I am as miffed as anyone else but a few points to make, we lost no defenders that were around the first team, but bought in keane.
Koeman said he wanted a left sided defender? well Martina played there against Sevilla and did alright. We have Kenny and Holgate and I can't remember the other u23 right back, but he looks solid, Coleman will be back before we know it, so Holgate is then 4th choice CB. Kenny is backup RB to Coleman. Doesn't look that weak to me?
So defence: LB, Baines, Martina and Garbutt (I doubt he will ever play)
CB: Williams, Jagielka, Keane and (Holgate when Coleman is backfit)
RB: Martina, Holgate, Kenny and Coleman all capable of playing if required.
Midfield, no pressing concerns at all
Defensive Midfield: Schniederlin, Besic, Gueye and McCarthy (who looked good when fit last season) as well as Davies who plays slightly further forward.
Number 10: Sigurdsson, Rooney, Vlasic, Mirallas (for me his best position) Klaasen, Barkley (if he ever plays again)
Wide players: A mix of the above with Lookman, Lennon and Bolasie.
Now the dreaded attack, but hear me out here Kylian Mbappe was an unheard of kid 12 months no-one knew who he was he is now tto be the second most expensive ever player, I know we don't have a young forward like him but why are people writing players of after less than 10 professional games?
Our options: Rooney, Sandro, Calvert-Lewin, Mirallas (played here for Olymapaikos) and then we have a vast array of promising forwards in the u23's: Sambou, Henen (Koeman stopped him moving for some reason, maybe he sees something) Dyson (he looks a big strong player), Byrne, Mathias, Donkor (plays best as inside forward) and Lavery. I know some of these will never make it, but lets hope one of these burst on the scene the same as a certain summer signing.
Don't write us off before we have started, Koeman said he likes to play the youth, we have plenty of young attacking talent, lets use it! I have seen people wanting youth to play, now is the chance. People are saying we will finish below our position last year well without Lukaku's goals last year we would of finished 7th. Have the teams below us strengthened that you now think these teams are superior to us? I think not: West Ham definitely not, Southampton no, Palace no, West Brom potentially will challenge but they stop playing when they reach 40 points, Watford good signings but think that every year they flatter to deceive so no, Bournemouth no, Burnley no, Brighton no, Newcastle no, Huddersfield no, Stoke well we have already beat them and can't see them doing much so no, Swansea they may as well be relegated now they will struggle even more this year,
Now onto the six above us these were hard to catch already maybe even more so now but we knew they would be stronger this year than ever: Spurs they will struggle with Champions league and a relatively small squad as well as the Wembley factor but I think they will still be up there, City look good however we contained them bar for poor tactics and one mistake we would have beat them, Chelsea their squad isn't that deep last year we got thrashed and played of the park by them with Lukaku in the team this year after 3 away games in 6 days we played poorly but they didn't open us up half as much as they did last year also we had a half fit Gueye and Sandro playing as well as a completely of it Davies. Man United who look unreal much as it pains me to say it, Champions. Liverpool, this is a strange one they bought in Salah who wasn't really required and Chamberlin who I completely don't rate they haven't strengthened the defence and still look vulnerable they also have Champions league which will take its toll they will struggle more than you think and now onto Arsenal this is a team in disarray they have a defence that looks extremely low on confidence, a midfield that is capable of being world class but never seems too and then a couple of strong strikers however Lacazette has already been dropped and an unhappy Sanchez this will effect the dressing room and remember they are not used to the Europa league schedule this will trouble them I see us being able to overtake these even without a recognised forward, I know we have the Europa league as well and it will effect us but I feel we will take it in our strides Rooney and Klaasen were there last year and will help in the dressing room.
Be positive, exciting times are ahead!
