robin_unreliant

I'm not sure why anyone was expecting a big improvement when we have only signed free transfers from lower league clubs. Naismmith an exception and had a good season at this level last year but I think has largely played below championship hasn't he? 

18 minutes ago, AppyDAZE said:

And if we're to learn something from the first two games, it has to be how not to waste Alex Scott.

The only memory I have of him from today's game is him standing on the half-way line at their corners.

 

Did you not see the fantastic through ball he played in the first half? That is my peak memory of how well he played in the first half. Seemed to drop back deeper in the second where he was less influential. 

17 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Very poor by Zak to let Simms cut back inside, but his defensive display first half was very good. He bailed out Naismith twice.

But he’s the scapegoat?

Both Naismith and Klose were one-on-one with a player and came away with the ball at times in the 2nd half. Zak stood off and gave him a nice easy time to get off his shot. Just not reliable enough at this level. 

5 minutes ago, chinapig said:

True but we tend to make little effort to prevent crosses, a problem we have had under successive managers.

Agree. Has annoyed me for years how easily teams get crosses in against us. I thought NP would sort it when he signed a new RWB. He seems to like putting non-defenders in there though. 

1 minute ago, Red Exile said:

Have you seen the goal? What is anyone supposed to do about that? I've been critical in the past but we looked fine today. Extremely unlucky. There'll be days when we get the luck.

I appreciate it was a fluke. We found all sorts of ways to concede injury time goals last season. I hope it has changed and this was purely bad luck. 

5 minutes ago, chinapig said:

I wouldn't say mental weakness but yet another injury time goal conceded thanks to a failure to close down is a continuation of last season's pattern.

Let's hope that is the last one but when it happens repeatedly it seems less and less like chance. God knows how you put a stop to it though.

Exactly. Constantly conceding late goals - surely must be down to mental attitude. 

It isn't just bad luck when you try to sit back on a 1-0 lead. Seems the mental weakness is still very much there. 

1 minute ago, IAmNick said:

Did anyone in the first meltdown timing thread have "Vyner starting"?

Think you might have a good chance to win if so!

Is Wilson not 100% fit? Slightly surprised he doesn't start, based on comments from pre-season games. 

11 minutes ago, GrahamC said:

No Wilson today, Klose only a sub.

Wilson not catching the injury jinx already I hope. 

Lee's legendary attention to every little detail seems to have slipped a bit here. I expect the grass was exactly the right length though. 

We've only added a few free transfers to the squad that struggled for most of last season. As it stands I'd think 14-15th would be a good finish. 

12 minutes ago, CiderHeadDan said:

Chukwumeke is special

If any of them are in England first team in a few years, he looks the most likely. 

1 hour ago, Rudolf Hucker said:

1.87m so just over 6ft. 20 years old 
 

I think Max suffers from not being tall enough to dominate big strikers. Hence he flaps a bit at crosses when put under pressure. Or that is my impression - stats maybe prove me wrong?

Is this guy any taller than him if he is 1.87m? I'm 1.88 and wouldn't think that is tall enough with some of the lanky players in the league these days. 

Give this squad to a top coach like, for instance, Pochettino and we'd have a realistic chance of World Cup glory. With Southgate we all know it will be another let down. 

Sir Gareth walks on water with the FA. No chance of him going before we embarrass the country at the World Cup. 

Hahahahaha. England have been complete shite. Deserve to lose frankly. 

50 minutes ago, Lanterne Rouge said:

A bit like Budleigh Salterton then?

Oi! I live in Devon and there's nowt wrong with Budleigh. My favourite walk this time of year is from there to Exmouth along the coastal path. Great view, nothing like the road to hell. 

3 minutes ago, B1ackbird said:

FM Bowens poor....

Championship was his level really. I'm not sure what the fuss is about Bellingham either. He may be an impressive athlete for his age but what does he contribute? A bit like Sancho, only ever done anything in the German league. 

Commentator: 'England have a tactical problem here'. 

Yeah - his name is Gareth Southgate. 

Michael Owen seeming to agree that Southgate is just too cautious in the way he sets the team up. I can accept that I know f all compared to the England coach, but when he agrees with my view I start to think maybe Gareth is holding us back. 

1 minute ago, Rossi the Robin said:

It’s basically the same formation- the players have to force the pace. Easier said than done 

Except that they obviously play to the instructions given to them by the coach. Which appear to be safety first, covering our defence.. 

3 minutes ago, Rossi the Robin said:

Who would you play instead in the middle? 

I would rather we played 4-3-3 than 4-5-1.Grealish and Sterling should be further forward where their strengths are maximised. 

4 minutes ago, Rossi the Robin said:

Can’t win can he. Picks the fans choice and still gets criticised 

It’s a good free flowing game, chances for both sides

 

He's included different players but stuck with two holding midfielders. I get that our defence isn't great but we need a win. At what point will he actually pick an attacking formation?? 

What a snoozefest from England. Southgate is such a boring coach. His middle name is surely 'safe'. Sterling and Abraham had no impact and I rate them both. I expect Gareth's answer will be to bring on another holding midfielder. 

10 minutes ago, Silvio Dante said:

A young striker with huge upside is a totally different matter.

People have talked about Scott and HNM as possibly attracting bids. Antoine always seemed to me to be far more likely to go. For me, he is the one we can least afford to lose. A lot of our goal threat relied on him. Which is why he will be in demand. 

I really worry about the impact of losing him. We will need to replace him with someone with pace and power up front or a lot of the attacking threat will be gone.