Last season will be remembered for all the wrong reasons as NUFC were involved in a relegation battle in a season where so much was expected. We failed to build on our fantastic 5th place finish last summer by only adding Vuron Anita to our first team squad and without the 5 French January additions we may now be a Championship club.
Like every other NUFC fan I was obviously under the impression we would have learned our lesson and realise that our squad needs to be strengthened most noticeably 2 strikers need to be bought.
Llambais, Carr and Pardew would start the summer with the mission of improving our playing squad yet the club was turned on its head when MD Derek Llambias quit the club and was amazingly replaced by former manager and footballing Dinosaur Joe Kinnear who claimed to anyone who would listen that he was our"Transfer and recruitment gafa"
Joe has been in his current role for a few months now and has so far delivered only Loic Remy on a loan deal. Don't get me wrong I think Remy is a fantastic signing and I feel we have finally replaced Demba Ba and if he stays fit he is a player who will offer so much to the team and more importantly add much needed goals.
As good as Remy is he really needs to be joined by at least another 2 signings if we are to have a squad capable of competing in the top 10 of the Premier League. For me another forward (Bafe Gomis) and a attacking midfielder such as Tom Ince or Scott Sinclair would be great. Defensive options would be welcome too as lets not forget we leaked so many goals last year and it is good to see that this week we have been linked with Belgian Centre Half Toby Alderweirld who would be another top addition.
Looking at our current squad I feel we have a talented starting 11, yet we seriously lack the strength and depth needed to deal with inevitable injuries and suspensions. My starting 11 would be as follows:
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Krul
Debuchy
Coloccini
Yanga-Mbiwa
Santon
Cabaye
Tiote
Sissoko
Ben Arfa
Cisse
Remy
Right now we lack forward options as this would leave us with only Shola as an alternative to Cisse. I feel we have midfield options in Anita, Jonas, Marveaux, Gouffran and Obertan yet none of these players offer a game changing ability off the bench.
As for defenders additions to Taylor, Williamson, and Haidara as back-up are needed. Maybe it is the season for Phil Dummett to step up and become a viable option for out first team - fellow youngsters Adam Campbell and Haris Vuckic will be expected to have a big season also.
Ideally like many of our Premier league competitors NUFC would have completed our summer transfer business weeks ago, yet as we know the sensible options is never taken by NUFC. However if Kinnear can deliver 3 new signings - a defender, midfielder, and forward before the window slams shut I would back NUFC to finish 9th this season - without these signings I see us struggling to 13th.
My Premier League predictions:
Champions - Chelsea
Top 4 - Chelsea, Man City, Man Utd, Spurs
Relegated - Hull, Palace, Stoke
Top Scorer - Robin Van Persie
FA Cup - Spurs
Capital One - Arsenal
Surprise club - Norwich
