Naive? Maybe. But I still think we're going to win the league

[No-one knows LESS about Wenger than Myles Palmer]

We might not have the biggest squad, but we've got the best pound for pound.

Not bothered about Gustavo or Suarez - we didnt have them last season and we didnt do too badly (didnt we win a certain game in Munich??)

A settled squad. A settled manager.

Mark my words - this season is gonna be one helluva rollercoaster

[wagoaw (out only, no in)]

Any progress on signings?

[halfsharkalligatorhalfman]

We don't have to spend half a season waiting for the team to gel to start with.

[wagoaw (out only, no in)]

you meant getting 4th? :hehe:

[halfsharkalligatorhalfman]

[Peter]

Of a scramble for fourth place. A distant fourth, mind.

That's ok. I just could have done withoutnthe whole 'financial firepower' stuff. I find it rahter insulting.

[wagoaw (out only, no in)]

I mean your predictions

[Alfred C. Jolibois, PhD]

last year:

- Last team to beat Bayern
- 8 wins, 2 draws in last 10 games last year (form of champions)
- Giroud, now settled (having netted 17 in its first season) will score 25-30 goals.
- Theo on fire, also to score 25-30(up from 21 already last season), most of them in what is becoming his trademark "outrun the full back on a diagonal run, and finish smartly with keeper advancing."
- Kos, Mert, Arteta the most effective defensive spine in the PL.
- Santi orchestrating. Ramsey and Ox coming into their own in brilliant fashion. Jack/Rosicky providing directness and zip, when needed. Poldi, mostly from the bench for late bursts of power.

With Suarez and Gustavo, we would be irresistible. Without them, we would be very, very strong contenders.

Real worry is, of course injury to the main men. Sczez, Kos, Arteta, Giroud have no back up. The others we can do without for a few games (Ox for Theo, Rosicky for Jack, Poldi for Santi on the left, etc.)

But, one way or another, we will be part of the title run. Not sure why this is not obvious to all--though maybe the game again ManCity has begun to change that a bit...

[halfsharkalligatorhalfman]

[wagoaw (out only, no in)]

it'll be kept dry as always.

[wagoaw (out only, no in)]

like AW having to evaluate the squad to determine if new players are necessary?

[Peter]

We may well do. Or we could spend tens of millions

But lets say this is our squad. Prediction? :-)

[halfsharkalligatorhalfman]

Given how short we are on numbers, and that we're long overdue a defensive injury crisis... 5th?? 6th????

[Peter]

Man you really are an optimist :-)

To be fair there is little you can do about an injury crisis. But you can start with a reasonable amount of cover and we are certainly one short. One short in every department if we are being honest. He isnt going to fix all of it is he.

So far it is probsbly fair to say that this summer has been farcical. Two weeks to repair the damage.

[halfsharkalligatorhalfman]

We just form a narrative based on the drips and drabs we get fed by the press, but in reality we haven't a clue what has gone on.

[Ashberto]

http://www.awimb.com/fudforum/index.php?t=tree&goto=3649 193&rid=2804&S=4f212773d0765d3d483e75327ad99b45 (http://www.awimb.com/fudforum/index.php?t=tree&goto=3649193&rid=2804&S=4f212773d0765d3d483e75327ad99b45)

[Peter]

A bit of a joke

[halfsharkalligatorhalfman]

We could still spend 100 million between now and then :-)

[Peter]

The whole thing stinks. Nobody, but nobody does business like this. If we were serious about strengthening the squad, and i am not talking hundreds of millions but twenty or so, we would surely have identified who we wanted and trid to get them early.

There is no mileage in last minute signings, it is clearly not a good move.

[halfsharkalligatorhalfman]

The thing is, what choice do we have other than to keep the faith? After the toxic atmosphere in the stadium for much of last season, the manager and board know exactly what's at stake this summer, I just can't contemplate them not doing *something* between now and the end of the window.

[ITSUPFORGRABSNOW]

Lets wait and see

[ITSUPFORGRABSNOW]

[Peter]

Arsene and the rest of us need to focus on games now. It isnt the time to be buying players. And one defensive injury in the first game and we go to turkey with a make shift back line and f**k all on the bench. If that costs uas our cl place, god f**king help him......

I just dont really get why we ae in this position. To be honest, i only realised a day or two ago how small the squad was. I watched the players leaving but as they were all **** it didnt really bother me.

Take put the crap and our squad is actually tiny :-)

[Peter]

That said, united are champions with a pretty bloody srong squad already.

[ITSUPFORGRABSNOW]

I know I know I know who it was!

[Peter]

And i aree they could do with a bit more quality but their situation doesnt compare to ours, nor does their need.