New Season - Excited or Worried?

[TheWiseMaster]

I was a big supporter of our former manager but like many, I realised that it was time to change. I am fairly sure that Mr Coates had reached the same conclusion some time back - hence Cartwright was brought in and TP was frustrated in his transfer attempts back in January. A risky policy but it paid off. We stayed in the Premier League and now have our new man in place

I am looking forward to the new season and to seeing a more positive formation from Hughes without throwing away the solidity that was TP's trademark

Now a little excited but also worried. Once the shackles are thrown off our defence we really don't know how they will cope. I have little doubt that our early games will see the opposition flying at our defenders hoping to capitalise on an expected lack of confidence on the ball

So I expect us to concede more goals and therefore we also have to score more!

Currently we have almost the same attacking line-up that was available to TP and was found wanting. Whatever the likes of Pennant and Pieters add to the team we will need far more attacking threat than we currently have available

Sadly Brek Shea won't be available which must be so frustrating given his new found confidence shown in the US. Whatever the formation we need more creativity to supply our strikers be it wingers or pacy forwards

So I am a little concerned but I know that Hughes will be able to see our limitations and will have options lined up

This is where we see if the club are really going to back him beyond the likes of the young targets recently bandied about. We really do need the quality of the likes of Defoe and Sinclair and they will cost real money. Hopefully we don't play our normal games and leave the action until deadline day where we usually get taken to the cleaners or fail

I am hopeful but won’t be too surprised to see us have to wait for the new key players

[lordb]

worried

but we don't need that much either.

two players either way & we are fucked/fine.

[Deleted]

Both

[TheWiseMaster]

Aug 1, 2013 11:50:03 GMT lordb said:

worried

but we don't need that much either.

two players either way & we are fucked/fine.

Agree if the additions are proven quality - not just young hopefuls

[Davef]

Both.

Had things not changed though, it would've just been the latter.

[cobhamstokey]

Both loving our new way of playing but worried about our lack of goals in the side.

[Deleted]

Aug 1, 2013 11:48:58 GMT TheWiseMaster said:

Currently we have almost the same attacking line-up that was available to TP and was found wanting.

A main factor in our inability to score goals was the tactics deployed by Tony Pulis. It was very much defence focused with the emphasis being more on not conceding, instead of trying to kill games off with a few goals.

I have no doubt that the forwards we have on the books, and the midfielders too for that matter, are capable of scoring more goals than they did under Pulis. We just need a change in tactics and philosophy. Something that Hughes seems to have brought to the table and something that the players seem to be embracing.

It is definitely a nervous time as we are going into the unknown in some aspects, and going in a new direction. It is a nervous excitement though for me. We'll probably concede more at the back but (hopefully!) we'll score more at the other end too. That is bound to be the case with a more positive outlook. We've just got to hope that the increase in goals scored outweighs the increased number of goals we concede at the other end.

I think one of the main things we'll benefit from is genuine competition. I'm pretty confident Hughes will mix things up throughout the Season and give the whole squad a chance to play. I think form will play more of a part and there will be a "play to get/keep the shirt" policy from him.

It has been touched on by Jerome that under Pulis it was pretty much the same players week in, week out, regradless of how the others performed. That isn't a healthy situation. Genuine competition will bring the best out of the players.

[devondumpling]

Definitely worried at the moment. We have fallen behind those who were around us in the league/or promoted apart from Palace and Hull (although the pedigree of Hull's signings are yet to be decided). All the others have invested heavily or held onto to key players. I have not checked but I would have expected our relegation odds to have shortened. I just hope the owners and management know what they are up to.

[sheikhmomo]

Looking forward to the new set up but think people are expecting miracles from Hughes. If we kick off as we are now, we will struggle......badly.

[stokiejoe]

Aug 1, 2013 11:58:42 GMT whydelilah said:

Aug 1, 2013 11:48:58 GMT TheWiseMaster said:

Currently we have almost the same attacking line-up that was available to TP and was found wanting.

A main factor in our inability to score goals was the tactics deployed by Tony Pulis. It was very much defence focused with the emphasis being more on not conceding, instead of trying to kill games off with a few goals.

I have no doubt that the forwards we have on the books, and the midfielders too for that matter, are capable of scoring more goals than they did under Pulis. We just need a change in tactics and philosophy. Something that Hughes seems to have brought to the table and something that the players seem to be embracing.

It is definitely a nervous time as we are going into the unknown in some aspects, and going in a new direction. It is a nervous excitement though for me. We'll probably concede more at the back but (hopefully!) we'll score more at the other end too. That is bound to be the case with a more positive outlook. We've just got to hope that the increase in goals scored outweighs the increased number of goals we concede at the other end.

I think one of the main things we'll benefit from is genuine competition. I'm pretty confident Hughes will mix things up throughout the Season and give the whole squad a chance to play. I think form will play more of a part and there will be a "play to get/keep the shirt" policy from him.

It has been touched on by Jerome that under Pulis it was pretty much the same players week in, week out, regradless of how the others performed. That isn't a healthy situation. Genuine competition will bring the best out of the players.

Agreed. As I have posted elswhere I'm like a kid waiting for Christmas and I know there will be some good presents amongst the usual socks

[robwahlmann]

Both!

[stokiejoe]

Aug 1, 2013 12:05:47 GMT sheikhmomo said:

Looking forward to the new set up but think people are expecting miracles from Hughes. If we kick off as we are now, we will struggle......badly.

But we will bring others in and no miracles needed just evidence that we are making progress and can get back to enjoying the games.

[fortressbritannia]

Aug 1, 2013 11:58:42 GMT whydelilah said:

Aug 1, 2013 11:48:58 GMT TheWiseMaster said:

Currently we have almost the same attacking line-up that was available to TP and was found wanting.

A main factor in our inability to score goals was the tactics deployed by Tony Pulis. It was very much defence focused with the emphasis being more on not conceding, instead of trying to kill games off with a few goals.

I have no doubt that the forwards we have on the books, and the midfielders too for that matter, are capable of scoring more goals than they did under Pulis. We just need a change in tactics and philosophy. Something that Hughes seems to have brought to the table and something that the players seem to be embracing.

It is definitely a nervous time as we are going into the unknown in some aspects, and going in a new direction. It is a nervous excitement though for me. We'll probably concede more at the back but (hopefully!) we'll score more at the other end too. That is bound to be the case with a more positive outlook. We've just got to hope that the increase in goals scored outweighs the increased number of goals we concede at the other end.

I think one of the main things we'll benefit from is genuine competition. I'm pretty confident Hughes will mix things up throughout the Season and give the whole squad a chance to play. I think form will play more of a part and there will be a "play to get/keep the shirt" policy from him.

It has been touched on by Jerome that under Pulis it was pretty much the same players week in, week out, regradless of how the others performed. That isn't a healthy situation. Genuine competition will bring the best out of the players.

100% spot on WD.

We still have 10 of the 11 players who regularly started in that great run during 2010/11. The problem was that the next summer TP completely tore that team apart and left some key players out completely.

[Mickstoke]

Can't wait tbh, every morning I wake excited about the forthcoming!!

[Mr_DaftBurger]

Excited!

[geoff321]

In the season Mark Hughes was manager at Fulham they slipped into the relegation places early on, and some fans were calling for him to be sacked.
The club stayed with him and finished in the top eight.

Hopefully if there is a dodgy start the fans will be patient.

[Block 22]

With the current squad we are relegation fodder. Teams from around us last season have been far from shy with their spends.

[fca47]

Probably both. Wouldn't have been worried if TP was in charge, but maybe not that excited. Whereas with Les I am both worried and excited.

[foster]

Aug 1, 2013 11:58:42 GMT whydelilah said:

Aug 1, 2013 11:48:58 GMT TheWiseMaster said:

Currently we have almost the same attacking line-up that was available to TP and was found wanting.

A main factor in our inability to score goals was the tactics deployed by Tony Pulis. It was very much defence focused with the emphasis being more on not conceding, instead of trying to kill games off with a few goals.

I have no doubt that the forwards we have on the books, and the midfielders too for that matter, are capable of scoring more goals than they did under Pulis. We just need a change in tactics and philosophy. Something that Hughes seems to have brought to the table and something that the players seem to be embracing.

It is definitely a nervous time as we are going into the unknown in some aspects, and going in a new direction. It is a nervous excitement though for me. We'll probably concede more at the back but (hopefully!) we'll score more at the other end too. That is bound to be the case with a more positive outlook. We've just got to hope that the increase in goals scored outweighs the increased number of goals we concede at the other end.

I think one of the main things we'll benefit from is genuine competition. I'm pretty confident Hughes will mix things up throughout the Season and give the whole squad a chance to play. I think form will play more of a part and there will be a "play to get/keep the shirt" policy from him.

It has been touched on by Jerome that under Pulis it was pretty much the same players week in, week out, regradless of how the others performed. That isn't a healthy situation. Genuine competition will bring the best out of the players.

Fuck, just typed a lengthy reply then pressed something on my keyboard and it disappeared.

Anyway, I agree. There's too much focus on our strikers when it should be on midfield.

[spitthedog]

Both

Does it have to be either-or?

[slother]

At the moment I would guess we'd finish 16th/17th. Have every faith that we will make signings before the window closes that will improve that to something like 11th-13th.

[lowlands]

Well apart from the 2 home games against Liverpool and Southampton I was bored to death. Only thing that saved total boredom was the copious amounts of alcohol required to watch such mind numbing football. Worried no way excited yeah because I think we may score more than one goal and our forward line may get support and a service from a midfield allowed to go beyond the halfway line. Hopefully happy exciting days ahead

[georgeberrysafro]

Both.

It's a big change, even when we were dire under TP you knew we'd grind out enough points to see us through. I'm not sure what this season would have been like though if TP was here. But another season of being the lowest scorers wouldn't have me excited for the season. Saying that, I would have been a little more worried than usual if TP was still at the helm .

Still, Les does well with teams like us, he's also keen on shape and formation so hopefully we'll be sound defensively again and we'll see some attacking football so it's something to be excited about.

I'm looking forward to it again, like a lot of people I was a fan of TP but it was time for a change.

[Gods]

At the moment it's "as you were" bar a new left back who may or may not be better than Wilson.

So unless there are more signings to come in we take our foot of the intensity pedal in the search for a more progressive style at our absolute peril.

[slother]

Aug 1, 2013 13:02:36 GMT georgeberrysafro said:

Both.

It's a big change, even when we were dire under TP you knew we'd grind out enough points to see us through. I'm not sure what this season would have been like though if TP was here. But another season of being the lowest scorers wouldn't have me excited for the season. Saying that, I would have been a little more worried than usual if TP was still at the helm :).

Still, Les does well with teams like us, he's also keen on shape and formation so hopefully we'll be sound defensively again and we'll see some attacking football so it's something to be excited about.

I'm looking forward to it again, like a lot of people I was a fan of TP but it was time for a change.

Yes good point I would definitely be more worried were Pulis still in charge.

[ruts66]

Very excited...

We weren't getting performances (let alone results) away from home and even the home form was being dragged down with it.

I'll take a 3-2 defeat away from home whilst really having a go anyday compared to the Pulis 1 or 2-nil surrender.

We'll get tonked on occasion and we'll win by 2 or 3 at home on occasion, too.

Anything is better than abject surrender and fear football (aka binary).

We might just shift to the edge of our seats again, too, when Pieters gets to the bye-line or N'Zonzi marauds forward to the edge of the box.

Remember that feeling, it's been a long time to have gone without.

Go on Stoke - can't wait...

[Deleted]

I'm quietly optimistic one minute & silently worried the next!

Worried that we are seemingly operating on a very restrictive budget whilst our peers are spending like there is no tomorrow.

Excited that we have signed two seemingly very good players so far.

Worried where the goals will come from given that the attacking play has mostly come through the centre and do we have the players to operate that way?

Excited for the unknowns.

Worried that I'll never truly like our manager.

[Deleted]

Good work Foster

[Deleted]

I'm very excited and also absolutely convinced that we will initially struggle like hell! What (we all assume) Hughes is attempting is not going to be easy and we will be shipping more goals. I remember reading some of the Fulham supporters post on here when the news broke of MH as the new manager and the consensus seemed to be that it took them 4-5 months to get going and thereafter played some very nice stuff.

Whilst i'm dreading the Anfield game like a trip to the dentist for root canal, and the following early fixtures look horrible, I think MH will eventually pull it off, we just have to give him time. However, most of our support are on a short fuse after the last 2 years.

[rogerjonesisgod]

Excited. It's almost footie season