C'mon fellers, we were never promised automatic promotion, play-offs or even a challenge this season and, even if we were, common logic would have told us that the signings we have made (and the rumoured approaches) were to avoid relegation at best. We were fed a load of ........... please log in to view this image ....... regarding 35,000 seater stadiums (c'mon, where are we getting the players capable of filling a stadium that size) and visions of the future. We will survive but we have bought nobody who could be classed as 'above average' for this league so we will finish in the third quarter (imo). I have no doubt that Mr Allam does have a future planned for the Club but it ain't gonna happen this season. We cannot expect too much but us die-hard supporters will be there regardless and vent our frustrations on these and other message boards as we imagine ourselves as professional Football Managers (which we are not and never will be - but it's fun to pretend). We are in for a hard season but at least we can be thankful that we are still here even if some of you might wish we weren't after the last couple of performances. Hey? Did I hear Sunderland are loaning us Fraizer Campbell? Imagine the impact he would have just now - all would be forgiven!
It's too early to be thinking of where we will finish. If we had won these first 2 games comfortably everyone would be airing to the side of caution. By the same token, 2 defeats (the 2nd one a worrying one) doesn't mean we will struggle. We'll know in a few weeks where our season is heading, but the lads need to book their ideas up no doubt about it.
The second game was a cup game no one cared about (less then 5000 of us could be bothered to turn up!!!), and we deserved something from Friday. Yesterday provde we have no depth, Dawson, Harper and Devitt provide that. Forwards got no supply. And to be fairit was a "cup Final" for Macclesfield. We had a poor start last season and look where we ended up. Its going to be a long season, still think we are going to finish top half
Nah I don't agree with you on this TigerRoo. Have you looked at other Championship squads? There are some like Leicester and West Ham with undoubted quality, but there are others (fort example Leeds and Millwall last season) there are many sides with no 'above average' quality for this league, but who still do well in terms of the table. I would argue that before this week, Fryatt would be considered one of the best strikers in the division, and Cairney (whilst something of an unknown quantity to other teams) i one of the best technical players in the league. I also can't see many better wingers than Brady. There is obvious quality in our squad, along with some unproven young players who I'm sure will come good. I think we have one of the more competitive squads in the league, we just need to start taking our chances.
Whereas Fryatt did not play as many games as some (23 I believe but stand corrected) he would not be classed as "one of the best" strikers in the Championship: Last seasons totals: 1 Shane Long Reading 24 2 Danny Graham Watford 23 3 Scott Sinclair Swansea City 22 4 Grant Holt Norwich City 21 5 Luciano Becchio Leeds United 19 Max-Alain Gradel Leeds United 19 Adel Taarabt Queens Park Rangers 19 8 Jay Bothroyd Cardiff City 18 9 Steve Morison Millwall 15 Billy Sharp Doncaster Rovers 15 Andy King Leicester City 15 12 Jay Rodriguez Burnley 14 13 Heidar Helguson Queens Park Rangers 13 Kris Commons Derby County 13 David Nugent Portsmouth 13 Simeon Jackson Norwich City 13 Brett Pitman Bristol City 13 Lewis McGugan Nottingham Forest 13 19 Kris Boyd Nottingham Forest 12 Marlon King Coventry City 12 Iain Hume Preston North End 12 Leroy Lita Middlesbrough 12 Marvin Sordell Watford 12 24 Chris Iwelumo Burnley 11 Ian Harte Reading 11 Craig Bellamy Cardiff City 11 Scott McDonald Middlesbrough 11 Yakubu Aiyegbeni Leicester City 11 Peter Whittingham Cardiff City 11 Matt Fryatt Hull City 11 I agree that we need to take more of the chances but this will require a 'striker' of much better quality than we have at the moment (imo).
So he scored 11 in half a season, that works out as 22 over the full season. Only two better than him on that list. You can also argue the service wasn't there last year, which has improved now with Brady and Cairney playing. He could be seen as one of the best in the second half of last season. We both know it's not just about goals anyway, he works hard for the team and links things up (in fact his two best moments against Blackpool were away from the goal). I'd say on paper he is one of the best.
A strike rate of near enough 1 in 2 whilst playing for a midtable side is being used as proof that Fryatt wasn't one of the best strikers in the division last season? I think that Australian sun has gone to your head Roo.
I acknowledge your point mate but Matty's total at Championship level is 145 appearances for 33 goals - hardly top ranking, whereas his record in League 1 is 46 appearances for 27 goals which is impressive. I believe he needs someone to work with and Adebola is not the answer and neither is Simpson nor McLean. He is a little like like Altidore in that he has to have the ball on his right side with plenty of space if not he is quickly closed down.
Agreed Fryatt will be regarded as one of the top 10 strikers in the league when at his best. He clearly isn't on the top of his game right now but he will come good, class is permanent, form is temporary
A lot of ridiculous knee-jerk reaction after 1 defeat (im not counting last night, as in a worthwhile competition, a team missing 6 players through international duty would have their match postponed) Anyone who is realistic will know that the rebuilding job after the duffen era is going to take about 3 years. On friday there was plenty of effort, skill and commitment. The finishing was woeful however and the strikers really need some confidence and to up their game. To use a cliche, you dont become a bad team overnight and the signings we have made have strengthened us I believe, despite what some of you may think. I can actually see us being on zero points after the Leeds game but still think we will finish top half. There is enough quality in the squad to be competitive, it just needs a few tweaks. Keep behind them and have faith in NP. His track record is enough proof that he knows what hes doing and far more than each and every one on here. ps, as for accusations of "boring football", friday was as attacking as ive seen for some time and with in-form strikers could easily have scored 4 or 5.
