The win for us was massive but more importantly we have had two good performances with loads of possession and shots on goal. If we play like that every game we will be fine and we may upset a bigger club or two once we wise up a bit at the back or get reinforcements (as has been said on here many a time!)
West Ham v Bournemouth is going to be interesting. The Cherries have had two potentially winnable games in their three openers. I think they need something from this.
West Ham are strong (Leicester on fire aside) - surely they can't be hoping for much more than a point from this? I wouldn't have marked down West Ham away as one of the ones we should win
Agree it doesn't take too long to lose a lot of confidence. The 3rd game of the season is never a must win, they do have a fairly kind start to the season like us but that's a double edged sword. If you start slowly your burning through games you can get points in and go into a tougher period with little confidence.
No, it's not a must win but I think that a long run of defeats erodes confidence. They may play for a draw and be very happy if they get one.
It was convincing. But I think as annoying as it was the pundits after the match were right to focus on Sunderland's failings more than our strong performance because that really does seem to be the measure. This weekend, watching Sunderland v Swansea and us v Stoke, which are very similar matches in terms of relegation candidate v mid-tabler, will give us a much better measure of ourselves.
Pundits looking at our opposition's failings is just the norm isn't it Rob? I remember when they used to show the top of the table and talk it through, you know Chelsea won today and remain top, win for Man City who stay second and that late equaliser means that Tottenham slip back but stay in third. if we were fourth that would not be mentioned until such time that we lose and then Norwich's bubble has burst as they slip back to ............ (I'm getting angry just typing this because I can hear them saying it!)
Absolutely! It is very annoying. I'm just saying I think this time it was probably fair enough given how bad Sunderland were and I am excited about Stoke because if we play like we did against Sunderland (and actually Palace aside from falling asleep for their first and second goal) I think we will win and then there's no denying that we're strong enough to stay in this league all being well.
Stoke have had a slow start to the season as well, though they did well with their late rally to get a draw against Spurs. Palace's excellent performance against Arsenal gives another dimension to our performance in the first game, where we should have had at least a draw. 62% possession in that and 56% against Sunderland does suggest just how well our players are playing so far. Reasons for optimism!
I know I tend to be in the ' half empty ' camp but the more I look at the quality being bought by others the more I think ' they won't be relegated ' and the more I come round to thinking that Bournemouth, Watford, Sunderland and ourselves are the most obvious candidates for the drop and we all know the recent history of Sunderland.
West Brom and Villa will be in the mix, we can finish above both of those clubs, particularly if the Baggies sell Berahino as they will then be dependent on Lambert shaking off the cobwebs of a season on the bench and regaining his form again at the age of 34 and their new Venezuelan Rondon hitting the ground running, and as quality as he is it might take him some time getting used to the PL. Losing Mulumbu will hurt them as well, I honestly think this season could be the one where Pulis loses that tag of "never having been relegated". Hope so anyway!!
I hear what you say Tony but I think if we had signed Gnaby, Rondon, Lambert and Fazio there would have been a lot of joy on here.
Clearly we won't sign those specific players, but there's still more than a week to go for us to bring some in to add to what we have signed - and to be honest of those four players Rondon would have been the only one I'd have creamed myself over, and even he does come with a huge element of risk.
Gnaby would have raised a small erection - all I have nowadays - if we needed a player in that position. Time will tell my friend - lets just hope that you are right.
