By Y I Man
December 27 2004

Forum user "Y I Man" writes the 'truth about the "inherited team': Day after day, week after week, we read both in the tabloids and their supposedly more educated broadsheet relatives how Souness is working with an "inherited, lopsided team". It's time to stop hypothesising and look at the facts.

This team finished 5th last season, and may well have finished 4th had key players not been injured for the closing games.

Since then, what has changed?

We have replaced Speed with England International Butt - hardly downsizing.

We let Woodgate go for £13m. This same Woodgate managed 18 league appearances last season - less than half...so why is almost the same defence that managed for 20 games last season now shipping soft goals like a sieve?

Apologies, it's not the same defence...we have bought Stephen Carr, reputedly one of the best right backs in the league and an experienced Ireland international, to strengthen the position natural centre back Aaron Hughes has been stuck in for an eternity. Again.....is that not strengthening the team?

On top of that, we have signed Kluivert, admittedly yet to reach the heights of his past glories, but surely still a cut above at least third choice striker Ameobi?

People will also point to the loss of Solano in last season's New Year transfer window. Well here are more facts - prior to this Solano managed a princely 8 starts, with 4 appearances as sub.

The common and uncommon press, together with the hysteria-motivated fan, will have us believe that Souness inherited a shambles of a team. The facts speak otherwise.

Blame injuries, blame a confidence crisis, blame Souness himself.....but don't believe for a minute that a team that finished 5th, and has been strengthened in the interim, is a "lopsided shambles" simply inherited by Souness who can only make his mark once "his own" new players are signed.

Discuss this, and read fans opinions here.