Liverpool Banter Archive August 29 2016

29 Aug 2016 23:44:16
Despite the obvious goal-scoring potential in this team, I still feel a glaring weakness exists in midfield. In fact I believe it is the root cause of most of our goals conceded so far, the others caused by individual mistakes. Teams are bypassing our midfield far too easily and Hendo can't defend alone, wijnaldum and Lallana are useless at best defensively and the don't provide enough going forward to warrant being picked in midfield. Their best qualities are endless running and unless Klopp is going for a death by running approach there are better options available; besides any decent premier league midfielder should be capable of doing a fair amount of running. The most frustrating thing about this issue is that there are better options already at the club. Grujic can match wijnaldum's goalscoring ability from what we've seen so far and has better attributes too; Coutinho played in midfield in the season we finished 2nd and showed more than enough defensive responsibility, it also gave him more time and space to work his magic. Emre Can is a physical beast and without going into detail over his attributes he would be a far better pick than wiji or lallana, but Klopp may be easing him in slowly due to fitness concerns. Brannagan would be a better option too as he's shown a lot of potential when picked but he may still be going on loan.

30 Aug 2016 00:51:02
Magicia, only Klopp can tell you why he keeps picking Wiji and Lallana because I still fail to see what they offer.

30 Aug 2016 01:29:47
Yea mate. i do agree with Coutinho, Henderson, Can midfield being our best and that might very well happen eventually. as u said we have plenty of decent options now. but that's the thing, we have a squad to pick from. they might all get there chance. but its just a matter of the players nailing down there spot now. if some players don't get a chance then hopefully its because whoever is picked is playing to well to drop. but its also a bit of a juggling act. how much time do we give Winaldum to adjust to new surroundings.? if we give a player like Grujic a chance and he has a shocker, do we drop him because we have other good options.? Or do you give him a run of games because he is young and new to the team and needs time to adjust.? tricky i think.

30 Aug 2016 04:15:00
That's the tricky bit - if you drop people too quickly they never settle and shine, but how long do you stick it out?

As Klopp himself said, it's nice to know the best players right now, the trick is knowing the best players in the future.

30 Aug 2016 05:08:23
Nothing more than lots of running from what I've seen so far Hamilton and agreed. Interesting points brought up Zimbo and Smurf, both give a lot of food for thought. Like you said quite difficult to know when to change things Zimbo, wijnaldum probably has more rope due to being new but neither have impressed so far. Agreed Smurf, but it's only wiji and Lallana who've been given chances, so I feel Grujic, can, Brannagan if he stays should get a few chances to see if they can improve upon the performances of the two aforementioned players, but yes it is tricky to decide when to change things.

30 Aug 2016 06:45:32
I don't think wujnaldum has been terrible. Especially playing in a deeper role, where for me he'd be more impactful higher up the pitch.

30 Aug 2016 07:23:56
Just playing devils advocate (as Llalana doesn't impress me much and Wijnaldum is yet to sparkle) but they both do an enormous amount of running around. Although it may not be the most productive it contributes to the overall team effort, and the same eleven with these two replaced by Can and Grujic might not necessarily produce a winning formula as they cover less ground.
Im not suggesting that a couple of headless chickens in midfield are vital to success but Klopp is obviously favouring high energy and mileage on the pitch for his system to work.

30 Aug 2016 07:26:29
Wijnaldum to me hasn't done much but it's very early days so his situation is still too early to judge.

Llalana on the other hand is a very vey good player but he's had plenty of time in the side and he doesn't seem to be making the strides necessary to justify keeping Sturridge, Origi Or even Grujic out of the side.

I think we should play a proper striker, move Firmino wide and drop Coutinho deeper to replace Llalana in the attacking midfielder role. Couts is a far more creative and incisive player and has the skills to unlock sides and/ or play the kind of passes that get attackers in behind (as we saw in 13/ 14).

If we want a more defensive setup the Firmino upfront, Coutinho wide and with any of Can, Stewart or Grujic in midfield with Hendo/ Wijnaldum should add more steel in the Defence.

30 Aug 2016 08:26:49
For me wujnaldum has been quite poor and I'm wondering why he was signed, suppose time will tell. But at this moment he and lallana should be benched.

30 Aug 2016 11:51:43
The problem with Lallana is he just doesn't seem to be able to see the pass quick enough, he is very nice on the ball at times but i'd rather him play a through ball than do a nice turn then turn back and result in the ball going backwards rather than forwards. i'm not his biggest fan but i still want him to do well and score goals and prove me wrong but so far he has fallen a bit short. I do like his workrate a lot but for me he's not strong enough in MF, he's not the biggest but that doesn't make you for not being able to put a challenge in.

GW is very new so it's hard to judge. But so far hasn't done much at all really. Looks lost in Klopp's system and then you partner that with Lallana who i think is better in an attacking role rather than a central role, Hendo gets overrun in a 3 man MF.

30 Aug 2016 13:11:24
Alistair, that is my problem. Lallana and Wiji cost a combined 50m and all we seem to get from them is one runs a lot with little to no end product while the other is an expensive Joe Allen who keeps possession (Allen is better than him technically in this regard) and looks lost in CM. That is what is doing my head in. Why was he signed? We might as well have kept Allen then. He scored 11 goals because he was played further forward on the left of midfield were he can come inside and or make late runs into the box. I will give him time but it doesn`t look good. As for Lallana, he`s been here for his 3rd season now and STILL no improvement nor consistent end product. He runs a lot. Well, so does Firmino, Couts, Can, Mane and Henderson yet they offer more than him going forward so what is his excuse?

29 Aug 2016 22:58:18
I turn 50 on the day of the West Ham match. I've never been to Anfield or England for that matter and can't think of a better way to spend my 50th. does anyone know if sites like livefootballtickets. com is reliable? I've got to get to that match.

30 Aug 2016 00:39:47
Firstly happy 50th for December mate.
Personally I wouldn't rely on those sites. Try contacting the club well in advance, I'm sure they can help.

30 Aug 2016 12:19:22
The price of the tickets on these sites are disgusting. Go for hospitality. Guaranteed ticket plus a nice meal in one of Anfield's restaurants before the game. Great way of celebrating your 50th!

29 Aug 2016 22:33:11
Well that's Balotelli gone, Nice it is then.

30 Aug 2016 00:18:24
That's nice to hear.

30 Aug 2016 00:30:40
well that just takes the biscuit! sorry I couldn't resist.

30 Aug 2016 00:42:35
very, very Nice.

29 Aug 2016 18:56:24
Hey Reds and Eds,

Just an update on Danny Ward's form at Huddersfield Town. I was not at their home game against Barnsley hence the lack of update last week but I can give news on the Wolves game this Saturday.

Ward kept his first clean sheet for the Terriers in a 1-0 victory, and boy did he earn it!

Having gone behind, Wolves didn't lay down against Huddersfield, and two saves in particular from Ward stand out in my memory of the game!

The first was more instinctive than anything else. An attack by Wolves saw a shot come in from a tight angle, but Ward had spread himself well and the ball rebounded off him and away. He may not have known much about it, but his positioning to cover his goal was good and he made the angle ever tighter by spreading himself well.

The second big save was the stand out one though. I recommend you see it on YouTube if you can!

A late Wolves corner was swung in from the right, in swinging, and met by a Wolves head, free and barely 8 yards or so from goal. Ward appeared helpless, but he quickly dived and stuck out a left hand to party the goal bound strike away. A truly top save from our young 'keeper! Parried the ball away from goal as well rather than back down the middle!

Aside that, Wolves did strike the post in a shot that did see Ward beaten but it was a well earned clean sheet from the Welshman!

He looked confident and assured, much like Huddersfield Town in general this season!

Hope you like the update, and Eds, keep up the top work you put into this site!

Cheers all!

29 Aug 2016 20:27:19
Class save. He's actually got his weight shifted to go the other direction just before he makes it, so he did really well.

29 Aug 2016 20:49:32
Cheers Reidy, nice update, much appreciated 😘.

29 Aug 2016 20:54:45
Thanks, Reid. I think we`ve got a very good GK with Ward here at LFC.

29 Aug 2016 17:14:45
Any special treats for us eds?

28 Aug 2016 19:02:44
Ed002, are Crystal Palace interested in Sakho?

{Ed002's Note - They made an enquiry with West Ham for Sakho - but not, as far as OI know with Liverpool.}

29 Aug 2016 18:39:27
I really do not understand the eagerness to get rid of our best CB. Surely part of a manager job is to manage players.
Imo it leaves is short of quality and expearince with only lovren and a injury prone matip. Gomez, whilst a good prospect can't yet be trusted to be a regular and klavan looks suspect against pace and my thoughts was he was a back up.

{Ed002's Note - Klopp doesn't want him.}

29 Aug 2016 18:51:21
injury prone matip? the guy amassed over 250 games in Germany, sakho's problems are all of his own making, he has threw away his Liverpool career due to his own stupidity, plus we have klavlan as back up.

29 Aug 2016 19:59:34
If anyone is injury prone it's Sakho.

29 Aug 2016 22:56:31
We've replaced skrtel with matip to be competition, when Klopp decided sakho wasn't the one he wanted we got in klavan. Toure is effectively replaced by Gomez. It's done.

30 Aug 2016 01:10:03
Sahko messed up and he showed no remorse by continuing to screw up hence, he has to deal with the consequences.

29 Aug 2016 11:32:26
Hi Ed001

If you have the time.

I would love to get your opinion on the top Elp managers. Take away the money at each club, how would you rate them in terms of tatical knowledge, man management and improving players. Rate Klopp, Wenger, Pep, Jose, Conte, Potch, koeman.

Thanks.

{Ed001's Note - that is really difficult. I will try. I think Ranieri deserves to be in there too.

Klopp is a builder. He builds a side, but it takes time. It is not an over night thing. He looks for players that can be developed into top players, rather than ready made stars. Tactically he is not the best, far from the worst, but he is too intent on entertaining the fans (which I personally prefer) to get involved in just tactically breaking down the opposition, in the way Jose and Conte look to do. He wants to put a team out to nullify the opposition by not giving them time and space to play their game. I love how he wants it to be a team, not just a team of players, but a team of players and fans all pulling in the same direction.

Wenger was light years ahead of everyone when he came in to the Prem. He was using the latest scientific techniques etc, while everyone else was still in the 70s and 80s. Trouble is, he hasn't kept up with the pace of development and so he is no longer ahead of the rest, in many cases he is behind. Still, he has performed a minor miracle to keep Arsenal consistently top four over the last few years. Tactically he went stale, too many similar players in his teams with little variation to the play, now he has got carried away buying powerful players in every window! It is like he is collecting, for a few years it was attacking midfielders, now he has got bored so started collecting defensive midfielders. As for improving players, he is too loyal to the wrong ones, the likes of Wilshire and Diaby, like an over-indulgent parent, so the ones that could have been developed end up stagnating. A really nice guy, highly intelligent, but, in my opinion, he just got a little too stuck in a rut there and needed this summer of investment to revitalise him.

Guardiola is the hardest to judge, had a team so much better than the rest at Barca initially, by the team he left they were barely a match for the two Madrid sides. It is arguable whether that was down to him or the clash of egos he had with Messi which led to him leaving. However, what is not arguable is that he took over the best side in Europe, when he went to Bayern, playing the best football, and turned them into a borefest to watch and oversaw them diminish as a power in Europe. Again though, it is arguable whether that was down to him or the improvement elsewhere, personally I think he is just obscenely overrated, but this is where we will really find out. He has taken over a mainly average Man City side, spent ridiculous amounts of money on mainly average players, but he will be expected, at a bare minimum, to win league titles. I know people are getting all excited over the system he is playing, but I fail to see anything special about it. It is far too complicated for my liking, with little need of those complications, that is why his teams get worse over time, in my opinion. He overcomplicates everything, and that leads to mistakes. He is just lucky that he had the best players, so his team's mistakes were less likely to get punished. Has his coaching ever really improved anyone? I am not so sure. The next few season's we will really get to see. It is all very well saying Messi got better, but was that down to Pep or Messi? The fringe players never improved under him, that is for sure.

Mourinho is a short term winner at the expense of the long term future. He is always intent on winning, but there is no plan for the future of the team he is at. Tactically he is excellent, in that he will set his teams out with a plan to stifle the opposition and it is usually a successful plan. He is far too negative and relies too much on power and play acting/diving/cheating for my liking. His attitude is to win at all costs, with no compunction at all about bending or breaking the rules. Everyone treats his hiding in the clothes basket while at Chelsea as funny, for me it just highlights how little respect he has for the rules of the game or his opponents. I find him and his attitude distasteful. He has shown no interest in developing players, so it is impossible to judge, he does get more out of the players he has than most, but he never looks to bring on youngsters and develop them. He will have to do that now, so it will be interesting to see how he gets on.

Conte is not my kind of manager at all. Tactically limited, his Juve side struggled badly in Europe against any kind of quality. He is more of a firefighter. Someone to come in, steady the ship, get it moving the right way and then move him aside for someone to actually take the club on. Developing players is something that is difficult to judge him on, he really has not had to do that.

Pochettino is a decent enough manager, but he has not shown me anything to think he has the makings of a winner. He is very limited tactically, though his tactic is well drilled and works well usually, he very rarely, if ever looks to vary it. Developing players is difficult to judge him on too, he started off well at Saints, but then looked to buy players, rather than trust youngsters. He is doing a similar thing at Spurs, looking to bring in players, rather than attempt to develop the youngsters there. His dependence on physical prowess over quality on the ball is a hindrance to his team as well.

Koeman had struggled, since leaving the Eredivisie, then went into a good Southampton set up and took it on a level. He is decent tactically, but no more than decent and gets caught out by opponents far too often for my liking. Without the strong set up he inherited at Saints, it will be interesting to see how he does. He will certainly be given the tools to succeed, as Steve Walsh will find him the players. It is up to him to get it right on the pitch. I don't expect him to look to develop youngsters much either, he also looked to buy rather than develop within when he could.

Ranieri is a pure man manager, who looks to get the absolute maximum from his players by setting up his tactics to suit them and concentrating on building a team spirit second to none. He keeps things simple, he plays to his strengths and I love that about him.

29 Aug 2016 12:27:37
thanks for your time Ed. Nice read and i agree with you on Pep (for now) . Just wish managers like him and Jose to some degree were given a mediocre team with limited funds to really see how good they are. That in some respects is why i hate every one slagging off English managers like Big sam and others who play the long ball and rougher tactics because generally they have to. They cannot outplay the big teams so of course for me they should adopt a style that makes it difficult.

Who would you say was the best tactical manager you have seen? Personally, not sure about tactics but Brain Clough at his best for me was amazing.

{Ed001's Note - Paisley. He was light years ahead of everyone else at the time that is why he won everything. People just didn't keep as close eye on formations etc back then, so they think he just played a 4-4-2 and did nothing else. He played so many different variations of it that you would never hear the end of it if he managed now. He was a genuine genius of a football man.}

29 Aug 2016 12:52:41
Jose did really well at Porto with limited funds. Taking the team from 5th to 1st and winning the Uefa Cup. Then winning the league again the next season and winning the Champions League. I think £10 million each season was his spend which could be high enough in the Portugese league but very little money for winning 2 European trophies. He has talent, no doubt but he can be a bit of a knob at times lol.

{Ed001's Note - it wasn't limited in terms of Portugese football though. I do agree though, he is a winner. He is also a nice guy who gladly goes out of his way to help others outside of the matches themselves. It is just at the games he is thoroughly dislikeable.}

29 Aug 2016 13:10:37
Great reply and post ed. Interesting read.

29 Aug 2016 13:12:39
only thing i don't agree is conte. Conte is top class manager with great reputation throughout europe. His players are willing to die for him. he is tactician but he also knows how to smash teams with less quality. I wouldn't blame his european failiures only to him but to juventus board too. he just needed 2 more seasons to take them where they are now. klopp, simeone, tuchel, schmidt, emery and conte are my favourite managers all round.

{Ed001's Note - if you say so, but his replacement never struggled to succeed in Europe where he failed. Conte is far from top class, he is another overly tactical manager.}

29 Aug 2016 13:35:58
Does Klopp not alter his style to suit the opposition? I thought that Unai Emery completely done us in the second half. Also, I think players need to make their own decisions at times at the back, instead of trying to pass it constantly when surounded, just smash it, sounds bad but better than conceding posession in a dangerous area (Clyne vs Burnely) .

{Ed001's Note - sometimes he does yes.}

29 Aug 2016 13:39:10
Excellent wrap Ed. Should be a very very interesting year with some big reputations on the line!

29 Aug 2016 13:40:48
Only one thing to say ed, brilliant read and a brilliant question initially!

{Ed001's Note - isn't that two things?}

29 Aug 2016 13:43:33
Thanks Ed, very informative read.

29 Aug 2016 14:25:03
One of the best things I've read for a while, just one question if I may?
Was it shanks or Paisley who altered or style after we got hammered in Europe, think it was an eastern European team that beat us?

{Ed001's Note - before my time, but I am sure it was Shanks that altered it.}

29 Aug 2016 14:39:51
What a superb reply 001, great read. Thanks so much.

Who are your top three managers of now, from any league? Are there any which tick all your boxes, as each of the above had one or two downsides.

{Ed001's Note - I don't think there are any managers that tick all the boxes these days, they are all either operating on a shoestring and so forced to develop or they spend rather than develop.

For me, the top 3, though they are all flawed in many ways, are Simeone, Bielsa and probably Allegri. Allegri's success in Europe is why I will lean towards him right now. Simeone works miracles on a comparatively limited budget. Bielsa is just the best coach in the world right now.}

29 Aug 2016 14:59:42
I feel so lucky so have found this site so many years ago. I love reading the Ed's insight almost as I love the witty put downs.

29 Aug 2016 15:31:07
Cheers 001. Very insightful read and you've got a class top three there bud.

29 Aug 2016 16:03:04
Fascinating read - good question OP and thanks ed001 for your views, interesting stuff.

29 Aug 2016 18:58:45
I agree with Ed001 - Paisley was a tactical genius. he was also quiet, didn't hog the limelight and also absolutely ruthless. He wouldn't think twice about getting rid of a big player and replacing them with something he thought better. He even sold first team players without them even knowing they were up for sale to start with. I think it was Terry McDermott he called over to the side of the training ground and said 'i want you to go and speak to those men over there'. 'Why' says Terry Mac. 'Because I've just sold you to them' replies Quiet Bob.

29 Aug 2016 19:02:36
So true what you say about Pep making Bayern boring, saw them play Hoffenheim last year and could barely keep my eyes open in the second half although all the german beer was probably having an effect at that point.

29 Aug 2016 21:04:25
Honestly when Pep was at Barcelona if it had not been for Messi or Villa it would have been very very boring, Villa actually would look to score outside of the box and well we know what Messi did.

29 Aug 2016 22:11:43
to not win a champions league with Bayern was criminal imo, he had no excuses especially with that team.

29 Aug 2016 23:02:14
I think ribery said that pep looks to make the most simple things in football more difficult, and he overthinks things that don't need to be.

29 Aug 2016 21:18:07
Ed001

If you were the owner of any club no matter who and had the choice if any of the onesathat you mentioned who would that one be?

Really would like to know your answer, interesting read on the managers named by the way.

{Ed001's Note - it really depends on the club, every club has its own character. I think Klopp is the perfect fit for Liverpool, but I don't think he would suit many other clubs in English football. Bielsa would be great if you had a lot of youngsters and only wanted a short term coach, as he would end up quitting after a season, but it would be an incredible season. Each has their own merits and it would really depend on what you needed as to which manager would be best.}

30 Aug 2016 01:31:28
Great read, Ed. I agree with you on Conte. He was awful in Europe and didn't even make it out of the group stages while Allegri (who I love since he won the Serie A with Milan after finishing 16th with Cagliari the year before) took the very same team to the CL final the year after Conte left. I also agree with the facts about Mou, Pep and Ranieri. Pep took a fantastic Bayern team that won everything under Heynkes with free flowing attacking football and turned them into a snooze fest and a perennial failure in the CL. He will have a rude awakening in the PL, I reckon. As for Bielsa, he's wonderful but has got a few loose screws if you get what I'm saying.

{Ed001's Note - Bielsa is a mad genius. I love his work. Look at what he did while in charge of Chile, turned them into one of the powerhouses of South America, brought through Sanchez, Vidal etc. Trouble is that madness has got stronger in recent years.}

29 Aug 2016 11:23:47
i was just wondering does anyone see coutinho as part of midfield three? can hin and hendo would be good mix and it allows us to play both sturridge and firmino. mane ofc third man in that line. I just think he is sometimes wasted in wing position. Give him runners in front of him and he will flourish. under Rodgers he had some excellent games in that position with hendo and stevie with him i don't see why can hendo and cou can't replicate that. He is so good in thight areas and our ball would be faster and more direct and he can play defense. Just my idea i think he can offer lot more than lallana there and we have great covers in gini lallana grujic and stewart.

29 Aug 2016 11:58:36
Yes i Definately think so. Henderson and Coutinho were awesome infront of gerrard a few years ago. put them infront of Emre and have Firmino and Mane either side of Sturridge. Seems a quality set up to me.

29 Aug 2016 12:02:20
Sure, I used to envision him as a playmaker; however, I am not too sure if he has the right mentality for that anymore. For several years he has been trying to develop into a "star", by trying to score more goals and shouldering more burden. Usually this doesn't work, hence his inconsistency. I partially blame BR for that, since he wanted to turn him into the "next great thing" after the Suarez departure. It led to positive development - he is scoring WORLD CLASS goals and winning games on his own - FROM TIME TO TIME. I kind of miss the excellent playmaker he used to be in his early days though.

So, to answer in short, he will be much better than Lallana offensively in that position, but I am not sure if he can contribute enough defensively, and most importantly - I think he will start to sulk if Klopp would move him back there.

29 Aug 2016 12:02:51
". and he can play defense. ", what a load of claptrap. Coutinho doesn't have the physical attributes or complete skill set to play centre midfield, putting Coutinho in place of either Lallana or Wijnaldum is a like for like change we'd still be lightweight and would have teams running through our soft centre.

29 Aug 2016 12:56:51
You can have him hendo and can though in a 3.

This brings it back to wijnaldum being a stupid purchase when he could of just moved cou were gw plays.

Cou was awesome on the side of the diamond. got so much mote time and space.

. Origi
Mane firmino
Cou hendo
can.

29 Aug 2016 13:18:20
he can play defense when he played in midfield he had some great tackles (watch everton match when we trashed them, arsenal, spurs) . he kept things simple and was instrumental in our flow. Why do people think that being physical makes good midfielder. is iniesta psysical? Seen rakitic and modric in person couple times they are not psysical players. he would have can and hendo to win duels and cou is stronger than lot of us think. I agree with drigan on every letter.

29 Aug 2016 13:22:27
teams run through us because we play rubbish sometimes not because we are lightweight. our midfield is not lighweight can grujic and hendo are big boys, maybe we miss some pure techical ability to control better. whole team defends whole team attacks!

29 Aug 2016 15:31:57
Our midfield last season and so far this season has been lightweight and ineffective, and results back that up. Furthermore none of Henderson, Can or Grujic are defensive midfielders. That's why teams run through us, because we are lightweights when it comes to being able to stop teams in midfield, we're incapable of managing out a game or grind out a difficult result. Every top side plays with a defensively minded midfielder to balance out the attacking flair and protect the back four.

29 Aug 2016 17:29:00
Milner playing left back to cover Can and Hendersons defensive frailties. Don't like how he cuts in from the left but prefer it over Moreno bombing forward losing the ball and leaving the opposing teams right winger completely free. Lucas (on his day mind) for me would be ideal in Cans position as our attack can get the job done we just need a bit of composure. Not sure about his fitness however.

29 Aug 2016 23:34:11
Love to see a midfield of
Can/ Stewart
Hendo. Can/ grunja?
Perm any combo of attacking mids/ strikers ahead of that three I'd be happy, not many teams would play through us I don't think.

29 Aug 2016 08:40:24
Ante Coric gave interview to croatian media last night after he scored first goal in away win for dinamo and he said that it is truth that his transfer to liverpool was done and only medical was to be done but as dinamo qualified for champions league he decided to stay one more season where he will play constantly and grow as a player. smart kid! not running after money, all he wants is play football. if we want to sign this sort of talent we have to be in chapions league next season.

29 Aug 2016 05:58:13
i don't think we should really judge the team till 10 games. i think we have a good gameplan and klopp is certain on what players he wants to play. In a while results shall follow too. But till then we could do with supporting the club.
I get it all other club bar say arsenal have strengthened and look very good. and man city, man united and Chelsea have got it right from the go. But we haven't and we should give it time. the football isn't bad. just some old problems still exist. dare i say we miss the x-facotr still. but i think firmino or mane will provide it as the season goes on. let's just back the team patiently while also paying no attention to what others are achieving around us. We have a good team a good manager and we will get it right in some weeks. I think i will give it time till Christmas before calling off this season. It is just too early to nag our socks off people.

29 Aug 2016 07:54:00
If we win 5 or more of our next 7 then after 10 we will be in a great position! Very doable and I'm with you 10 games is the minimum you should start judging after really.

29 Aug 2016 08:48:00
For the million time - sharing disappointment or frustration here from the team results is not 'not supporting' it. People here who go to games always support the team on the pitch and want it desperately to win. You can support the team and still say here we played rubbish and you can hope we take the title and still predict here that realistically, we finish outside the top 4. Nothing to do with lack of support.

Re waiting after 10 games. It is very possible we may improve later this season. We had some good runs last year and in the year before. Will it be enough to get us anything by then though? This season looks very different to last. Last year all the big teams struggled with consistency. This year at least three hit the ground running.

29 Aug 2016 10:05:21
Why judge after 10? Why not 15. Or 18? It's arbitrary whatever way you look at it.

The end of the season is the time to judge whether the team has had a successful season and the crass knee jerk reactions can be avoided. clearly though, that won't even last 10 games on this site.

29 Aug 2016 10:34:49
As for the 10 games I'd just say that as a timeframe as we should at that stage be looking to have a settled strongest 11 with everyone coming to the peak of their fitness. Early season will always throw up a few wild card results.

29 Aug 2016 11:03:28
Agree with Marshy, you have to play every team home and away to get a fair reflection.

29 Aug 2016 11:17:04
I'd agree with the 10 game minimum. It's a quarter of the season gone by, and you can base opinions on a little more basis and foundation. Of course, it's better to do it even after 20 games (reinforcing what Marshy said about it all being arbitrary), but there's no sense or logic to sounding the panic sirens and calling out for the manager's head after only 3 games.

29 Aug 2016 02:27:08
Could any of the Ed's shine a light on any of the Luan rumors. The source reporting it is supposedly reliable but I was wondering if you had heard anything.

Also talk of coric?

P. s why can't we sign a left back?

{Ed001's Note - this has all been dealt with ages ago.}