I get that and that is the whole point of the forum - different opinions. I just am trying to point out that it isn't all doom and gloom and there are many things to be cheerful about. We had a lot of shortcomings on Saturday, but IMO not anything that can't be fixed. I like the embryo of what I saw and can see this becoming an exciting season. Do we want to sit around the camp fire all singing kumbaya after every match or have a discussion? ^^^^ Possibly not as it would be changed to the JWP version and descend into insults on how we sell the Crown Jewels all the time
Completely agree, I'm very aware I can be deemed negative but I just can't ignore the negatives in favour of the positives. I was one of a very small minority who was still negative during RM's 20-odd game unbeaten run because I was adamant it was papering over very large cracks in the performances that would be shown when we play opposition that know how to exploit it, I remember getting destroyed in these forums for suggesting we probably shouldn't go up in 23/24 because we will get battered every game in the PL and could probably do with another year to build some cohesion in the team. Then last year happened and I will not lie the only joy I had last season was the vindication of that feeling. And it was very similar concerns in Saturday's game in that if we played a Coventry, Ipswich or Leicester I think we would have got slammed. However, I can also acknowledge that it was the first game of a season under a new manager with a great win and much needed and will hopefully bring some confidence that we really need at the club right now. I have no issue with people who think it was a great performance.
This. And Leicester were playing a team in complete turmoil, albeit with a pretty big chip on their shoulder.
I just used them as examples as they are also favourites, everyone is a bit of an unknown quantity at this point.
Mmmm, if it looks like 'chobblers' and it sounds like 'chobblers'.......... then it's "cobblers"! For info, also a lowly teams nickname, is it not!!
Thanks, in which case: McCarthy Welington THB Stephens Manning Charles Sesay Fraser Matsuki BBD Stewart
I think the point is that getting all overly concerned after a single game (the first one) of the season, when nobody knows exactly what our squad is going to look like, when people are finding their feet (and fitness) under a completely new set-up, and indeed a game that we showed the heart to go and win, might just be a little bit previous (particularly when nobody has looked all that good, and understandably so, because everyone is in that position).
Coventry who played out a bore draw with expected relegation battlers Hull, Leicester who scraped past 10-man crisis club Sheffield Wednesday in the 87th minute and Ipswich who played badly and got a fortuitous penalty in the dying seconds to avoid an opening day loss to a team that was in L1 last season?
Appreciate Still keeping some continuity, but the squad is so vast that a completely different eleven(starting at least) would not be beyond the pale. Would be interested to see if we continue with a back three again. I don’t have a complete issue with it, but not when combined with two DMs. As someone said on the match thread, we’re not going to be away to PSG this season, chill out Will
Would very much like us to put out a strong team, for me though, the Ipswich game Sunday is the biggie. Would deffo want Charles and Downes for that one. Keen to see Matsuki for this one, exciting prospect.
Sorry, but nope. I'm deaf and going blind so my insight is pretty ropey these days But thanks for the thought