It's always interesting to see how the promoted sides fare in the first season back, and this season is no different. QPR, Norwich and Swansea will prove tough opponents for everyone, you can never underestimate them. It will be a hard push to match the feats of Newcastle, West Brom and of course Blackpool but these guys will go all out for it and certainly spring a few surprises.
Matt G-Freebody / QPR / http://www.qparmchair.wordpress.com - http//www.verbalfootball.wordpress.com
Are you happy with how
your club has strengthened so far since promotion?
No. Despite our successful title winning
season last year, the team is not good enough to compete in the EPL.
Taarabt was our talisman and he's back off to France. Looks like Kieron Dyer signed
on a free transfer is his replacement. He may have bags of talent and
Premier League experience but he's not going to play much considering
his injury track record. The free signing of Jay Bothroyd is a
bargain, we needed a solid striker up front with only the likes of
Helgusson (no knees) and Patrick 'Dave' Agyemang to really call upon.
However, he was only signed after the likes of Danny Graham and Craig
Mackail-Smith turned us down for Swansea and Brighton. We're after DJ
Campbell too although the deal has stalled. News today that Danny
Gabbidon is on trial (another free agent). Despite the riches of our
owners, they've got Neil Warnock in handcuffs.
Have you got the right
manager?
Of course. Neil Warnock was able to turn a
mid-table team into a league winning one in just over 12 months.
However, he was helped by the influence the Mittal's and Co. had in the
board room and was able to do his job. Since they've gone, he's got a
budget of £1.25 mill for transfers and rumours of him being replaced are
in the tabloids every week.
Who should we watch out
for?
We don't really have any youngsters ready to make a name for themselves in the top flight. Our midfielder Akos Buzsaky is
excellent and he deserves to be in the Premier League, he's a creative
midfielder with a great shot on him. His fitness levels are questionable
though. Also, the player involved in the big FA court case last season,
Alejandro Faurlin will suit the EPL. He's Argentine and got a superb pass on him from midfield.
If you could sign any
player for your team, who would it be?
Obviously being realistic, I would've
signed Matthew Upson and Nigel Reo-Coker (both free agents). Plus I
would've made bids for Scott Parker, Robert Green and Peter Crouch.
However, there's a wage structure in place at Loftus Road that seems to
prevent us from signing Premier League quality.
How do you see Wolves
doing this season?
I really enjoyed watching Wolves last
season, Mick McCarthy has impressed me with the progression he has made
to the team there but I think now Wolves fans should be aiming for a
mid-table finish without any threat of relegation. The signing of Roger
Johnson is excellent. I also like Matt Jarvis, Jamie O'Hara, Steven
Fletcher and Kevin Doyle. Very exciting players.
Predicted results v
Wolves home and away?
Oh, well as long as I am not attending we
may have a chance of winning. All the games I've been to versus Wolves
has seen us leading by 2 goals only for your lot to make a come back. I
think it'll be a share of the spoils and both teams will pick up wins at
home.
And finally, where will
you finish this season?
This depends on what happens at the club over the course of the
season. I strongly believe that the owners (Briatore & Ecclestone)
are restricting Neil Warnock in the transfer window so that he fails and
they can bring in the likes of Ancelotti or Lippi as manager (although
they will probably end up appointing someone like Vialli). This change
would be very sad, but it may cause them to spend money come January and
that could see us finish mid-table. Alternatively, the Mittals might
come back and buy the club, giving Warnock more freedom to do his job
and we'll manage to survive by the skin of our teeth. However, anywhere
between 20th and 15th looks realistic.
Have you got the right manager?
Without a shadow of doubt! Paul Lambert has completely transformed the
club from League One to a Premiership club and we all know that it will
be a struggle to hold on to him when the `bigger` clubs come calling.
 |
| Will Elliott Bennett come back to haunt Wolves? |
Wes
Hoolahan and possibly Grant Holt, I also think new signing Anthony
Pilkington from Huddersfield could be the surprise package.
If you could sign any player for your team, who would it be?
Henri
Lansbury from Arsenal is a realistic target and I would love to see
that happen but a dream signing would be David Villa or Messi!
How do you see Wolves doing this season?
I like Mick McCarthy, an honest, no nonsense manager who doesn`t suffer
fools gladly and I was pleased for him that Wolves stayed up. I think
you should be ok again and see a decent position around 13th or 14th being a possibility.
Predicted results v Wolves home and away?
Wolves at Carrow Road, 3-1 to City and a 1-1 draw at Molineux.
And finally, where will you finish this season?
Jim White / Swansea City / http://www.scfc.co.uk
Are you happy with how your club has strengthened so far since promotion?
We have signed our main
target which was a new striker and all Swans fans will be happy that
Danny Graham has joined. He along with another of our new signings
(Steven Caulker) are young and hungry which is exactly the type of
player we go for. We do need to probably bring in another 3 or 4 players
in but we started our preparations around 4 weeks later than anyone
else and so I am sure by the time Aug 15th comes around, we will have
strengthened.
Have you got the right manager?
1000000% we have! First
season as manager, our man Brendan gets us promoted. He has moved us on
tactically, understands what we feel as Swansea fans and is a genuinely
lovely man. He is respected by players, the board and our fans and we
hope he will stay with us for many years to come!
Who should we watch out for?
Pundits will pick out
Scott Sinclair because of his goals but Nathan Dyer on the other wing is
just as tricky. We are a team that don't have a lot of stars but a lot
of players that will work very hard for each other. We play a 4-3-3 with
2 holding midfielders and so keep an eye out for Stephen Dobbie who
plays at the front of the midfield 3 and little Joe Allen who is a very
special talent in the centre of the park. Ashley Williams is our
strongman at the back who will win a number of admirers with his
strength and distribution. All swans fans are hoping that Ferrie Bodde
comes back to full fitness after 2 years out and 3 knee operations! An
awesome player who will grace the premiership with his passing ability
and shooting if he can stay fit!
If you could sign any player for your team, who would it be?
I think that all Swans
fans feel like were missing a goalkeeper since Dorus De Vries left us to
join you at Wolves. De Vries has his failings though and so it is an
area we would have wanted to strengthen anyway. Therefore, if we could
sign one player it would probably be a goalkeeper such as Lee Camp. All
Swans fans would be happy if he came to join us!
How do you see Wolves doing this season?
 |
| Nathan Dyer: One to watch |
Predicted results v Wolves home and away?
I think that we will be
tricky for anyone at home and being honest, if we are to stay up then
beating teams like Wolves at home will be vital if we are to stay up. We
also do need to ensure we pick up points away but I can see us beating
you 2-1 at home and losing 2-0 away!
And finally, where will you finish this season?
Everyone expects us to
finish in the bottom 3 but I think we will surprise people and survive.
It will be tight and tough but our style of football and team spirit
will get us 11 wins and 9 draws so that we finish in 16th!
Thanks to Matt, Martin and Jim for answering my questions.
What are your thoughts on the three promoted sides?
Thanks to Matt, Martin and Jim for answering my questions.
What are your thoughts on the three promoted sides?
Excellent blog.
ReplyDeleteNot surprised the QPR fan isn't happy. They've had a terrible summer, which is such a great shame after how well they did last season. Looking at their squad and the few players they've brought in, they look odds-on for a swift return to the Championship. However, Taarabt looks like he'll stay now and he's capable of winning them a few games and giving them a real chance. There's no way Warnock will go down without one hell of a scrap.
Norwich are flying under Lambert and that momentum will carry them into the new season. I can definitely see them getting some good results early doors. Glad Wolves don't have them until later into the season. They've made some decent additions too although most of them are unproven at this level. Difficult to gage, but I'd probably give them the best chance of survival of the three coming up.
Swansea play great football of course and have some exciting players. They keep the ball well and have a legitimate goal threat. Are they good enough defensively though? We've seen teams like Blackpool and Burnley come up in recent years, play well, get some good results but ultimately get found out as the season unravels. I can definitely see this happening for Swansea.
Agree with a lot of what Thomas Baugh says! But atleast QPR have now spent some money, around 1 mil on DJ Campbell..... Certainly a marquee signing lol
ReplyDeleteits possible as always that all three could go, as none have spent very much money and made any big signings. Most likely to stay up is Norwich because of their manager.
wolves will be scrapping for survival too,dont get carried away golden boys
ReplyDelete