Guardian preview of our season

[billycopper]

I think the biggest problem for us this year will be goals. We're going to lose Fellaini's threat for the most part with him dropping back to a more withdrawn role. Whoever replaces him there isn't going to be anywhere near as effective.

Our forwards still fill me with no confidence whatsoever so keeping Mirrallas fit is an absolute must. He's the only player I'd back to get into double figures this year.

I feel that it isn't viable for us to have a £24m defensive midfielder and that we need to reinvest funds from his sale further up the pitch.

If he stays, then I think he only scored in two matches post-Christmas, so we limited ourselves by continuing to play him in that role. We can now pick from Jelavic, Kone, Anichebe, Vellios, Naismith and Mirallas depending on which formation we play and who is on form. Our most potent pairing would appear to be Mirallas behind Jelavic, but Kone and Deulofeu hit double figures for their respective clubs last year, Naismith did the same at his last club and Anichebe is becoming more useful infront of goal.

 

[dannyboy]

Under Moyes we drew over 40% of our games. I think it works out that if we'd won half and lost half of them we'd have had 50% more points than we did. So it's worth the risk of going for it a bit more.

I've enjoyed watching the football under Martinez, looking at how he uses systems, what special instructions he gives to players and how he tries to change a game. If we're going to keep it on the floor rather than looking for the channels or Fellaini up front, then we should see our creative players being on the ball more often and in more dangerous positions.

I don't think we're short of cash. We've spent around £7m so far, which could have been the money that we had ear-marked for Fer and could have been an advance on tv revenue. I think that we still had the majority of the Rodwell money available though and we've had a rent reduction on Finch Farm. We were probably paid a few million for taking part in the US tournament and there is the potential that we'll make another couple of million if Rooney is sold for a decent profit. Martinez has brought in four players so far and I think that he wants to assess things fully before deciding whether we need further strengthening.

It's slightly different, stretching it a lot to say I've enjoyed it. We've looked tepid in attack and the possession football looks awkward most of the time. Rather like what it did when he was at Wigan.

Of course it's absolutely stupid to read too much into pre season, I'm just not in the Martinez is the saviour camp just yet.

 

[Blues Harp]

Is Vires Exsisto Peior................Our new motto (It Could Be Worse....)

 

[billycopper]

It's slightly different, stretching it a lot to say I've enjoyed it. We've looked tepid in attack and the possession football looks awkward most of the time. Rather like what it did when he was at Wigan.

Of course it's absolutely stupid to read too much into pre season, I'm just not in the Martinez is the saviour camp just yet.

I know the stats will say that Baines created sackfuls of chances last season but most of the goalkeepers we played against were largely untroubled. In the past we've tended to play the game at walking pace, whereas against Vienna Martinez could clearly be heard saying 'quicker!'

Sharpie has said that every training session has involved footballs, which is in contrast to Moyes' methods. It will take time for senior players like Jagielka and Hibbert to adjust to keeping it on the deck but, by the time that Stones and Barkley are established, it should be second nature to them.

If Martinez can do it with semi-professional footballers at Swansea, then it shouldn't be too difficult for internationals to grasp what he wants. Once it's fully bedded in I think that players such as Mirallas, Pienaar and Barkley will benefit enormously from it.

 

[Luke]

I'd be content with seventh.

 

[Goat]

I feel people are being harsh on Jags, hes had no problems with playing the ball on the deck, Howard on the other hand, is in a world of pain.

 

[billycopper]

I think Jags will get the ball and his instinct will be to aim long. He will then remember that he's supposed to pass and in that moment of indecision, as against Vienna, he could come unstuck. It's not as if we're asking him to split defences with 60 yard balls though, so I'm sure that he will adapt to keeping possession.

 

[BlueLlama]

We might need a bit of patience here as the team changes its style. Postive, attacking football and youngsters getting game time will buy RM some time. The high defensive line worries me.

 

[Baines' left foot]

If we continue to finish 6th-8th under Martinez does that mean we're still "overachievers"?

I hate that word, I mean how can you "overachieve" for 11 years?

I can't see us finishing any lower than 7th this year.

 

[Goat]

Given our net spend we are very much overachieving.

Money isnt the be all and end all, just ask the RS, but for the same token, Arsenal stopped spending and they became sh1t, City and Chelsea continue to spend and continue to push for honours, sure the odd Swansea and Wigan and even Newcastle comes along now and again, but money really does make the world go round.

 

[billycopper]

We might need a bit of patience here as the team changes its style. Postive, attacking football and youngsters getting game time will buy RM some time. The high defensive line worries me.

I'm not sure that was a deliberate tactic. We did it once last season (could have been against United) and Moyes came out afterwards and said he doesn't know why we did it because it certainly wasn't in his instructions.

 

[BlueLlama]

I'm not sure that was a deliberate tactic. We did it once last season (could have been against United) and Moyes came out afterwards and said he doesn't know why we did it because it certainly wasn't in his instructions.

Did they play it against Valencia? Fell asleep

 

[Baines' left foot]

Given our net spend we are very much overachieving.

Money isnt the be all and end all, just ask the RS, but for the same token, Arsenal stopped spending and they became sh1t, City and Chelsea continue to spend and continue to push for honours, sure the odd Swansea and Wigan and even Newcastle comes along now and again, but money really does make the world go round.

Hmmm, yeah I suppose I agree with regards to money.

I don't so much think we're overachievers though, more than the other teams are underachievers.

I mean just look at how much money Sunderland, Stoke and Newcastle have spent over the years only to do [Poor language removed] all.

It's not our fault other teams buy loads of sh*te players.

 

[Goat]

For every Everton there is a QPR.

 

[billycopper]

Did they play it against Valencia? Fell asleep

I haven't been able to watch it yet. It seems like we realised our mistake at half-time against Real and corrected it.