29 Jul 2018 08:39:00
Loads of people now getting a bit panicky. Posts about patience needed. Even posts now repeating what I have been saing for so long about the age of our defence and how slow it is. But remember that the games are preseason and the manager has chopped and changed every 45 minutes. I am not saying we will be ok because I dont. At best we will maybe get to 7th/ 8th. But I suspect that if we try and play Silva's attacking football with this squad, we will be stuffed by the top teams and confidence will slip away. So far we have seen that when we push forward, we seem to be unable to get back when the opposition breaks quickly. The counter attack just beats us so easily. We also seem very poor at defending set pieces. Isn't that what happened last season until Sam Allardyce was brought in to stop us leaking goals? Just a thought.

1.) 29 Jul 2018
29 Jul 2018 09:17:12
The difference this time Degsy is we have 2 guys trying to change things the right way.
I'm not panicking, well have a better idea of what our season is going to be on transfer deadline day.
Well also know a lot more about the 2 guys running the show.
This is their interview for the job.

2.) 29 Jul 2018
29 Jul 2018 09:56:03
I get what you're saying Smit666. The problem for me is that an interview might go wrong and we find ourselves in the Championship next season. I know and understand the anti Sam Allardyce feelings. I really do. But I think he understood the big defficiencies in our squad and did a job in halting the slide. Yes the football was dire. but for me. I would rather have dire football in the Premiership for a season or two whilst a rebuilding program goes on. the alternative being a club like Aston Villa, Newcastle Utd etc. ie in and out of the Championship and I believe that would kill us as a club. What happens if by half way through the season we are bottom 3 again? Do we call Allardyce again? Seriously though, this all should have been dealt with over the last 6 or 7 seasons. I know Moyes was not everyones cup of tea, but he left a balanced squad with some great players for Martnez. But then we bought and sold a shed load of players who all came and went with only Lukaku and Barry consistently performing over a few seasons. The rest fade into obscurity.

3.) 29 Jul 2018
29 Jul 2018 10:00:50
Good post Smitt mate, far too much negativity on here, as you say when deadline day has come and gone we will then finally know who our real targets are, until then as we keep saying no one has any real idea let alone the media circus who they are, so let the guys that do know I e Marco and Marcel get on with it,

4.) 29 Jul 2018
29 Jul 2018 10:28:09
Degsy Martinez and moyes are long gone, mistakes have been made but we just need to move on. Silva and brands are here, big Sam wasn't the answer he is only good as a fire fighter and cannot progress a team.
We have signed one player and for me he is an improvement, we look better going forward as well. Silva needs more time and pretty much a whole new defence but we already knew that. They have a plan and are going for the players they want and are not being deterred. A LB, CB and CM could make this team a different prospect.

We just need patience and to look forward rather than backwards.

{Ed025's Note - exactly smit..

5.) 29 Jul 2018
29 Jul 2018 11:56:35
Patience is fine Smit if there is progress. So far we have signed 1 player. Offloaded a few but still have so much to do. And the transfer window closes in 11 days. The season starts then too. The manager has stated it is a bigger job than he ever expected. Other teams have signed 4 or 5 players. Offloaded 7 or 8. We have done the offloading but as yet 1 signing. The club captain has stated that the players are not yet doing what the manager wants. We are conceding goals like we were last season at this stage. Defending set pieces poorly. Slow to get back when the opposition breaks quickly. So far no example of a high pressing game creating chances and looking good. Like I say, early days yet, but I see no evidence whatsoever that says we will do better than last season. I hope I am wrong.

6.) 29 Jul 2018
29 Jul 2018 12:20:44
We played most of these games with our 3rd choice keeper, I'm not sure he is as vocal at telling his defence there useless as pickford is.