This will be our first decent look at how strong a team we might have this coming season.....on the otherhand it might tell us nothing....because Whittaker and Cooper are still with us and who can be sure where they will be at the close of the transfer window. A few decent loans coming in and only one permanent (another ex-Swansea player ).....I'm not sure if any of this makes us a stronger Championship club than last season.....and the experts are already pencilling us in as a relegation favourite. I feel if Whittaker and Cooper stay we will struggle....if they both go for decent money then we have the chance of bringing in some genuine Championship players to strengthen the whole team. We cannot allow another season like the last one....where Whittaker and Hardie where burnt out by February because we had no depth of goal scorers to allow them less time on the field......signs maybe that two of are loanees might be able to help out....but at the moment we don't have a pool of Championship players to do the job.
Just a local derby.....only 156.9 miles....or a round trip of 313.8 miles. Or as the crow flies....139.1 miles.....or a round flight of 278.2 miles. Will break them in gently before the longer grueling journeys.....done the day before generally.
Starting eleven..... Cooper, Ogbeta, Scarr, Cissoko, Edwards, Whittaker, Bundu, Gyabi, Randell, Galloway, Tijani. Subs. Hazard, Baker (gk), Mumba, Houghton, Hardie, Wright, Gibson. No Forshaw or Issaka ?
1-5 at F/T. Cissoko, Whittaker, Tijani 2, Hardie, Went well... most players had time on the field. Gyabi outstanding in the first half.
Rooney quite happy - satisfied with the attacking performance, less so with some defending. Ogbeta very happy! 700 fans travelled to Cheltenham for a friendly!
Was away yesterday so didn't know what the score from this one was until earlier this evening when I turned my machine on. You would think there would be little to grumble at with the scoreline being what it was. Yet there is still those who doubt and pour cold water on the season to come. I think statements like "we cannot allow another season like the last one" is a bit OTT. We started last season in the Championship and ended the season in the Championship. I would have thought that was the bare minimum on the wish list. I'm going to reserve my dissing the Team and Manager until they deserve it rather than write them off before a season has started. Hopefully my powder will remain dry on that one.
No match video or even a report on GoS for this game......five goals never to be seen again.....pity.
And let's not forget that up to Christmas, we looked pretty safe in mid-table. The slide after that was partly due to Schumacher's departure and of Azaz and Cundle in quick succession. Much this year will depend on the new manager, the incoming players and the continuing support of the fans.
