I think this best sums up my feelings towards the season so far. Considering the second half of last season, and our transfer activities (or lack of) throughout the summer, I am absolutely thrilled with the start we have made this season. Just had a quick look at the table after 14 games last season, we were 4th on 25 points, 2 places and 7 points worse off than now. Cardiff and Middlesbrough occupied the top 2 spots, both on 28 points, which is interesting that we have made a better start than the league winners last season. Let's just hope we can keep it up, and go the way of Cardiff rather than 'Boro
I said keeping the squad together was more important then signing new players. Without trying to sound like mystic meg I did say alot of players would be stronger for having another years experience and Nigel was the best man for the job A few people agreed with me and some didnt.
I said keeping the squad together was more important then signing new players. Without trying to sound like mystic meg I did say alot of players would be stronger for having another years experience and Nigel was the best man for the job A few people agreed with me and some didnt.
I think the one problem we've got (or had) is shoring up the defence. The introduction of Wasilewski and shifting Moore out wide has worked wonders. I like De Laet, but maybe he's a better right midfielder? Would like him to start out wide in front of Moore in tough away games for a bit of solidity and counter attacking pace. I've been so, so impressed with Wasyl. Looks like a rock with Morgan next to him, hopefully they stay injury free and Schmeichel picks up his form. I feel Kasper isn't quite the same as last season, still very good, but he's dropped a tad.
Wasilewski still looks like he has abit of rust but looks a solid defender. Watch the highlights of the Watford game and just as the final whistle blows Watford have a shot from the edge of the area but Wasilewski runs 5 yards and put his body on the line and blocks the ball. Apart from Wes none of our defenders was doing this last season Dean Hammond has come in to help us close out tight games and he has done very well so far, very understated in what he does Gary Taylor-Fletcher has also helped close out some games and he was a nuisance on Saturday setting up Dyer's goal and setting up King's chance at the end Them 3 along with Nugent, Morgan and Konchesky have really stepped up this season as the older pros taking pressure off players like Drinkwater, Vardy, Moore, Wood, Knockaert
I really hope Im not tempting fate ....but its starting to smell like a special season, I have to admit I was sceptical that Pearson had enough to take us that extra huge step...but with the extra support behind the scenes ie director of football and the addition of experienced board members,we might have the formula for success.. if it does materialise I will grovel for forgiveness and hold my ass out for a good kicking...it will be deserved...
Another thing is, we questioned squad depth but look. Kasper - Logan Moore - De Laet - SSL Morgan - Wasilewski - Moore - SSL - Miquel Koncheskey - Schlupp - Bakayogo Knockaert - Dyer - De Laet - Schlupp Drinkwater - King - James - Hammond Nugent - Vardy - Wood - Schlupp - Hopper Looking at that, and I might have missed some, we have a pretty sound squad IMO. I do think we need wingers though. Would have loved Albert Adomah in the summer. Michail Antonio, Charalampos Mavrias and Gary Mackay-Steven should all be looked at in Jan.
Gary Taylor-Fletcher aswell In January I would like another winger like Dyer. Someone to come on and take people on with pace If the owners feel promotion is a very real possibility they might say go to hell with FFP and spend a little Also come January as things stand Martyn Waghorn, Neil Danns, Paul Gallagher and Zak Whitbread all return Waggy could still have a future but the rest arent worth bothering with
you have to get the right characters in though, the more bodies available means the more players who will unhappy they are not playing...which makes the managers job harder..
Unless of course you're involved in a lot more games that require squad rotation. That's why I always preferred having a Cup Run, because the fringe players get a real chance at fighting for a first team place. Leicester this Season, as I said to AKCJ back on our board, look the real deal. Obviously, it's still too early to confidently say who's going to achieve what (Burnley FFS, where did they come from?!) but Leicester have kept the sole base from last Season and improved on all areas. Vardy has come good and I can see him getting more than 10 this Season.
Ditto ... but getting there is only half of it (and we are not certain of that yet) ... but there has been a great deal of improvement - the Man City game will be an 'acid test' even if they make considerable changes ...
Unfortunately Candy, I thought this last season! Especially after signing Wood, and his goalscoring rampage in the first few games, we looked the real deal then, and thought we were unbeatable.
Man City wont be the test. We dont need to match Man City standards in anyway to get promoted or to prove we are in with a shout of getting promoted They have World Cup winners and world class players in their ranks. No one in this league are close to their level, we proved in the last week with wins over Fulham and Watford we are more then good enough for automatic promotion. Whether we can keep the consistency needed remains to be seen
disagree ... IMO it will set a bench mark for where we NEED to be, week-in, week-out .. but it's all about opinions.
The happiest thing for me is that our inconsistency has all but gone, it won't dissapear completely, but its not changing week in week out. Nigel Parson has gone from a manager who was a Knockeart goal at forest away from getting sacked imo, to a manager who has had faith in the side and stuck with them to deliver our best start to a season EVER (quote me if im wrong but i think Watford game made it our best start ever.) Credit where its due, the players have done very well after how last year ended and look as if they don't want to do it again by trying to get those auto spots. Im never one to get overly optimistic, so will reign it in a bit by saying that we are only roughly 1/3 of the way through the season, but are defiantly in the right position glad that we are keeping a good cushion between us and 4th place.
I agree with Proud. Man City are an exceptional side. We'll do well to come away with a narrow defeat. No side are like their reserves in this league. I personally think that every side that goes up has to make considerable changes in order to survive. The side we have no won't be the same if we get promoted. We'd have to bring in plenty of higher quality players because the gulf in class is massive now.
It will be a good test about what level the prem is, but until we reach the Prem, we can't judge our team against theres. Cardiffs Championship winning side may not have beat Man City without the crucial signings they made in the summer.
... hence my point of the Man City game being a useful benchmark ... some will step up for it others will retreat into their shells ...
But not every side is like Man City in that league. The Fulham game was a useful benchmark and we passed with flying colours.
