Footy Fans

There's a band wagon rolling down at Craven Cottage, a new manager with lots of positive talk, a transfer budget to match the talk and eight new signings to boost the small squad.

All good you may say, but why do I still fear the worse?

Firstly I suppose is the fact that the eight in are only replacing the eight out so far and those eight out could really be eleven if you include the loan returns. Three of the players relaeased didn't feature last season, Crossley, Pembridge and Collins but Brown, Helguson, Queudrue, Jensen and Radzinski made a total of 129 appearences last season. Add to that the 32 appearences made by loanees Routledge, Lastuvka and Montella and we've lost some important first team players.

Coleman was an inexperienced manager but he did have the advantage over Sanchez of playing in the Premier League and winning it and playing under some of the games great managers. Sanchez had a good run with a lower league side and got a couple of results with a non demanding national side, hardly inspiring too me!

And so we have the new signings, Paul Konchesky, Aaron Hughes and Steven Davis were bench warmers at equivalent Premier League clubs last season, Diomansy Kamara, great last season in the Championship but failed with two other clubs at this level. Chris Baird and Lee Cook, similar to Kamara in that they had a good season with Championship clubs last year and are seen as good prospects, but untried at this level. Adrian Leijer has been brought in as one for the future, currently part of the Australian Olympic and under 21 sides and finally the super prospect that is David Healy, now I know you don't fluke a hat-trick against the Spanish national side so there's obviously is some talent in there, but 6 goals for a relegated Championship side!!!

Until proved otherwise, my glass will remain half empty.

Well, my view on optimism and pessimism (being a Norwich City supporter) is to take the good with the bad, and never to be too optimistic (you get let down) but never to be too pessimistic, because there's no use it that!

Think you've always got to find a middle ground... and I for once (the first time in a few seasons) am actually looking forward to the kick off of the new season! But I'm not expecting anything, just hoping!

Proven facts.

LS gets results with mediocre players in international football
Healy scores goals in LS playing style
LS has bought players he knows and has worked with before.

I would be optimistic mate, he could do well for you. losing montella is big, but if you can keep it tight at the back, you should be ok

With ten minutes to go I was all ready to retract this thread and then pfftt

You were desperately unlucky Zeno. Tony Warner, former Liverpool reserve keeper, had a magnificent game.

I was kinda thinking you might go down this season. Now I'm not so sure Keep playing like you did at the weekend and I'm sure you'll be fine.

Now the glass is nearly empty as far as I'm concerned.

I know we're only 4 games into the season, but including last season's games Sanchez has picked up 7 points from a possible 27! That is without doubt relegation form and simple maths says that we'll struggle to make 30 points if we continue in that way.

We've lost the target man in McBride and have nobody else to replace the role he plays in the side.

We've not strengthened adequately in the area that everybody can see needed strengthening for a couple of seasons, a decent centre half.

We lack the bite in midfield that Papa Bouba Diop gave us and although he's still at the club, he will be gone by the close of the transfer window.

Chris Baird has proved beyond doubt, in the first four games of the season, that he is not a right back and our best full back Liam Rosenior is also on his way out.

Championship football for Fulham next season, unless there's a miracle in the closing week of the transfer window.

The window's shut and to sum it all up Sanchez has brought in 14 new players, sold/released 12 players and 3 loanees returned. The squad now looks weaker than the team that finished 1 point off relegation last season and we've got to allow them time to gel!

The glass has gone completely now

Good result today for you.

I'm naturally an optimist but I don't think I've known a whole ground so optimistic as Anfield was today.

And now you're gonna believe us, we're gonna win the league!

-HH- wrote:Good result today for you.

Very lucky, I watched it on SopCast.

Really really worried for you mate, why was healy on the bench?

Poolkew wrote:why was healy on the bench?

No idea, probably a tactical thing with one upfront. We all know Lawrie likes to keep it tight at the back

It looks like we've got an early Christmas present, lots of sources have said this afternoon that Sanchez has gone and replaced by John Collins, who resigned from Hibs this morning.

Also in the fold is the return of Jean Tigana in a director of football role and Lee Clark as assistant.

Please, please, please let this be true

Heard the same. Pleased for you Zeno.

-HH- wrote:Heard the same. Pleased for you Zeno.

Well we're right so far, let's just hope that it has not been left too late and the incoming management team can rebuild Lawrie's shit side in the window!!!

You got roy hodgson havent you? good manager - had a crap spell at blackburn but did well in other places.