For me the squad and team we put out at the start of last season is worse.Squad is looking very weak ….and not just due to injuries.
Carey had 2 didn't he, one where he could have hit it but hesitated and chance gone, the other he could have scored or he had to hit Jerry with the cross, he hit the cross just too far from Yates.Why’s patino not starting when he’s the best player in the stadium ?
We need Callum back in CDM ASAP
Fiorini not good enough
Virtue not good enough
We need a striker that can score
Carey had to score first half to make it 1-0 Blackpool
Bowler had to score second half to make it 1-1
Beeley has only played twiceWe don't have a striker good enough to be starting in the championship. Run out of excuses for Yates. Madine not good enough, Lavery never been the same after the injury and Beesley clearly not a champ striker.
but it was a different type of bullying, like many have said we were just set up wrong from the off and invited being bullied.Remember Cardiff last season.
Bullied and lost
Gabriel back as a right back and Connolly as our player that does the dirty stuff so well, much better that Dougall (who I actually like)We are way too lightweight in midfield need a beast in there we did last year and it’s not improved upfront shame we lost out on simms we need power and pace defence will be fine when Gabriel returns
I'll take Guardiolas opinion on Fiorini over yoursWhy’s patino not starting when he’s the best player in the stadium ?
We need Callum back in CDM ASAP
Fiorini not good enough
Virtue not good enough
We need a striker that can score
Carey had to score first half to make it 1-0 Blackpool
Bowler had to score second half to make it 1-1
Don’t be silly Beesley has hardly played a game but has always looked good coming on as sub .We don't have a striker good enough to be starting in the championship. Run out of excuses for Yates. Madine not good enough, Lavery never been the same after the injury and Beesley clearly not a champ striker.
Was going to post something similar That big lump Flint did the same today as he did for Cardiff in that gameRemember Cardiff last season.
Bullied and lost
Interesting to reflect how much grief Critchley got for changing the side according to opposition.I agree we were dominated and outplayed today and I'll add out thought which applies to the Manager. Stoke are a big strong physical side so we shouldn't have started with 2 "lightweight" mid-fielders and specifically Fiorini as the "No. 6". (What next?? Rob Apter at RB?? ).
Whilst I'm not one for tinkering and changing systems today needed a tweak from last Saturday. Definitely still short of a striker, an experienced central mid-fielder and cover at RB.
Shut up ya clownI'll take Guardiolas opinion on Fiorini over yours
The willingness to be pragmatic and attention to detail was how we got the most out of pretty limited resources last season. Whether or not we have the quality to impose ourselves on the opposition remains to be seen I suppose. My initial thoughts going into this season were that the "We're not entertained enough" crew might well be in for a rude awakening. Fortunately we do seem to have brought in some additional players and hopefully things will work out.Interesting to reflect how much grief Critchley got for changing the side according to opposition.
Indeed it is. Let's not forget that Quitch wasn't all bad.Interesting to reflect how much grief Critchley got for changing the side according to opposition.
What a question that is . He may not have been match fit , or up to speed with the other players . Oh and he has never played a championship league game before . Oh ,it may be that Stoke were a bunch of giant bruisers and we didn't want him injured for the rest of the season . We have already lost Madine.Why’s patino not starting when he’s the best player in the stadium ?
We need Callum back in CDM ASAP
Fiorini not good enough
Virtue not good enough
We need a striker that can score
Carey had to score first half to make it 1-0 Blackpool
Bowler had to score second half to make it 1-1
We've brought in ball players - that's good. But, we also need muscle.The willingness to be pragmatic and attention to detail was how we got the most out of pretty limited resources last season. Whether or not we have the quality to impose ourselves on the opposition remains to be seen I suppose. My initial thoughts going into this season were that the "We're not entertained enough" crew might well be in for a rude awakening. Fortunately we do seem to have brought in some additional players and hopefully things will work out.
If there's one thing I've realised about football is that you always just need something else other than what you have. And the key to success tends to lie in the ability to get the maximum out of what you do have, rather than focusing too much attention on what you don't.We've brought in ball players - that's good. But, we also need muscle.
So you don’t play someone incase they get injured ? Then why bring him on at all. What a stupid post don’t even know why I’ve replied to such nonsense.What a question that is . He may not have been match fit , or up to speed with the other players . Oh and he has never played a championship league game before . Oh ,it may be that Stoke were a bunch of giant bruisers and we didn't want him injured for the rest of the season . We have already lost Madine.
That poor Reading team won today.3 points last week simply painted over the cracks, a poor Reading team battered us second half. Today we were really poor other than a 10 minute spell second half, we didn't have a single shot on target, we were overrun in midfield and Appleton didn't bother changing tactics.
Oops, manager keeps a winning side it can only end in disaster.I agree we were dominated and outplayed today and I'll add out thought which applies to the Manager. Stoke are a big strong physical side so we shouldn't have started with 2 "lightweight" mid-fielders and specifically Fiorini as the "No. 6". (What next?? Rob Apter at RB?? ).
Whilst I'm not one for tinkering and changing systems today needed a tweak from last Saturday. Definitely still short of a striker, an experienced central mid-fielder and cover at RB.
I`ve been making that point about Yates at this level since very early last season and said at the time when he had scored 5 (including two penalties and 2 tap ins)that he would not score even half the 18 he had scored in League 1, much to the astonishment of many on here who were desperate to bet me on that. He ended up with a desultory 8 (including 3 pens.)What is clear is we need a striker(s) to be able to compete and I’m afraid we can’t keep making excuses for Jerry but a main goal scorer he ain’t.
As I've said to you before... Those "Blind Fans" have the advantage of actually attending games.... Yates works extremely hard, contributes a lot to the team overall and with the right service will bang them in.I`ve been making that point about Yates at this level since very early last season and said at the time when he had scored 5 (including two penalties and 2 tap ins)that he would not score even half the 18 he had scored in League 1, much to the astonishment of many on here who were desperate to bet me on that. He ended up with a desultory 8 (including 3 pens.)
I can`t understand why so many blind fans on here can`t see this. His previous goal scoring record at this Championship level with Rotherham was also very poor.
I thought Lavery may well be a much better prospect after his early games with us but as has been said elsewhere he has not nearly reached his early levels since his injury.
We desperately need a striker who does actually strike.
He works hard but sadly he lacks most the main requirements of a successful striker , the positional flair to sniff out goal scoring abilities, good in the air exceptional pace and a clinical finisher and at this stage it`s highly unlikely he will ever acquire any of those skills. Nor is he one who has the vision to open up a defence with assists for his team mates.As I've said to you before... Those "Blind Fans" have the advantage of actually attending games.... Yates works extremely hard, contributes a lot to the team overall and with the right service will bang them in.
And reading beat Cardiff today ?3 points last week simply painted over the cracks, a poor Reading team battered us second half. Today we were really poor other than a 10 minute spell second half, we didn't have a single shot on target, we were overrun in midfield and Appleton didn't bother changing tactics.
He works hard but sadly he lacks most the main requirements of a successful striker , the positional flair to sniff out goal scoring abilities, good in the air exceptional pace and a clinical finisher and at this stage it`s highly unlikely he will ever acquire any of those skills. Nor is he one who has the ability to opensup a defence with assists for his team mates.
Hard work though respected will never be enough without significant talent which he does not have.
That lad from Arsenal looks about 8 stone.Going to be a lot of games like this I’am afraid where we’re up against big physical sides who give us a good roughing up.
Men v Boys today.
He was credited with 3 assists last season, though his contribution to the team certainly goes beyond that. Unfortunately Jerry was a casualty of the system last year, but still worked his socks off and did a job for the team.... You don't get to see that on the Telly so much.So is that 2 last season?
I’ve made the same points. If he played wide left in a three with a recognised goal scorer in the middle we might replicate his season with Doyle at Swindon but on his own he offers little threat to defenders. Can’t fault his work rate but that’s not what he’s there for.I`ve been making that point about Yates at this level since very early last season and said at the time when he had scored 5 (including two penalties and 2 tap ins)that he would not score even half the 18 he had scored in League 1, much to the astonishment of many on here who were desperate to bet me on that. He ended up with a desultory 8 (including 3 pens.)
I can`t understand why so many blind fans on here can`t see this. His previous goal scoring record at this Championship level with Rotherham was also very poor.
I thought Lavery may well be a much better prospect after his early games with us but as has been said elsewhere he has not nearly reached his early levels since his injury.
We desperately need a striker who does actually strike.
He was more a victim of Critchley`s assessment as the season progressed that as a striker he was increasingly not good enough to start or indeed even come on at all sometimes despite our lack of a regular goal scorer.He was credited with 3 assists last season, though his contribution to the team certainly goes beyond that. Unfortunately Jerry was a casualty of the system last year, but still worked his socks off and did a job for the team.... You don't get to see that on the Telly so much.
Yates , div 1 player at best, same as lavery and Madine.He works hard but sadly he lacks most the main requirements of a successful striker , the positional flair to sniff out goal scoring abilities, good in the air exceptional pace and a clinical finisher and at this stage it`s highly unlikely he will ever acquire any of those skills. Nor is he one who has the vision to open up a defence with assists for his team mates.
Hard work though respected will never be enough without significant talent especially as a striker, which he demonstrably does not have.