[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=46406.msg1378589#msg1378589 date=1313144448]
[quote author=Delinquent link=topic=46406.msg1378545#msg1378545 date=1313141077]
[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=46406.msg1378505#msg1378505 date=1313137395]
[quote author=Gerry_A_Trick link=topic=46406.msg1378498#msg1378498 date=1313136868]
[quote author=Dreambeliever link=topic=46406.msg1378494#msg1378494 date=1313136499]
Where would this leave Carroll and Suarez?
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In the squad with Higuain?
[/quote]Innit.
But we really need to stop talking about this.
If we didnt learn with the Mata and Neymar links we never will.
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I still don't understand how you can be simultaneously disappointed with our transfers and nevertheless convinced that we're going to win the league. I wish I still had that kind of stoic optimism. I think it was successfully robbed from me as I grew up (see my thread in General Chat), but you've managed to retain yours. I envy you.
[/quote]Because i think our best team (Jan-May) is still our best team and i think it is good enough to win the league this year.
Reina
Kelly
Agger
Carragher
Johnson
Lucas
Gerrard
Meireles
Maxi
Suarez
Kuyt
Im not dissappointed in our signings, i love a good signing me, but i certainly wouldnt have spent our money that way.
Downing im ok with but Adam and Henderson i dont think improve us. Again i think Enrique and Cahill will be a good step up, but this years biggest and best transfer was in January.
I know a lot of people talk about team mentality being the most important thing, but its 'special' players who win trophies (normally, there are exceptions like Greece in 2004 and to an extent Manchester last year) not team ethic. A team will get you so far and then you hit the skids. I really believe that we have had that good team in the past (under Houllier and Benitez) but not a variety of players who can just do something magical and win you a game.
Henry, Rooney, Robben, Ronaldo etc have that (eeeeeugghhh) x-factor and i think that Suarez has it, i also think Meireles has a bit of it and Gerrard if we can get fit has it too.
We have match winners and options and depth and im really REALLY excited by it. Throw in Downing, Aquilani, Enrique and maybe Cahill and its just high times.
Henderson and Adam dont inspire me in any way shape or form and wouldnt get in my best team but they give us options and thats huge for me.
So all in all i had started the DA before last season ended and it wasnt on the premise that we would improve in Summer it was in the belief that we wouldnt weaken. We have strengthened, if not the first 11 then at least the squad. We have no Europe, we already showed we can beat Chelsea, United and Citeh handsomely last season, if we can use these options to maul the West Broms and Norwich's then i dont see why anyone wouldnt think we will win it.
Oh and Maxi, i loved Maxi at Atletico (and a lad called Lucho Gonzales from the same Argentina side) and was made up when he signed and although it took him a while to get going, the Maxi im seeing now is the Maxi i hoped we would get.
Just look at this list now :-
Aquilani
Cole
Maxi
Meireles
Gerrard
Downing
Kuyt
Carroll
and
Suarez
all capable of playing a part and winning games. Thats astonishing given that 18 months ago we had Gerrard, Torres, Kuyt and maybe Benayoun?
Given what we have been through to have a squad our size and as powerful as it is inspires me to believe in great things.
We have the squad and a league winning manager, we just need a bit of luck and BELIEF.
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I'm with you, this season we'll be consistently good if not fantastic, but I think it'll be enough to get us there or there abouts.