It'll get worse before it gets better...

Was at the game yesterday and it was poor. Even before the sending off we just stood off and sat deep, didn't press the ball once, I'd say the main reason for this is Cisse, he's not mobile enough to defend from the front.

I will say this though, at 1-0 and after the sending off Ayew committed a cynical foul on Haidara just before half time and didn't even get booked. Five minutes in to the second half he then did get booked for again fouling Haidara, it should've have been his second yellow and then it's a different game.

In terms of our style, as poor as we were it was pleasing to see us playing out from the back. Our biggest problem was that the tempo was too slow. I like Anita and Colback but there is only room for one of them, they're both neat and tidy and both keep us ticking over in possession. However they don't create much and can't carry the ball, the sooner Gini is pushed deeper the better.

Mitrovic needs to start on Saturdy, we need an outlet up top. I'd say our strongest team for the weekend is:

Krul

Anita, Mbemba, Colo, Dummett (if fit)

Gini, Colback

Moussa, Perez, Aarons

Mitrovic

For me I'd start Anita at full back because we need Colo and Mbemba to get some consistency and develop an understanding.

Given our upcoming fixtures it wouldn't surprise me to see us bottom after 4/5 games. However, our first eleven isn't bad, McClaren just needs time to realise what certain players are or aren't capable of (Cisse not capable of playing as a lone striker etc).

No need to panic for me, there's a clear change in approach which will take time and as **** as we were yesterday it was just nice to not have to watch us play hoofball all game to a lone striker under 6ft.

 

With you all the way.
Not going to do a Cossack folk dance just yet.

 

We will lose heavily and it wont get any better than last season with what we have

 

We lost away to a very good premier league side, it happens. People are too quick the rage.

 

To be fair I don't think many expected anything out of this game. Swansea are a very good side, well managed and well drilled. They have added good quality and they have what we haven't got, a good defence who are well organised. We actually did better than I thought goals conceded wise, although Swansea were just in cruise control. I knew we'd have a difficult day with our defence trying to deal with Gomis, Ayew and Montero. That's like kryptonite to us at present.

I think the disappointment was that after a pre season (disjointed or otherwise), we did not seem to have any sort of gameplan. We definitely have better players than last year which is getting us back to moving the ball (like when we had Cabaye). My worry is that if we continue playing in the manner we did on Saturday, we will lose a lot of games. There just wasn't enough desire and more than anything, we didn't seem to be particularly well prepared which is worrying at this stage of the season. Lets be straight about it, there no sugar coating it, it was every bit as bad as the run under Pardew at times and Carver. Clueless and only one team in it. If not for Swansea showing us some mercy, we'd have taken a right tanking.

We have seen this before under previous incumbents. The confidence drains with each defeat and players stop wanting the ball, it starts to go long etc etc. We need a result or 2 from somewhere just to keep this in check. At least now we have young Mbemba instead of Willo. I think he will only know one way to play, and that's passing football.

As always the manager can only do so much. Yes its disappointing that we looked so clueless, but we need to give McClaren the players. We need to give him some defenders capable at this level to work with. Otherwise he is polishing turds just like others were before him. We have got to learn. We 14 days to get two defenders in. It would be a massive boost to the manager and coaches if we got the necessary done.

I think we have to give it time, its early days and we have to provide the tools. I said early on after his appointment, if we don't get 3 defenders in, then you are screwing him over. We have one and I think he will be a terrific signing, just go get the other two and let the new regime commence properly.

 

If we are going to play one up front then we need to start with Mitrovic. We are trying to play a possession type game which means we need to keep the ball. Cisse is **** at doing just that. Mitrovic is strong and bullies people and is passing is far far better.

 

I'd definitely start Mitrovic and Aarons. I think the latters omission is bewildering and one of McClarens most glaring errors so far. With Cisse, if you are not going to play Perez or SDJ behind him, then I don't like him in the lone role. I still think he is useful as he does score goals. Mitro looks like the ball will stick. Personally I'd love to see young Perez involved in that Beardo role. I think him buzzing around a Mitro or Cisse could work. He is energetic enough to drop deeper as required onto the sitting midfielders. Certainly at home. Aarons is our most talented player, he has to play.

 

The tempo of our game has been a bit slow thus far, this season. I'd have liked Fellaini back for this game but it's not to be, so intricate passing is again, the order of the day.

We could have a field day with you if we get the CM battle won early doors, Wijnaldum is a very good player, I'd have Schneiderlin on his shoulder and Basti pulling the strings, although LVG will probably start Carrick.

I'm happy we are playing you lot now, because you're gonna be a lot better in a few months.

 

I'll give you another black mark for McClaren too mind, he offered the best coach in the PL Carver a chance to remain part of the backroom team Well if you believe Carver anyway...

 

I contemplated a new thread on that little gem from the weekend. Don't work McLaren into that, though - Carver quite clearly stated it was Lee Charnley and he who talked about him staying, with it being John's decision to go. We could be a decent enough club even with Ashley as owner - but by God we've picked up some unfathomably useless sh1t to manage it (Llambias, Kinnear, Charnley).

In terms of GCB's OP, I have felt for a while that we need to change from everyone else's 4-2-3-1 and get our own ideas integrated. I would personally prefer one destroyer, probably Colback gets the nod as Anita's now got to play right back (FFS), then Sissoko/Wijnaldum alongside each other with Mitrovic leading the line alongside Aarons and Perez left and right respectively. With our defence being so bad, we really need to put the opponent on the back foot a little bit and with the busy movement of Perez/Aarons, the aggression of Mitro and the imposing nature of Sissoko/Gini we should be quite well set with this kind of line up. We seem to be crying out for a 4-3-3 but it doesn't happen.

 

The Swansea front three: Ayew (free), Gomis (free), Monterro (undisclosed fee, believed to be quite low). Not bad business, wages probably quite high but they seem to be doing what Ashley is trying to do but much better.

 

I think its simply going to get worse and keep getting worse if I'm being honest.

 

Yeah Swansea are a good side. But given our revenue and fan base we should be looking to normally take points off them not the other way around. We should be at their level at the very least. Really at the very least. This just isn't good enough by a long stretch. Look, I'm not all McClaren out now, and am willing to give him a bedding in spell, but honestly, after the woeful ****e served up by Carver last season (and the players to be fair) my patience is worn paper thin. And this is from someone who's normally quite realistic about where our club can really go (hint: we aren't winning the premier league without a fairy godmother owner).

Basically things need to change and change fast. (LB, CB, RW, and a proven CF at the very least, and if not all possible by the end of this window, then in the Winter window. I will accept this as a rebuilding season).

 

I think we will finish 4th

 

What - they have opened up a store selling cheap sports tat bought from bankrupt sports firms or made with the sweat of child labour in 3rd world countries. They should be ashamed of themselves and I am just glad we didn't buy them.

 

Carver being the self appointed best coach in the PL... I question his mental stability.