I don't see a lot of improvements. All we have done for the last few years is sell one player to buy another one of equal or lesser quality. There might be 1 or 2 exceptions to the rule but who have we bought recently which has been an upgrade on their predecessor?
Carroll is worse than Torres
Henderson is no better/worse than Poulsen
Borini for Kuyt? jury is out
Johnson is worse than Arbeloa
Adam is worse than Meireles
Downing is no better/worse than babel/reira
If all we are doing is spending money to appease the fans whilst not improving the team then I'd prefer it if we skipped a transfer window and 'saved up' for someone worth having.
Don't agree with all that, Carroll scored more goals last season than Torres, maybe you're stuck in or around 3 seasons ago, when Torres could play a bit.
I also think you're being too pessimistic, given that we will be a very different proposition this season with a new manager, new style of playing, Lucas back Suarez unlikely to be out for several critical games as he was last season, Gerrard likely (and already looking) to be fitter than he was when he came back after his awful injury last season. In addition we have added a new signing, (Borini) and likely to sign Allen (players known to suit BRs style of play) and possibly one or two more. Added to all that we are most unlikely to see another season as freakish in front of goal as we had last season. In my opinion that all adds up to a pretty good reason to be optimistic, for me a top 4 finish is a possibility, I don't say a probability, but it is a possibility and until it becomes impossible I'll remain optimistic.
You've got your facts wrong. Carroll did NOT score more than Torres last season. And even when Torres was firing blanks he was still playing very well and creating a lot for his team mates.
I'm not sure whether Borini suits BR's tactics as he hasn't played under him for a while. As for Allen....well, it's all well and good knowing how BR plays but I'm not sure how useful that will be when he has the likes of henderson, adam and spearing beside him!
I can't see us doing worse than last year but I can't see us doing much better either.....Here's how I think the top 8 will finish..
1st Man City - not a hope in hell of finishing above them
2nd Man Utd - see above
3rd Chelsea - fa cup winners, champions league winners and already better than us before they bought marin, hazard & oscar
4th Arsenal - finished 17 points above us with a 20+ goal difference advantage, PLUS they have bought some very good players this summer. No chance of them finishing outside the top4
5th Spurs - Finished way ahead of us and despite losing Redknapp, they still have a very good squad
6th Newcastle - no reason why would they do any worse next season
7th Liverpool - without Kenny we must surely improve but our squad is a bit thin at present
8th Everton - could be very close between us & everton. They will have Jelavic for a whole season this time around and have strengthened other areas as well.
