Firstly Watford, Mackie was a waste of time and money. Cannot agree with what you have said. He offered nothing other than clapping to the fans when he warms up. Anyone who was being serious would never have had him back. The more i hear stats about Polter the more i fear for us. That header he miss-directed (Reading)? was the worse thing i have seen from a professional footballer. All he is is a BFG with no skill
Yep, I was probably being over optimistic, but the start of every season brings a lack of realism and I start believing Polter may turn into Klinsmann at his best...
Secondly Watford, I think a lot of our fans have short memories. TF said he wanted a manager to challenge, to take us up, not finish in the bottom half. If we don't finish in the play-offs why did they sack Benny? BTW i believe we will not even be top 10. Even Sir Les said we need to be challenging. Last year the division was poor and we underachieved, in fact even mid table teams looked miles ahead of us. When JFH came in, we were told he was the man to take us forward. Posters on here said judge him on this season as the team was not his. Well we can judge him now. TBH i think we will be worse than last year.
Fernandes and Ferdinand can say all they want. There are plenty of bigger clubs with more resources than us now. Tenth place might not please the masses but much above that and we'd be punching above our weight, I'm afraid.
When you look at the wealth of our owners and what we have wasted/spent, it is criminal to see Preston finish higher than us, especially as we had just come down from the Prem? We have slashed our wage bill and sold players. We should be able to replace the team with a bit of quality. I didn't expect to shop in Harrods one week and Lidl the next. Going to Sainsbury's would have softened the blow. I don't know what the money situation is at the club but if Polter is the best they can put upfront then these are worrying times.
I don't doubt the squad looks short on goals and as it stands we're relying on Washington and Polter to get 30 or so between them as it stands. Cousins, Lynch, Bidwell and the Polish bloke strike me as Sainsbury's shopping.
Yes agree maybe i am being harsh re - Cousins, Lynch, Bidwell and the Polish bloke strike. Although Polter is Lidl or maybe Aldi, but i can't blame JFH for him.
I have the impression that we are playing Luongo out of position. When he first arrived, I thought his preferred position was a no.10. However, that position was held by Fer and currently Chery, and as a result we are playing him as a defensive midfielder. I think that this may explain the differences in his performance and goals scored when in a QPR and Aussie shirt.
Oslo - I rather agree with you but I really hope that you (we) are wrong. As regards Ned, I feel that we are in a trap by appointing him Captain, as of course we should play our Captain, but where? He is definitely not a right back (and I remember Perch's poor performances before he got transferred to left back). But is Ned really part of our best current centre back pairing? This is the Catch 22.
Unlike many on here, I have always thought Ned was less of a liability at RB than CB where his concentration lapses are more dangerous. As successive Managers keep playing him at RB it seems they agree. But If Perch is playing now as he did end of last season rather than the beginning, I expect him to be RB with Ned on the Bench, and a new Captain on the pitch needs to show himself quickly -Bidwell maybe, though difficult for a new player.
Oslo - I always respect your technical and astute comments. As a result, I am very pleased to read your positive comments on Ned as right back. I do not get to see enough live games (at LR or TV) and admit that my personal opinions may be biased based upon various reports and comments on message boards. It will certainly be very interesting to see what team JFH plays in these early matches, plus how the team will develop as the season progresses. Let's hope that it will be fun!
The pre-season and friendlies are over and the next match on Sunday is opening match of the season. Although we should get some new players in, I doubt that any will make the first team even if a deal is completed before Friday. The open issues for me are: - What is the role for Ned? I expect to see him as right back on Sunday. - What is our best centre back paring? I would like to see Hall and Lynch, but expect to see Caulker and Hall. - Who partners Chery in offensive midfield? I would like to see Shopido and El Khayati, suspect we will see Gladwin and Shopido. Thus my revised proposal for the starting eleven for Leeds match on Sunday is: ----------------------- Smithies-------------------- --Onuoha -----Lynch-----Hall-----Bidwell--- ------------------Luongo -----Cousins---------- -----Shopido---------Chery-----El Khayati-- -------------------------Polter-------------------- COYR's!!!!!
I think the team will look like this ----------------------- Smithies-------------------- --Onuoha -----Caulker-----Hall-----Bidwell--- ------------------Luongo -----Cousins---------- -----Gladwin/Henry---------Chery-----Shodipo -------------------------Polter-------------------- It will be planned that (all things being equal) that Conor and El-K will always come on around the 60-65 min mark, replacing BFG and Shodipo I expect Henry to play away matches more regularly than home...but always be on the bench to "close a match off" When Ariel is fit ..he will replace Cousins and Cousins will start ahead of Gladwin at right midfield. I still think we get a bona fide RB...but Ned being captain makes it difficult. I like the way the team is being put together....fingers crossed for a goodish season
Beth, I think we are on the same wavelength. It will be interesting to see if JFH will surprise us - I just hope that he will not be too defensive minded. I also have a good feeling about how the team is being put together. I hope that you enjoy the match!
I really enjoyed the match (and the leg room),. I haven't enjoyed a match for about 3 seasons (I realise it didn't matter...but still) I would love to go to a few matches expecting to win....and just do it, without fuss and bother and trauma and last minute disappointment...that would be a good season
It would be great to start the season well. I am quietly hoping for a win in the league (against Leeds) swiftly followed by a cup win (against Swindon). As to the rest of the season - let's wait and see, but I hope that it will be an "enjoyable" one!
Agree with this although our managers always seem to leave substitutions too late. Think JFH has messed up making Ned Captain, I've a lot of time for Ned but in no way is he a RB and I'm not sure he'd get in at CB now.
I am very unsure about how the team should line up. I would say that Smithies, Hall, Bidwell, Cousins, Chery, Shopipo and BFG are seven definates; thereafter, it could be any four from the rest.
Regardless of who we go with, Smithies is one of the top GK's at this level, with Ingram a very capable replacement. Caulker, Hall and Lynch are all good options to have at CB Bidwell and Robinson are solid Left Back's Luongo and Cousins have the athleticism we've desperately needed in CM for quite some time. Promising youngster in Shodipo (Hallelujah) Tjarron Chery is a class player in this league Conor Washington will come good, Polter is a handful, we just need 1 more CF to compliment them (JET seems to be banging them in for fun this pre season!)
