superpull wrote: ↑Wed Aug 26, 2026 1:45 pm
Last year the squad wasn't good enough to last the full 12 months.
We have swapped McNeil for Johnson and Norgaard for Gana.
George replaced Grealish last January.
So Hackney. We've added one central midfielder to a squad that wasn't good/deep enough to play 38 games last season and get into the top half (1 point more than the previous two seasons. both of which started with Dyche at the helm by the way) or get past the 3rd round of a cup.
This is the squad we're all pretending to be happy with yeah?
Sound.
I give up. Fuck it all and let's just not try
Last year we lost a lot of key bodies to AFCON and Grealish/Branthwaite to long term injuries.
Add to that the fact that the younger players in the squad have developed into PL level players so can play a bigger role in the squad (Rohl, George, Dibling, Armstrong, Barry, Aznou).
There's also the fact that we absolutely should have finished much closer to the european places given where we were with 6 games to go, I put that down to a Moyes issue rather than a squad one.
We've got at least two senior players on senior player wages for every position except for RB, we aren't inflating our wage budget further without selling IMO
AjaxAndy wrote: ↑Wed Aug 26, 2026 1:24 pm
I think the squad is in a really good place personally, or at least compared to probably the last 4 or so years.
Exciting wide players, a developing striker, midfield with energy and youthfulness, hopefully Branthwaite back and fit.
If we added in the much fabled new right back, and they were a good player then I'd say it's the best team we've had in many many years (maybe Ancelotti's season?).
There's things I'd like to change, Mykolenko being the main, but a long term successor to Tarks too... However looking at where we are now plus adding in say Munoz. Yeah think there's plenty of reason to be optimistic about the season ahead.
With that said, what are your expectations for this campaign?
UnsyisaRhino wrote: ↑Wed Aug 26, 2026 1:55 pm
I think we're heading in that direction, we just don't seem to be able get a full window right, or solve the most glaring problems effectively.
Atleast weve stopped signing people like siggurdson and bolasie for crazy fees.
Brother if we had the money I’ve absolutely no doubt we’d be back at it
StirlingBlue wrote: ↑Wed Aug 26, 2026 2:10 pm
Last year we lost a lot of key bodies to AFCON and Grealish/Branthwaite to long term injuries.
Add to that the fact that the younger players in the squad have developed into PL level players so can play a bigger role in the squad (Rohl, George, Dibling, Armstrong, Barry, Aznou).
There's also the fact that we absolutely should have finished much closer to the european places given where we were with 6 games to go, I put that down to a Moyes issue rather than a squad one.
Yeah a complete lack of acknowledgement that the younger players all look like they've kicked on and are going to be more involved, and able to contribute more is a bit weird imo.
That's the nature of developing players... They erm, develop. This making the team stronger each year they progress.
I do think that while we haven't necessarily improved the squad a great deal in terms of numbers, as people have said above, our young players have developed and are capable of playing a bigger part.
Barry, Armstrong, Rohl, Dibling, George are all capable of contributing more minutes and output this season. Johnson is an upgrade on McNeil and Norgaard will hopefully be our Gana. Hackney is a new option in the middle and we may even see some minutes from Aznou too.
None of that makes me think we're knocking on the door of the top 6 but it should at least be a more energetic and exciting side than previous years which has enough to not be looking over our shoulder at the relegation places.
Kerryblueboy wrote: ↑Wed Aug 26, 2026 3:47 pm
No doubt if he plays the younger players more it will improve things one injury at cb though and we are in big trouble
Are we?
An injury to Branthwaite and we go to the centre back pairing last season that generated the best metrics.
An injury to Tarks and we get to see the pairing that many hope will be the future.
My expectation for this year is a top half finish. We have a 6/10 squad at PL level with a 7/10 first XI. Keeping our key players fit like Branthwaite, Garner and Illi will be so important for us.
The league is getting harder and harder each year and so keeping up with that is really tough, especially given that transfer fees are now ridiculous.
I do think we are better than we give ourselves credit for. We are a tough bunch to please, but I think that is the way it should be. The fans have to maintain the standards of the club and put pressure on them to do better. Perhaps our motto is unconsciously embedded in our psyche, or maybe this is the way all football fans are.
The young players can develop all they want, he's playing KDH, Garner and Norgaard in the middle and the defence is going to be Myko, Keane, Tarks and somebody who isn't a right back, or a new, cheap right back for large portions of the season
There's a nucleus of a good English side there though, to be fair:
Pickford, Branthwaite, Garner, Hackney and Armstrong in the spine with George and Dibling on the wings
superpull wrote: ↑Wed Aug 26, 2026 3:57 pm
The young players can develop all they want, he's playing KDH, Garner and Norgaard in the middle and the defence is going to be Myko, Keane, Tarks and somebody who isn't a right back, or a new, cheap right back for large portions of the season
Anybody we sign outside of a RB is going to be a blocker for minutes for Barry, Dibling, George, Hackney, Armstrong, Aznou etc though and then everybody will complain about that.
