09 Jul 2024 02:40:09
Putting we have enough time aside.
The fact of the matter is that we were not good enough to get promoted last season.
So it stands to reason that we need a better team than last year. So along with a much touted need for a better goalkeeper ( prob won't get ) , RB, ATM and Striker we also need to replace whoever goes ( imo prob Kam, Cre and Gnonto) with the equivalent or preferably better ability.
At the end of this window I suspect we will have lost 4 first teamers. Just my opinion.
That's a big layout needed in next month or so.
Burnley, sheff, luton, west brom, hull, Norwich, Coventry, Middlesbrough prob more will all have their eye on the prize.
It is imperative that we are on it from the get go but I don't see that happening.
Although we went on a great run, caught up and took top spot briefly last season, highly unlikely that will happen again.
And the other thing that needs to happen is Farke learns his lesson from last season and improves his team selection and timing of subs.
We have astute owners and sponsors but not sure they fully understand the competitive ness of champ football.
Time will tell. But my confidence is slipping with every passing week.
09 Jul 2024 04:13:33
My confidence in SF49ers is waning a tad. their success and experience is in an entirely different sport to football and its starting to show as such
SF49ers imo appear very over reliant on football judgement/ experience of Daniel Farke who himself has been found out a tad as not quite good enough
Best chance of Leeds United being successful is being taken over by Red Bull asap (who unlike SF49ers are very, very experienced very successful FOOTBALL club owners) ?
AIMO
Tne good news is the league this year is weaker
And whilst SF49ers are an.
09 Jul 2024 07:28:35
Couple of anomalies last season re; points tallies. Historically ours would usually have gotten us promoted, so same again this season more than likely gets us up.
Do agree with Baz, that the league appears weaker this season.
Need to remember, this is the first full summer that 49ers have had in charge. They've got Miles and Steinsson in place, which we also didn't have last summer. We winged it to a large extent last time due to having a temporary DoF, lots of lingering issues and uncertainty from the last regime. We are in a better place this summer and 49ers do appear to have an astute business mind in regards to transfer policies. None of our best players will be going for cheap. Hoping we keep most, if not all, but I do think we'll keep at least 2 or 3 of Cry, Rutter, Gnonto, Kamara. If 4 go, so be it, as that would mean we are making some big money to reinvest back into the squad. Over £100m in players if they do sell. But that would be worst case scenario, though.
Gonna be nervy for us all until the window shuts, but I'm optimistic this year as things feel different from the last. We've a much better starting position than we had last summer.
09 Jul 2024 08:30:56
Think our starting position compared to last won’t be able to be judged until kick off game 1.
We could lose a few and not have time or replacement ready.
I’m not pessimistic about it. Just a bit concerned that we will not be ready. Can’t blow the first 4 or so weeks like last year.
I don’t think this is a weaker league than last year either. If you remove the freak of nature Ipswich which happens as often as Leicester winning the prem, there was only 3 teams in it. The rest were has beens. Won’t be such a gulf between top 6 this year.
09 Jul 2024 08:44:46
Still too soon to judge, but some like to judge before the opening gambits are delivered.
09 Jul 2024 08:53:26
Dont think there’s much to change for success this season if we hold on to our best players. Obviously if any do leave they will need to be replaced. The RB is a certainty and midfield needs sorting out between Kamara, Gruev and Amps. Having Struijk back will be like having a new signing, he can cover on the left back I felt he didn’t look so comfortable. I suppose it depends on Firpo if he stays and whether the crocked Byram can cover.
It would be a safer option to find a natural LB or a utility player who can better adapt there.
As for creativity I only have to look at Rutter and Willy to unlock defenses.
Above all belief, confidence and experience will do it this time.
Talk about 49ers not knowing what they are doing and Farke, stubborn and not not up to the task is just pure guff.
Promotion is never handed out on a plate but I believe we will have what it takes to get the job done without making a mass of signings which would be difficult anyway with PSR.
I expect to see 2 to 3 signings to bolster our squad, that is without any other departures.
I don’t want to include any loan clause players because my preference is that they stay away.
09 Jul 2024 10:34:06
Yes Dill thankfully/ hopefully the Champo league this season doesn't have another Ipswich anomaly.
And imo none of tne relegated sides will have the player quality of Leicester and Southampton.
Fairly sure no team gets ( anywhere) near 97 points of last season's champions total
We will probably know by say October if the usual suspects ( misplaced) assertions that LUFC have (anywhere near ) top 2 ' belief; confidence and experience' etc.
09 Jul 2024 10:50:57
I like loan options, OP. Saints and Ipswich leant heavily on them last season and Leicester used 3 loan players in their promotion. They can introduce players from a higher quality league or just better quality players for a nominal fee. Definitely a positive, for me.
Just meant were in a better starting position for the transfer window/ pre season, Aus. But yeah, can't judge properly until season starts.
09 Jul 2024 12:31:33
I’ve no concerns about us in the market for loan players like Rodon, it is frustrating though like with Ben White there was no clause to buy after the loan period.
I fully expect teams like newly promoted Portsmouth who we play in our first game at Elland road to play well above themselves to gain a result, that will never change as long as we are in this league and will be no surprise to our players this season.
Playing against teams lower down the league will be more challenging than those at the top, as we witnessed last season.
09 Jul 2024 13:04:12
Yh I agree mate. We do need to insert some clauses to benefit us if we do loan players and they have a good season.
Yh, I don't see that happening this year, Baz. Feels like the teams that went up are better squads or better coached than the teams that came down.
09 Jul 2024 13:48:12
On this I definitely agree with you Dill!
09 Jul 2024 14:35:40
Just for the record. It’s not wholly about the coaches ability. Is it? We up against who we up against.
And banging the drum. If we can’t outdo Ipswich. What makes you think we can Def luton and probably burnley?
I was watching and looking at body language of training vid on website. The only into it players I saw were. Rutter. Rodon. Firpo Joseph. James and poss struik. The rest 100% just cruising.
Things need changing. Quickly.
09 Jul 2024 14:44:11
Ipswich has that dog in em, for sure. So many late goals.
09 Jul 2024 15:18:12
Permo 2nd gear Firpo "into it" ? Are you sure Mr Aus? ?
Firpo is the cruiser of all cruisers.
But I do definitely agree with the gist of your point that ALL the team/ squad players must be 100% up for it! (on match days especially)
09 Jul 2024 18:59:11
Firpo had some great linking play with Summerville. He has improved massively since last season.
10 Jul 2024 08:12:24
Indeed MoT! Another example of the impact the manager has had on player performances. Just like the turnaround in form of a certain DJ!? Farke out, eh?
10 Jul 2024 08:43:34
It will be interesting to see what happens to Junior Firpo, with his contract running out next June.
I personally thought Firpo was a consistently good player the second half of last season. He has shown moments of decent play before but far too inconsistently, mix in with several injuries.
Farke and his coaching staff could have unlocked the best out of Firpo and could be a big asset in our promotion push next season.
The question will be will they be offering him a new contract this summer or will they sell him?
10 Jul 2024 11:33:20
I agree OP, Brighty and MoT.
All signs are pointing to him not signing a new contract, so we either sell this summer while his stocks fairly high, or keep hold of him and he has another decent season, then lose him for nowt next summer.
In any event, I'd still get a young LB this summer to get them integrated.
10 Jul 2024 15:36:51
What Dill said.