Nick Powell

[Number 6]

Burnley have signed Sordell. QPR haven't signed anyone have they? Think 4 signings is not bad going. As Nige has always been a fan of getting things done early then I can see where the concern originates though. No point just getting anyone in for the sake of a signing mind.

[reynard]

I would love to know why people expect us to be able to compete with already established premier league clubs, it makes no sense.

Well we're going to have to compete with them on the pitch so we may as well try and compete off it as well. I'm not talking about the top 7 but if we can't compete in all aspects with the like of West Brom, Palace, Swansea, Stoke etc then our stay is likely to be shorter than we would wish.

I'm not saying we need to go crazy but we do need to strengthen. A the moment just 2 or 3 long term injuries to key players would leave us in a very difficult position.

There's still time of course but if we don't add to the squad we are going struggle especially up front.

[MPH]

There's likely to be some squad movement in the upper echelons of the premier league and until they all know who is in their squad, then there won't be much movement for the likes of us.

As for players like nick powell... quite often the big parent clubs don't like someone to go to a team they think will be in a relegation scrap. I don't think we will, mind but man u might think we will. Some people believe it can harm the mindset of someone they are trying to develop a winning mentality in.

So it's possible we did go for him and got knocked back.

[dannythefox]

Not for me didn't do a lot for Wigan and he wanted to much money last season when we wanted him.

[FreeFox]

If someone offered me Nick Powell tomorrow, I would take him.

[Out Foxed]

If someone offered me Nick Powell tomorrow, I would take him.

this the transfer talk section head to craigslist if you want stuff like that

[Steven]

If someone offered me Nick Powell tomorrow, I would take him.

[1972 Fox]

Mahrez didn't need a pre-season to fit in, Chris Wood didn't when he joined. We have a month to get the squad right for the first game, Pearson seems to me like a manager who looks for players who will fit in to our style and philosophy so that gelling time won't be as crucial.

We have no idea whether we're being knocked back, who we are looking for, what wages we offer, Pearson is a considered man with regards to transfers so we can go on paper and Twitter speculation. Who knows, we might have several players lined up?

We are in a tough position, we are the new boys and no matter how much money you have, there are more attractive offers out there, clubs who are established.

100% spot on.

[m4DD0gg]

Without any further signings we'll finish around 12th. A couple of quality additions and a ywhere as high as 9th is achievable.

Erm i think that is highly unrealistic, 12th with no further signings?!

Dont get me wrong love the current team for their fantastic achievements last season but our defence is going to get a new one torn every week by high calibre premier league strikers.

Nuge has never really cut it in the prem and vardy is very much unproven at that level.

[benpicko]

Without any further signings we'll finish around 12th. A couple of quality additions and a ywhere as high as 9th is achievable.

We looked shaky whenever a key player was missing or underperforming last season, yet you think we'll finish around 12th if we keep our squad as it is?

[Carlos88LCFC]

We looked shaky whenever a key player was missing or underperforming last season, yet you think we'll finish around 12th if we keep our squad as it is?

Which was very rare. Remember the record breaking winning streak? Then the unbeaten streak....

When the team preformed last season, in some of our games we would have been a match for anyone.

Hopefully pre-season they focus a bit more of defending set peices because thats what worrys me the most, but other than that we are a good team. I'm suprised with everyones lack of faith in what we have!

[Ric Flair]

Which was very rare. Remember the record breaking winning streak? Then the unbeaten streak....

When the team preformed last season, in some of our games we would have been a match for anyone.

Hopefully pre-season they focus a bit more of defending set peices because thats what worrys me the most, but other than that we are a good team. I'm suprised with everyones lack of faith in what we have!

Anyone who thinks we will have the same luck with injuries next season is a baffoon. We were very lucky, which often happens to successful teams but when it comes to a new territory we'll suffer cruel blows and curse our luck and how it would be oh so different with everyone fit. That is why we must bring in some quality to improve on what we currently have.

[Nick]

Anyone who thinks we will have the same luck with injuries next season is a baffoon. We were very lucky, which often happens to successful teams but when it comes to a new territory we'll suffer cruel blows and curse our luck and how it would be oh so different with everyone fit. That is why we must bring in some quality to improve on what we currently have.

Yep in all honesty the only positions I believe we have really decent cover for (Prem quality) is in Hamer and Albrighton, the latter I think will be a starter by Christmas.

So if we do pick up a few serious injuries in our starting line up, on current squad depth in regard to quality (in my opinion) we'll be facing relegation.

[Carlos88LCFC]

Yep in all honesty the only positions I believe we have really decent cover for (Prem quality) is in Hamer and Albrighton, the latter I think will be a starter by Christmas.

So if we do pick up a few serious injuries in our starting line up, on current squad depth in regard to quality (in my opinion) we'll be facing relegation.

Do you not think we have good cover at RB? Moore... CB? Upson.... CM? Kingy... Upfront? Wood/Schlupp...

I think the only position we NEED is a LB that will be in the starting 11 and have Konch/Schlupp as backup. The rest I am confident in. I dont expect the backup players to be world beaters... But look at the rest of the bottom half of the prems bench/back up.... Not all that.

And if I remember rightly we did have a few key injuries last season in Moore, Vardy, James? We did alright!

[TrentFox]

Can't understand why anyone looking purely at our squad would see it as anything other than bottom 4 positions. Thankfully, our final league position will be heavily influenced by many factors other than the talent of the playing squad, (e.g. getting them to play to their maximum, managing their condition / injuries, tactics, coaching, motivation etc etc). That gives us hope as we know we have a talented behind the scenes team of individuals in all positions. So far, we have only added better squad members - which will help give us depth. What is undoubtedly making many of us anxious is that we haven't really added any quality to our actual starting 11. It has to happen. Soon. Doesn't it??

[Ric Flair]

Do you not think we have good cover at RB? Moore... CB? Upson.... CM? Kingy... Upfront? Wood/Schlupp...

I think the only position we NEED is a LB that will be in the starting 11 and have Konch/Schlupp as backup. The rest I am confident in. I dont expect the backup players to be world beaters... But look at the rest of the bottom half of the prems bench/back up.... Not all that.

And if I remember rightly we did have a few key injuries last season in Moore, Vardy, James? We did alright!

Central midfield we are badly lacking. Dean Hammond is mince, and Andy King has struggled to make an impact with us in the last 2 seasons. I love Kingy and i'd always have him in the squad but I would be scared to go in to the season with just him and Hammond as back-up.

[Nick]

Do you not think we have good cover at RB? Moore... CB? Upson.... CM? Kingy... Upfront? Wood/Schlupp...

I think the only position we NEED is a LB that will be in the starting 11 and have Konch/Schlupp as backup. The rest I am confident in. I dont expect the backup players to be world beaters... But look at the rest of the bottom half of the prems bench/back up.... Not all that.

And if I remember rightly we did have a few key injuries last season in Moore, Vardy, James? We did alright!

Not really in terms of quality to cover a player out for 6 months, no, although Moore I grant you if he's not starting represents excellent cover. Upson is perhaps cover rather than competition but will be a good sub rather than last as a week in week out starter. Wood and Schlupp...... not at this level imo. King offers a different option rather than cover for a particular position and I'm not yet convinced he'll be used regularly.

We did have some injuries and perhaps just about got away with it - we'll be against far better opposition this year. In truth, we looked great last season with our starting 11 on form - anything outside of that formation and those personnel I think we will be abused in the Premiership.

We have a plan B but the players in it looked poor in the champiopnship - they'll be murdered in the Prem.

[Carlos88LCFC]

Central midfield we are badly lacking. Dean Hammond is mince, and Andy King has struggled to make an impact with us in the last 2 seasons. I love Kingy and i'd always have him in the squad but I would be scared to go in to the season with just him and Hammond as back-up.

I have the same feelings about King, He's been loyal, plays with his heart and loves the club. The difference this season is when CM have the ball in the Premiership teams tend to stand off a bit more than in the Championship... And I think King is technically a good (not great) but good footballer. The reason he struggled in the Championship is because he got bullied off the ball and seems he doesn't have sharpness about his play. Ofcourse he won't be penetrating defences like Drinky but I think he could do a decent job.

Again, Its all opinions at the stage regardless of what anyone says. We could go down with a worse points score than Derby... We could finish in the top 10.... No body knows. The core of our squad have never been tested in the Premiership, who knows. As I said before, Southampton did it and went all the way with the team they pulled out of the Championship with.... Why can't we!

All I know is I have 100% faith in Pearson and think he is the right man to drive this club in the right direction. He has the aura of a winner and I trust his judgement.

[WhispyWizard]

Can't understand why anyone looking purely at our squad would see it as anything other than bottom 4 positions. Thankfully, our final league position will be heavily influenced by many factors other than the talent of the playing squad, (e.g. getting them to play to their maximum, managing their condition / injuries, tactics, coaching, motivation etc etc). That gives us hope as we know we have a talented behind the scenes team of individuals in all positions. So far, we have only added better squad members - which will help give us depth. What is undoubtedly making many of us anxious is that we haven't really added any quality to our actual starting 11. It has to happen. Soon. Doesn't it??

Pearson had faith in the guys that got beaten against Watford last year and that worked out pretty well, it may show that players that play together for more than 1 season will improve as a team.

Palace uprooted their squad, and if they hadn't changed their manager, imo they would have been relegated.

Cardiff spent £36m on "quality" players last year, but that didn't help them stay up

Hull spent carefully last summer, signing a very good spine to their team which kept them up.

We need a Huddlestone imo, if our only signing of this window is a quality midfielder i'll be happy.

[Guest Col city fan]

Not really in terms of quality to cover a player out for 6 months, no, although Moore I grant you if he's not starting represents excellent cover. Upson is perhaps cover rather than competition but will be a good sub rather than last as a week in week out starter. Wood and Schlupp...... not at this level imo. King offers a different option rather than cover for a particular position and I'm not yet convinced he'll be used regularly.

We did have some injuries and perhaps just about got away with it - we'll be against far better opposition this year. In truth, we looked great last season with our starting 11 on form - anything outside of that formation and those personnel I think we will be abused in the Premiership.

We have a plan B but the players in it looked poor in the champiopnship - they'll be murdered in the Prem.

You make an awful lot of assumptions.

The reality is you have no faintest clue regarding who will do well in the Prem and who won't.

Schlupp IMO is built for the Premiership. If he's being coached well over the summer in an attacking left back role, I reckon he will shine.

Wood has never been one of my favourite players, but who knows.. maybe the demands of the Prem will spur the player on.

Season in, season out, I remain surprised at some of the players who make the step up when you think they won't.. and vice versa.

I think we now need to sign two players, of clear Premiership quality, to cement what we have already and to spur them on.

If that means we have to be flexible with the wage structure, then sobeit.

The morale generated in the squad from playing with quality additions may well outweigh the extra few quid they earn.

At least you've tried to make a point, rather than your usual one liners. Keep it up..

[Babylon]

You make an awful lot of assumptions.

The reality is you have no faintest clue regarding who will do well in the Prem and who won't.

Schlupp IMO is built for the Premiership. If he's being coached well over the summer in an attacking left back role, I reckon he will shine.

[Guest Col city fan]

Yes, I was giving an example of such an 'assumption'.. who knows, is the reality.

[Nick]

You make an awful lot of assumptions.

The reality is you have no faintest clue regarding who will do well in the Prem and who won't.

Schlupp IMO is built for the Premiership. If he's being coached well over the summer in an attacking left back role, I reckon he will shine.

Wood has never been one of my favourite players, but who knows.. maybe the demands of the Prem will spur the player on.

Season in, season out, I remain surprised at some of the players who make the step up when you think they won't.. and vice versa.

I think we now need to sign two players, of clear Premiership quality, to cement what we have already and to spur them on.

If that means we have to be flexible with the wage structure, then sobeit.

The morale generated in the squad from playing with quality additions may well outweigh the extra few quid they earn.

At least you've tried to make a point, rather than your usual one liners. Keep it up..

What?

If the reality is that I have not the faintest idea what prem quality is, where do you get off preaching who you think is and isn't? It's a discussion board, so discuss without telling me I'm wrong in some ironical, hypocritical non sensical rant.

The only reason you get one liners Col is because I'm not prepared to enter into semantical debate with you as you don't take on board or read the posts of others and post the same constant diatribe in every thread.

Thanks for the patronising encouragement to keep up my attempts to post to your high standards though Col.

Give me strength.

[Nick]

Yes, I was giving an example of such an 'assumption'.. who knows, is the reality.

No you were being a dick.

[Bettsj2]

We looked shaky whenever a key player was missing or underperforming last season, yet you think we'll finish around 12th if we keep our squad as it is?

Bullsh*t.

90% of the season was spent pissing on the opposition. There were rare occassions where we dropped off but you get that at any team at any level. Look at the big picture and you'll see that we'll be more than comfortable in the Prem.

This isnt me wearing rose tinted glasses or being blind to anything, its just me being realistic with the information and facts put in front of me. The bottom half of the Prem is weak. Watch MOTD and live games every week where these clus are involved and you see awful defending, weak midfields and inconsistent finishing. If we'd have been in the Prem last year we'd have finished mid-table. Now with a couple of experienced prem players added, we'll cope with the uplift some if those teams have made. Although saying that, the strengthening thats been done by teams like Villa havent exactly struck fear into my heart.

I know its really difficult to accept given the lows we've had in recent years but pretty soon everyone is just gonna have to concede that we are a decent side. We wont be challenging for honours and pushing for Europe, but we will be comfortable and we will be a Prem side for many years.