Ta for the highlights Bath. Looks like Sociedad created an awful lot of openings - looked very sharp. I suppose it is RealSociedadTV highlights though.
Good summary DH I thought it was a mirror image of Friday's Braga match, where we often looked imperious in the first half - indeed, last night, we looked the more likely team to be participating in the champions League first half - but then in the second they either stepped up several gears, or we got sloppy and lax in possession, making them look streets better than us. Whittaker made some great runs later in the game and delivered 3 or 4 superb crosses and Olsson and Redmond were a delight to watch while they occupied the left hand touchline together. Martin was as reliable as ever (Captain Rusty?) but Turner looked unsure and cagey, although he's way behind the others in terms of match fitness. Fer looks potentially awesome, he gives us a real midfield presence, but having said that, I was quite disappointed with both Howson and Wes when he came on late on. I's still feel much happier if this Toivonen thing came off (or someone really top of the range to play behind the striker and link play quicker and more accurately) a stern test, and probably a fair result. So on to Saturday and Panathanaikos, should CH persevere with Fer for that match, or use the eleven who look likely to start against Everton, for which Fer is banned? I guess for the benefit of the long season ahead, play him, but I'm not sure. Johnson and Tettey (if CH plans to start with them v the toffee-chewers) could both do with another 90 minutes together, imo?
Really strange about the Fer suspension. I swear I can't remember suspensions being carried over to a different league before - maybe I just haven't noticed.
I love the one when McLaren talks about the forthcoming game in the "how you shay, Championsh League". No Steve, it's not how we say it, it's how YOU say it you twerp!
Absolutely genuine Supers, Alan Green on 5Live alomost pissed himself and couldn't believe what a dick McLaren was. - Unbelievable!! They played it a couple of times on the Breakfast Show too, you couldn't make it up.
Red card and fa imposed bans are. Remember Barton last season? But I am not sure of Fers position and why he is banned. I'm sure City are looking into it.
As genuine as it gets, and this was during his first spell at Twente, the second was even worse. At VI they even made a decorative tile compilation. They made special tiles you can hang on the wall, starts at 1:10 [video=youtube;FRtdCFio5b4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRtdCFio5b4[/video]
i didn't realise fer was suspended - that's a shame. there is a right to appeal against suspensions picked up in other countries so maybe the club will look at that route.
Or go the Russian way: Giorgi Chanturia was loaned out last year to Alania, picked up a red card and an 8 match ban. He comes back to Vitesse and guess what, he plays. The Russian FA neglected to inform the UEFA about the ban so he's not allowed to play for 7 matches in Russia, but anywhere else in the world he's good to go The owner of the club, Merab Jordania made some 'calls' to Russia according to Chanturia. And all was good.
Oh really? I didn't realise Barton's was carried over to Ligue 1... but I guess it makes sense, otherwise he wouldn't be playing yet this season!
most of barton's ban was served in france. i think he was still allowed to play in europe though if i remember correctly
this is what it says Leroy Fer 1 match suspension transferred from Dutch FA First Team 06.08.2013 17.08.2013 1 Everton (17/08/2013)
Pilks' promising career is in serious danger of doing a Dyer at the moment. Interesting that the latest article by Gary Gowers on My Football Writer suggests that Fer was noticeably more comfortable in a more defensive position rather than as an AM - was that the experience of those that went? Someone made the interesting comment that Fer only seemed to be AM because of Bunn's penchant for booting the ball forward, apologies that I can't remember who, but sounds like there is another reason not to long ball it.
We'll have to see what happens on Saturday but reading DH's and Cromers reviews have further highlighted the main issue with the team, I hope we strengthen this area as it was blatantly obvious this was one of our main faults last season. Thanks for realistic and constructive views, as last night some people were making out we were brilliant, would rather see our fans tell it like it is.
Fully agree with that. Fer looked good on the ball, strong in the tackle and has decent feet, but it was when he dropped deeper that he looked more effective. Hoolahan can move the ball about whatever direction he's facing, whilst Fer (I felt) only started hitting decent, probing passes when he dropped deeper and was facing in the right direction. I really hope someone like Toivonen does come in, because otherwise I fear Hughton is going to play Fer and Howson out of position just to get a decent long ball option. That or we actually learn to move the ball out of defence, but that seems less likely.
i hope people aren't expecting the finished article when we kick off against everton! we may still be awaiting a couple more signings in key areas too. lots of new players have already been brought in but the systems and style won't be dramatically changed over the course of one summer - it'll be tweaked over time. any dramatic shift would leave us high and dry. i haven't seen us play yet this summer but there's little doubt in my mind that fer is going to be our most important player and getting the best out of him will be key. i always thought he was a box to box player who sits deep, wins the ball back and then drives his team forward with pace and power. i can't see the logic in using him in a role he is going to be unfamiliar with. one thing i do think will stand us in good stead has been the standard of the opposition we have played this summer. quite a brave decision. almost every game selected for the first team has been difficult and will have been a terrific test. never seen the point in playing weak opponents and sticking eight plus past them - what's to learn from that?
My worry is that we still seem no closer to addressing the problem we had for most of last season, which is the supply line. I'd back RvW to finish more chances than Holt did, but we had games last season where we had zero shots, RvW can't do anything in that position! I understand that value in the transfer market is still absolutely crucial to us, but I think we're leaving it a bit late to sign the CAM I'm convinced we need. The only names we seem to still be interested in are Quagliarella and Toivonen, and I don't think Quagliarella (based on the very little I know of him) is the right type of player to address this issue, and the Toivonen saga is seemingly no closer to a resolution. Agree about the quality of opposition, Sociedad were very good last night, their RB was particularly impressive I felt.
i really don't know how you can say that things aren't being addressed at this stage. there's still a month of the window to go! as i said, we probably won't have our ideal squad when the season kicks off and might not for the whole season if deals can't be done. are we not still trying to bring someone in that role and have we not been searching all summer? if the right player can't be brought in then we have no choice but to go with what we have - why bring in someone inferior? have we even played a really strong line up yet in any match? he's still experimenting. has he tried hoolahan behind rvw? even last night we had no ruddy who its fair to say has a very big effect on things. he's still giving game time to people to boost fitness levels. until we are a month into the season and the window has closed will we truly know if we still have those issues?
