Like for like replacements, better or worse?

[El Presidente]

How do you think our new signings will compare to the players they replaced?

Stockdale for PIG: Better distribution, too early to determine in relation to saves
Bennett for Ward: About equal
Hughes for Upson: Worse
O'Grady for Lingard: About equal
Texiera for Orlandi: Better
Colunga for Rodriquez: Better
Baldock for Ulloa: Too early to say, would have to be exceptional player to be better though.
McCourt for Buckley: On his day, Buckley is better, how many days do we get a season though?
Holla for Andrews: Better
Toko for Spanish Dave: Who knows?
Gardner for Stephens (I'm assuming Stephens is out long term): Who knows?

 

[Goldstone1976]

Bennett for Ward: About equal better in attack, worse in defence
O'Grady for Lingard: somewhat worse
Texiera for Orlandi: MilesBetter
Colunga for Rodriquez: IncomparablyBetter
Baldock for Ulloa: Too early to say, would have to be exceptional player to be better though.Compared to prior to Leo's injury - agreed. After Leo's injury - I'd expect Baldock to be better

...

 

[Husty]

McCourt on his day is also a quality player though as we have seen the problem is those days not coming around very often at all.

 

[Up the albion]

I still think its too early to say give them 10 games then we'll really start to see

 

[knocky1]

How do you think our new signings will compare to the players they replaced?


Toko for Spanish Dave: Who knows?

What will Toko have to do to prove his better or worse?

 

[London Irish]

We've signed some good players - Tex and Colunga the stand-outs for me - but lost some very good ones too. I think quality wise we are still down from the the team that finished 4th but we've all lowered our expectations since then. The key thing is Sami now - can he get consistency out of these signings.

 

[Pavilionaire]

I think as individuals we're similar to a year ago but the bench is better now and I think this 1st XI has been carefully constructed, so they'll play more effective football than the class of 2013/14.

Crucially I think we have more attacking options now. Ulloa looked tired for much of the end of last season but with 4 fit strikers plus Teixeira then sensible rotation should ensure all still have something in the tank come May.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

How do you think our new signings will compare to the players they replaced?

Stockdale for PIG: Better distribution, too early to determine in relation to saves
Bennett for Ward: About equal
Hughes for Upson: Worse
O'Grady for Lingard: About equal
Texiera for Orlandi: Better
Colunga for Rodriquez: Better
Baldock for Ulloa: Too early to say, would have to be exceptional player to be better though.
McCourt for Buckley: On his day, Buckley is better, how many days do we get a season though?
Holla for Andrews: Better
Toko for Spanish Dave: Who knows?
Gardner for Stephens (I'm assuming Stephens is out long term): Who knows?

For me the comparisons would mostly be guesswork at this stage. But what we do appear to have ended up with is a better balanced attack and more creative (as well as more available) midfield. The proof will be in the pudding of course - but I feel more hopeful now than after the Wednesday game and if I remember rightly - more hopeful than this time last season.

Of course we also have CMS fit and scoring - so that adds to our options.

 

[El Presidente]

What will Toko have to do to prove his better or worse?

Make a seafood paella using organic ingredients.

 

[GreersElbow]

I think it's too early to suggest, perhaps we should wait till Christmas to say. Nonetheless, I think the style of football we're now playing will probably play a factory. I doubt Ulloa would fit well into the current system. Great player, but hasn't got a yard of pace whereas Colunga and Baldock do.

 

[Machiavelli]

I think as individuals we're similar to a year ago but the bench is better now and I think this 1st XI has been carefully constructed, so they'll play more effective football than the class of 2013/14.

Crucially I think we have more attacking options now. Ulloa looked tired for much of the end of last season but with 4 fit strikers plus Teixeira then sensible rotation should ensure all still have something in the tank come May.

This. Will be interesting to see how he rotates -- we may even find out what sensible rotation is -- but the squad now has such depth that there's going to be a fair few players disappointed at their lack of game time. What Toko's thinking at the moment would be interesting.
This will be another real test of Hyypia's management credentials.

 

[Jim D]

How do you think our new signings will compare to the players they replaced?

Stockdale for PIG: Better distribution, too early to determine in relation to saves
Bennett for Ward: About equal
Hughes for Upson: Worse
O'Grady for Lingard: About equal
Texiera for Orlandi: Better
Colunga for Rodriquez: Better
Baldock for Ulloa: Too early to say, would have to be exceptional player to be better though.
McCourt for Buckley: On his day, Buckley is better, how many days do we get a season though?
Holla for Andrews: Better
Toko for Spanish Dave: Who knows?
Gardner for Stephens (I'm assuming Stephens is out long term): Who knows?

I don't agree with the pairings. Based on their likelihood of getting a starting place I would have
Colunga v Lingard - better (both likely to start)
Tex v Buckley - better (both likely to start)
O'Grady v Rodriguez - better (both on bench)
McCourt v Orlandi - better given Orlandi's showing at the end of last season. (both on bench)

 

[Seagull1989]

Pig v stockdale - tbh haven't seen Stockdale make an impressive save yet so have to go with PIG
Bennett v Ward - ward was imo our player of the year last year so have to say Ward
Hughes v Upson - Upson definitely better
O Grady v Lingard - equal
Texeira v Orlandi - better. And hopefully can stay fit
Colunga v Rodney - haven't seen colunga play yet but have to say Rodney was rubbish . So colunga is therefore better
Baldock v Ulloa - big boots to fill , so I would have to say Ulloa was better
McCourt v Buckley - Difficult one. Have seen loads of videos of McCourt and he looks great. But Buckley on his day was so exciting to watch.
Holla v Andrews Early days but Andrews was rubbish! Holla all the way !

 

[The_Viper]

What will Toko have to do to prove his better or worse?

Play?

 

[chaileyjem]

Gardner for Stephens (I'm assuming Stephens is out long term): Who knows?

This is , i think , the latest on Stephens injury.

[tweet]503989844524417025[/tweet]

"doing bits outside, but needs to build up fitness and catch up on pre-season"
Sounds like a few weeks away but not months...

 

[Mackenzie]

Will the new players fit the new style better than the old ones would be a better question to ask.

 

[mlg57]

I know we are all pretty much in the dark over the club signings but, do you think the players know? As we have 4 strikers for example and may sign a 5th, are our recent signings made aware of the situation? or is it just something that's expected in most clubs?

 

[slartibartfast]

Surely its Holla v Bridcutt ? I know Bridcutt went in January, but we never really replaced him (well, Andrews wasnt up to it, and Ince is a slightly different player) I would be interested in seeing how Holla compares to Bridcutt, once he's had a few more games to settle in...

 

[dingodan]

I have a feeling about Paddy McCourt, I think he will do very well for us.

 

[Iamapen15]

This is , i think , the latest on Stephens injury.

[tweet]503989844524417025[/tweet]

"doing bits outside, but needs to build up fitness and catch up on pre-season"
Sounds like a few weeks away but not months...

I heard Stephens is out until Christmas - hence the Gardener signing.