But the quality of opposition is higher, imo If we'd had this team last season, we'd be much higher. Look at the teams... QPR - **** last season, comfortable side who are getting harder to beat. Hull - **** last season, brilliant now. Palace - Playoff contenders this season, bottom half last. Stoke - Much better than last season. Blackpool and Bristol City - two promoted sides, doing much better than the sides who went up last season. I think Southampton are the only team from last season who are significantly weaker. From what I've seen, Colchester and Scunny are just as good as Leeds and Southend were last season.
If we had lost at Anfield I do not think we would be in the bottom 3 now. that said, we would probably have declared a loss on the balance sheet. Our strikers havent performed this season, no denying that. but we'd have picked up more points without the distraction of the Cup, simple as that.
RE: But the quality of opposition is higher, imo I think the league is of a worse standard than it was last season, haven't seen a team all season that i've been that impressed with.
I don't think there is a brilliant team Like there's been with Sunderland, Reading etc over the years. HOWEVER, I think that on average most teams are much stronger.
According to soccerbase, norwich's squad cost £2.3m Only 750k of that was spent this season. 13 out of the 26 of their current squad (not including on loan players) were trainees or youths when norwich signed them. 5 of these trainees have played for the first team this season.
Not improved team at all i.m.h.o. If we'd had a striker on sunday for instance i reckon we'd ave won comfortably!, he's missed his chance (through what seems bloody-mindedness)at a loanee goalscorer and now it's looking like relegation. The boards also fecked up by giving him a 4 year deal, should've been year to year to better assess his capabilities.
You must be on soccerbase.sm.net because soccerbase.com says we've spent more than that I agree with your point though that figures are regularly wrong on soccerbase but you are still wrong to say that it claims we have only spent 200k. The fact remains that 13 out of 26 of their players are home grown and 5 of those have played. How many did ex academy manager simon davey coach good enough to bring to the first team?
So... Youre saying that Foster, Kozluk, Souza, Van Homoet, Muller, De Silva, Macken & Campbell-Ryce arnt better than Tonge, Austin, Heckingbottom, Colgan, Richards, Hayes, Wright, Kay & McParland?