Alan. Since when did logic have anything to do with Football? No, I agree with your thought process but I also believe that we will sign players after Man City and our formation will start to click. Man City just a bit too soon for me.
If I thought we were going to lose 7-0 on Sunday I would be saying 3-0 to Wigan, 5-0 to Man U and 6-0 to Arsenal and ultimately relegation by Christmas. Yes, Man City is too soon for everybody and yes we will bring more players after the City game but that doesn´t mean we´ll get absolutely destroyed. Even if we were in league 1 I wouldn´t expect us to get beat 7-0. I think our players are up for it and will be able to give City a tough game. We probably won´t get anything from it but thinking we are going to get beat 7-0 is just hideous. Logic doesn´t have a great part to play in football but I find it very strange someone can believe we´ll get destroyed Sunday 7-0.... and then finish 9th come May.
Arsenal lost 8-2 to United, and still finished 3rd. United lost 6-1 to City, and were 30 seconds away from winning the league. I don't think what you do against the very best in the league has too much relevance to how you do over the course of the full season. That said, I think we'll do a lot better than lose 7-0, but also do a lot worse than 9th place.
-----------------Davis------------------ Clyne-----Fonte-----Hooiveld-----Fox ---------Morgan-----Davis------------- ----------------Lallana------------------ Puncheon-------------------Rodriguez ---------------Lambert----------------- Subs: Gazzaniga, Seaborne, Richardson, JWP, Guly, Chaplow, Sharp Bench could change if we sign anyone this week, but otherwise stick with what we've been working on. I'm tempted to start with Gazzaniga and JWP, as they can both add something to the team, but a possible roasting like this game probably isn't the time. Maybe against Wigan. Setting out ultra-defensively would mean a tonking before even kicking off. However unlikey it is that we will get anything, we'll only get it by getting a foot on the ball and having a go at them.
Schneiderlin won the most possession back last season, and the season before. Yet people still say he doesn't put himself about or tackle... Hammond isn't good enough for this next step.
Schneiderlin doesn't headless chicken himself around the pitch, so to someone not paying enough attention it looks like Hammond is doing more.
That's the Scott Parker effect. Make lots of last-ditch blocks and slidiing tackles and the fans will go for it. Fans forget that the last-ditch challenges often come about because players weren't paying proper attention to be able to cut the ball out before they go diving in. The best midfielders in the best midfields rarely need to do last-ditch challenges.
Hope your players can walk off the field on Sunday with their heads held high because they've had a right go,whatever the result.Last season some teams like Blackburn never had a shot in the 90 mins,I felt sorry for the people who paid good money to watch it.
Morgan is good at pressing and getting tight to opposition. It's what you want midfielders to do. Young JWP is pretty good at it too.
AlanSFC: Apologies the reply function does not work on my iPhone. Again, I understand your point of view but I still have mine. St brendy sums it up well. Strange things happen in football. I could just as easily predict we will beat Man City but still get relegated but I don't think that. Maybe my 7-0 prediction is way off mark. I won't be happy if we lose 1-0 let alone 7. My scoreline prediction is based on games I have watched pre-season. We have a Very good Championship squad and are jumping straight in the deep end facing Man City using a new formation whilst trying to fit square pegs in round holes. If we concede a couple of early goals I can see us shipping 7. However, I have faith that new players will come in and we will get into a groove. I purely see the City game as a practice match for us to understand our strengths and weaknesses.
----------------Davis------------------- Clyne-----Fonte-----Hooiveld-----Fox ---------Morgan-----Davis------------- -----------------Guly------------------- Lallana-----------------------Rodriguez ---------------Lambert----------------- Subs: Gazzaniga, Seaborne, Richardson, JWP, Puncheon, Chaplow, Sharp
So we are playing another pre-season friendly type of game while getting stronger as a unit, or at the very least trying to do so. Not sure that is feasible.
I would be tempted to play Davis Clyne, Fonte, Hooiveldt, Fox Guly,Davis,Morgan,Lallana Lambert, Sharp Subs, Gazaniga, Stevens, J W-P, Harding, Puncheon, Rodriguez, Seaborne.
I completely respect your opinion and I actually agree with many of the things you say but I think that 7-0 is taking a bit too far. I agree that we are jumping in the deep end with essentially a championship squad. However, as I said before, even if we were in league 1, I wouldn't expect us to get smashed 7-0. I don't, by any means, expect us to get anything from the game but I believe enough in the squad for us to give City a good game and do ourselves justice. I think the quality City have is unmatchable in the prem so to think we'll win would be absurd but I think it's equally absurd to think we'll lose 7-0 and be able to finish 9th in the league. There were some very odd results last season and when teams get smashed then they can get over it and end up doing well but I personally would worry for us A LOT if were to lose 7-0 on the opening day. I think it would knock our confidence big time, especially with such a young squad and could set the tone for the rest of the season. If we do get beat 7-0, doubt it very much, then I hope I´m wrong and we move on and end up doing OK but I don´t think that´s going to happen. I think we´ll lose 3-1 but give a good account of ourselves and end up finishing 14th in the league. I would love us to finish 9th but just like losing 7-0 to City, I can´t see it happening.
