|
|
Post by joeymoose on Jun 13, 2008 14:02:29 GMT
OK, so Derby have become the yardstick for Premiership failure and we are expected to follow suit. Some teams have survived, however, and are there lessons we can learn on how to stay up?
Wigan have done it on small crowds, a local benefactor (not in the Abramavich league, mind) and moderate spending. They never beat the big teams but manage vital wins against fellow "strugglers". They seem to do that on pace and power: Roberts, Ellington, Heskey, Bent. I also think that Kilbane's wing play was a factor.
Sunderland also managed vital wins against the lower teams. Kenwyne Jones' physical power was the main factor along with a never-say-die attitude. Their spending has not been ridiculously high except for the goalie, and that £9m looks like good business now.
Fulham seemed to pull through by sheer team spirit after Hodgson took over. They had so many decent strikers that there always seemed like one of them could find a goal towards the end of the season.
So, to sum up: we need power and pace up front and need to spend big money on proven strikers. For the first time under TP we need genuine pace on the wings. The "Cresswell Project" would be a disaster in this league. None of the above teams are fantastically strong at the back with the exception of an outstanding keeper. So TP, go and get Fulop, Harewood, Jerome, Sinclair and Routledge. Stick with the defence we've got and move Liam to centre midfield. That should see us stay up!
West Brazil will be plotting to outplay everybody with their carpet football. Now they really could "do a Derby".
|
|
|
|
Post by Northy on Jun 13, 2008 14:48:44 GMT
I think you've answered your own question well enough for everybody else. All power and pace is hard to come across on our budget, sometimes we will be defnding with 8 men around our box, we need men to wear the shirt first and think of salaries and bonus's second. defend like England did against Argentins in 2002 world cup, it might be a bit tense on the sphincter and finger nails, be prepared for a bumpy ride  |
|
|
|
Post by Dallas Cowboy on Jun 13, 2008 14:53:40 GMT
Win a lot more games than they did.  |
|
|
|
Post by Birchesheadpotter on Jun 13, 2008 14:55:58 GMT
Stay well clear of Kenny Miller |
|
nicco
Academy Starlet
Posts: 101
|
Post by nicco on Jun 13, 2008 14:56:01 GMT
buy better players
beat teams in the lower half of the table
dont get dicked ;-)
|
|
|
|
Post by Bullseye on Jun 13, 2008 14:59:18 GMT
Spend shit loads of money.
Steer clear of 30+ year old journeymen defenders.
|
|
|
|
Post by joeymoose on Jun 13, 2008 15:07:06 GMT
The point I'm trying to make is, do we really need to be spending any money at all on the back 4 or central midfield? TP has a fascination for collecting defenders but I think that we should blow all our cash on a goalie, wingers and strikers. Are the defences in the lower half of the Prem that much better than ours? I don't think so. Are their attacking options better?
By a million miles.
|
|
|
|
Post by Bullseye on Jun 13, 2008 15:07:58 GMT
good point moose man.
|
|
|
|
Post by sw4potter on Jun 13, 2008 15:20:44 GMT
Sunderland did spend a lot of money...and mainly on Championship players, or top 4 reserves.
Was it in the region of £45m the last I read...? And will spend big again this Summer...
The Premiership has changed in the last couple of years...everyone seems to spend big now...so I don't see how we can stay up if we don't...
However, will we find the calibre of player who wants to come to us in order for us to spend big...? That's the worrying thing for me at the moment...
I agree we need a better keeper, better strikers and some wingers...but to say the defence and central midfield takes care of itself is a little optimistic...maybe...?!
I only thought 3 or 4 of our team could maybe cut it in the prem...Fuller, Lawrence, Shawcross and maybe Delap...
Whelan has 'yet to do it' for me personally, we need cover if not better midfielders than Whelan and Delap therefore...
As for the defence, I'd love to see Dicko step up a level, just because he's in the Julian Dicks mould and will frighten the life out of some wingers - however, so was Paul Konchesky...and I don't rate him at that level.
Griffin couldn't cut it at Derby, and Cort is too slow (though will score goals).
Major investment needed throughout the team...literally need 10 new faces...at an average of say £2-3m and we may have a chance...
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2008 15:26:33 GMT
Have to take issue with a few things here:
1) I don't agree that you "have" to spend big to stay up. Sunderland are the example quoted, but a very poor one - had Roy Keane spent that kind of money on quality, rather than his Irish/Man Yoo reject mates, they'd have been safe a long time before they were. Wigan haven't spent a vast amount and continue to stay up, ditto Bolton. Warnock's Sheffield Utd team a couple of years back was similar in style and ability to ours, and they would have stayed up had they not been shafted by West Ham.
2) Having said that, we DO need 6-8 new players, and we certainly DO need to spend on defence. In the Premiership, you're punished far more ruthlessly for your mistakes, and we need, at the very least, 2 new full backs and a centre half in addition to the well-documented need for strikers, a left winger, and probably a centre mid.
|
|
|
|
Post by gleghornsgoolies on Jun 13, 2008 15:32:08 GMT
Are the defences in the lower half of the Prem that much better than ours? Yes! They don't have Leon Cort in them for a start! Shawcross (like everyone else) is a question mark but could be good enough.. as for the rest though, if they all start then I honestly think we could do 'a Derby'. It would be suicidal. |
|
