, get rid of the real deadwood in Benalouane, Ulloa, James (bless him) etc, and send out on loan our younger squad members, in Barnes, Kapustka, Thomas etc

 

 

That first 11 would be promising though I’d have shipped Musa out and have Gray / Diabate duking it out for one of the winger roles. 

 

I think this team would finish 8-12th which is reasonable but not European football which is what we’re after. We have some of the best players outside the top 6 in the division but only Vardy is an attacking player. 

 

Our season is going to be determined by players who either do or don’t raise their game. If Gray suddenly matures into the player he potentially could be it could happen. Likewise Madisson, Diabate or Nacho. Or we may yet replace Mahrez with a competent attack minded player. Either one of these players needs to have a breakout season (10 goals / assists) or between the lot of them we make up the difference. The second is probably the more likely. 

 

Our three marquee signings probably determine our fate. If all have seasons as good as Maguire / Ndidi’s debut seasons then we will have an overall better team and balance. That’s why the preseason games are interesting to watch this year. Rather than looking at one player specifically it’s to look at team shape and build up. Against Notts County it has to be said there was significant improvement here. Passed it around much faster and high pressed at times. 

[FOXYTALK]

It would be interesting to see Musa start in the Vardy role whilst he is resting to test, if an injury to Vardy ever happened.