The Good 1. Getting Holt back onside 2. Snodgrass (almost on a par with Hoolahan) 3. Butterfield (I think he could be a star, two footed as well, unheard off from an Englishmen) 4. Selling Crofts (technically poor and needed to go) The Bad 1. Whittaker (I think he is going to be a shocker, there is not alot right with the SPL) 2. Ayala's loan 3. Keeping Morison (poor touch, poor hold up man, poor passer, got to go) The Ugly 1. Ajax Hoofball (I am only going by what has been described as I wasn't there, but apparently it was atrocious football) After an initial reluctance to accept Hughton I have been up and down with him. He had a good start with some pretty cheap signings for what I think will be quality (Whittaker excluded), I don't think Turner will be my sort of player but we probably do need a player similar to the Ward mould as he is. Rating so far 6.5 out of 10, good signings although I am starting to have concerns as to how we will be playing and whether he could pull us out of a slump should it arrive. Also Chris, more foreigners please. I do have a fact about him you may not know, he once qualified to be a lift engineer in his youth as he went to college with somone I work with.
While I agree with the Good points, I kind of disagree with the rest. 1. Whittaker - haven't seen him play, so I don't want to judge without seeing him. But he's played Champions league and international football so he can't be that bad 2. Ayala - spent most of last season injured. We have four centre backs as well as Martin and Whittaker being able to play there. 3. Morison - I agree with his touch/passing, but he was our second highest scorer last season and when we play to his strengths he's a decent target man As for the Ajax hoofball, I've heard a number of people say that although it wasn't pretty we were never going to pass Ajax off the park and that it has showed again that we are able to mix and match styles to counter the opposition.
Negative comments are easy I will judge at the end of the season it's going to be tough but there are plenty of positives Holty still plays for us He has set the players the challenge. to prove it was them as much as Lambo that got us last years result excellent motivation Snodgrass and Butterfield signings We have tightened up well at the back Morrison is damn good and will score good goals watch out gunners Let's just accept its going to be different and get behind the man
Completely agree with all the bad things. Couldn't agree more! Disagree on the ugly, thought we played some nice stuff when I watched us against MK Dons, played Wes deeper which really worked. We were probably playing the ball way too much around the box where it was just too crowded. So I think the football will actually be pretty good myself
Bit worried by the lack of pre season goals myself, I guess we're not used to that after the last few seasons. Probably down to tactics, but netherless Otbc
Positive comments are even easier, "He has set the players the challenge. to prove it was them as much as Lambo that got us last years result excellent motivation Snodgrass and Butterfield signings We have tightened up well at the back" You don't know any of these things are true, hence it is easy, why not judge the good things at the end of the season as well? Whats the difference?
Yes, this is one of the things thats planted a seed of doubt, I don't mind playing defensively necessarily, along as it doesn't revolve around quantity and being rigid at the back which is the easy way which could be Hughtons plan. Keeping hold of the ball is the best way to keep the opposition out.
I'm glad you raised this subject Carrabuh as until now any criticism had become a bit of a taboo matter. I know we needed to tighten up defensively and 3 clean sheets against MK, Celtic and Hull is encouraging but the number of goals we are scoring is a bit worrying. I am also struggling to get out of my mind the hoofball we played against Ajax and the way they completely dominated us despite playing a weakened side.
I know CH has said that he wants to bring in another couple of players, so waiting to see who they might be. Personally, I wouold rather we'd kept Ayala, as I think he is a better prospect than Ward (though posters have said that Ward played well against MK Dons - will wait to see how he fares against PL teams before making my mind up!!). My 'glass is half-full' re our prospects for the coming season and look forward to seeing how our new signings fit into the team and if CH has a preferrred formation (hope we don't use 'the diamond' too often, as I think it's not suited to the PL). Really hope that we can keep the 'goals against' to less than 50 over the coming season and that we don't give away a flurry of penalties in the first few games - though some of the early ones should never have been penalties anyway.
Definitely - especially after watching some of the game against Ajax, as we gave it away far too easily. Also, I hope we don't resort to 'hoofball' - we're better than that!!!
Wasn't at the Ajax game but was at the MK game did those who went find we tried to pass it into the net at times?
All this junk about Ayala he played 6 times is not as good as Ryan Bennett and probably would not get a kick so why not move him out
There is already an Ayala debate, which has got heated, you missed the action I don't think it's a matter of Ayala being better than Bennett or vice versa, because they'll both be future starting 11 anyway, hopefully. I think it's the Ward/Barnett still being here. Not going to bring it up on this thread as well though. The thing about the way we play, I think we have the ability to play various different ways. Maybe Hughton has been trying to see which way our teams play best hence the Ajax game. Not sure though, just a suggestion. I think it's something we will come to figure out when the season starts I would find it strange if he signed Snodgrass and Butterfield to than play hoof ball which would mean completely restricting midfield when it comes to attacking.
Turner and Morison are good players, Turner will be the best centre back we have had in years. I agree about Whittaker and Ayala though.
Yeah, definitely agree with Turner an astute and solid signing. Incidently does anyone have any idea how much we paid for Turner? Would be interesting to know since he signed for Sunderland for £6 Million I remember.
Morning carrabuh, re: Hughton Naturally the jury´s still out Until he´s proven, some will doubt, But give him a chance And don´t look askance If what seem strange moves, come about. OTBC Enjoy your season
i have simply no idea how anyone can rate hughton based on a pre-season. shall we see how we go for the first three months first before we start complaining about 'hoofball' (which he doesn't play)? and you've based an assessment of turner and whittaker on guess work...
