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Now that the transfer window is over and done with for another season I thought it would be a good time to review the squad. We've done a lot of work in getting players out of the door and nearly have a full team out on loan which has made our squad more streamlined.

We've not rotated the squad that much this season as fringe players have only had a look in on the odd cup match. End result is we are becoming more reliant on a core number of players.

Goalkeepers
Shay Given (IRL) * * * *
Joe Hart (ENG) * * * * *
Stuart Taylor (ENG) * *

Rating: 5 * * * * * Two of the best in the league and 1 who can't catch. Think our keeper situation is the envy of the premiership

Defenders
Vincent Kompany (BEL) * * * * *
Kolo Toure (CIV) * * * *
Micah Richards (ENG) * * *
Pablo Zabaleta (ARG) * * *
Aleksandar Kolarov (SERB) * * *
Joleon Lescott (ENG) * * *
Jerome Boateng (GER) * *
Dedryck Boyata (BEL) * *
Shaleum Logan (ENG) *

Rating: 4 * * * * We've got a good defensive record this season and our centre backs are performing well. We also have good centre back coverage. Full Backs we look less strong with no proper back-ups and starters who are still finding their feet in England.

Midfielders
Adam Johnson (ENG) * * * *
David Silva (ESP) * * * *
Gareth Barry (ENG) * * *
James Milner (ENG) * * *
Patrick Vieira (FRA) *
Yaya Toure (CIV) * * * *
Nigel de Jong (NED) * * * * *
Michael Johnson (ENG) *
Shaun Wright-Phillips (ENG) *

Rating: 3 * * * Overloaded with too many similar types of players and lacking any real cutting edge going forward. Defensively our midfield is good but with Johnson injured and Silva picking up knocks our creativity disappears. Injury to 2 midfielders means we're looking at Paddy and SWP to help out.


Strikers
Edin Dzeko (BIH) * * * *
Mario Balotelli (It) * * * *
Carlos Tevez (ARG) * * * * *
Jo (BRA) *
Alex Tchuimeni-Nimely (ENG) *

Rating: 4 * * * Two top quality strikers (who need to adjust to England) and 1 world class striker (who still needs to adjust to England after 5 bloody years) is the envy of most other teams in the league. We've cut loose a lot of strikers and to be left with Jo(ke) as our main cover when Mario is injured all year makes me shudder.

Loans/ Half out of the door
David Gonzalez (COL)
Gunnar Nielsen (FAR)
Nedum Onuoha (ENG)
Greg Cunningham (IRE)
Javan Vidal (ENG)
Wayne Bridge (ENG)
Abdisalam Ibrahim (NOR)
Vladimir Weiss (SVK)
Craig Bellamy (WAL)
Felipe Caicedo (ECU)
Roque Santa Cruz (PRY)
Emmanuel Adebayor (TGO)

Come back Big Phil,Weiss and Bellers all is forgiven.

Bellers is the only one I would have back at the mo just as back up. He'd still give more to the team than either Jo or SWP

Chinners wrote:Bellers is the only one I would have back at the mo just as back up. He'd still give more to the team than either Jo or SWP

Big Phil would be cool,it'll be interesting to see who scores the most goals in Spain.

Phil or Ade.

Roberto is a top man, however for me after Fulham, every team has retreated 20 meters and played us on the counter attack.
We need more pace and a midfielder player to get into the box and threaten to score, be our Lampard. Pass and pass is great at Villa, the football was great but so slow in the build up no threat, same again last Sunday Ince, set them up to nick one goal and see if we could get 2 which never looked on, Micah, bursts forward gets a a bit of luck we were out.

I have a feeling Chelsea have just trumped us bigtime.

David Silva (ESP) * * * * * *

Yaya is our Lampard type player. Bring on his 2nd season in the Premier League, he will be fitter and up to speed. He is the player we need breaking from midfield with pace and power and a good shot.

I think we are going to lose a few more points while we learn to play properly with Dzeko in the team, its a shame because we were doing really well, but once the attack has gelled again we will be even better than pre Christmas.

I'm now looking over our shoulders rather than looking at the top, its going to be us and Spurs for 4th/5th again. We won't finish 3rd.

Crossie wrote:Yaya is our Lampard type player. Bring on his 2nd season in the Premier League, he will be fitter and up to speed. He is the player we need breaking from midfield with pace and power and a good shot.

I think we are going to lose a few more points while we learn to play properly with Dzeko in the team, its a shame because we were doing really well, but once the attack has gelled again we will be even better than pre Christmas.

I'm now looking over our shoulders rather than looking at the top, its going to be us and Spurs for 4th/5th again. We won't finish 3rd.

So does this mythical gelling where players look like strangers for a few months only happen at City.

I assume you think Chelsea will overhaul us, but do they not have players to gel too? They have 15 games left - and have a huge change crucially in the centre of their defence and a complete re-jig of their attacking system? If this "time to gel" really exists, then surely Chelsea will get worse before they get better and it will in fact be Tottenham who kick on?

My hope is that Chelsea do gel quickly and have a punt at finishing above us. We should be able to grind out the obligatory draw with Chelsea and the rags to stop them gaining ground in the games against us, and hope Chelsea beat the rags twice and a rejuvenated Liverpool have a good go too, which will blow the doors right open for a 4 horse sprint in the final few games.

I think the transfers yesterday have potentially made things VERY uncomfortable for United, and now without major investment they genuinely do face finishing outside the top 4 next year which is purely down to the gap in quality between their squad, and all the rest.

Im_Spartacus wrote:I think the transfers yesterday have potentially made things VERY uncomfortable for United, and now without major investment they genuinely do face finishing outside the top 4 next year which is purely down to the gap in quality between their squad, and all the rest.

Is that the same team that's currently unbeaten this season, 9 points ahead of us and looking like they'll stroll to another title as other around them lose points? :-(

MaineRoadMemories wrote:

Im_Spartacus wrote:I think the transfers yesterday have potentially made things VERY uncomfortable for United, and now without major investment they genuinely do face finishing outside the top 4 next year which is purely down to the gap in quality between their squad, and all the rest.

Is that the same team that's currently unbeaten this season, 9 points ahead of us and looking like they'll stroll to another title as other around them lose points? :-(

Exactly right. The scum are very comfortable at the moment and look capable of winning the league at a canter. Each time they look dodgy in a game they seem to be able to change gear and get a result.( yes I know the ref's bla bla bla but that isnt going to change is it?)

Our squad is starting to look a little bare at the moment and can't really stand another injury to an attacking player.Arsenal are looking a little iffy but getting results and have all bar Nasri fit I think. Chelsea have just received a massive boost with the transfers plus they hope Lampard fit for the run in It does have a horrible feel of us or Spurs for 4th.They are in a slump I feel at the mo.There center of defence isnt solid but it's more their attack that has stopped firing. Let's hope it stays like that and that our game against them isnt crucial.

That's me feeling either realistic or negative I am not sure.But one thing I am sure about is that our so called easy games had better all be wins.

MaineRoadMemories wrote:

Im_Spartacus wrote:I think the transfers yesterday have potentially made things VERY uncomfortable for United, and now without major investment they genuinely do face finishing outside the top 4 next year which is purely down to the gap in quality between their squad, and all the rest.

Is that the same team that's currently unbeaten this season, 9 points ahead of us and looking like they'll stroll to another title as other around them lose points? :-(

Yes the very same. They, perhaps like us this year, have been very lucky that they are still in a title race with no one team having stepped up to the mark to claim it. I think whoever wins the title this year is going to stumble over the line. Don't get me wrong, winning the league with the shit they have in their team will be an exceptional achievement, but when the sides around them next season (and potentially for the remainder of this one) eventually get their shit together, they will start to drop like a stone unless they invest massively.

Remember it only needs 2x Chelsea wins vs United and this title race is wide open for all 4 teams again. United winning the league this year is far from a foregone conclusion, and without that massive investment they wont be able to live with Chelsea and possibly us next season as their squad gets another year older.

Goalkeepers
Shay Given (IRL) * * * *
Joe Hart (ENG) * * * *
Stuart Taylor (ENG) * *

Rating: 3.3* Imho neither of our top keepers are quite world class. givens reluctance to come for crosses and Joes concentration being fairly big worries. Both are very good and Joe has the time to become a top keeper. Given is a top backup and may even deserve a chance but he'll never improve to truly world class.

Defenders
Vincent Kompany (BEL) * * * *
Kolo Toure (CIV) * * * *
Micah Richards (ENG) * * *
Pablo Zabaleta (ARG) * * *
Aleksandar Kolarov (SERB) * * *
Joleon Lescott (ENG) * * *
Jerome Boateng (GER) * * *
Dedryck Boyata (BEL) * *

Rating: 3.25 The meanest defence in the prem. One of the most solid with good cover in all areas. Pretty good but again lacking that top notch cb to command us. Kompany is almost there and next season or the one after will be a really top defender.

Midfielders
Adam Johnson (ENG) * * *
David Silva (ESP) * * * * *
Gareth Barry (ENG) * * *
James Milner (ENG) * * *
Patrick Vieira (FRA) * *
Yaya Toure (CIV) * * * *
Nigel de Jong (NED) * * * * *
Michael Johnson (ENG) *
Shaun Wright-Phillips (ENG) *

Rating: 3 Our starting MF is there with the best in world football imho. Behind that we're weaker than we think, lack of cover for Silva is the main problem. As a squad I don't think theres a stronger midfield in England bar maybe Chelsea.

Strikers
Edin Dzeko (BIH) * * * *
Mario Balotelli (It) * * * *
Carlos Tevez (ARG) * * * * *
Jo (BRA) * *
Alex Tchuimeni-Nimely (ENG) *

Rating: 3.5 . Again we're incredibly strong in our starting XI but particulary if we intend to play 2 up top, we're a bit light as a panel. The likes of Ade is never gonna except being backup and imho we should move for a mid level cover striker whose better than Jo.