Middle of the pack without a CF and Clarke, on the cusp of the playoffs with Clarke and a CF. I’ve been impressed with RLB so far, now the recruitment team need to back him.
I shall amend that to, Replace Clarke with another of our quality youth and bring on our quality youth striker
Compared to my original post the young strikers have coped with the pressure incredibly well...surprising many including me. And we have improved in the area of the pitch we were most lacking in. Defence was never an issue, neither was midfield barring a more experienced player to sit in there...which we now have. I'd been saying for a long time that the biggest issue last season was the lack of a proper head coach, and that a decent coach would get the existing squad competing in and around the top 6. That has been the most important addition, much more So than strikers. So far so good on that therory and my promotion bet is looking decent . It's a bloody long season though
Interesting lesson in recency bias this thread, I think. Maybe we're not quite as good as 'top of the league' but we certainly weren't as bad as we thought back in May. Personally I'd say we were a solid top 10 squad in both of our seasons back at this level. We got a bit lucky with variance in the first season, we got a bit unlucky with it last year (alongside some poor decisions and some bad luck). I think this season we're a top 6 squad. Maybe with a bit of good luck we end up top 2. Maybe a bit of bad luck sees us just miss out. We continue to move in a positive direction, though. Progression that we can trust to continue? Not bad at all.
I'd have said between 11th and 16th a month ago unless we were keeping Clarke. What a fantastic start and with the team on a big upward curve seemingly we have to be looking at top 6. Really risky to get carried away in this slog of a tough league and loads of sides have started well and dropped away like QPR and Preston recent seasons. We may be light of cover at fullback, particularly Cirkin until Alese or Huggins are fit so it would be great if him and Hume have an injury/suspension free run til Christmas at least. Mayenda a bonus and the midfield is looking exceptional. Can't be anything other than positive despite losing a fantastic player in Clarke.
Tongue in cheek but lets hope our thinking that this thread proves recency bias doesn't become recency bias itself in a few weeks
Oh will you just enjoy it mate and stop worrying! Go on miss this line and bite! As I've said before you are usually a very positive poster on here it's funny seeing you have this positive time and have to tell ya self to reign it in a bit for when it goes wrong! Almost think ya supported the lads so long you expect the worst when things go well!
That's our DNA mate...when things are going well, we're always looking for it to go tits up! However, think the tide may have turned, at long last we look like we know what we're doing! How about this for a challenge......RLB is our Wenger and this team are the first Championship invincibles!
It's madness mate because I'm watching how they have been playing and as much as I'm expecting a couple of bumps cause that's football and if it's the Sunderland way they will be big bumps. But having said that I'm watching them so far and thinking to myself this feels different. They look massively organised and well drilled. The tactics, the manager etc.. all seem setup in way that the odd mistake and brain fart won't see us hammered as we are probably going to make very few mistakes per match and if it leads to us conceding the plan would have been to score 2 or 3 anyway so will still win! But as we all know this is crazy thinking it can't be true can it so I'm not getting carried away yet! Well I'm not admitting it to myself anyway cause the reality is this team is playing the best football we have seen in decades imo! Mowbray first season had moments but this is just good from start to finish, you can see they executing a plan.
I've decided not to hold it against Luke, as it's unlikely we could go a whole season without conceeding a goal, but is it too early to think about the record points total, or "invincibles" p.s. yes, I know the answer already.
Ha, it was tongue in cheek but you're right. I'm just conscious that we've achieved nothing yet. So whilst I'm massively enjoying it, I'm protecting myself from getting over the top carried away. Now if we get to P10, W8 or equivalent, at that point I might let loose.
Literally Le Bris' exact record from his first 10 games at Lorient before they fell away for a year and a half.......
Yep that's why I used it. But like you say, even with that good start things can fall away. But if we do get 10 games deep into the season still in the top 2, then we can absolutely go nuts. I will be.
Happy to be proved wrong with the first paragraph. Knew my gut was right with RLB, just hope the signings we’ve made will pay off
We’ve been utterly superb, top 6 definitely but I’m expecting a close run for top 2. I’m always optimistic and sometimes it’s unwarranted but after seeing us set up with RLB I’m bastard well loving every minute of it. Ballard goal and Huuuuuuuummmmmmmme captain we’re looking brilliant for the future.
