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Post by huddy on Aug 3, 2015 9:44:02 GMT
This pre season has genuinely been concerning and thrown up issues. I'm not in the half empty 'we'll get relegated 'camp nor am I a happy clapper who thinks it's heresy to criticise.
The issues are;
1)The loss of Nzonzi and no replacement.Van Ginkel isn't it.
2)Bojan's lack of fitness.
3)The Shawcross back injury and Wollscheid as a replacement.
4)A new young goalkeeper who please God IS good enough.And I accept Given is there if he isn't.
5)No Yarmolenko/Shaquiri type pace (as yet).
6)No obvious settled first team pattern or structure.
You can probably add to those but I think they're the main ones. Personally I think they are pretty fundamental and I'm sure even MH will be concerned with a few days to go before Liverpool and I'm a huge MH fan.
I have swung from huge optimism to questioning.The new era was looking so good. Football as we all know can kick you in the teeth quickly and I wonder if these fundamentals are not addressed if it will.
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Post by Kjones9 on Aug 3, 2015 9:48:03 GMT
Bojans lack of fitness?? He's well ahead of schedule.
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Post by jimmygscfc on Aug 3, 2015 9:53:12 GMT
This pre season has genuinely been concerning and thrown up issues. I'm not in the half empty 'we'll get relegated 'camp nor am I a happy clapper who thinks it's heresy to criticise. The issues are; 1)The loss of Nzonzi and no replacement.Van Ginkel isn't it. 2)Bojan's lack of fitness. 3)The Shawcross back injury and Wollscheid as a replacement. 4)A new young goalkeeper who please God IS good enough.And I accept Given is there if he isn't. 5)No Yarmolenko/Shaquiri type pace (as yet). 6)No obvious settled first team pattern or structure. You can probably add to those but I think they're the main ones. Personally I think they are pretty fundamental and I'm sure even MH will be concerned with a few days to go before Liverpool and I'm a huge MH fan. I have swung from huge optimism to questioning.The new era was looking so good. Football as we all know can kick you in the teeth quickly and I wonder if these fundamentals are not addressed if it will. Stay away from sharp objects for a few days and you should be fine. |
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Post by liamo on Aug 3, 2015 9:55:42 GMT
V ginkel is N'zonzi's replacement, you've seen him in a handful of pre-season games days after him joining us and you've decided he's not good enough? He's good enough for Chelsea to sign but not good enough for us? Put your panties in the tumble dryer and wait until we've actually got something to worry about
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Post by clarkeda on Aug 3, 2015 10:03:44 GMT
A couple of bad results and I can see this board descending Into complete chaos.
We may do better then last year, we may do worse. Nothing anyone can do or say on this board will change that. Enjoy it for what it is.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2015 10:05:00 GMT
Look back to threads started after the Villa/Leicester games at the start of last season, we were doomed after those defeats. Understand your concerns but the real hard work starts this week when the players start the preparation for the Liverpool game and I'm confident we'll come flying out of the blocks. Worst case scenario we have a month of the window left and money burning a whole in Coates' pocket (allegedly)
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Post by spitshaw on Aug 3, 2015 10:05:35 GMT
Van Ginkel will be a revelation
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Post by huddy on Aug 3, 2015 10:08:25 GMT
V ginkel is N'zonzi's replacement, you've seen him in a handful of pre-season games days after him joining us and you've decided he's not good enough? He's good enough for Chelsea to sign but not good enough for us? Put your panties in the tumble dryer and wait until we've actually got something to worry about Apologies.Didn't explain myself. I think he's a very good player but not necessarily in Nzonzi's position or as a direct replacement. |
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Post by huddy on Aug 3, 2015 10:09:17 GMT
Bojans lack of fitness?? He's well ahead of schedule. Can't see him starting against Liverpool or for a few games after that |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2015 10:14:25 GMT
Look back to threads started after the Villa/Leicester games at the start of last season, we were doomed after those defeats. Understand your concerns but the real hard work starts this week when the players start the preparation for the Liverpool game and I'm confident we'll come flying out of the blocks. Worst case scenario we have a month of the window left and money burning a whole in Coates' pocket (allegedly) Difference being three (huge) key players missing |
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Post by cheadlestokie on Aug 3, 2015 10:23:04 GMT
Yes,we have only played friendlies and they have to be considered as such,but I do beleive that Mark Hughes will be somewhat concerned that in the last 3 we have scored 2 goals and let in 7.
There are grounds for concern that the new players will hit the ground running and that our players coming back from injury will be fit enough to play at a level we saw from them previously.This at least from some of them will be necessary to avoid a poor start to the season.
There is then the concern we have over Shawcross.There are certainly concerns over the centre-half position without him.
These are legitimate concerns which we hope the managment can deal with but I must say personally that I am surprised that we have not reached a point towards the end of pre-season that we have seen a side put out together that we can expect to see play against Liverpool.
On reflection the Cologne tournament did not allow that to happern with 2 games in 2 days and possibly we should not have played in the tournament just 7 days to the season starting.Hindsight I know but should this have not been considered by those who are paid to do so?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2015 10:25:56 GMT
Look back to threads started after the Villa/Leicester games at the start of last season, we were doomed after those defeats. Understand your concerns but the real hard work starts this week when the players start the preparation for the Liverpool game and I'm confident we'll come flying out of the blocks. Worst case scenario we have a month of the window left and money burning a whole in Coates' pocket (allegedly) Difference being three (huge) key players missing There's always something to worry fans. If we perform well on Sunday I'm confident we can win, as I am every home game to be honest..... |
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Post by foxysgloves on Aug 3, 2015 10:27:34 GMT
This pre season has genuinely been concerning and thrown up issues. I'm not in the half empty 'we'll get relegated 'camp nor am I a happy clapper who thinks it's heresy to criticise. The issues are; 1)The loss of Nzonzi and no replacement.Van Ginkel isn't it. 2)Bojan's lack of fitness. 3)The Shawcross back injury and Wollscheid as a replacement. 4)A new young goalkeeper who please God IS good enough.And I accept Given is there if he isn't. 5)No Yarmolenko/Shaquiri type pace (as yet). 6)No obvious settled first team pattern or structure. You can probably add to those but I think they're the main ones. Personally I think they are pretty fundamental and I'm sure even MH will be concerned with a few days to go before Liverpool and I'm a huge MH fan. I have swung from huge optimism to questioning.The new era was looking so good. Football as we all know can kick you in the teeth quickly and I wonder if these fundamentals are not addressed if it will. I'm hoping that your bitch ain't one? |
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Post by huddy on Aug 3, 2015 10:36:48 GMT
Yes,we have only played friendlies and they have to be considered as such,but I do beleive that Mark Hughes will be somewhat concerned that in the last 3 we have scored 2 goals and let in 7. There are grounds for concern that the new players will hit the ground running and that our players coming back from injury will be fit enough to play at a level we saw from them previously.This at least from some of them will be necessary to avoid a poor start to the season. There is then the concern we have over Shawcross.There are certainly concerns over the centre-half position without him. These are legitimate concerns which we hope the managment can deal with but I must say personally that I am surprised that we have not reached a point towards the end of pre-season that we have seen a side put out together that we can expect to see play against Liverpool. On reflection the Cologne tournament did not allow that to happern with 2 games in 2 days and possibly we should not have played in the tournament just 7 days to the season starting.Hindsight I know but should this have not been considered by those who are paid to do so? Agree with all that. |
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Post by muglump on Aug 3, 2015 10:38:04 GMT
Friendlies mean fuck all. End of
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Post by cheekymatt71 on Aug 3, 2015 10:43:11 GMT
You missed a bigger issue than that. I see our competition is spending a lot and wisely.
The likes of Newcastle, Crystal Palace, West Ham are adding real quality to their squad.
Even without our own transfer problems I would say that the Premier league is going to be 10-15% better and more competitive than last year.
Of course nothing is played on paper and all that
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Post by kronkie on Aug 3, 2015 10:51:33 GMT
73rd minute before we had a shot on goal yesterday, I think we have problems.
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Post by davejohnno1 on Aug 3, 2015 10:52:36 GMT
You missed a bigger issue than that. I see our competition is spending a lot and wisely. The likes of Newcastle, Crystal Palace, West Ham are adding real quality to their squad. Even without our own transfer problems I would say that the Premier league is going to be 10-15% better and more competitive than last year. Of course nothing is played on paper and all that We've said the Same thing every year since we've been back. |
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Post by crapslinger on Aug 3, 2015 10:55:13 GMT
Friendlies mean fuck all. End of The results mean fuck all, players performances are however a different matter all together, that is what friendlies are for to assess your players. |
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Post by Kjones9 on Aug 3, 2015 10:56:06 GMT
Bojans lack of fitness?? He's well ahead of schedule. Can't see him starting against Liverpool or for a few games after that Was he expected to at the end of last season? |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2015 10:58:37 GMT
Difference being three (huge) key players missing There's always something to worry fans. If we perform well on Sunday I'm confident we can win, as I am every home game to be honest..... Mate, I've got to admt I always worry but, you have to agree that taking the heart and soul out of the team and replacing it with what at best is future potential is worrying |
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Post by Kjones9 on Aug 3, 2015 11:00:55 GMT
How long before the 'poison dressing room' comments start?
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Post by metalhead on Aug 3, 2015 11:03:19 GMT
I thought Bojan looked ok, considering he's just come back from a serious injury.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2015 11:04:41 GMT
There's always something to worry fans. If we perform well on Sunday I'm confident we can win, as I am every home game to be honest..... Mate, I've got to admit I always worry but, you have to agree that taking the heart and soul out of the team and replacing it with what at best is future potential is worrying Not denying there's areas of concern mate, but these things can go either way. Look at Southampton last season, they were being tipped for relegation on the back of selling all their star players, they bought quite a few players that were "untried" in the Premier League and the rest is history..... |
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Post by Pretty Little Boother on Aug 3, 2015 11:06:44 GMT
To be honest we may as well just accept permanent defeat and voluntarily forfeit every game this season.
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Post by huddy on Aug 3, 2015 11:12:23 GMT
Ok.So what are the reasons for optimism?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2015 11:22:29 GMT
To be honest we may as well just accept permanent defeat and voluntarily forfeit every game this season. You are known for your crazy thought process, but that is just silly so stop it.  |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2015 11:23:22 GMT
Mate, I've got to admit I always worry but, you have to agree that taking the heart and soul out of the team and replacing it with what at best is future potential is worrying Not denying there's areas of concern mate, but these things can go either way. Look at Southampton last season, they were being tipped for relegation on the back of selling all their star players, they bought quite a few players that were "untried" in the Premier League and the rest is history..... Well, I hope you're right, but we are Stoke |
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Post by Davef on Aug 3, 2015 11:24:25 GMT
I seriously give up with some of our fans.
How can the subject of Bojan's fitness be brought up? Like Peter Odemwingie, he's coming back from a serious injury and it's naturally going to take him time to get the kind of level of fitness he'll need to show the form we saw last season.
It WILL come though. Both players showed glimpses of their old form over the weekend. I know it's probably asking a bit too much from some, but we have to be patient with both of them.
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Post by liamo on Aug 3, 2015 11:35:01 GMT
Ok.So what are the reasons for optimism? 1) Bojan is back 2) We coped ok last season when we were forced to be without Shawcross 3) N'zonzi is a good player but he isn't the midfield Jesus that everyone makes him out to be 4) We've got some good youth prospects by the looks of things, Mosely, Moha, Telford, Haugaard and a few others 5) Pretty much every PL team has had a flurry of shit results Pre-season and many haven't played the standard of opposition that we have 6) We've made some good signings and they've only just arrived, just like Bojan they need time to get in to their stride 7) Transfer window is still open and Hughes has made it very clear he's still after that "superstar" signing These are just a few reasons for optimism |
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