Hi guys, I've stayed off the last couple of days to let the influx of threads pass, I like a bit of reflection time. Not checked the threads yet but I expect it to be split in views on Saturday result. The Positives. Style of football: I was really impressed with our new brand of football. We dominated from start to finish and kept the ball beautifully for the majority of the game. This is without doubt the best brand of football I've seen us play in all my time as a supporter. I love that we now play from the back. Roberge: As we were so dominating it's hard to pass an opinion on the mans defending, however, his style of play is fantastic, loves the ball to his feet and like to play the ball on the deck. He's the best passer I've seen at centre back for us. Colback: The lads been working on getting forward and looked the part. Another excellent display form Jack. He needs to learn to enjoy playing there as if he's to maintain regular games at this level, you have to think it's at leftback instead cm. Even Paolo seems happy with him there as a LB is no longer his top priority. I'd still like a LB though. The new signings: They all look like they can do the Bizniz. They need to gel but it could have been a LOT worse. One thing is for certain, you can all see the quality they've been brought in for. The Atmosphere: Electric from where me and my lady were sitting. I think we did our part, well the majority. The Negatives. Some supporters: Will I ever be able to buy a ticket for the match and not have a dickhead sat behind me? As soon as Fulham scored he piped up. A new outspoken voice which never made itself heard until the goal went in. Then i was hearing words like 'relegation fodder' and 'What a load of ****e'. There's no way that team is going down bar a massive injury crisis. Please can I have a peaceful match without doom mongers behind me? Someone on the posts: I know Paolo is still a young learning manager. I hope he's learnt from this as I want to see a man on each post defending conners every game from now on. There's no excuse for this and it gifted them their goal. If Celustka is to act as an extra center back whilst defending corners then we need to replace him on the post. Adam Johnson: For some reason he saw fit to completely ignore Celustka's overlaps all game long and give the ball away far too many times cutting in and trying to run through defenders. There's no i in team Adam, you missed so many opportunities to let Celustka hit the byline. JoS's ball work: Still prone to hoofing it and lost the ball countless times playing long balls at really tall centre backs who can deal with those types of balls all day long. Watching Jozy's body language to these deliveries tells me he wants the ball to his feet and not his head. You can be as strong as you like, when you're opponents have half a foot in height on you, you're not going to win balls in the air from that angle. Seb: His lack of forward passing made it impossible to really break that final third. No dig at Seb, just another player being played out of position. A cm if not two should be our priority for the rest of the window in my opinion. Ji's sitter: No doubt has his critics after that miss. Hope he doesn't get too much grief as he like all the other forwards needs that first goal. They should all receive utmost support while they seek to open their account this season as support will only speed up the process whilst fan pressure will only hinder their and our own club's progression. In summary. All lot better than I was expecting to be honest. The new signings seem to be settling well. They need more gelling time which is to be expected. The team just needs to get used to each player's movements and work on resolving the above negatives and it should come together nicely, we dominated from start to finish and I'm proud to say that we can play possession football. Just need that midfielder with a good forward pass and a few more faces. But result aside I'm happy
Not all of O'Shea's punts were aimless. Obviously I wasn't there so I didn't see it but saw a few times on highlights where he gave a ball to Altidore's chest which he was able to control
Altidore has some awful balls but he dealt with them superbly, he will be a major asset for us this season. He was the biggest positive for me along with the new style, only worry is the supply line to Jozy, needs to step up big time.
I agree about some of our stupid supporters. theres a complete an utter twat sits next to me and he started screaming his head off when the goal went in. he was the same last season and got i sick of telling him to shut up. i actually offered to buy his season ticket off him so i wouldnt have to listen to him.
Hi all, I've long been a fan of Johnson and whilst he didn't really link his play to the new lad - surely to be fair that is because it's a new relationship. Our key winger/fullback pairings were Reither/Dejagah and (less so) Riise/Duff. But injuries, age, forced new team shape and competition for places has scuppered those. We hope to see the first one back in action in the next couple of weeks. I bet AJ and Celustka work each others needs out - but it will take a few weeks. Same on the other side, Giaccherini and Collback seemed to have some understanding already, but that will get better with game time together. Good luck, guys
You mentioned Colback, I thought when he got sent off recently he would be banned for this game. He does a good job at left back and should get better.
Get a playmaker and a left back in and im confidant we'll stay clear of relegation. Colback and Larson stifled us against Fulham. Sessegnon, Johnson need to step up. Very impressed with Jozy.
While he was relatively sound defensively he was way too negative going forward. Did you not notice every time Giacherini got the ball in the last third he had two players on him? If he'd got forward and over lapped Giacherini would have been able to be more effective.
i thinkl jack did well defensivly but doesnt offer us mutch going forward. we need a specialist left back who can overlap when our winger cuts inside
Defo mate. it's as far forward as I've seen him getting but he'd only go as far as Giacc. He needs to have faith in his new found fitness levels. He has a good enough engine to get up and down the full length of the touch line all game. Was very impressed with Jozy. All signings in fact. Time is going to give us a cracking team.
Bri whilst I AGREE with most of what you say I disagree on Johnson, thought as the game went on he was our best chance of creating or scoring a goal and he got stronger as the game went on, this never happened last season. He did cut n a lot but this must be his remit and he'll have to get used to a winger over lapping as it never happened last season lol!
Very true mate but I was sat in the perfect position in the first half and he saw Celustka as an option on three occasions, he looked at him, three occasions that would have resulted in a cross from the byline (jozy will love that ****) but he decided to run into a crowd of opposition and lost the ball three times. Like I said, I'm happy. But we know Paolo will iron out these things, like getting o'shea to make the simple side pass to someone more capable to playing the ball out. It's all nitpicking negatives, but Paolo will be on them mark my words. Happy days.
Yes I did notice Giacherini having two men on him but I did notice colback making a couple of over laps but didn't get pass to & he put in a class ball into the box in the first half but nobody was there. giving time colback will get better at going forward & the mean thing is he is already good defensively. I would say players like Sess, Johnson & Larsson stifled us on Saturday like.
