squad strength

[FatTony]

No quality holding midfielder.
An average defence.
One top class striker.

Its not great.

[kris90210]

Mascherano?

[FatTony]

Mascherano?

He can hold it, but he can't dictate play like Alonso. We have no conductor now and we will pay the price.

[Shanks]

No quality holding midfielder.

He can hold it, but he can't dictate play like Alonso. We have no conductor now and we will pay the price.

That's why Rafa signed Aquilani. I think we need to sit tight on our comments until this lad starts playing.

[Scratch]

If you take our injuries into account then maybe things aren't as bad.
Agger, Aqua, Aurelio, Riera and even El Zhar could have made a difference today.

Looking at our bench today though will tell a different story.

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/9218/capturetrr.jpg

The Mancs were missing Ferdinand and Vidic and yet still managed three points.

That's the difference

The Mancs were playing Birmingham at home, we were playing Tottenham away...one team will be lucky to survive the season, the other will be pushing top six, with asperations of breaking the top 4 monopoly...that's the difference.

[Shanks]

The Mancs were playing Birmingham at home, we were playing Tottenham away...one team will be lucky to survive the season, the other will be pushing top six, with asperations of breaking the top 4 monopoly...that's the difference.

Would you have been as confident playing Birmingham at home without Carra Agger or Skrtel?

[FatTony]

That's why Rafa signed Aquilani. I think we need to sit tight on our comments until this lad starts playing.

But thats at least 2 months away, then he needs to adapt to the premiership (he may not, he's known as a bit of a pussy in Italy so god knows what he'll be like here) and anyway, he doesn't have the range of passing or eye of Xabi, he's a completely different player. By the time he's even settled, I think we'll be a good 10 points behind the top.

[the rev leeroy brown]

our squad is on whole definately weaker than that of chelski and manure. however, it's not a million miles behind. we are only really lacking 2 top class players.

[tsb]

We've stood still, regressed even, given the replacement of Alonso with someone who can't contribute until September.

Looking like 2002 all over again... Duff and Anelka falling through our fingers...

[FatTony]

our squad is on whole definately weaker than that of chelski and manure. however, it's not a million miles behind. we are only really lacking 2 top class players.

We're weaker this season though. I think last year both Chelsea and Manure underperformed and we overperformed. We could've won it had Torres been fit, and maybe he'll remain fit most of this season, however he won't see much of the ball without someone spraying the ball about like Xabi did.

I don't think Lucas is a bad player, but Xabi is a different class and you'll never see Lucas stood in the middle of the pitch threading 30 yard passes through to Gerrard and Torres.

[the rev leeroy brown]

We're weaker this season though. I think last year both Chelsea and Manure underperformed and we overperformed. We could've won it had Torres been fit, and maybe he'll remain fit most of this season, however he won't see much of the ball without someone spraying the ball about like Xabi did.

I don't think Lucas is a bad player, but Xabi is a different class and you'll never see Lucas stood in the middle of the pitch threading 30 yard passes through to Gerrard and Torres.

agreed. aquilani will be a good player for us i'm sure. but we are badly lacking a xabi player who can hit the big passes to release ste and torres. personally i beleive lucas is not the answer but thats a different thread. we need 2 top players........a central midfielder who can play the xabi role and a creative winger / attacker.

[Exiled_red]

Everyone has mentioned that injuries to Torres or Gerrard would put us in trouble, but I also think that a couple of injuries in defence or midfield would also see us struggle, we have very little squad depth once you scratch below the surface.

[Scratch]

Would you have been as confident playing Birmingham at home without Carra Agger or Skrtel?

Yup, i would indeed. And the game against Stoke should prove that point, cos i feel Stoke are a stronger side than Birmingham.

[Cormack74]

Journo writing in the Telegraph day or two back reckoned we had the strongest first team in the prem (when all fit etc) but that our second string would fail to qualify for the UEFA cup or whatever it's now called.

[JohnDoe]

Journo writing in the Telegraph day or two back reckoned we had the strongest first team in the prem (when all fit etc) but that our second string would fail to qualify for the UEFA cup or whatever it's now called.

Our second string would struggle to survive relegation.