Because, unless we get 2-3 signings of high quality and 2-3 good squad players, I cant see a huge improvement on the majority of last season! For 80% of last season we were utter pants. The last half dozen games from last season probably only masked the fact that we have problems (which Poyet admitted to)and unfortunately another overhaul is needed! We seem to have a constant need of strengthening our team! This transfer window is no different! I think that there will be at least 3 worse teams on paper! However I believe that we are potentially relegation candidates and, like last season, an uneven fixture list may have increased our chances of being in the bottom 3 at xmas! However, if we can bring in the form from the end of last season to the beginning of this one then I'm sure we'll be fine! It also depends on who we bring in!
Our home record last year was awful though. This is a new season with new players and a far more positive approach. After those last 5 or 6 fixtures, tbh I don't care who we play and when we play them. Just glad when I look at the fixture list this morning I was seeing Man Utd, City, Arsenal, Chelsea and the like and not Leeds, Boro and Birmingham. Can't wait for the derby games as well.
I have to agree with the OP, in that there would appear to be a striking similarity to last season i.e. playing most of the top teams, at home, before Christmas, except for a couple of "easier," ones thrown in. Last season I kept saying to my mates that this would be against us but they wouldn't have it, as they thought that we'd pick up points later in the season. The problem with that theory is that, by the time you're playing the lower half teams, confidence has ebbed away. It then becomes a real struggle to pick up points against anyone. My only hope is that we start off better with our away fixtures, which may well be the case. I suppose it cannot, at all, be as bad as the start under PDC. Having said that, Ellis needs to get the right signings on board - I do hope the Alonso rumour is wrong!
I agree with this! Last seasons fixture list was a contributing factor as to why we nearly got relegated! It wasnt a major cause, because, after all, we were mostly ****, but it certainly didn't help matters one bit! A more even fixture list could have helped us pick up at least 6 more points before our excellent escape in my opinion!
I think we can look for a solid start from that first 10 games, delighted with that actually. Unless we **** it like, which we probably will, but you know...
Thank **** for that. The way some are going on, it's another conspiracy, on the cheating refs level, and we are doomed as even a computer is against us, ffs.
First thoughts are that its not a bad fixture list at all. All the usual comments have been made - "we have to play them all eventually", "I wouldn't want the promoted teams early on", etc. But seriously, there's 6 or 7 points there in the first half dozen games or so (when the transfer window will still be open if any shortcomings are highlighted remember) and we would have snatched that last season. I really don't see us having the disastrous start we had least year. So lets be a bit more positive and stop worrying about having to catch up, ffs - the season hasn't ****ing well started yet! The only fly in the ointment for me is maybe having to beat Chelsea in the last game of the season to guarantee a Champions League place
Looks like a nice opportunity to me. We are capable of winning at WBA for a start, even a draw would be decent, then we have a 'big team', never a concern, then a great run of games. You want a big game early doors to kick start the lads, United home and a massive crowd is ideal.
Has ever a football club had more pessimistic, negative fans? Cheers to Reg, Comm, Smug & Cest for reality. That's a GREAT first 10 games, we have signed 3 players already and are working, we have a ****ing age before the first game. Talk of playing catch up & fearing newly promoted teams, jesus ****ing wept man.
We had a terrible start because we had a terrible (disastrous) manager, a poor team attitude due to the **** atmosphere created by said manager and also a pretty tough opening few games. However, with Far better manager, hopefully a better settled and much more harmonious dressing room, we will have a far better start than 1 point from 9 games. I do also think our recruitment is controlled and measured and directed by Gus, so no problems there IMO either. Can't wait for the new campaign personally, whatever the games.
Haway man Cest, it's a scandal, they've made us play the same teams as every one else, home & away. We've been shat on here like....
So you admit we need 2 - 6 players but you then say we are "potentially relegation candidates" in the next sentence before we've even properly started signing front-line players. We will be relegation candidates in the press before the season starts for one reason only - we've been relegation candidates for the last 4/5 seasons and we've doe nothing to dispel that view. But that won't mean jackshit in reality if GP gets the squad he wants before kick-off. If that happens we should hopefully prove the press wrong early on and the relegation candidates tag will quietly disappear from the red-tops. The freebies we've got so far are not first XI players imo (unless Vito buggers off) and I reckon we'll see another 5-6 potential starting XI signed before the window closes. My glass is staying half-full for quite a while yet.
I'm not sure what some folks are on about kidda? We are, like the 19 others in the EPL, playing other premiership teams home and away over 10 months and yet our fixtures are harder than anyone else's? Go figure that one. Its a scandal.
Yeh but Cest, all these big teams at the top keep winning games innit. Its gotta be a fix innit! I think there's a few on here would have liked to have seen us go down just so we might win a few more games next season! I despair sometimes..
Here man Cest, They've given us a relegation candidate, several winnable games, and a big game as our first home game in the first 10, we are being victimized. I haven't looked but I have an awful feeling we have to play Man City away at some point, it's sooo unfair man.
