Romsey, I'm probably deliberately confusing myself for effect, but if you 'feel positive about Saturday' and you are 'so looking forward to going to St Marys', you may feel somewhat deflated, as we're playing Everton away on Saturday. I'm sure that you're aware of this, but I'm only here for the cheap laughs...
I think some of us have blanked the last season. Have a look at the squad that got beat 9-0 at ManU. Completely different starting 11 and barely a recogniseable name on the bench. We had a torrid time in the second half with 11-12 injured players at one point. I for one am not looking at last season as any indication of how we will go this year.
True. But last season is the most recent season and the most likely predictor of how we will do this year. Agree that there were some ****ty circumstances which are unlikely to happen again this year.
and WHU & Leeds, Everton, BHA, Leicester, MU, Liverpool, CP, Spuds, Burnley, Watford & Wolves. Weirdly I’m ok finishing below MC, Brentford, Norwich, Chelsea, Arsenal, NU. Yes 7th will be fine COYS
im not sure we won’t struggle but we were two different sides last year. Full strength we went top of the league, severely depleted we had the worst results in the league. It seems that starting the season in full strength we have reason to at least feel optimistic.
That's our strongest XI, would love it if we did play that Saturday. Armstrong might not be quite ready tactically to start though.
Yeah, Ralph may want to give him time to learn the system. That said, the 2 forward roles are the easiest in terms of learning the way we play.
What the Times says about Everton today: "Where Rafa Benítez is concerned, it is best to start with the facts. One of the strikers, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, around whom he is building his Everton side has yet to play for him and the other, Richarlison, he met for the first time yesterday after a summer spent at the Copa America and the Olympics with Brazil. His midfield looks lightweight, the club’s long-running search for a right back remains unfulfilled and other potential signings have not materialised because of financial concerns arising from the sort of flawed spending that Barcelona believed they had the monopoly on. Deadwood continues to clog up the corridors and a 4-0 pre-season defeat away to Manchester United has quickly brought tensions bubbling to the surface among some supporters who were opposed to the appointment of the former Liverpool man."
