What a difference a manager makes, Pellegrini got spanked by a 2nd team at home (or was it your 3rd team?), Moyes hasn't looked like losing to your first XI.
Off Topic The General Chat Thread.
- Thread starter AKCJ
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We were never at it last night and you were exceptional right from the off. Football can be a cruel game - in our last pre season game against Villareal we were really good and raced into a 3-0 lead playing some wonderful free flowing football ... then a mardy little **** launched himself into a disgusting challenge on Fofana, effectively ending his season and robbing us of a fabulous talent. Back four that evening was Pereira, Fofana, Soyuncu and Bertrand and you could sense how they were starting to operate as a unit.
We now have to find something to replace that unit as we were a shambles last night. Bertrand and Castagne should both be available for Saturday and I would be tempted to bring both in and push Pereira into the Perez role ... would replace Amartey with Vestergaard (If fit) or Ndidi (If not) and bring Soumare into the midfield ... definitely need to get a reaction from the players.
But again, very well done, most impressive
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I think Perez had a three hame ban for a straight red. The suggestions are that Vestergaard and Evans will be back sooner rather than later, god knows we need them, Evans especially to organise things.
Justin has been touted for an October return, seeing that its nearly September now, we should hopefully see him sooner than I expected, just hope he hits the heights he did before he was injured.
Is there any indication on the length of Fofanas injury? Initially they said the test of the year, does this mean we hope to see him in the new year?
Justin has been touted for an October return, seeing that its nearly September now, we should hopefully see him sooner than I expected, just hope he hits the heights he did before he was injured.
Is there any indication on the length of Fofanas injury? Initially they said the test of the year, does this mean we hope to see him in the new year?
Well we got nothing from the game but the performance was the best of the season so far. Defensively we looked very good and Vestergaard was sensational. Bertrand was OK as well, not sure how the two of them were in a team that conceded 9 twice. The biggest concern is Maddison, not sure if its a lack of fitness or if he is still not over not moving to Arsenal but he is just not close to the level he was pre injury.
Surely with Vestergaard back we have to go to 5 at the back again with Nacho up top with Vardy (Daka for me but won’t happen) and I’d prefer a strong midfield of Ndidi, Tielemans and Soumare with Maddison spending some time on the bench to sort out his form.
That formation worked well in the back end of last season, Maddison really needs to up his game, he’s had a pre season to get up to speed so he can’t have too many excuses now. Soumare or Dewsbury Hall should be given a run out, they’re in the squad and deserve a chance. Iheanacho couldn’t stop scoring in that formation.
I didn't see the Napoli game, but it sounds like it was very much the same story as all our matches so far this season (and many during last season) - creating very few chances and managing to survive a good number of scares at our own end. Brendan can't keep saying that this 'young team' will learn. This isn't a team of first season novices; they are all experienced players now and a number of them are internationals. There is something that doesn't appear to be working in a team that is looking to be top 4.
In the 5 matches so far this season we have been bettered by every one of our opponents when it comes to number of shots, and we have only had more on target against Wolves - and that only comes courtesy of some woeful finishing by Traore. Even Norwich out-performed us. And how many times is Vardy picked out as being the player with the fewest touches of the ball during a match? I know statistics can be made to prove almost any point if you twist them enough, but we just don't dominate opponents. Where is the problem? Is it the midfield not retaining possession? Is it our forwards not working hard enough to create space or keep or win the ball? Is it poor defending? I'd like to know your thoughts.
In the 5 matches so far this season we have been bettered by every one of our opponents when it comes to number of shots, and we have only had more on target against Wolves - and that only comes courtesy of some woeful finishing by Traore. Even Norwich out-performed us. And how many times is Vardy picked out as being the player with the fewest touches of the ball during a match? I know statistics can be made to prove almost any point if you twist them enough, but we just don't dominate opponents. Where is the problem? Is it the midfield not retaining possession? Is it our forwards not working hard enough to create space or keep or win the ball? Is it poor defending? I'd like to know your thoughts.
What gets my goat is we get a free kick just inside our opponents half and we pass it back to a defender and it eventually lands at Kaspers feet and we then proceed to pass it around from defender to defender lose possession and with any luck get a goal kick where it all begins again.
When we do venture forward, we can be very good, so please can we look forward more often than we currently are doing.
When we do venture forward, we can be very good, so please can we look forward more often than we currently are doing.
Drives me mad, too. All that fannying around at the back seems to be about getting Tielemans or Ndidi into a couple of yards of space so they can turn and start the build up. But it just gives the opposition time to set up their defence and then allows their forwards to close us down and harry us into a mistake. Just because Pep says it's good for his players doesn't mean the rest have to follow like sheep. I wonder how many goals have been gifted to opponents by teams trying to play out from the back.
Well that was a load of nonsense against Brighton. Terrible first half and what an absolute shambolic use of VAR for the penalty.. Somewhat concerning we only have two unconvincing wins to date.
Agreed, NZ. Although the decisions went against us, we should still be doing better than that. Watching other teams, even Brentford, we lack their intensity. Every single player looks hungry and fights to win the ball back and make things happen. We have too many strollers. We started with 3 players yesterday who need to up their contribution - Barnes, Vardy and Maddison. We can't afford to have 30% of the outfield players not giving their all.
I do wonder if it's time to pull the plug on Vardy. He's still lightning fast over 10 yards but, age is beginning to tell, and he lacks stamina and physicality. He doesn't hold the ball up well or fight to get it back like he used to. He's a predator in the 6 yard box, but compare him to Danny Ings, Ivan Toney, Mikel Antonio and others, and add in the fact that he can be out of the game for almost all of the 90 minutes and I don't think he offers enough. I know sometimes he can have one touch in the game and score, but I'd like to see my main striker getting more involved and not getting knocked off the ball so easily. Coming off the bench as an impact sub with 20 minutes to go is probably what we should be using him for now.
Unless things change I can't see us making top 10 this season, let alone top 6. It's hard to know how things would have panned out if we hadn't lost James Justin last season. He had such an infectious enthusiasm and never say die attitude. He had a very promising partnership going with Barnes and that attitude of his seemed to act as the catalyst to bring out the best in Maddison especially and others in the team. Can't wait to get him back and hope it doesn't take too long for him to get back to where he left off. It's taken Ricardo a while to regain his confidence after a similar injury, but JJ is younger and that might help him.
I do wonder if it's time to pull the plug on Vardy. He's still lightning fast over 10 yards but, age is beginning to tell, and he lacks stamina and physicality. He doesn't hold the ball up well or fight to get it back like he used to. He's a predator in the 6 yard box, but compare him to Danny Ings, Ivan Toney, Mikel Antonio and others, and add in the fact that he can be out of the game for almost all of the 90 minutes and I don't think he offers enough. I know sometimes he can have one touch in the game and score, but I'd like to see my main striker getting more involved and not getting knocked off the ball so easily. Coming off the bench as an impact sub with 20 minutes to go is probably what we should be using him for now.
Unless things change I can't see us making top 10 this season, let alone top 6. It's hard to know how things would have panned out if we hadn't lost James Justin last season. He had such an infectious enthusiasm and never say die attitude. He had a very promising partnership going with Barnes and that attitude of his seemed to act as the catalyst to bring out the best in Maddison especially and others in the team. Can't wait to get him back and hope it doesn't take too long for him to get back to where he left off. It's taken Ricardo a while to regain his confidence after a similar injury, but JJ is younger and that might help him.
Yet another game where we didn't start playing until we were 2-0 down!!!
Another shocker from Maddison too. He offered absolutely nothing.
I like the look of the Soumare and Ndidi combination.
Whoever was on VAR should never be allowed to do it again. How could they not see Vestergaard being man handled for their penalty? Beggers belief. What is the point of VAR if you can't see that?!
The 1st disallowed goal I can probably live with, although I still think it was dubious,but as for te 2nd? Barnes was never in the way of the keepers vision. An awful, awful decision.
I'm not making excuses for the loss, because we didn't deserve to win the game, but those VAR decisions were shocking, regardless who the team was.
I think even the die hard Brighton fans know they got away with one (or two) yesterday, the manager certainly does!
Another shocker from Maddison too. He offered absolutely nothing.
I like the look of the Soumare and Ndidi combination.
Whoever was on VAR should never be allowed to do it again. How could they not see Vestergaard being man handled for their penalty? Beggers belief. What is the point of VAR if you can't see that?!
The 1st disallowed goal I can probably live with, although I still think it was dubious,but as for te 2nd? Barnes was never in the way of the keepers vision. An awful, awful decision.
I'm not making excuses for the loss, because we didn't deserve to win the game, but those VAR decisions were shocking, regardless who the team was.
I think even the die hard Brighton fans know they got away with one (or two) yesterday, the manager certainly does!
The irony here is hard to take. VAR was supposed to take the guesswork or failure to see something out of the game and try to ensure the correct outcome. At the end of the day the decision still comes down to human interpretation. The only difference now is that there are two incompetent people getting involved rather than one. The comedians overseeing the Man Utd game were just as bad.
Comes to something when I'm relieved to get a point at home to Burnley. Is playing a 4-3-3 disrupting our style of play? I only get to see highlights but how is Soumare fitting in? Could we not put a more attack minded player in for him? Iheanacho must surely be given a start next game out, he provides as well as scoring when he does get on the pitch. Last seasons goals seem to have counted for nothing.
For me, MUST go 5-3-2 with Ihenacho and Vardy up top. Midfield 3 of Ndidi, Soumare and Ndidi. Means Barnes misses out but so be it.
That's a very similar setup to when we Kante - Drinkwater - Kante. Wilf is good, but not that good.
Think this is what we would have been playing if we could keep 3 CDs fit for 90 minutes.