Ultra Posted 19 July 2009 Posted 19 July 2009 I would have thought Hughes would play a 4-3-3 to accommodate the Robinho, Adebayor and Tevez, with Santa Cruz on the bench. Even if he does, I doubt that the likes of Wright-Phillips, Petrov, Caicedo and Bellamy are going to be happy at being left out. There are too many egos in that squad. Hughes could come unstuck very quickly.
DB11 Posted 19 July 2009 Posted 19 July 2009 I would have thought Hughes would play a 4-3-3 to accommodate the Robinho, Adebayor and Tevez, with Santa Cruz on the bench. Santa Cruz is world class.
dandannieldanok Posted 20 July 2009 Posted 20 July 2009 Adebayor and Tevez up front, 1 of the best frontlines in the Prem I think.Robinho just behind them aswell, 1 or 2 defensive signings and the top 4 isnt too much of an ask, theyve got a better all round squad than people give them credit for. Agreed, apart from the defence their squad is looking top notch. I think Hughes was too hasty in signing Santa Cruz. I reckon if Hughes knew at the time he bid for him, that Adebayor and Tevez would definitely sign, he wouldn't have signed Santa Cruz. They should just get rid of the crap back-up strikers like Bellamy, Bojinov and Caicedo, they're not a patch on the players Hughes has signed this summer.
Miquel The Work Geordie Posted 20 July 2009 Posted 20 July 2009 Agreed, apart from the defence their squad is looking top notch.I think Hughes was too hasty in signing Santa Cruz. I reckon if Hughes knew at the time he bid for him, that Adebayor and Tevez would definitely sign, he wouldn't have signed Santa Cruz. They should just get rid of the crap back-up strikers like Bellamy, Bojinov and Caicedo, they're not a patch on the players Hughes has signed this summer. Man City supporting mate says Bellamy's been different class since signing, made more of an impact than Robinho apparently, gives them some bite. It's just that it's Craig Bellamy, it's impossible for anyone to praise him, whereas Robinho does a trick and pundits get their respective stalk ons.
dandannieldanok Posted 20 July 2009 Posted 20 July 2009 Man City supporting mate says Bellamy's been different class since signing, made more of an impact than Robinho apparently, gives them some bite.It's just that it's Craig Bellamy, it's impossible for anyone to praise him, whereas Robinho does a trick and pundits get their respective stalk ons. Well I suppose he's best placed to say, just can't see Bellamy getting a look in next season and Robinho is unlikely to be dropped however he plays. I know it's strange to say after just 6 months at the club, but I think for Bellamy he'd be better to move where he'd get games, still useful for 15 goals a season (even though I called him a crap back-up striker ).
Jon the Hat Posted 21 July 2009 Posted 21 July 2009 It is July. What on earth makes you thing they have stopped spending? They will sign two very good defenders before the seasons starts, I wouldn't bet against them getting Lescott and Terry at this stage. A right back is not beyond them either. Another class midfileder perhaps, but as they are not playing Champions League this year they don;t need quite the depth of qualiy of the other top 2/4. Anyone who thinks signing this class of player is not going to see them up the top of the league is deluded. They will qualify for the Champions League next season, and probably at the expense of Arsenal.
Jon the Hat Posted 21 July 2009 Posted 21 July 2009 Adebayor has said it's all about the money in his career. The man is on £150K a week, I doubt he could care if he plays or not. You might too if you came from Togo.
breadandcheese Posted 21 July 2009 Posted 21 July 2009 Anyone who thinks signing this class of player is not going to see them up the top of the league is deluded. They will qualify for the Champions League next season, and probably at the expense of Arsenal. I agree on your Man City assessment. For the record, and I'm going to be the first person to call it for the new season, I think United will miss out on the Champions League place (with probably Tevez getting the goals whilst wearing a T-Shirt saying something along the lines of "Who's worth £25m now?"). Most commentators reckon Arsenal are the weakest out of the current top 4, but with Arshavin in their team, I think they'll be strong contenders, even without Adebayor.
Miquel The Work Geordie Posted 21 July 2009 Posted 21 July 2009 Where are the Arsenal goals coming from?
breadandcheese Posted 21 July 2009 Posted 21 July 2009 Where are the Arsenal goals coming from? To be fair to Arsenal they're able to spread their goals across the team far more than other teams, but in answer to your question, Van Persie, Arshavin, with Bendtner, Eduardo and Vela in reserve. Last season, Bendtner scored one less league goal than Adebayor, so Man City's new star wasn't that integral to their play. The only question marks for me are will they stay injury free (Van Persie's nearly always good for an injury) and how will Vermaelen settle in defence?
Miquel The Work Geordie Posted 21 July 2009 Posted 21 July 2009 Eduardo & Rosicky the sicknotes, Bendtner the donkey, Vela the 12 year old (admittedly talented), and Van Persie the over rated "talent". Agree that Arshavin will be good for a few, but Arsenal are looking really very weak imo.
Ultra Posted 21 July 2009 Posted 21 July 2009 I agree on your Man City assessment. For the record, and I'm going to be the first person to call it for the new season, I think United will miss out on the Champions League place (with probably Tevez getting the goals whilst wearing a T-Shirt saying something along the lines of "Who's worth £25m now?"). (shamelessly nicked from MTWG) Man Utd will have as strong a defence as ever. They'll definitely be top 3 (top 2 if Stevie G gets sent down).
Jon the Hat Posted 21 July 2009 Posted 21 July 2009 Eduardo & Rosicky the sicknotes, Bendtner the donkey, Vela the 12 year old (admittedly talented), and Van Persie the over rated "talent".Agree that Arshavin will be good for a few, but Arsenal are looking really very weak imo. Not to mention that Nasri just broke his leg in training.
breadandcheese Posted 21 July 2009 Posted 21 July 2009 Eduardo & Rosicky the sicknotes, Bendtner the donkey, Vela the 12 year old (admittedly talented), and Van Persie the over rated "talent".Agree that Arshavin will be good for a few, but Arsenal are looking really very weak imo. I disagree. I don't think Van Persie is at all over-rated, he's just suffered from broken seasons with injury lay-offs. Last season was the first time he'd had a full season and looked good. Bendtner maybe a bit of a donkey, but he does score goals. As I said, he got one less league goal than Adebayor last season. I guess we'll see how the season goes on. I still think Man U are a bit suspect in midfield, whilst losing Tevez and Ronaldo is the equivalent of something like a third of their premier league goals last season. Rooney is key, but he can't do it on his own and him and Berbatov seem to fight for the same space on the pitch.
breadandcheese Posted 21 July 2009 Posted 21 July 2009 (shamelessly nicked from MTWG) Man Utd will have as strong a defence as ever. They'll definitely be top 3 (top 2 if Stevie G gets sent down). It's a big call I know, and one that is more likely to fail than otherwise, but Ronaldo papered over the cracks of that team last season. He's now gone. Admittedly, they have the best defense, but midfield-wise, they can be easily over-run against the better teams, and I'm unconvinced by a Rooney-Berbatov partnership upfront.
Radovan's Caravan Posted 21 July 2009 Posted 21 July 2009 Man City's albatross is their away form - they have been consistently poor on the road over recent seasons. In certain cases this kind of problem can mysteriously rectify itself. However the downside to this miraculous transformation is often a sudden loss of home form. Breaking into the top four of the EPL now is pretty much the equivalent of winning the old Division One title about thirty years ago. All top four sides now often outperform (results wise) the top league champions of yesteryear. I cannot see Man City making that leap up yet. Hughes' lifeline could be Arsenal doing what they have been threatening to do for some time now - dropping out. But I think that this is a possibility rather than a probability. And even if it did happen Man City would face determined competition from workmanlike Everton for that fourth slot. So top four same as last season. Chelsea champions. Man City 6th. Team to watch - Spurs.
Miquel The Work Geordie Posted 21 July 2009 Posted 21 July 2009 I disagree. I don't think Van Persie is at all over-rated, he's just suffered from broken seasons with injury lay-offs. Last season was the first time he'd had a full season and looked good. Bendtner maybe a bit of a donkey, but he does score goals. As I said, he got one less league goal than Adebayor last season.I guess we'll see how the season goes on. I still think Man U are a bit suspect in midfield, whilst losing Tevez and Ronaldo is the equivalent of something like a third of their premier league goals last season. Rooney is key, but he can't do it on his own and him and Berbatov seem to fight for the same space on the pitch. But how many chances does Bendtner need to score goals? And the Adebayor stat doesn't really convince me that he's any good, I really don't rate the pair of them. I'll agree that RVP shows flashes of talent but he's barely a 20 league goals a season man. Tevez, as much as I like him as a player, never really set the world alight with his goals:games ratio at Man United, if Owen is kept fit, and can regain that touch of magic, I'd fancy him to bag more than Tevez would've at Old Trafford. Imo Liverpool are the team that could be a class apart if both Torres and Gerrard are kept fit.
Radovan's Caravan Posted 21 July 2009 Posted 21 July 2009 But how many chances does Bendtner need to score goals? And the Adebayor stat doesn't really convince me that he's any good, I really don't rate the pair of them. I'll agree that RVP shows flashes of talent but he's barely a 20 league goals a season man.Tevez, as much as I like him as a player, never really set the world alight with his goals:games ratio at Man United, if Owen is kept fit, and can regain that touch of magic, I'd fancy him to bag more than Tevez would've at Old Trafford. Imo Liverpool are the team that could be a class apart if both Torres and Gerrard are kept fit. ?????? Owen is a functional out and out goalhanger/striker so tipping him to 'bag more than Tevez' is virtually damning him with faint praise. Tevez (like Rooney) is a prodigious workhorse who consistently makes a very high contribution to the total team effort (which is why fans like him). Owen, on the other hand, by dint of his role, is often isolated from play for long stretches of a game. When his side(s) come under pressure it often seems they are a man light. Having said that I think that Ferguson's move was an imaginative and bold one (has a touch of the Cantona's about it) and it has cost him nothing.
Miquel The Work Geordie Posted 21 July 2009 Posted 21 July 2009 ??????Owen is a functional out and out goalhanger/striker so tipping him to 'bag more than Tevez' is virtually damning him with faint praise. Tevez (like Rooney) is a prodigious workhorse who consistently makes a very high contribution to the total team effort (which is why fans like him). Owen, on the other hand, by dint of his role, is often isolated from play for long stretches of a game. When his side(s) come under pressure it often seems they are a man light. Having said that I think that Ferguson's move was an imaginative and bold one (has a touch of the Cantona's about it) and it has cost him nothing. The point I was debating was that Tevez's goals would be missed, and would need to be replaced. Given that it looks like the one striker they've bought in is Owen, it would therefore be natural to compare the two and their possible goalscoring abilities, regardless of their style of play, no?
Radovan's Caravan Posted 21 July 2009 Posted 21 July 2009 The point I was debating was that Tevez's goals would be missed, and would need to be replaced. Given that it looks like the one striker they've bought in is Owen, it would therefore be natural to compare the two and their possible goalscoring abilities, regardless of their style of play, no? Fair enough.
CosbehFox Posted 21 July 2009 Posted 21 July 2009 It's a big call I know, and one that is more likely to fail than otherwise, but Ronaldo papered over the cracks of that team last season. He's now gone. Admittedly, they have the best defense, but midfield-wise, they can be easily over-run against the better teams, and I'm unconvinced by a Rooney-Berbatov partnership upfront. Interestingly despite the praise, I don't rate Man United's defence as much as everyone else. I think they are excellent in the current footballing climate but both first-choice centre halves are hardly the quickest off the mark. In the two biggest games of the season, they were quite simply woeful as Torres and Messi showed them up. Having said that I think that Ferguson's move was an imaginative and bold one (has a touch of the Cantona's about it) and it has cost him nothing. I don't think it's even a gamble. It's a sensible move with not a lot of risk. If it fails, it's a blow Man United can afford to take. United's squad to me boasts consistency, it's not incredible, it's not 4-0 stuff....it's the kind of squad Fergie had in the 90s, simple football wins games whilst the other 3 around them simply rely on certain players too much to touch United. Personally, can't wait to see Rooney back up front for the Mancs. United's greatest asset is their manager...he's a bloke who can get the most simplistic players raise his game and it's not a quality either of the other 3 have.
Ultra Posted 26 July 2009 Posted 26 July 2009 Man City wind Fergie up with this poster. I don't know why he's bothered about them. Once again this season, if trophies come to Manchester, it will be the team in red winning them.
Edmund Posted 26 July 2009 Posted 26 July 2009 Man City wind Fergie up with this poster. I don't know why he's bothered about them. Once again this season, if trophies come to Manchester, it will be the team in red winning them. Class I bet thats got cctv monitoring it 24 hours. Money is no object to these guys, they can pull of expensive pranks left right and centre.
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