Manure fans were unbearable for the majority of the SAF period after they started dominating English football. The worst ones were usually the "fans" that never actually went to their games who were located in all parts of the country.
I remember when we played them in the FA Cup when were in League One. I was watching in the pub which was packed with plastic Man U fans. The looks I got when Chaplow fired in the opening goal and I was about the only one cheering! Of course they won in the end and most of them celebrated like they’d won the Cup, rather than beating a decent League One side.
The bold bit made me laugh in tactical appreciation You’re right we aren’t that good at it yet And JWP is too slow to make up ground when we lose the ball and have to transition back to a defensive format We pressed them really well first 15 then they realised they could hit a man in the space we left and by pass us Will get better and Moussa and Nathan will help I also think Stueys pace and energy will be useful. Shame We went down to 10 just after he came on Danny and Che partnership needs work when we have the ball
I like so many others was really impressed by Vestergaards performance yesterday. What made it even more encouraging and impressive was that it happened while he was playing in a back four as opposed to being one of three centre backs. Many have commented previously and I have tended to agree with them that he can’t play effectively as one of two in a back four. As Ralphs preferred formation is having four across the back I’m really looking forward to hopefully more games where Vestergaard can shine. Of course there will be times when we will need to play with three centre backs but I’m really encouraged nonetheless. As for his goal scoring ability, ironically before the corner I shouted ‘Come on Vesty, use your height and get a goal!’. When it went in my son just looked at me in amazement. I think I was as shocked as he was...
I would put Leicester on a higher level to us when it comes to the offensive side (midfield and up front). But I do have question marks about their defence. They're a step behind Everton and West Ham I feel, both of whom could really challenge top six. I'm not expecting there to be a huge gulf between us and them come the end of the season - partly because in recent seasons, the gap from about 8th downwards has been nothing at all - but I am expecting them to finish ahead of us.
You would like to hope that the presence of Danso, and the shift to a back four, has led to Vestergaard upping his game. Suddenly his place is under real threat (eg how many people on here would have picked Vestergaard as one of their best two CBs before yesterday?). But if he regularly churns out performances like yesterday, then his place is nailed down. Last season, with a back three (and the likes of Maya and Stephens), his place was as safe as houses. (I'm just beginning to have slightly the opposite feeling towards PEH. In that I'm concerned that a lack of credible alternative to him this season - unless Lemina is still here in 36 hours - means that he's safe in the knowledge that he starts each week. Very early days, but he's not the usual PEH so far.)
Leicester will finish above us....they are a good side which (unlike us) isn't a work in progress. Wouldn't be surprised if they finish above United....mainly because of Vardy.
I like the optimism, but can't see us challenging with Leicester this year. They have so many fantastic attacking players! West Ham, who I can't stand, also look very good. 10th to 12th would surely be a good season. Then, next year, as we have cleared out some crap, maybe, possibly, we will buy a few more good players and start pushing upwards.
They might have the better squad but we have the Hasenhüttl factor. Eddie Howe, Dean Smith and Chris Wilder have shown what can be achieved by excellent team management. I'm still annoyed though that we never replaced Matty with another specialist LB/LWB (obviously Vokins is not ready yet) but maybe they had Danso in mind as a defensive utility player when they signed him.
Somehow still 13th after everyone below us has played I count 13th - 7th as mid table so I'm happy with that.
Rodgers did a fine job with Swansea, and so far he's been doing a fine job with Leicester. Vardy's happier and scoring again. Maddison is running the show. They are actually playing CMs who do more than just sit in front of the CBs. Amazing what changing the manager has done for them...
Just checked and Leicester gained the same amount of PL points as we did after Ralph joined us last season. We don't need to have an inferiority complex just because we had such a godawful start to last season and Leicester have had a kinder fixture list at the start of the season than we have.
And for about half of those matches Puel was still in charge. Bit unfair to exclude Hughes' matches, but not exclude Puel's matches. Both of us are so much better now.
He still shouldn't have been sacked here but i'm not going down that road again HR! ------------ If I'd known MP2 was coming, I'd have done a sleep in the road protest.....and hoped for a lorry!
No. But nor do I think Rodgers is a bad manager. You're happy to mention Howe and Wilder etc, but ignored Rodgers. But most of all, even though I'd rather have Ralph, I don't think he's a miracle worker. Leicester's squad is comfortably better than ours.
