What could have been?

[davewigan]

I know this is one of the worse seasons I have experianced in 25 years. But if Nando had been fit for mist of it I think we would have been challenging for the league.

His stats of 19 games and 15 goals is tremendous especially considering a number of those games he hasn't been fully fit and looked like he has struggled . Where would the scum bags have been if shrek had the same problems who has 28 games and 25 goals. The positions in the league could be reveresed

[Ramón Benítez Hernández]

It's no surprise that as soon as we've got something resembling a fully fit, full strength starting line up the performances are better and we win.

 

The reason we've had an awful season is lack of depth in the squad.

[davewigan]

Torres for 10 more games and I think we would have at least 10 more points

[Stevie H]

gutting isn't it? can't think of another club which is supposed to be considered 'top' and a challenger which has such a dearth of forward cover.

[John am Rhein]

The reason we've had an awful season is lack of depth in the squad.

 

nail on the head, there

[Red_Rob]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0waNRaz6wU

[Mike]

gutting isn't it? can't think of another club which is supposed to be considered 'top' and a challenger which has such a dearth of forward cover.

 

managerial negligence

[Stevie H]

managerial negligence

aye agree. he should never have believed his bosses when they said he'd have money to spend alright.

[Hassony]

he should have been sacked in the summer when he didn't buy a striker

[Jarg Armani]

managerial negligence

 

brilliant, let's have that conversation again.

[Stevie H]

looking at the way he's come back and how sharp he's looking by the way he's got to be a sensible bet for world cup top scorer. assuming that greedy little get villa doesn't nick all his chances.

[Mike]

brilliant, let's have that conversation again.

[Swipe]

looking at the way he's come back and how sharp he's looking by the way he's got to be a sensible bet for world cup top scorer. assuming that greedy little get villa doesn't nick all his chances.

 

It'll be Villa. Torres will do all the work, knacker the defenders - and Villa will benefit!

[davewigan]

Is the scum bags had lost shrek for 10 games do you think they would have been 10 points or more worse off and they have another 35 million striker to cover his absence.

[Stevie H]

It'll be Villa. Torres will do all the work, knacker the defenders - and Villa will benefit!

seen villa's strike rate for spain? he's something like 8 goals off raul's record in about 6 fewer years. 36 in 55 or something. amazing.

[Rimbeux]

I know this is one of the worse seasons I have experianced in 25 years. But if Nando had been fit for mist of it I think we would have been challenging for the league.

His stats of 19 games and 15 goals is tremendous especially considering a number of those games he hasn't been fully fit and looked like he has struggled . Where would the scum bags have been if shrek had the same problems who has 28 games and 25 goals. The positions in the league could be reveresed

 

Maybe, maybe not, but it's not that clear cut. Last year Torres played 24 league games and we came 2nd with 86 points, this year he'll probably play a few more and we might just get 4th with around 70. In his first season he played 33 league games and we came 4th on 76. Of course that doesn't mean he's incidental, just his fitness doesn't and shouldn't hold the key to our form or fortunes, far more going on

[Gunga Din]

Maybe, maybe not, but it's not that clear cut. Last year Torres played 24 league games and we came 2nd with 86 points, this year he'll probably play a few more and we might just get 4th with around 70. In his first season he played 33 league games and we came 4th on 76. Of course that doesn't mean he's incidental, just his fitness doesn't and shouldn't hold the key to our form or fortunes, far more going on

 

 

indeed. its just a a lazy excuse to blame the s*** season on an injured striker. there were just so many things wrong with the tactics and personnel employed this season.

[MFletcher]

Missing one of the world's best strikers certainly hasn't helped.

[Rimbeux]

Missing one of the world's best strikers certainly hasn't helped.

 

Clearly hasn't, but it's one of many things, might as well just say that if we'd played as well as last year we would be much better off and in the title race. You really cant bring this season down to the numbers, be it who played how many games, who came for what money or how much we paid them.

[David Hodgson]

brilliant, let's have that conversation again.

 

Like the starter of the thread wasn't making a point (by implication) about how virtually none of this season's malaise can be laid at the manager's door ? You didn't jump on him for that.

Edited March 19, 2010 by David Hodgson

[Gunga Din]

Missing one of the world's best strikers certainly hasn't helped.

 

 

course it hasnt helped.

[Tones]

Is the scum bags had lost shrek for 10 games do you think they would have been 10 points or more worse off and they have another 35 million striker to cover his absence.

 

I do. Berbatov may have cost £35m but hes not what i would call a £35m player. My manc supporting mate is praying Rooney stays fit from now to the end of the season, as he is miles better than anyone else in that team. Im sure loosing him would cost them points.

 

he should have been sacked in the summer when he didn't buy a striker

 

Cant believe he didnt go out and get Villa in the summer.

[MarkD]

I read the title and things that popped into my head included:-

 

- if we hadn't played Fiorentina away with a centre midfield of Aurelio and Lucas?

 

- if we occasionally tried to score goals or take shots at places like Pompey, Wolves, Blackburn, Sunderland?

 

- the beachball had missed?

 

Just thoughts, just thoughts.....

[David Hodgson]

indeed. its just a a lazy excuse to blame the s*** season on an injured striker. there were just so many things wrong with the tactics and personnel employed this season.

 

It's as daft as the old 'we're one quality winger away from the title' theories. Of course a 'fit and firing' Torres would have helped, but the difference in the past game and half has been the personnel around him finding their feet. Torres has been present at the scene of a few debacles this season, lest we forget. Or do we put those down to him 'not being match fit' ?

 

And before we get a bit carried away with the Man Utd analogies, of their 'top two' last season, Rooney and Ronaldo, they've been one light all season, and yet remain on course for a league/European Cup double. And if someone mentions Alonso, we'll have tp bring Tevez into it as well.

[Zoob]

Maybe, maybe not, but it's not that clear cut. Last year Torres played 24 league games and we came 2nd with 86 points, this year he'll probably play a few more and we might just get 4th with around 70. In his first season he played 33 league games and we came 4th on 76. Of course that doesn't mean he's incidental, just his fitness doesn't and shouldn't hold the key to our form or fortunes, far more going on

 

As you say - maybe, maybe not... it's not a black or white issue. Torres may end up playing more games than last season, but included in that will be the half a dozen or so games he played when he was carrying an injury. Had he stayed fit for the vast majority of the season, I'm sure we'd be a good few points better off, but I don't think we'd be anywhere closer to challenging for the league, because aside from Torres being injured, we've had all sorts of players off form, Rafa being too over-cautious for most of the season, and what seems like a collective depression over players and fans alike that has hovered over us pretty much the entire season.

 

Van Persie scored 7 in 11 games for Arsenal before getting in injured, and Bentner was out for a couple months too, and yet Arsenal are battling for the league. Man Utd had a month or so with an injury crisis with their defence, but had Rooney missed as many games as Torres, it would be interesting to see where they'd be, even with Dimitar "scores the final goal against lower half of the league" Berbatov as a possible replacement.