For all those younger members on here, "what do points make...............?...........prizes" was a catch phrase of Brucie (Bruce Forsyth, again for you youngsters). In our case, points make a much better position in the table. Most on here are saying that we are now playing much better and have the makings of a decent side. All true and I completely agree. However, we are languishing 2nd from bottom with 2 points from 5 games and West Ham next Monday looks a massive game now. After that we have WBA away, Everton at home and Arsenal away......all very tough. Many are saying that we are going to hammer some of the so called "lesser" teams soon, but I don't see it. The league looks very strong this year and I don't see any easy games for us over the next few weeks. The problem is that the longer we go without a win, the more the pressure builds on the players to put it right. I sincerely hope that all you optimists are right but we really need to start getting points and wins soon. I'm not for one minute saying that I think we'll go down or that Hughes should go (far too early to call on either fronts), but I am saying that I'm a little concerned with our current league position, coupled with our bad luck and growing list of injuries!! Lastly, some on here, especially DT are getting very agitated and, in some cases abusive with those of us who aren't singing from the same hymn sheet as them. Well................it's all about opinions and we're all entitled to one!!
All very true Col. We played very well yesterday. In midfield I do about agree with DT, probably the best in 18 years, but we weren't very sharp up front, or safe at the back when Spurs speeded things up and applied some pressure later on. With 2 points from 5 games there is of course absoultely no room for complacency - but I do trust that Hughes will not allow the players to feel that. He's got one hell of a long way to go to keep his word about us not being involved in another relegation batlle with him at the Club.
So what's missing at the moment? Is it simply that we are not deadly enough up front or is there more to it than that?
Hard to put your finger on it isn't it? Obviously, the fact that we've had Citeh and Spurs away and Chelsea at home in our first 5 hasn't helped. It would certainly help if we could get Cisse into the goal scoring form of last season. He looks as though he's lacking in confidence and hasn't had much of a look in. I also believe "going for it" at home against all but the top 4 or 5 teams is vital to picking up the points we will need. Taarabt and Hoilett should start in those games....NOT SWP!
Despite the addition of only 1 point I am far more confident after the Scum and Spurs games than I was. Yesterday's performance in particular was exceptional (SWP included Col). The missing link is goals of course. The PL is a goal-scoring league and you can't set up to draw or win 1-0. Our lack of striker options is the biggest question mark but with Cisse and Hoilett still to come good I think we can get there. If we start to click up front we have no one to fear this season.
It's clear that we are a much improved outfit, but the problem in this league as has been pointed out already is that every mistake can be and often is swiftly punished, and if we're not the ones doing the punishing we're not going to get the points. We have to just keep plugging away and the understanding between the players has got to get better; funnily enough Faurlin's 'goal' reminded me of Ronaldo's for Real when Kompany ducked and Hart wasn't expecting that. There's no doubt we're 'getting there' but our points tally may not improve significantly until we become more ruthless not just in front of goal but all over the park. I do feel optimistic though.
I really don't think you are entitled to make the sort of comments that you have been mking when you didnt go to the game and your opinions are based on watching the highlights. Your comments on another thread criticising Faulrin and Granero and calling them lightweight highlights how ill-informed you areOur first half performance was the best football I have ever seen Rangers play. Your comments about them being lightweight are so old-fashioned and ill-informed its embarrassing. If you went to the game yesterday you would have witnessed a masterclass from the pair of them in the first half. And until the silly own-goal and Granero being fouled before Spurs broke you literally couldnât see them getting in the game. I could write an essay on why your wrong but Iâm busy today but had to make time to respond in some way because its infuriating to have mis-guided comments from people who literally donât know what there talking about because they didnât see the game. Our last three games that were as tough as it gets and we got one point but could quite easily have got 6. Itâs a long season and weâll have games that go the reverse to yesterday we win that we deserve to lose. While your cliché âno easy gamesâ is true to an extent but the point your missing is there are easier games. The performances are such that the players deserve credit not pessimistic doom mongerers like you.
In my case a 60 pound fine and a little bit less of a driving license. (Bastards) Col - firstly happy birthday for next Monday, those born on the sacred day of October 1st are clearly enlightened and superior to most mere mortals. I can understand people getting a bit edgy, every supporter of a team in the **** part of the league would prefer to be in the not **** part of the league, even at this stage. However we are 5 games down in a 38 game season, and we are not alone in the start we have had. After 10 games i think we can start raising one eyebrow, if we are still in the bottom 3 come Christmas then this is the time to properly start ****ting ourselves, calling for the head of the manager and making panic buys in January. Until then try to enjoy the season, we look like we have a quality midfield, yes i too would have liked to score a few more goals by now and I certainly would have liked to have has less injuries so far, but its hard scoring goals against Chelsea/Man City and Spuds and older players are more prone to injury this is unfortunately one of the risks of having an older squad. November and December look like relatively good months for us fixture wise, I think we will be well out of the bottom 3 by Christmas. (if not this Monday!)
Where to start with that load of inaccurate garbage? 1) This thread wasn't about yesterday's game in particular and in fact I didn't even mention it. 2) I've never called Faurlin and Granero "lightweight". I have raved about Faurlin, calling him a class player. What I did say is that they both lack a little pace and that can lead to us getting caught on the break. I suggested playing Diakite in a holding role behind them. 3) I very clearly stated on another thread that I was only commenting on the highlights of yesterday's game and that the highlights didn't show Granero in a very good light. I rate him highly, but he must learn not to dwell on the ball so much. 4) Thanks for making my point about people being lambasted for not seeing everything the same as the majority!! If you think I don't know what I'm talking about that's fine, but try to get your facts right before laying into me. If you want a chat about where I feel MH could do things differently/better in the up-coming games I'm only too willing to enter into a rational debate on the subject.
I hope we are not entering the debate again that only those if us that are luckily enough to go to every game are entitled to an opinion on this site. I also think its dangerous to question another persons football knowledge when quite clearly we know nothing about each others sporting achievements or abilities. I watched the match yesterday on the Internet. Does that make me less if a fan than you?. Ridiculous. It was me that used the words lightweight when describing our new CM partnership. Please read it in the context that it was written. Two excellent players with flair and creativity but as I said earlier, neither of them can be called a DCM. If you think that my opinion is old fashioned then look at every other Prem team over the weekend and you will see that most deployed at least one DCM in their team. Amazing how so many top managers are also old fashioned. Perhaps the word lightweight was not the most appropriate word to use, but I'm sure most people got my point. When spurs turned up the heat our team was crying out for an enforcer in the middle of the pitch to break up their play.
Oddball's just agitated because his French bird has shaved for the first time in 25 years and she can't tickle him with her beard any more.
I don't blame him! Shaving machines, wax and deodrants for women are another group of the many nasty products to escape from the USA, along with the rest of their microwave and dish washer culture. Trade embargoes on these products should have been brougt in about 40 yars ago. ComeOnUHairyRRRRR's!
I think your views are fair comment, Col and I don't see you as being a "doom-monger"! Most of us have it in the back of our minds (whether we admit it or not) that (worst case) we could find ourselves in the bottom three approaching Christmas with a lengthening injury list. I've been really impressed with the way we pushed the ball about against Chelsea and Spurs. Great quality. But individual players (absent Zamora and Mackie and sadly AJ) have been pretty cautious in front of goal and that must change and I think it will as the players feeling increasingly confident playing alongside each other. I never look at the table until after the 10th game has been played. Bring on West Ham, West Brom, Everton, Arsenal and Reading. We'll take 9 points minimum.
Happy Birthday for Monday to you too mate. I too think we should be well out of the bottom 3 by Xmax. I'm just trying to point out that no points were ever won on paper with a good squad. We need to start winning games before the players get really hung up about it!
Given the opposition in these five games, what did anyone honestly expect? I had us down for four points from the first two followed by three defeats so only two points behind that and playing some excellent football. Hardly a disaster. If we'd got what we deserved yesterday we'd be sitting pretty in mid-table. Very early days.
The simple fact is that the league table doesn't lie!. BUT the last two performances have been a vast improvement. Our passing on the deck has been a pleasure to watch and although im not Hughes biggest fan, i think his tactics have been correct. What concerns me is that some on here are expecting us to hammer or at least beat the so called lesser teams which we need to do but as the table stands there is only one team below us and others class us as a lesser team!. We need a win and we need it soon!
