Is it the current players don’t get what Duff is trying to do and struggling to change from the way we played last season or is it the players don’t like it and just not buying into his philosophies. Just hope we are ready for the start of the season.
Far too early to judge and maybe a good thing we've had two "setbacks" before the season starts proper. Maybe some unsettled players as well, who were/are hoping to move on?
Need Piroe sorted sooner rather than on deadline day - when he would in all likelihood go on the cheap and we risk failing to replace him (with anyone ‘tidy’).
Is it far too early we kick off the season in 10 days or so and we are nowhere near easy to start the season on the front foot. To be fair to the board for once got a manager early to give him a good pre season, but it just looks stagnant. I really hope I am wrong and if we need players which we clearly do can’t we get the extras in sooner rather than later. Piroe is obviously going and this sounds crazy but not convinced by the Yates signing. Plenty of energy and effort and not sure there is much quality there. So we need another striker
You can't really gauge that much from pre season friendlies with a new manager... he's got a limited number of games to firstly find out what he's got to work with and then mould them in his image. Lots of changes in the games. As you say, we may not be ready but we'll soon find out how good he is when the season gets under way. I'm still optimistic, which is difficult these days!
Surely, Piroe will be sold - with no more than half given to Watson and Duff to re-invest. As for Grimes, if Soton start badly/poorly, I expect that RM will come in strongly for Grimes.
I saw the second half. There was some good play from us. Key and Abdulai were very prominent. There were some good goals from good build up play. Piroe looked sharper today and I agree he will undoubtedly be sold. Yates looked better today and it was good to see Ginnelly get some time on the field. Reading were poor though so not sure what we can take from it.
So if Piroe's going, why is he prominent in the game? Has Duff been told by the club to keep him in the shop window or does Duff think he might actually stay? Surely it's pointless playing someone who won't feature in your plans.
