If last year was a 9 this year is a 5 at best. We've not kicked on like I hoped and it is getting late in the window for any permanent signings that would make a difference to the first 11. Therefore we will be reliant on game time from Macca and Ward, who both, let's be fair, are in the swan songs of their career and we haven't moved on Luka or Tekkers so can also expect them to play some part in the season.
Finally Gallagher made a huge impact as a Loanee and I would be very surprised if we can pull that particular rabbit out of the hat again.

Agree, i like the guy as a footballer and he looked great in a struggling Fulham side, but i've been a little shocked at just how slow he is and his heading is not great too. He doesn't seem to 'attack' the ball so has been out jumped in both boxes at crucial moments - Burnley and Spurs away spring to mind.

Having said that he and Guehi (who is fast) do seem to complement each other well so it is not a position i am too concerned about at the moment.

It's not just about numbers though - have we added the necessarily quality? To come in and make our first 11 better?

GK, I'm not sure Johnstone gets in over Guiata.

Richards, time will tell. Looks good, but unlikely to trouble Andersen or Guehi.

Doucoure - great signing. Hopefully comes straight in and improves our midfield.

Ebiowei - promising player. Probably doesn't impact our first 11 much though.

Plange - same.

So largely, we'll start with the same team as last year, with the addition of Doucoure.

I would've thought given PV's lack of trust in Eduoard and Tekkers, a striker that could come in and be our #1 would've been a priority.

At the moment the midfield area of the squad looks weaker than last season.
We’ve lost Gallagher and Kouyate who both featured in the majority of the games last season.
Gallagher was instrumental in our pressing game and contributed goals and assists, in particular in the early part of the season.
Kouyate was a consistent and solid presence over the season giving us a robustness and physical presence which we will miss.
We have brought one midfielder in Doucoure who hopefully will be a good addition but who understandably may need a period to settle in.
There’s still work to do in the window and I could see us bringing in one new midfield player, and possibly two depending upon Luka’s future and Mcarthur’s fitness.

Even though we have lost 2 CM's. Eze was barely present last season so he'll feel like a new signing.

My biggest worry is the 3rd CM slot.

From pre-season Schlupp seams to be getting the nod over Macca. So I'd suspect at he's nailed on a starting spot at the min.

Agree, Gallagher and Eze is effectively a straight swap, as is Doucoure and Kouyate.

Going by the reviews of Doucoure, it sounds like we're no worse off with Doucoure/Eze than we were with Gallagher/Kouyate.

I wouldn't be hugely surprised if we saw Gallagher arrive on loan in January if McArthur continues to have injury issues and he CG doesn't up his form from pre-season.

26th January 2010 - Enter Administration
2nd May 2010 - D-Day 1 - Survival at Hillsborough
1st June 2010 - D-Day 2 - Survival at Lloyds
7th June 2010 - CPFC2010 exchange contracts.