All of this is impressive and intriguing but the best stat for me ... ... is that only the league leaders/winners have lost fewer games.
I honestly was dreading the season starting. After the unbelievable playoffs, then the hype of preseason, the signings, the upgrades to the stadium and around the area. The new kits and all the excitement around merchandise etc. Everything was so upbeat that I was expecting a bit of a letdown when the season really started……but wow. Watching the first game of the season we just looked like we belonged. We really are a very decent premier league team.
My thoughts on the first 10 games? Never in my wildest dreams did I think we'll be sitting this high up in the table. Before the playoff final I said that I wanted to win it but I didn't want to go up because due to previous seasons I watched my team getting humped in each game - that has totally changed in this iteration! The players we've brought in and how they've knitted together as quickly and as well as they have has took everyone by surprise. We've played some great football at times but what's impressed me the most is that we don't look out of place in this league and that we don't give up in games. We've come from behind in more than 1 game this season against seriously decent teams. The only thing that can stop this team is the team itself
I walked out of Wembley thinking 'That was great but this is where all the fun stops' ... ... I doubt I've ever been more wrong.
There's only Sadiki and Reinaldo who are nailed on starters at the minute anyway. I’d hazard a guess the majority of PL clubs are losing a few players. I’m sure we can manage with 3 from Xhaka, Geertruida, ELF and Rigg for a few matches in the midfield
Whatever happens I'm certain the club had plans in place before these players even signed ... ... they haven't just thought 'Oops, we'll only have half a team when this competition is on'. I think this is partly why players like Mundle, Mayenda, Diarra, etc aren't being rushed back or overused.
Aye, it made me laugh when everyone was saying we’re only going to have 6 players come AFCON.. as if the club didn’t know what they were doing and all of these armchair experts had spotted the obvious flaw in our plan
It's all good fun and everyone does it. But it's like how certain players are written off, after a game or two, then suddenly deemed to have 'grown on the supporters'. Traoré is just settling in, gelling with the squad and working things out but some would just sack him off now along with Hume, Adingra, etc. Having said that I really do think people are beginning to trust the club/manager/ coaches.
