Methinks Pickforf is coming home in preparation for the championship. He's gonna give him a chance in January with either Pants or Vito on their way out. I also think that's why young Duncan is getting his chance to earn a new contract.
I don't think we are going down BM but looks like SAMs preparing for all eventualities. My concerns re Pickford. He cannot be bringing him home to sit on the bench as surely he's better off playing to a good standard where he is. This imo means Pants is going. Re; Watmore. Is Sam playing him cos he wants him to sign a contract so we get a fee for him or does he genuinely believe young Watmore can do it in the EPL. There is a long way to go BM but are we likely to attract any quality players in January? I fear not. ES has played a dangerous game keeping us in this league on minimum outlay and this is last chance saloon. If Sam cannot keep us up I fear we could do a Leeds or Portsmouth. Having said that I still have faith we will stay up and quite comfortably.
See I agree in principle. But playing a keeper who looks like he's going to be very good at the top but putting him behind our defence when they're not at full strength would be a mistake IMO. Could destroy his confidence. Fwiw I rate Pantilimon. He's a decent keeper who's out of form.
We keep slagging off the defence but that back two yesterday was same back two that played against Leicester and Norwich. The difference is unrecognisable. Big Sam may not bring us the most exciting football going forward but you get bet your last penny Sam will sure that defence up to become a force. Our defence will be fine for Pickford. I've no doubt what so ever.
I hadn't heard we were bringing Pickford back Gil. I thought he was doing well over there. Him training with us during the week might be down to a few reasons, logistics, wanting to get eyes on him for a few weeks, I've no idea. And there's nowt wrong with planning for all eventualities is there
True. But 12 games in and on 6 points. So an average of 0.5 points per game. 19 points a season form. Things need to improve rapidly.
I think talk of record low points is far fetched imo. You're basically suggesting we're may not pick up 5 points from the 78 still up for grabs. The mind boggles. Probably the most negative I've ever known you fella. Things do need to improve quickly but we aren't near as bad as you suggest imo. We've survived the last few season's off the back of two short runs of form. We've also had repeated slow start. We'll pick points up under Sam. No doubt in my mind. Plenty of draws, nicking some wins and teams nicking wins of us(Like on Saturday). But it won't be pretty, it will be awful in fact, but effective non the less.
The talk of record low points was just a cheap dig at results so far. But facts are we had a pretty good fixture list to start and never took advantage. I have yet to buy into the SA mania.
Nowt to buy into really, we know what we'll get with Sam(I didn't want him). Effective but boring football. Which is about the best we can hope for with this squad.
Pickford should be left where he is to do well for the next six months. Either way he'll do well for us next year given the experience and the confidence gained.
I wish I had your confidence... We're a couple of injuries away from a Coates Brown CB pairing Having said that, Big Sam does seem to be working his magic on Coates, I just hope it's not another purple patch like at the back end of last season.
I'm not saying it's a good defence. I'm saying he'll get the best out of it. It was visible at the weekend the back 2 pairing who leaked 7 in two games at the start of the season were solid as a rock apart from one Coates mistake. Proof's in the pudding mate. Defence is the foundation of attack these days and as organised as Sam will get us, the defence in possession is something Sam can do little about. I don't want Coates anywhere near the pitch personally anybody who thinks kicking long ball to Defoe represents good decision making has no place on the football pitch. But Sam is playing with the cards dealt. We'll concede less which will allow us to compete but I've no faith a balance between defense and attack can be struck with this squad. AM and a couple of Defenders needed in the window or Sam has an uphill task.
