You know what? I think we're going to be okay this season

[Safeway]

If Darren Currie and this Alexis Nicolas are good enough for Mr McGhee and we sign them both then I think we're going to go into this season with more than a fighting chance of staying up.

Take a look at the main squad:

Goalkeepers

Ben Roberts
Michel Kuipers

Defenders

Danny Cullip
Guy Butters
Dan Harding
Adam Virgo
Adam Hinshelwood
Adam El-Abd
Dean Blackwell
Kerry Mayo
Paul Watson

Midfielders

Richard Carpenter
Paul Reid
Albert Jarrett
Simon Rodger
Alexis Nicolas
Gary Hart
Darren Currie
Charlie Oatway
John Piercey
Nathan Jones
Dean Hammond

Strikers

Leon Knight
Maheta Malongo
Chris McPhee
Jake Robinson
(John Piercey)

To me, that contains a decent first eleven, with a bit of strength in depth as well. Dare I say it, it's better than two years ago. We haven't got a strike pairing of Wilkinson and Marney, Oatway is much further down the pecking order and we have a fit Guy Butters.

Coupled with the fact that we have a man in charge that knows what he's doing, and that we can't possibly be as unlucky with injuries this time around, I think we're going to be alright.

All of a sudden I'm feeling a bit better about things.

 

[Turkey]

Right, I'll have whatever you're drinking.

I'm still to be convinced. I think we can stay up and do better than many people expect but after the expectation and fall last time I can't get my hopes up again.

 

[steventhesquirrel]

Id probably agree with you there, and even the news of the world predicted us to stay up this season, expecting us to finish 20th!

Now your not telling me news of the world are wrong are you?

 

[clapham_gull]

Only hope that Mcghee encourages the squad to try and play a little. Sitting back and trying to hit teams on the break won't be enough. I look forward to a few performances like Coventry away when we were awesome.

 

[Crazy Cornish Gal]

That's the spirit!

 

[Bobby's Gull]

Still look a bit sparse on the strikers but other than that I'd agree with you.

 

[Safeway]

Okay then, compare the pre-Coppell first eleven from last time with the probable line-up this term:

Last time

Kuipers
Watson
Cullip
Butters (unfit)
Mayo
Hart
Carpeneter
Oatway
Brooker
Zamora
Wilkinson

This season

Roberts - Better than Kuipers
Virgo - Better than Watson
Cullip
Butters (fit) - Better than Butters (unfit)
Harding - Better than Mayo
Hart/Currie - Currie could be better than Hart
Carpeneter/Nicolas - Chippy always plays better alongside someone half decent
Reid/Piercey - Better than Oatway, therefore improving Carpenter
Jarrett - Better than Brooker
Knight - Same scoring rate than Zamora
Melongo - GOT to be better than Wilkinson

Bung in a couple of shrewd loans (something along the lines of Sidwell and Ingermarsson would be nice) and there you go. Sorted.

 

[Dancin Ninja BHA]

Okay then, compare the pre-Coppell first eleven from last time with the probable line-up this term:

Last time

Kuipers
Watson
Cullip
Butters (unfit)
Mayo
Hart
Carpeneter
Oatway
Brooker
Zamora
Wilkinson

This season

Roberts - Better than Kuipers
Virgo - Better than Watson
Cullip
Butters (fit) - Better than Butters (unfit)
Harding - Better than Mayo
Hart/Currie - Currie could be better than Hart
Carpeneter/Nicolas - Chippy always plays better alongside someone half decent
Reid/Piercey - Better than Oatway, therefore improving Carpenter
Jarrett - Better than Brooker
Knight - Same scoring rate than Zamora
Melongo - GOT to be better than Wilkinson

Bung in a couple of shrewd loans (something along the lines of Sidwell and Ingermarsson would be nice) and there you go. Sorted.

Like your optimism Safeway, but a couple of points:

Firstly, Mayo should have won player of the season last time in Div1 (strange as that may now sound!) Can't see Harding being as good but would love to be proved wrong

Secondly, Butters' positional sense is good but old fat boy is going to struggle against Div1 strikers, guaranteed

Thirdly, would rather have Kuipers over Roberts anyday, but I'm just splitting hairs here

fourthly, we struck gold with Sidwell and Ingar, no guarantees this will happen again

Fifth and most important, who do you see as the three teams that will be worse than us?

But I like your optimism

 

[the right footed denilson]

safeway u legend

im 100% positive as well- in fact, im pretty excited!

even if we go down i think it will be in real style and i can see us winning a few new friends along the way with our new-look, youthfull, pacey, exciting team performs!

come on!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Safeway]

Fifth and most important, who do you see as the three teams that will be worse than us?

Gillingham, Wallsall and Rotherham.

Others to look out for down the bottom will be Burnley, Preston and possibly Watford.

 

[London Irish]

And who's to say Plymouth and QPR will acclimatise better than us? It's all to play for.

 

[Turkey]

I agree that we can compete with Gillingham, Rotherham, Burnley, Preston, Watford, Plymouth and Q.P.R.

I think Safeway is being a bit generous though.

Kuipers/Roberts - Little Difference
Watson/Virgo - Unconvinced.
Cullip/Cullip - Started poorly last time. Hope for better this time.
Butters/Butters - Actually it should be Pethick/Butters. Improvement but Butters still needs to prove himself.
Mayo/Harding - Unconvinced. Mayo was really good.
Hart/Currie - 1. Currie isn't signed. 2. He could not be better than Hart
Carpenter/Carpenter
Oatway/Nicolas - 1. Nicolas hasn't signed. No proof he's better.
Melton/Reid - Unconvinced.
Brooker/Jarrett - Are you sure Jarrett is better? Unconvinced.
Zamora/Knight - Dont be silly. Zamora made goals.
Wilkinson/Molango - I'll go along with an improvement there.

 

[Sigull]

>>l of a sudden I'm feeling a bit better about things.<<

Yep...I'll go along with that Safeway

We aint going to do good....but I dont think we'll do bad

 

[the full harris]

we'll be fine.

no worries.

 

[Yorkie]

Personally I think there is little to chose between the standard of the top half a dozen teams in the 2nd division and the bottom half a dozen teams in the first division (I am talking old money here)

I think we will be fine.

 

[Bobby's Gull]

I agree that we can compete with Gillingham, Wallsall, Rotherham, Burnley, Preston, Watford, Plymouth and Q.P.R.

Hang on, Walsall have already been relegated. This league is a lot stronger this time round also IMO.

 

[brighton rock]

brighton are going to strugle all season 5-6 new championship qualty players needed to be added to the squad and lots of dead wood needed to go.

 

[Yorkie]

brighton are going to strugle all season 5-6 new championship qualty players needed to be added to the squad and lots of dead wood needed to go.

when was the last time you saw us play (and dont say at Cardiff on Sky )

 

[Turkey]

Hang on, Walsall have already been relegated. This league is a lot stronger this time round also IMO.

Yeah I just copied Safeway without thought.

The league looks stronger but other clubs fans say it was a lot poorer in quality last season.

We can compete with the mentioned teams but will have a tough season.

 

[brighton rock]

when was the last time you saw us play (and dont say at Cardiff on Sky )

fair point
but its a big step up in class and you did fluke the playoffs