Scoring goals cost us out premiership position last time. We sold Les Ferdinland a 20 goal a season striker, never replaced him, and got relegated. If Hughes thought Zamora, Johnson and Cisse was the answer he was sadly wrong. Two sicknotes and a lazy player. Should have kept Helguson as well. The difference is last time we got relegated we were a selling club hence are demise. This time we have spent a real fortune and players have failed to live up to the hype. Other teams would be comfortable in mid league with these players but not our club. I still hold out hope but we need six points from the next two and that's for sure.
Cisse out Remy in has hardly improved things. Harold had a full window plus preparation time to strengthen our attack. Can't blame Hughes for everything.
True enough sb. BUT having failed to get Crouch or Odemwingie - why did 'Arry let DJ go off on loan? He probably wouldn't be the answer to our prayers... but he's left himself with very few options up front
Not writing him off Matt, I think he is a very good player. But we have no depth or choice in attack. But it doesn't really matter because we have no support to whoever is playing up front anyway. Would Bosingwa, Traore or Onuoha have taken a shot from where Rafael was when he scored yesterday? No because they would have been 20 yards further back. And they would have controlled it and passed sideways rather than shoot even if they were in the right place. Fabio might have, because he plays with a lot more freedom and self confidence. Or less discipline, from another angle. Come to think of it, Luke Young might have too - wtf happened to him, injured still (and I know he's not in the 25)? Looking forward to the games coming up which Harold says we need 20 points from. It means he has to set us up, both formation and attitude, to score goals, home and away.
I think we can say that Redknapp's window didn't go as he or us would have wanted. Forwards would be everyone's biggest regret I think. I think it's fair to say that barring Fabio we don't have the attacking quality in FB positions. Good ones are like gold dust though and comparisons to Brazilians will never end favourably. You're right about the need to attack better (if not more) and the main challenge for Harry is a shift in mindset and the belief the players need to do this.
You can't compare the two IMO and I don't agree the 95/96 team had the foundation of a long establish squad who finished 5th 9th and 8th the seasons before! after 13 brilliant years. The football under Wilkins this season was the worse I remember and a perfect example of how when confidence drains a team can just die. I have seen today's team play better a lot better than some of those games back in 95 i knew we were down before Xmas that year. We still have a lot to go for this year and the tools to do it ... I have to believe Harold will tune us to perform and I say again today's squad is far far stronger. Don't get me wrong there will no excuses come the end of the season for Harold from me he has the players to do this now .. he must sort out those Saints they work hard for sure (watching them now) but class is already showing from a set of French Lads who have only just become a team. Yes it needs applying for us but we are better one bloody win that is all we need to fire this lot up and it's coming
The main reason to compare the two teams is their position in the league, not that the are possibly similar in other ways.
I'm watching Saints too - some comedy defending - so probably chances to score; but good going forwards - they've scored 38 this season, compared to rangers' 19.
This says it all:- "If Bradford win today, they will have beaten double the amount of Premier league sides as QPR have this season."
'Harold' doesn't have the players to do this now, they're the same bunch of shysters that have won sod-all this season plus the window signings who will not make enough difference. Look at all our rivals at the bottom, they all have goals in them and all play collectively better as a team. We have no attacking pattern of play that remotely worries the opposition, all they have to do is double-up on Adel and we have no threat. I'm getting seriously pissed-off with you constantly saying we have our best-ever team because what I see week-in, week-out with my eyes is NOT a team, but a collection of mis-matched individuals who are producing some of the worst 'football' imaginable with the absolute minimum of effort. I'd rather go back to the way it was ten years ago when we were in the third tier but at least every player gave 100% despite their limitations...
