Re: Championship rivals thread 2017/18

by smetro Tue Jun 06, 2017 8:12 am

AstonThriller wrote:
deadbuzzardalive wrote:We aren't without hope, but the one reason that we might not storm the division or even make a serious challenge at all is Bruce. Just have to hope that he can sort the team out (on the training pitch) over the summer; from what I saw, his Hull team weren't actually that bad to watch and had some pretty impressive attacking stats I think, so that's one thing to give hope.

He'll have the first 6-8 games to prove his worth imo. The board won't allow him to completely ruin the season. So I think it's a "win win" situation for us. He either gets it right or he's gone. I see us getting over the line regardless of whether he's here or not tbh because the quality we have should be enough in the end.

He looks set to make mistakes at either end of the pitch:-

Sam Johnstone - Is so poor that we have to play to reduce shots on goal
Scott Hogan - Without Kjodia at the start of the season we will be relying on this turkey for goals.

Say a new bloke comes in he isn't really going to able to address those until the Jan Window - especially Johnstone.

by deadbuzzardalive Tue Jun 06, 2017 8:51 am

If yesterday's reports are to be believed Johnstone is wanted by Watford and Leicester. I guess it will a be a question as to whether he wants to sit on their bench or get games with us. Unless he signs for one of them and then joins us on loan.

As for Hogan we just have to hope that he can improve and find some forn. He's proved that he's capable of doing it at this level. In addition I do think we'll go for another striker depending on the McCormack situation. With the players we've got, we really shouldn't be so reliant on Kodjia.

If we play a more attacking game I'd expect to see the likes of Grealish, Hourihane, Lansbury, Green, and Adomah, getting more goals, and Hopefully Hepburn-Murphy and Davis can't making an impact too.

by The Utterer Tue Jun 06, 2017 9:24 am

Something really didn't click with our strikers last season. It was just a complete over reliance on Kodija coming up with wonder goals more often than not. As we saw as soon as he was away on ACN duty we were abysmal.

So for me we do need another striker just in case the "recipe" doesn't blend again. We need a new ingredient in the mix.

I hope that RHM can play a part and he could be the answer but we cannot go into such a vital season putting that much pressure on his shoulders and i see him as one to be slowly weened into the team with 20 mins here & there initially.

As for Hogan well he didn't show anywhere near enough for me to have any confidence in him for the season ahead... He may come good though fingers crossed he does.

As for McCormack? Again ditto Hogan really but we have far too many if's, but's & maybe's for my liking and we need that new ingredient just in case.

by The Utterer Tue Jun 06, 2017 9:38 am

Just heard that Cheick Tiote the former Newcastle player has died in China during training! Only 30!

by deadbuzzardalive Wed Jun 07, 2017 9:13 am

Derby sign Curtis Davies, a good signing for them.

by deadbuzzardalive Fri Jun 09, 2017 11:52 am

Garry Monk set to be appointed Middlesbrough manager.

by Gordonsleftboot Fri Jun 09, 2017 5:18 pm

deadbuzzardalive wrote:Garry Monk set to be appointed Middlesbrough manager.

Middlesbrough are going to be a strong contender me thinks. Could have done without Monk going there.

by AstonThriller Fri Jun 09, 2017 7:59 pm

Gordonsleftboot wrote:

Middlesbrough are going to be a strong contender me thinks. Could have done without Monk going there.

I agree it's a good appointment. But that squad has a LOT of deadwood within it and they are set to lose a few key individuals like Gibson too. So I'm not gonna be making them "Newcastle #2" quite yet.

by deadbuzzardalive Tue Jun 13, 2017 11:00 am

Sunderland accept £30M bid from Everton for Pickford. I gather they've got money problems, but that might strengthen them in the transfer market, and go towards making them more of a threat than they otherwise might have been.

by deadbuzzardalive Tue Jun 13, 2017 3:34 pm

Speaking of Sunderland, looks like they're going to appoint McInnes; not the most exciting of names, but then I guess neither were Wagner and Staam when they arrived at Huddersfield and Reading.

by danclare82 Tue Jun 13, 2017 9:34 pm

Scum have signed stockdale. Great signing imo

by deadbuzzardalive Tue Jun 13, 2017 10:20 pm

He kept 22 clean sheets for Brighton last season, which seems impressive, but Johnson kept 11 for us from January and people think he's not good enough.

by AstonThriller Wed Jun 14, 2017 6:34 am

deadbuzzardalive wrote:Sunderland accept £30M bid from Everton for Pickford. I gather they've got money problems, but that might strengthen them in the transfer market, and go towards making them more of a threat than they otherwise might have been.

We spent 70m and got nowhere pal...30m is nothing Laughing

by deadbuzzardalive Thu Jun 15, 2017 2:07 pm

Thomas Christiansen, is the new Leeds boss, that's Hull, Wolves and now Leeds who've all appointed continental managers this summer. I just hope we're not being left behind, I get the feeling that even if we were to get off to a bad start and the club made a change, we'd still end up with someone like Moyes.

That's not to say Nuno, Slutsky and Christiansen, are going to do well, but the championship is moving on as a league, and as we saw last season five of the top six were managed by continental managers.

by Guest Fri Jun 16, 2017 7:31 am

deadbuzzardalive wrote:Speaking of Sunderland, looks like they're going to appoint McInnes; not the most exciting of names, but then I guess neither were Wagner and Staam when they arrived at Huddersfield and Reading.

I actually think McInnes would be an exciting name for them. He's done fantastically well with Aberdeen. According to the paper he has two runner ups and a cup win the last two seasons. Am I right saying this is the same McInnes I remember from Rangers in the 90's? I was a CM addict, but seem to remember a midfielder called McInnes.

The OS are saying he's staying with Aberdeen fwiw.

by The Utterer Fri Jun 16, 2017 2:12 pm

So 888 bet have suspended betting on John Terry joining that rag tag heap down the road lol!

I Wonder what Xia will make of that after his recent tweets.

As for my opinion of John Terry if he goes there? = Laughing at You

by deadbuzzardalive Tue Jun 20, 2017 7:05 pm

Lots of speculation that Sunderland are about to be taken over by a German consortium. If they're wealthy enough to pay off their debts, leaving them with the parachute and Pickford money to spend on new players then they could be a threat next season.

by deadbuzzardalive Thu Jun 29, 2017 12:30 pm

Sunderland given permission to speak to Simon Grayson, and have also confirmed that a takeover won't happen.

by AstonThriller Fri Jun 30, 2017 12:38 pm

Grayson is an interesting appointment. Done very well with Preston last season but with no takeover happening he's not gonna have a huge amount to play with I'd imagine.

by AstonThriller Sun Jul 02, 2017 11:21 am

I see the Wolves lot are going barmy over some young Porto midfielder. Apparently, they are gonna pay 18m for him. IF it comes off it's just another dodgy deal by Mendes isn't it? Very Happy

SMH!!..use Wolves to get him into the English market, then sell at a profit and take a percentage. They all seem to think that one signing will all of a sudden turn them into contenders. But one signing won't be cutting it. They still don't have a 20 goal a season striker and their defence is dreadful too.

by Dazzle Sun Jul 02, 2017 1:35 pm

AstonThriller wrote:Grayson is an interesting appointment. Done very well with Preston last season but with no takeover happening he's not gonna have a huge amount to play with I'd imagine.

Errr what apart from the £100m premier money, the money from the Pickford sale etc. Yeah, I'd imagine things will be tight at the stadium of light........not! I think Grayson is a good manager, he's proven it with 2 or 3 different clubs at this level now, they'll be contenders I'm sure.

by Guest Sun Jul 02, 2017 2:54 pm

Dazzle wrote:
AstonThriller wrote:Grayson is an interesting appointment. Done very well with Preston last season but with no takeover happening he's not gonna have a huge amount to play with I'd imagine.

Errr what apart from the £100m premier money, the money from the Pickford sale etc. Yeah, I'd imagine things will be tight at the stadium of light........not! I think Grayson is a good manager, he's proven it with 2 or 3 different clubs at this level now, they'll be contenders I'm sure.

You have heard of Ellis Short right? There's no chance they will spend what we spent last year for instance. I'd be amazed if they even spent £ 30 mill.

Regarding Sunderland's debt. Look at this https://mobile.twitter.com/mephobia8/status/880899164674109441

by AstonThriller Sun Jul 02, 2017 3:31 pm

Dazzle wrote:
AstonThriller wrote:Grayson is an interesting appointment. Done very well with Preston last season but with no takeover happening he's not gonna have a huge amount to play with I'd imagine.

Errr what apart from the £100m premier money, the money from the Pickford sale etc. Yeah, I'd imagine things will be tight at the stadium of light........not! I think Grayson is a good manager, he's proven it with 2 or 3 different clubs at this level now, they'll be contenders I'm sure.

LOL you really haven't followed the Sunderland situation have you? Championship rivals thread 2017/18 - Page 2 498107619

They are massively in debt and their owner wants out. Also, Grayson has already said that funds will be limited. So errr, I think you need to think again.

by AstonThriller Wed Jul 05, 2017 6:45 pm

So Derby have sold their two best players in Hughes and Ince?!! I don't think that will help them at all tbh. Ince was getting 12-15 goals a season so filling that void may prove to be very difficult indeed.

Wolves continue to bend over for Mendes as they chase both Nevas and a defender from Porto named Bony. When you add those two to Cavalero and Costa, half their side is gonna be Portuguese!!..hmm, gonna be interesting to see how they do.

Reading have lost their midfield enforcer Williams, who has gone to Huddersfield. Plus Al-Habsi has asked to leave apparently. Those are two vital cogs in their team so again, it's gonna be interesting to see how they replace them.

Sunderland has brought in a couple of Everton youngsters on loan and are set to sign Aiden Mcgeady too.

Of course, a lot will change as the season approaches but right now we're in a good place I think.

by deadbuzzardalive Wed Jul 05, 2017 7:00 pm

I had a look on a Wolves forum, and they're calling the Neves signing their 'Robinho' moment, and posting the odds that they've managed to get for them to win the league, before the 'bookies' catch on. I think they're letting the fact that initial rumoured price tag was £20m and that he's been linked to Chelsea and Liverpool, lead them to think they signing some sort of galactico.

No doubt he's an exciting signing, but think they might be setting him up for a fall with the amount of expectations they're putting on him.

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