Setup to fail? Will we be playing Small Heath in 2015?

The World Cup is almost over and the 2014/2015 season is fast approaching so what has Paul Lambert done so far to ensure we don't have a repeat of last season?

 

The Signings

In comes Joe Cole the player that was tipped to be a star but never quite made it, with flashes of brilliance few and far between, he often goes missing in matches to the detriment of the team.  But like all signings I am prepared to give him time if he can stay fit then he can give us something we lacked in many games last season - a bit of flair to pick open a tight defence.

We leaked goals and made some awful individual errors last season so what is the solution to this Paul Lambert? Philippe Senderos you say???!! Hmmmm really?? Give me strength!! Ok, I am not his biggest fan but you never know, can he be any worse than what we've got?  If all is well he will just be providing cover.  His cameo appearances in the World Cup did nothing to change my opinion of him, he gave the ball away with careless passes and gave away needless free kicks with rash tackles - what am I saying he should slot in nicely.

The crocked

I think the light at the end of the tunnel could come from the return of some of our crocked stars.  Jores Okore, Libor Kozak, Christian Benteke, Charles N'Zogbia and Gary Gardner are all due back this season and if they can stay fit that’s a big big plus.  Any team would miss players of their ilk and IF they can just stay fit we may be looking up rather than down, I am not saying we will be challenging for Europe but we may be battling for mid table mediocrity rather than trying to avoid having to go back to Small Heath.  Jores Okore and Ron Vlaar (if he stays) would improve the defence and hopefully with a couple of new full backs stop the leaky defence.  N'Zogbia and Gardner could provide competition in midfield and if we get a motivated N'Zogbia he can get the goals from midfield that we have been lacking.  Kozak although not very mobile does seem to know his way to goal so could reduce the burden on Benteke.  Benteke can be the difference depending on which one comes back, the rumours around him have reduced partly due to his injury but also I suspect due to his indifferent season in 2013/2014 in which he went from the sublime to the 'Heskey'.

The Bomb Squad Returns!

I suspect the Bomb squad are still up for sale to any takers but rather than rot in the reserves if nobody comes in instead they will be part of the squad and available for selection. Darren Bent could provide useful backup to Benteke and Kozak although I can only see him making cameo appearances and chipping in with the odd goal but that odd goal might get us a few points that prove the difference at the end of the season.  Alan Hutton could break the legs of any exciting wingers and chip in with the odd red card so he will probably end up benefitting other teams rather than us.

Youth

Stepping up we may see more of Samir Carruthers, Daniel Johnson and Callum Robinson.  Samir in particular looks an exciting prospect although a little lightweight, he could be the replacement for Marc Albrighton who started to make an impact before he was allowed to leave for Leicester.

Does the squad look in worse shape than last season?

If all players are fit then I think we are in better shape than last term but I think there will be a lot of players coming and going before the 9th of August so let’s see how we go.