If we didn't have the oil money.

[Lev Bronstein]

My post on the Petrov thread got me thinking.

The lottery win hasn't arrived. So we have to build a team based more or less entirely on either academy graduates that we've hung on to, or players we've bought at an early age. What would the team be like and whereabouts would we be?

OK, here goes

Goal: Joe Hart, Kasper

Defence: Micah, Ned, Steve Jordan, Tyrone Mears, Matthew Mills

Midfield: Weiss, SWP, Steve Ireland, Michael Johnson, Lee Croft, Dixon Etuhu

Forwards: Ched Evens, Sturridge, Ishmail Miller, Kelvin Etuhu.

Now I'm sure brighter minds and better memories than I will be able to add to that list.

Where would we be, probably just above the relegation spots in the Prem, certainly a top Championship side.

[mr_nool]

It depends a bit where you draw the "what if" line. If it was drawn pre Thaskin, I think we could be anyware from Brum (having a fluke good season) to Pompey (being a breath from administration).

If you draw it post Thaskin, I think we'd be the new Leeds by now.

[Rag_hater]

We would have stability and be fucked with pearce still in charge

[blues-clues]

Sturridge wouldn't have stayed - he left even after we made him a good offer.

The questions that follow the assumption that the Sheikh hadn't taken over are far more scary than what would our team have been. Thaksin had no money so we would have gone the same way Pompey are going now - we'd have probably ended up with Gold from Brum as owners or back with Bernstein if we were lucky enough to avoid administration. Either way we would probably have been relegated last season and be struggling in the lower reaches of the Championship.

Our best team would be struggling against Scunthorpe.

Barry would be at Red Scouse in the knockout stages of the CL and safely in third spot - RSC would still be on the sick bed at Blackburn, Tevez would be (cant bring myself to say it), Robinho would be at Chelsea and Berbatov would have been at least £5m cheaper.

I wonder where Bellamy would be, probably Spuds. Ade would probably have gone to Spain maybe Toure as well.

I think it is fair to say the moon would not be as blue as it is now!

[Ted Hughes]

Joey?

I think some of the current bunch would have also featured more (at least in the squad) such as Boyata, Mak, Clayton, Tutte, Vidal, MacDermott, Trippier but it'd be a struggling/relegation side without signings. Physically it'd be very weak. Oh Ryan McGivern LB.


.......................................Hart......................................

Mears................Ned..........................Micah.................McGivern

......................................Barton........................................


......SWP..............Ireland..............Johnson...............Weiss.......


...................................Sturridge.......................................


Would play some nice football then let in 5 goals from corners but so would any other 11. Be similar to West Brom last season.


Down by Christmas but decent in the Championship.

[Lev Bronstein]

Joey?

I think some of the current bunch would have also featured more (at least in the squad) such as Boyata, Mak, Clayton, Tutte, Vidal, MacDermott, Trippier but it'd be a struggling/relegation side without signings. Physically it'd be very weak. Oh Ryan McGivern LB.


.......................................Hart......................................

Mears................Ned..........................Micah.................McGivern

......................................Barton........................................


......SWP..............Ireland..............Johnson...............Weiss.......


...................................Sturridge.......................................


Would play some nice football then let in 5 goals from corners but so would any other 11. Be similar to West Brom last season.


Down by Christmas but decent in the Championship.

I'd forgot about Sir Joey. Wiess on the left, oh you little Roberto you.

I agree about decent in the Championship, but not a bad bunch really.

[CitizenYank]

But WE DO have the Oil Money!! Have a little faith, baby.


[youtube]KuStsFW4EmQ[/youtube]

[Ted Hughes]

Joey?

I think some of the current bunch would have also featured more (at least in the squad) such as Boyata, Mak, Clayton, Tutte, Vidal, MacDermott, Trippier but it'd be a struggling/relegation side without signings. Physically it'd be very weak. Oh Ryan McGivern LB.


.......................................Hart......................................

Mears................Ned..........................Micah.................McGivern

......................................Barton........................................


......SWP..............Ireland..............Johnson...............Weiss.......


...................................Sturridge.......................................


Would play some nice football then let in 5 goals from corners but so would any other 11. Be similar to West Brom last season.


Down by Christmas but decent in the Championship.

I'd forgot about Sir Joey. Wiess on the left, oh you little Roberto you.

I agree about decent in the Championship, but not a bad bunch really.

It's decent considering where we were & with the right signings would make a decent mid table squad. When you compare it to what West Ham's youth system has produced though or Ken Barnes in the past with next to zilch facilities, in hindsight I've changed my opinion on it & now think our academy's been a bit crap really for all the money that's gone in.

[Beeks]

Erm...where the fook is Dunney?

Absolutely no doubt without the money he would still be here and club captain

[Ted Hughes]

Erm...where the fook is Dunney?

Absolutely no doubt without the money he would still be here and club captain

'The lottery win hasn't arrived. So we have to build a team based more or less entirely on either academy graduates that we've hung on to, or players we've bought at an early age. What would the team be like and whereabouts would we be?'

Thought Dunney was 20 odd when we signed him?

[Beeks]

Erm...where the fook is Dunney?

Absolutely no doubt without the money he would still be here and club captain

'The lottery win hasn't arrived. So we have to build a team based more or less entirely on either academy graduates that we've hung on to, or players we've bought at an early age. What would the team be like and whereabouts would we be?'

Thought Dunney was 20 odd when we signed him?

I was assuming 'The Lottery win hasn't arrived' and players don't disappear from the roster

[Wooders]

in answer to the original question -

"We'd be absolutely fucked"

Leeds style

worse than maybe if thackers had his way

[The Man In Blue]

Joey?

I think some of the current bunch would have also featured more (at least in the squad) such as Boyata, Mak, Clayton, Tutte, Vidal, MacDermott, Trippier but it'd be a struggling/relegation side without signings. Physically it'd be very weak. Oh Ryan McGivern LB.


.......................................Hart......................................

Mears................Ned..........................Micah.................McGivern

......................................Barton........................................


......SWP..............Ireland..............Johnson...............Weiss.......


...................................Sturridge.......................................


Would play some nice football then let in 5 goals from corners but so would any other 11. Be similar to West Brom last season.


Down by Christmas but decent in the Championship.

we'd still do the rags.

[john68]

The kids would have grown up more quickly and we would be probably in mid table, dreaming of the day when our kids grew a bit more and believing that all would come good...next year would always be our year.

On thing is for certain....no matter how skint we would be....
WE'D NOT BE AS SKINT AS THE RAGS....tick tock!!!

[Curlie]

3 wins, 3 clear sheets, so we have to pretend we are crap, so you guys can moan.
Sort yourselves out!

[Lev Bronstein]

Curlie: I''m not moaning, it's just a bit of daydreaming.

Svensational: of course it's full of academy players, that's the point.

[john@staustell]

Why Lev, why?

We spent umpteen years without the oil money so we already know the answer. It's called CRAP. End of story.

[Vhero]

not sure what your asking here? If we didn't have money or if we just had a team based on graduates from academy? As SWP money was a lot back when we sold him.

[Patrick]

[Ted Hughes]

3 wins, 3 clear sheets, so we have to pretend we are crap, so you guys can moan.
Sort yourselves out!

Drugs?