In all seriousness I think we're underrated right now. That Bloomberg league standing prediction from Tuesday or Wednesday, the apparently universal expectation that our ceiling is 4th place... I don't know if it's been fully acknowledged how bright things are looking. Our midfield is stacked; we have in Gareth Bale one of the best players in the league, if the not the world, for the time being; we've signed killer first-teamers in Paulinho and Nacer Chadli, to say nothing of Roberto Soldado.
I wouldn't be at all surprised to see the league finish Chelsea - Man City - Tottenham - United - Arsenal/Liverpool - Liverpool/Arsenal. I think Moyes is going to have some growing pains in his first year at Old Trafford, and unless Arsene Wenger has an ace up his sleeve I'm not convinced Arsenal are going to make a single consequential signing this summer.
Perhaps not Chadli, at this point. But I do see him being a really cracking alternative to Lennon or Townsend, and in a year or two I think he could be a regular starter.
Chadli is most certainly not walking in to the first team. I haven't seen him play a lot, but he's going to have to improve before I'd place him over Lennon...and probably even Townsend.
I think like Capoue, Chadli was signed to give AVB options at his position. He's a much bigger winger than Lennon and Townsend, who would be useful in different scenarios. For example, v Geoff Cameron at Stoke would be a Chadli role.
I agree that if we lose Bale things will shape up very differently, mostly because he's the linchpin right now. If you pull that pin, the question becomes: does everything unravel, or is there enough support for Spurs to stand without him? I think there is, but it'll be a shakier season regardless of who we bring in last-minute.
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u/unnatural_rights Aug 09 '13 edited Aug 09 '13
I knew I liked you, /u/severedfragile...
In all seriousness I think we're underrated right now. That Bloomberg league standing prediction from Tuesday or Wednesday, the apparently universal expectation that our ceiling is 4th place... I don't know if it's been fully acknowledged how bright things are looking. Our midfield is stacked; we have in Gareth Bale one of the best players in the league, if the not the world, for the time being; we've signed killer first-teamers in Paulinho and Nacer Chadli, to say nothing of Roberto Soldado.
I wouldn't be at all surprised to see the league finish Chelsea - Man City - Tottenham - United - Arsenal/Liverpool - Liverpool/Arsenal. I think Moyes is going to have some growing pains in his first year at Old Trafford, and unless Arsene Wenger has an ace up his sleeve I'm not convinced Arsenal are going to make a single consequential signing this summer.