4th Place

[Craig_H]

Why make that pessimistic comment now? "as things stand now?" Why not wait until the first game of the season then make your prediction,

Erm....maybe because the thread was posted now, perhaps?

[Darth Marty]

I think we will easily make 4th and thats without any further additions. Theres no doubt that the scum, chavs and city will continue to spend but in the scums case I dont see them improving all that much if at all, simply because what they are buying is simply to replace retiring players or to fight for a place. The chavs or City to win it next season with us and the scum fighting it out for 3rd/4th.

[Mostar]

Erm....maybe because the thread was posted now, perhaps?

[Slinky Skills]

I havent given up on anything, i am just not jumping forward to 1st September either, i'm judging things as they happen and thus far, in terms of this window, i think it's been poor.

I can understand your frustration mate, it's been a bit of weird one so far this transfer window but there is still some time to go before it ends and I'm sure we will get some decent additions in.

At the moment there is a lot of negativity going around about us not competing and willing to match the offers of other clubs which is odd considering FSG have said they want us back at the pinnacle of English football when they took over. At the same time I do feel we need to let them get on with it and see how things pan out.

I remember DaveHedgehog saying that these guys are winners and they will spend what is necessary to get the right targets in and I'm confident they will do that.

I think we all need to just see how things pan out now over the next few weeks and months.

[Craig_H]

Of course we do, and there's still plenty of time to go. It's just very deflating when we miss out on players we've obviously decided we want.

It's similar to when people point to the signing of Henderson and if i question the kid's ability or the signing, people will say 'well Kenny wanted him' etc - by the same token, it looks very much like Kenny also wanted Young/Wickham/Jones etc and we've not got them. It's not the end of the world by any means, but i still find it deflating.

And when people say things like 'be positive ffs' - i dont get the notion here, are people not realising that how i feel, be it positive or negative is just how i feel - and that i cannot control it? I can say "oh, i'm so optimistic' but it wouldnt be true. You feel how you feel and i'm just being honest.

[Kenneth]

Of course we do, and there's still plenty of time to go. It's just very deflating when we miss out on players we've obviously decided we want.

It's similar to when people point to the signing of Henderson and if i question the kid's ability or the signing, people will say 'well Kenny wanted him' etc - by the same token, it looks very much like Kenny also wanted Young/Wickham/Jones etc and we've not got them. It's not the end of the world by any means, but i still find it deflating.

And when people say things like 'be positive ffs' - i dont get the notion here, are people not realising that how i feel, be it positive or negative is just how i feel - and that i cannot control it? I can say "oh, i'm so optimistic' but it wouldnt be true. You feel how you feel and i'm just being honest.

It all depends on how it develops. If we shift some deadwood, sign exciting players we'll look back and think meh to the names linked so far. Who knows. It's not a particularly inspiring list to be fed up about really.

[Suarez]

We won't get back into the top 4 this season. City will strengthen, as too will Chelsea. Man Utd have already started but will struggle (by their standards). Our only hope is to overtake Arsenal, but I think they'll bring in some decent additions this transfer market as Wenger finally has to accept that his plan is not working. Us and Spurs to fight it out for 5th place I think.

[willa1975]

We'll need a miracle to finish in the top 4. Too many holes in the squad to fill. I don't think we have our priorities straight in signing at least two attacking CMs (Henderson and probably Adam) when we have Gerrard, Meireles and the returning Aquilani who are all capable of playing that role. Perhaps a top class holding player, but that's the only CM signing we really need to make this summer. Meanwhile, we have no wide men, I don't feel comfortable with only Robinson and Insua at LB, and we're full of question marks at CB (Carragher's age, Agger's fitness, Skrtel's inconsistency, Kyrgiakos' general crapness, and Wilson just not being good enough...not yet anyway).

Unfortunately, as several others have mentioned, it seems we are saddled with the high salaries of players who just don't seem likely to give us any meaningful contribution in the foreseeable future, and who aren't attractive to any club big enough to match the inflated wages that they are currently on. So, while we might make a couple of moves, there is just too much to accomplish this summer while our considerable, albeit ultimately limited, spending power is weighed down by the wages of the likes of Cole, Poulsen, Jovanovic, Konchesky et al.

I think Europa League is the best we can expect.

[Mostar]

We'll need a miracle to finish in the top 4. Too many holes in the squad to fill. I don't think we have our priorities straight in signing at least two attacking CMs (Henderson and probably Adam) when we have Gerrard, Meireles and the returning Aquilani who are all capable of playing that role. Perhaps a top class holding player, but that's the only CM signing we really need to make this summer. Meanwhile, we have no wide men, I don't feel comfortable with only Robinson and Insua at LB, and we're full of question marks at CB (Carragher's age, Agger's fitness, Skrtel's inconsistency, Kyrgiakos' general crapness, and Wilson just not being good enough...not yet anyway).

Unfortunately, as several others have mentioned, it seems we are saddled with the high salaries of players who just don't seem likely to give us any meaningful contribution in the foreseeable future, and who aren't attractive to any club big enough to match the inflated wages that they are currently on. So, while we might make a couple of moves, there is just too much to accomplish this summer while our considerable, albeit ultimately limited, spending power is weighed down by the wages of the likes of Cole, Poulsen, Jovanovic, Konchesky et al.

I think Europa League is the best we can expect.

Good post.

[The_weatherman]

We don't need a miracle IMO but it will be a good fight for 3-4th. place. Our first XI is not weak, and we only have domestic competitions so it's not beyond us to clinch fourth.

Reina
Johnson - Agger - Carra - Enrique/another

Henderson - Gerrard - Lucas - Maxi

Suarez - Kuyt/Carroll

This team has a lot to offer IMO, even if we only buy a left back we look good. Kelly, Meireles, Spearing, Shelvey, Aquilani, Skrtel, Flanagan, Aurelio, Insua and Cole to offer some depth as well, I think we can expect a top five finish and hope for third or fourth even.

[Rowan]

We're going to win the league

[PTP]

We are desperate imo for a good left back and good/pacy left mid as a bare minimum - if we got those two positions sorted and got a bit of luck with injuries we could do well

however, i do feel we need to put ourselves in as strong a position as possible, so as well as a good left mid and left back, ideally i'd like another centre back, a box to box midfielder and another attacker with pace.

[Rowan]

You only have to look at last season to see how achievable a high finish is. That Manc team was the worst team that will ever win the league. They've bought but haven't massively improved. Chelsea and City will sound but Arsenal is a sinking ship and Spurs'll implode eventually. If we compete against he top 4 the way we did last year and stop losing ****ty stupid games then we aren't that far away from top 4 without a huge influx of players. Sort out left back and the wings and I reckon we'll be flying. Couple that with real options coming off the bench and a fit Andy Carroll and we could be right in it.

I'm convinced it's on. 4th is the absolute worst we should be looking at even as it stands now.

[Fernandinho]

Agree with post above about wingers. If you look at the whole squad on the last page there is really no player with out and out pace in attacking positions

[Angryred]

Hopefully that will change this summer!