It was an awful team performance, and the score could easily have been much worse. If that had happened at the Valley they'd have been booed off the pitch, not that I'm agreeing with it, but the fans went above and beyond the call of duty, probably because of the effort the players put in second half. Watching the U-18's this afternoon, they way they kept supporting each other and giving options to the man on the ball, really made me wonder about the coaching and instructions given to the first team.
I agree that our first half performance was indeed poor. We were too slow out, and we got punished for sloppiness. In the second half, all I can say is they did try, but were unlucky not to score. We were a victim of a thin squad. Unlike Fulham, we have a very very thin squad. No Vetekole, no Buyens, no Wiggins, no Gudmundsson (from the beginning). Our problem is, we have no game changes and lack quality on the bench. On the upside, Karlan Ahearne-Grant looks pretty decent player. We need to get some players in come January.
1) We don't have a manager. We got rid of our manager last spring. Not just quibbling over words. Peeters is not in control of things like a "real" manager should be. That is why Powell left and maybe Riga too. 2) Both RD and Bob have recently said in different forums that there will only be investment in players if we are still in with a reasonable chance of promotion come January. With our present thin squad there is not a chance in Hell of that being the case. By January we will be not far above the relegation struggle (though our points already gained should keep us out of it). Although no-one normally agrees with anyone else on this or any other forum, it is remarkable how we do all agree on what out urgent needs are: 1) A striker 2) A midfielder 3) Another striker if funds allow A couple of half-decent loans would have patched up the team to keep us in the play-off hunt. I think Peeters has done very well with limted means. Same as Powell did. I think Powell got a raw deal but I don't feel sorry for Peeters because he knew when he joined that he was coming to be a rich guy's yes-man.
The first half was unforgivable. For all the talk before the game of it being a proper derby, we sure didn't look like we knew it. We were trying to count us making5 passes in a row. It didn't happen. On top of vetokele returning we desperately need another striker. And JJ can no longer be promised a starting position.
Sure we need another striker, but who will our scouting network come up with I wonder? Another Igor or another George? The trouble with scouting from computer clips is that you may see a fantastic goal like the one Tucudean scored on tuesday and be tempted, but it won't show you the next 3 or 4 games where his contribution is negligable. The same with Bulot, every game he'll produce several nice little touches, but they are usually followed by him stopping and passing the ball back to a defender. I wonder how these computer scouts know what a player does off the ball? Will Roland pay the sort of money needed to buy a proven Championship striker? I doubt it. I also wonder what Phil Chapple's role is now.
It is a fallacy to say the network scouts only watch players through Computer clips. The network of scouts watch these players LIVE in matches. What you can doubt is some of their judgements like paying a lot of money for Polish Pete etc. The scouting network was explained in the open day with Katrien and Murray. The network scouts put forward a player to Chapple and his team. If they get a yes all round the player is discussed with Peeters, if he is in agreement, the player is pursued. Also it was said if Chapple and his team scout a player it is put forward to the rest of the network scouts.
Since the world and his wife knows we need another striker there must already be a few names in the mix from both scouting teams. And Pigott scored a 30-yard curler yesterday, so let's hope he restarts his goalscoring, I've said enough times that I think he has the makings of a good player. I'd like Ahearne-Grant to play a bit more with the U-21's before getting promoted, I feel he will improve.
I'm giving up hope of getting a player in before January. Buying hoping we then get a couple of very good players to make up for it. Over to you, Roland.
Fulham are in a false position. I would wager a large sum that they will finish above us this season, regardless of how well we do. We are still 5/6 players short of being a competitive side. I say that because three of our erstwhile dependables- Jackson, Solly and Wiggins, struggle to play twice in a week. When you add them to the chaff -Tucadean, Moussa and Bulot, you start to see that we have a problem. My prediction today is that, without proper investment in January, we will finish 14th-18th. Not quite the rocket propelled progress that some were predicting under RD, but progress nonetheless.
I thought once we were forced onto the front foot in the second half we looked ok. Yes, I know Fulham didn't have to do anything but I haven't seen many rcent Charlton sides knocking it about like that even when the oppo is sitting deep. That scoreline should do us good - maybe BP will stop setting us up to counter attack by default. I don't dagree we are very threadbare and therefore vulnerable to a bit of a wretched run, but fingers crossed we can now hang in there enough to keep us in touch with the playoffs by Christmas - its far from being out of the question. Yours with glass half full....
Don't they smell it, how close the premier league really is... i would love to know Rd's answer. Honestly.
I always thought that we would finish fourteenth at the beginning of the season and have not changed my mind. I still think RDs thinking re strengthening the squad was flawed. If we would have got in two quality signings in August it would have helped us no end. Instead we concentrated all our efforts into signing a French div two player who played us like a piano. If we can get through to January in contention for the play offs we might get a couple of good players in. But I don't think that we will be in this position.
Douchbag has got lucky this season- so far. Igor has carried this team and a few inspired performances have put us in a flattering position, the store is now empty and we find ourselves with the dross that I feared would make up our squad- throwbacks and favours. We did not even sniff at Danny Graham which for me would have been a statement of intent- signing. We are not even in the market. Tough few weeks ahead me thinks.
If we are within 5 points of the play offs then that is a massive step in the right direction. If we go past January with no new bodies, then we will find ourselves in lower mid table obscurity. That won't put bums on seats.
It seems a bit strange that we were prepared to pay a fair bit for Andy Delort (remember him?), but weren't interested in Graham, who would have been a much safer bet. Maybe we did enquire but Graham's wages were a problem, but otherwise it seems odd to read about us chasing another CB but not Graham.
The deal to take Danny Graham to Brentford is not happening. He wants to fight for his place at Sunderland. Personally I think if you can't get in Sunderland's side at the moment, you must really be struggling.
