22 Jul 2014 20:35:11
Stoner, Jenny T, Dagenham, what's your take on the window so far? Fair play on signing Sanchez although I'm not convinced about Khedira. Rumour is we are also are looking at Carvalho if Vidal doesn't happen. Shaw fixes an issue, for us and Herrera gives us pace and potential but we are hoping for 2 more 1st team signings.

My view is the top 4 will revert to normal this year, with the loss of Suarez and Champions league Liverpool will struggle. However, difficult to call the order. Not suggesting United will win it after last years carnage but with no Champs League, a top class manager and (hopefully) a few more quality signings, we will be in the mix.

What's your view?

1.) 22 Jul 2014
22 Jul 2014 21:24:39
Liverpool will be back in it again this year. Chelsea and Man City are the only guarantees. Man utd, Tottenham, Everton, Liverpool and us will be fighting for the other spots. The order will be decided with how all the new players gel and we haven't addressed our defence yet and that I believe will decide a lot same as Liverpool too. If the pool do that then they won't leak 50 odd goals and the 31 goals Suarez scored won't be a problem. I don't worry about utd, whole new team so will take time and lvg always upsets players he manages and when I say players I mean Rooney.

2.) 22 Jul 2014
Pfft, if RVP stays fit we have other options than Rooney. I'm amazed you think that other than Chelsea and City it is a free for all. I genuinely feel it will be City, Chelsea, United and Arsenal although God knows what order. LVG may or may not be divisive but he will get the best out of players that won the league 2 years ago.

3.) 22 Jul 2014
22 Jul 2014 21:43:23
Hi AJH,

I'm happy as of now but we need that CDM that has so far alluded us, our attacking options are looking pretty good to me but we will be so much stronger with a Carvalho, my choice, Bender or even Vidal, I'm sure we'll get one and I'm sure after injuries cost us last year that we can have a real go this year but we have to start beating City, Chelsea and yourselves.

Vidal is a difficult one to call because if he is available who else is going to want him, will PSG, Barca or Madrid become involved. They have plenty to sell if they want him.

Think it goes without saying City and Chelsea will be up there and again Liverpool are going to be an unknown although I think the difference this season could be more goal difference, if they get a settled back line, than necessarily points. I also think under Martinez no one can discount Everton but they will need to spend some money.

As for yourselves a lot depends on what happens over the next 6 weeks, I'm of the honest opinion that you have RVP, Mata, Kagawa, Januzaj, Herrera, Shaw, De Gea and Rooney who are the main players in your squad.

I'm not a fan of Rooney and think he stifled you as a team last year but beyond the other 7 I mentioned your squad is not great. You do have some good youngsters and no Europe will certainly help but you have to add some real quality for me. You've got the money and Mr Woodward knows how to seal a sponsorship deal.

RVP like in 2012 will have a big factor on how well you do, I know you have Van Gaal but again not sure how that will work out. I think there's a good chance you could make top four but it maybe won't be as easy as some think.

At this moment in time on paper top 4 should be City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool but the windows not shut so who knows. :-)

I think Arsene has another surprise for us and come the end of the season we could be any one of 1st, 2nd or 3rd.

4.) 22 Jul 2014
Jenny

As usual, great post, apart from your top 4. Liverpool over delivered last year and have lost their best player. Are you seriously suggesting United will be at best 5th? Have you been on the pop? You need to understand the impact that Moyes had on this team last year. He has gone, r replaced by a proven winner. Add in a few new signings and I sure we will be top.4.

5.) 22 Jul 2014
22 Jul 2014 22:26:41
Jen but don't injuries cost arsenal EVERY year? I always have wondered why ure players seem to get similar injuries season after season.

I agree with AJH here I think the top 4 will revert to type this year, I just see Liverpool spending money like a kid in a candy shop who just found a tenner. Markovic for example has cost them well over 20m and this is a player Chelsea turned down taking this season for as little as 7.5m I think ED02 said, Lallana is not that bad but for 25m does seem a large amount of money for a player that imo will not get much better than he is (I rate him before the Liverpool lads see this).

Arsenal will be fine as per normal, I feel you now need to kick on though, u had a taste again last season of what u missed out on and I know your fans liked being talked of in the conversation of a title race past feb.

To summer rise;

IMO Chelsea will be fine, there strikers still dnt convince me but they have brought some real quality.

City will buy again and be strong they don't need to much.

Arsenal have brought a gem in Sanchez and a decent RB too, and like Jen says if you can add a top quality DMF and Striker, if Wenger is not thinking of playing Sanchez up top, u will be there or there abouts come may.

United I feel will be stronger, our troubles were highlighted last season with Moyes and lack of investment in quality and tatics etc, but it does seem with a new manager and talk of more players arriving that will be different.

My one to watch next season has to be Everton, they have made a great signing in Barry that seems to have gone under the radar with talk of Sanchez and Vidal but he was for me very good last season and if RM is allowed a bit of a budget i'm sure he will buy well again, I feel they will fall short of top 4 but I can even see them finishing above pool next season along with spurs under MP.

Like I said just my opinion though.

6.) 22 Jul 2014
Arsenal to win it if they keep their bottle and.keep ramsay fit.
Liverpool will finish top 4 and.challenge if sturridge is fit for most.of the season. City 3rd.if they make no more signings
4th is between United and Chelsea.

7.) 22 Jul 2014
22 Jul 2014 23:25:51
AJH / Chris,

I said for me on paper who looked like top four at this time.

If you hand on heart at this time however look from back to front you have De Gea, Shaw, Herrera, Mata, RVP and Januzaj as a core of quality with Kagawa and Rooney as in my honest opinion cover for Mata and RVP.

I just don't think Rooney should be played outside the striker role and Mata is your best 10.

You can't play Shaw and Januzaj every week and outside of those you have the likes of Young, Nani, Fletcher, Cleverley, Smalling, Jones, Rafael, Anderson, Evans, Valencia and Carrick none of whom surely inspire any great confidence in you.

So honestly at this moment and no I'm not drunk, I can see you outside the top four despite the addition of Van Gaal.

It is of course only July 22nd and a lot will change by end of window. But as ed002 has been saying it will likely be a few windows before you're right back in the mix.

Just my opinion guys :-)

{Ed025's Note - if im honest jen...most of the country hope your right..

8.) 22 Jul 2014
I think you have it about right Chris, but for you guys I think a lot depends on how LVG both gets on with and how he plays a certain Mr Rooney.

9.) 23 Jul 2014
Ed025 were do you think United will finish. i'm taking Liverpool out of the question. I think lvg is a ticking timeball.
They didnt.score enough goals and conceded to many and havnt improved ay, enough for me yet. For me fifth

{Ed025's Note - 4th or 5th would be my guess al, not having european games will help them a lot just like it did liverpool mate..

10.) 23 Jul 2014
Ed025 I agree it will help them . Though Liverpool.could be out of Europe early with our likely draws( i'm honest) . i'd like to see everton.have a go again. Makes it more interesting. i'm away to bed, work.and teenagers in the.morning. The joys mate the.joys