I would put McCormack up front and hopefully another LB (Lichaj pretty please) will come in before then, but apart from that I'd be very happy with that line-up. Having Kissa in the back 4 makes a world of difference on it's own and the only real weakness I can see is Ben Parker, but hopefully that will be adressed. Prediction 2-0 Leeds, I think we'll just have a bit too much quality and the occasion will get to them like it did us last season .
If we sign a centre back this week (which it looks like we will) then I can't see us losing the game, so will go for a 1-1 draw.
And yet you're not doing the same? Our home record under Adkins is SUPERB! Yes, most of those games were against L1 teams, but very few of them even came here and got a point. Also, how much have you actually seen of our forward players if you honestly think we wont score a goal (O'Brien, Kisnorbo, Brown - we've seen all these guys. And you've admitted yourself that you have a weakness at LB). It's a nailed on draw for me. Probably 1-1 like Harry says.
Guys and gals have put a sticky on this twice........Have no idea why it is being removed......Cannot get hold of Kingsland to ask him if it is him although I cannot see why it should be. Will get to the bottom of this if I can.
I'm not, I think we're favourites but it could go either way. Saying you can't see us winning is ridiculous, you might aswell give yourselves the league if you think that. Those forward players have proved themselves at L1, but Paddy and AOB are a step up from that level and Brown is the DM we lacked when we conceded so many goals. Our defence is 10x tighter than it was last season, and you can't score if you don't have the ball . I can tell you there is no way I see us scoring less than 2, we very rarely did last season, it was always a case of how many we conceded.
For us it will be how well the team have gelled in pre-season. If they have, then it'll be tight but I'd go for a draw. If they haven't, then its going to be watched through fingers from behind something. Depends on which Leeds team turns up. Might depend on how settled the Gradel situation is and whether Paynter has got some confidence.
I think you're over-hyping Brown ever so much. Also how do you know you defence is 10x tighter? You've only seen them in pre season which isn't a great indicator. I anticipate a high-scoring game on Saturday, 4-2 to Saints.
Lallana proved he was good enough for the Championship when we were last here - and he's even better now than he was then. Chamberlain, I'm 100% certain will take the Championship like a duck to water - but I will obviously concede here that he is an injury doubt, and him not playing would severely hamper our chances. Connolly has been there and done it in the Championship before, both with Sunderland and West Ham. De Ridder, well we no nothing about him at all. So yes he is unproven. But being player of the season last year for his club in the Dutch top division is impressive. Lambert and Guly, yes who knows exactly how they'll cope. If there is to be a winner, it will be you guys. You're better than us, but not by much. If this game was at your place, I'd probably agree with your 2-0 prediction. Maybe 2-1 to you. But it's our place, so it'll be a draw. (PS. Brown isn't as good as you appear to think).
Why have they been merged anyway? We did our own thread on the Saints page for the whole of last season which was fine, why the change?
I can't see us losing the game because we have become very good at home under Adkins - The team has great momentum from last year and the spirit in the camp is sky high. Plus we have added 2 quality additions over the summer and lost no one. Obviously there's every possibility we could lose the match, but I have a good feeling we won't.
I quite like getting the opposition fans involved - so long as they don't turn out to be a bunch of WUMs and ruin the thread (and so far, the Leeds fans who have posted all seem fine).
Very few of them even came here and scored a goal! We only conceded 13 in 23 matches at home, although I don't think as many championship sides will 'park the bus' so to speak, but our home record is not to be sniffed at!
And some of those goals came before Adkins. Off the top of my head, Plymouth scored 1 here, Orient 1, Rochdale 2 - all before Adkins.
you lot underestimate us, cocky and arrogant fans as far as im concerend - alot of the champ. fans are
I really cannot see there being more than one goal in it either way. Too close to call, should be a great match!
I don't think I am over-hyping Brown, he's nothing special, but the one player we lacked last season was a tenacious midfielder who would put a tackle in and generally make a nuicance of himself whenever the opposiosion had the ball, and that's exactly what Brown has done so far. Our defence is tighter because of key changes down the spine of the team; Schmeichel has been replaced with Lonergan, Kisnorbo is back (MASSIVE boost) and Brown has come in, all these add not just more quality, but communication and leadership at the back which is something we really lacked last season.
