Best thing to do with pre season is disregard pretty much everything tbh. It really is pretty much irrelevant outside of fitness. I'll judge the newbies a couple months in to the season. At this point none are struggling and none have 'hit the ground running' as friendlies are no substitute for competitive PL football (or competitive football in general tbh). Now who's doing the Spud thread?
I know it's early days with ABK but he is going to have to learn quickly how to stop someone getting a cross in by any means, it was weak defending today but on the plus side he sent a couple of lovely crosses in of his own at the other end.
Also, Salisu's weak point is his brain farts. These will decline with experience and more matches he plays. He's only getting better. Which is why we need him to sign a new deal now.
When did people start turning against Salisu? I got the impression that people would have an absolute bed-wetting breakdown if we sold him this summer. Is that the reason? Trying to get all the jabs in early just in case he goes? And why is there some kind of pseudo meltdown over a narrow loss against last season's champions league semi-finalists? (And likely an even bigger meltdown on Saintsweb and a bigger one still on Ugly Inside, Facebook and Twitter). If these young players we have signed were as bad as some people are pretending then we would surely have got hammered
Doesn't look too likely this season. Most clubs who want central defenders have made their signings there. Except Chelsea. And I'd be very surprised if he is on their radar at this stage
This. We were fine today. Villareal were well organised and tough to break down as you'd expect against an Emery team. It was a good game to watch at the ground as it was a fascinating tactical match up. Aribo was great, Stuey looked sharp (this is important as he started last season injured) and ABK looks very strong and physical at the back. Mara was a bit behind everyone else in match sharpness but that was to be expected.
I'd say that his poor positional sense at times is just as weak a point of his but he is young and still learning.
Well putting any jokes and personal anxiety aside, I’m looking forward to the season. Feels a bit different with the new ownership, and the players we have signed are hungry and have quality it would seem. Really looking forward to Aribo, and there is still business to be done. COYRs.
I’ve said on numerous occasions that there is a great player in him, and he will likely come good. But his performances over the last half of the season weren’t good enough. Whether that’s down to him and his inexperience/age, or whether it’s the coaching, I don’t know.
It doesn't help who he's played a long side with, and in goal. If he doesn't trust his fellow CB and goalie, no wonder he has brain farts!
I still would be expecting a defeat against a very good Tottenham side next week and would like to think people won't lose their heads over that. Naturally it will depend on the scope and the manner of a defeat should it happen Certainly a far from ideal start
without checking don’t we have a very hard opening 5 games? I seem to remember when looking at them we would do well to have 3 points on the board after them, and 0 was a real possibility
Leeds at home I would expect us to get something from. Leicester away we could get something as well. United at home isn't as hard as it once was either.
