Is this the best squad we have had for long?

[SwedishBaggie]

Many posters think that this current squad is the best we have had for a long time (and of course take that as another opportunity to have a go at Pulis)?

I'm not that sure, namewise maybe, but you have to look where they are in their careers now.

Gareth Barry, most PL games ever, of course a great player, but where is he now in his career, and at what age?

Ben Foster, brilliant, but he's been with us for a long time and can therefore be picked in "older squads" as well.

Jonny Evans, a great player, but, maybe he has been better, was there a reason for Man U letting him go?

Nacer Chadli, same as Evans, but replace Man U with Spurs.

Kieran Gibbs, no question marks there so far, he has been brilliant and has a good pedigree.

Jake Livermore, was he ever any good, really?

Grzegorz Krychowiak (that's the way to spell it ), a good pedigree, so we'll see about him.

Etc, etc.

Not so many seasons ago we had:

Ben Foster
Youssuf Mulumbu
Paul Scharner
Peter Odemwingie
Romelu Lukaku
Saido Berahino (before he lost his head and he still could score)

Etc, etc.

NB, quite a few of the above played together.

If we are just name dropping and looking at previous careers and pedigree, we could add:

Nicholas Anelka (yes I know, he failed miserably)
N****o Kanu

Going forward I 'd say we today are nowhere near Peter Odemwingie, Romelu Lukaku and Saido Berahino in attacking quality and goal scoring ability, which of course is of huge importance.

Another question, did Pulis get all the players he wanted, were they his first choice or 2nd, 3rd, 4th...? Hard to know, because if he stays it's all about keeping up appearances isn't it, towards the new players, towards the supporters, towards the public.

Responsible for our present situation is of course: owner, chairman, the board etc. They who appoint or sack managers/head coaches, and they who have the final say about transfers money wise.

Though, having read the board there are quite a few omniscient posters out there who seem to know a lot about everything (m any ex managers probably)...

And, am I happy with the season so far, no - but I don't really believe things are as simple as they are put here on the board sometimes.