I'm not the one repeating the sarcasm. And if you actually read the post, tell me exactly what is not true about it. Edit: on second thoughts, PLEASE don't bother
Confirmation bias about what? Admit I (and others) are wrong about what? He's inexperienced. He's learning , and is as much part of the development project as anything else. All facts. Hopefully last Saturday's standards are maintained and we'll all be happy. BTW, not wanting to get into a long drawn out boring repetition of all that's been said before. Just 'bit' at all those ongoing sarcastic remarks from the usual suspects.
We played very well against Watford, most performances like that result in a win. We weren't bad against QPR, we were the architects of our own downfall, we gifted them their goals which were scored against the run of play. We were shockingly poor in the first half against Boro, but good in the second.
Lets be fair, most of the sides in this league will experience highs then lows, lows then highs, during the season, with the possible exception of Leicester. eg. Norwich started well, fell away, but could come back...Cardiff ditto...Southampton had a sticky patch, but have turned it around, still they'll have another sticky one...Those with the bouncebackability and who can turn poor performances into draws or three points, or win ugly will be those who stay in a similar spot all season. We're doing all those things. The possible thing that could adversely effect performances are injuries, therefore the stronger squads might prevail. Which is why a couple of shrewd purchases in the window might the catalyst to finish 5th or 6th, or just outside the top 6 by only one or two. But still a long way to go. After Bristol on Friday we've reached halfway and played everyone once with the exception of Sunderland.
The quotes from Rosenior being reported surrounding bringing in 'experience and determination' in Jan seems quite significant. Guess it was always part of the process once he'd embedded the style of play into the core of the team. Trust the process. We're on the right track.
This year from 5th downwards its an absolute dogfight. Very rarely will we get performances like Cardiff against a team in and around midtable to playoffs. But the good thing is every home game I would say we have performed well and just lost it in the daft moments but they seem to becoming less (Watford's winner aside which was a fluke). If we can get till after Jan in the top 6 we will have played a lot of the teams in and around us with a good run of games to follow potentially. If they get their 3 signings to add to the squad then there's a good chance we could get into it. We'd be the big underdogs but we saw how close Coventry were to punching their ticket.
I'd agree with that assessment...No matter who gets into the play-offs then they'll be too close to call. I had Middlesbrough vs Sunderland playoff final last season. Turned out to be Cov vs Lut... This year it will be just as open. Any team finishing 3rd to 6th inc. could be promoted.
Looking at how Burnley and the Blunts have fared I do not fancy going up yet as both, in my opinion, had better sides than we have at the moment.
I don’t buy the “it’s too early to go up”. When you have teams like Bournemouth and Burnley being able to outspend AC Milan it’s never too early. I would trust these owners to use the riches of the premier league to set us up right.
...and Luton.....Very unlucky though Luton. They've lost at home by one goal to Burnley, West Ham, Spurs, Arsenal and Man City...drawn with Lpool. Its the quality that comes in that can make the difference. Sheff Utd and Burnley actually lost good players in the summer and their recruitment has been poor to crap.
They might be able to outspend AC Milan. But they cannot outspend a lot of teams in the PL, the league they are actually playing in. And can’t compete in attractiveness as a destination for players. And neither could we.
Bournemouth literally beat bigger European clubs to the signings of Kluivert and Zabaryni. Forest beat major clubs for Murillo. The lure of the premier league even as a bottom club is enough to get some serious talent in whilst also securing the club financially. It is never too early too go up. Not to mention we’d likely be able to hold onto some of the loan players we’ve acquired.
Our previous experiences in the PL, scrambling about for last minute signings and ending up with gems like a crocked Bullard suggest that it isn’t that easy.
It's vastly different now than it was then. The financials are far more lucrative and like I said earlier. We have owners and a structure that feels like that they would use the premier league money a lot more wisely
The financials aren’t that vastly different allowing for inflation. Though I agree Rosie would be a lot more sensible regarding targets and Acun and Tan would hopefully not be caught out like we were with Bullard in our desperate attempts to sign someone, just anyone. The wisest use of PL money would be to do what Norwich and Burnley did and to improve and extend their training facilities or build a new one. And not one next to the MKM, but out of town like most clubs.
We must plan for the dark horse who comes really good late season - hope it’s us - if nothing else works for us - fingers x
