We've had to play City, United and Arsenal in recent games, just while we're starting to look good again. I'm not worried at all about relegation right now. We'll get our better players back, hopefully get some players in and we'll finish strongly. We need to calm down. We didn't expect to get anything from these games, and the reason we conceded so many is that we needed to take a more attacking approach if we wanted anything from the games. If we had have played more defensively and patient, we'd probably be sitting here discussing two 2-0/2-1 losses. We were unlucky to lose vs United. Today we were right in the game, until the 4th goal went in, then we looked morally drained and Arsenal had the extra fuel to finish us off.
I hope your right, it would be nice to have total confidence in our board to go out and get the players we desperately need next month to solidify the team. Its painful that we have just played the best football of our season in our last two games and still been beaten and shipping goals aplenty at the same time.
Fair points tash, however its the games we should have won or at least got a point. Losing one or two nil ain't great but you can pick yourself up as its against decent teams But to play so cavalier away twice is daft as that has more of a lasting effect As we now go into the next games soul destroyed with 0 confidence Winning games is based on the ability not to concede and be tight at the back and take your chances How can we build after getting hit for 11, it proves that pardew did not learn nothing from Monday. Finally the scum beat man city last week at home
Each to their own mate, we will be fine. I look forward to some serious egg on faces for those who think relegation is inevitable. Hopefully they'll then learn the art of patience but I somehow doubt it with some of our fans! So nah, just doom merchants. Played well of late, results will come. No comparison at all with Blackburn for me.
I say better to lose like we have in the past few matches than to have tried to defend for 90 minutes and still have probably lost or drawn (which might as well be a loss really, draw matches all season and it's relegation). The football hasn't been bad, the opposition has been strong, goals have still been scored, no reason to panic unless Ba decides to leave. A couple of defenders in January, a few injured players come back and the job's a good un. Things can turn round very quickly in this sport.
Just because I am worried about our woeful defence I am a doom merchant?! I have already stated that I thought we were the better team for the majority of the last two games. Sadly our soft centre has resulted in us taking zip from those games - and thats where the business is done.
Although our defending has been poor all season and littered with individual errors, the mistakes over the last two games (particularly this one) have been down to fatigue in the last 20-30mins. Thin squads which suffer an injury crisis will get that. We shall see come the end of the season but I just can't see relegation as there is plenty of quality and more importantly fight. Blackburn lacked both and we had no fight the last time we went down. I think we'll strengthen too and just need to stick with manager, players and club. I see it as doom and unwarranted pessimism. As I say we shall see because we have two trains of thought at present, and one will end up having a large slice of humble pie
We were right in it until 10 mins from time today, there's been some good stuff come out of the last two games but we're in desperate need of strengthening the defence. Any more penny pinching could cost us dearly. (By the way, you've got a thread dedicated to you on the mackem board )
Suprised at the negativity tbh. We are no longer seeing hoofball from krul and look too be playing it from the back. We've conceded a few but at least we've had a go instead of parking the bus. I'd rather lose 7 - 3 and have a go than 1 - 0 and not show ambition. We're close too turning a corner I'm sure of it
I know. You're all jealous of my fame aren't you? Never had a problem with M'on Effect but shown he himself to be a bit insular. Wants to keep it in the family so to speak. Love that he has the same trigger as Rog, the old reppage being taken away Rog still hasn't worked out that I couldn't give a **** about rep. He has been in the huff for about 8 months since I handed his ass to him for being silly with insults. I should really go easy on him but his implosions are too funny. Says something when their own mods offer to take it down. I asked it remain in place
Haven't been on in a while...I've found an equal amount of positives and negatives in our last few games. We have a huge goal threat and our style of football has increased tenfold. However our captain is yet to have a decent game in the last 5 matches and Santon and Simpson are constantly found wanting defensively of late. A few weeks ago I was all for wanting Pardew out, however as stated he's improved our style of football and that's was what I was asking for. Unfortunately for us we've played some of the best teams in the league recently. I now believe he should be given the whole season. We're in a relegation battle, but it's a battle I think we'll survive given recent performances. He has the the rest of this season for me, but a challenge needs to be mounted for one of the cups. I see us finishing 10th-14th, which will be a poor season. We must attack one of the cups, it will be unacceptable to finish bottom half and not reach at least a semi final with our squad/team. Recruitments are a must in January. We need a CB, Full Back, CM, Wide Midfielder and a Striker. I reckon we'll sign 3 players with Ba leaving.
Nice to have you back. I think Ba will stay and we'll sign two. I'd love three (centre half, full back, wide left) but I can't see it. Due to Obertan's improvement and Santon looking increasingly uncomfortable and being targeted, I'm hoping for a centre back and left back. Both need to be purples or at least a very dark shade of blue
Purple? At this rate we will have to sign a bruise to make any headway. Wait, bruise, tough centreback, bruising centreback..I see the pattern.
Cheers mate... Obertan has two assists in two games, the lad is on fire If I'm honest i'd settle for only a CB in the window, as long as he was a dominant, no nonsense 15m pound CB...we need an organiser at the back because Colo simply isn't that. It's difficult to keep faith of late, however I've always said style of football is just as important as results for me, and with our current style of football I fully anticipate that results will pick up after the new year...I bloody hope so anyway.
You're gonna be disappointed Seriously we never spend that kind of money and no 15m pound centre back would come. There are some good ones out there and 5m will be enough to get one. I like Simon Kjaer who might be available with Wolfsburg struggling a little. I could see him and Colo complementing each other. I'm sure we'll get some obscure one we've never heard of though. Like you I'd be happy if one centre back was all we got. Santon's marking of runners off the ball is a major concern though.
Yeah to be fair the price of any new CB is irrelevant, the new CB just needs to be a commanding figure who intimidates the opposition and isn't afraid to ball at his team mates when they're not doing their job. For me Krul, Colo, Simpson and Santon are all suffering a dip in form. It's not a nice thing to be saying given we're halfway through the season, but our season starts on New Years Day. No more excuses, no more banging on about injuries etc, we need to register a point against Everton and build from there. A nice dour 0-0 will do me.
Nah just been a busy time of year, and not for the good reasons mate. Should have dropped in to let you know I'd be absent for a while...apologies!
