Squad assessment post close of transfer window

is pretty good, we have clear 1^st, 2^nd & 3^rd choice players for every position with the exception of strikers where we only have a single striker who can hold up the ball(Kanoute) assuming that Jaime Slabber has been deemed not to have made the grade.

Frank has been tremendously busy, head count so far.

15 Incoming.

9 Outgoing.

7 Uncomfortably seated in the departure lounge.

Atouba & Ziegler will get a shot at the problematic left winger slot, only if they fail or need more time to develop will we bid for someone like Andy Reid when the window reopens, although if Atouba (Unlikely looking left winger given that’s he built like the proverbial outhouse) continues to impress like he did at Newcastle, Andy will end up elsewhere.

The lack of creativity apparent against Birmingham should be addressed by Atouba & Ziegler on the left and Carrick and Davies on the right.

The defence was pretty sound (Robinson had no saves to make, Brum had 1 shot on target). Although they did get panicky in the last ten minutes.

The midfield was defensively sound whilst lacking any real creativity, which was not really surprising given that Birmingham played 5 in midfield and both of our 1^st choice wingers were unavailable.

The new players are beginning to gel quite rapidly and already look a considerable improvement on last season, although to be fair we have not played any of the top 3 yet, Chelsea & Man Utd. will be the assay test.

September/Early October could be quite a difficult for us, which makes the Norwich game important as this is followed Chelsea Away, Oldham Away, Man Utd Home, Everton & Portsmouth Away. (2 home games in 6 matches, how did that happen?)

Still looks like that just for once we are going to finish strongly as the players continue to get to know one another.

Even at this early stage it is apparent that (Top Three Excluded) apart from Bolton, Middlesborough & Spurs no one else has significantly improved from last season.

So if they don’t get too far adrift in the early stages, A UEFA place is well within reach

Hopefully the new medical team will continue to have significant input into reducing and avoiding injuries. (They will certainly get plenty of experience!)

As always a good cup run would be welcome, as it tends to keep everybody happy.

Players Incoming

Pedro Mendes (FC Porto) – (Part Of Postiga Deal) Central Midfield

Robinson (Leeds) - £1.5million Goalkeeper

Defendi (Cruzeiro) - £600,000 Centre Back

Thimothee Atouba (FC Basle) - Undisc. Left back/Wing Back

Sean Davis (Fulham) – £3m Central Midfield

Edman (Heerenveen) - £2m. Left Back

Marton Fulop (MTK Hungaria ) - £1m. Goalkeeper

Leigh Mills (Swindon) – £1m Centre Back

Reto Ziegler Left back/Wing back

Calum Davenport Centre Back

Noureddine Naybet Centre Back

Noe Pamarot Right Back

Spase Dilevski Midfield

Michael Carrick Midfield

Edson Silva Striker