I’m hoping the owners don’t read this BUT… Similar to how the NFL has an OC & a DC with how flowing we are going forward under Maresca compared to how open we are at the back. Maybe it’s time to innovate and be the first?

After the last few seasons I think I was past caring who our next manager was. But the noise around him being rigid with no plan B and pretty dull football (most of which seemed to come from Leicester fans -possibly bitter) didn’t exactly help fill me with much optimism.

Have to say I do feel quite good about it now as we have, if nothing else, been largely entertaining to watch, and scored goals and won games.

But there is quite a lot of sensible comment above reminding me that it isn’t yet time to be getting the open top bus ready. But it definitely feels a more enjoyable period than we’ve had a good while.

 

Must admit, I was underwhelmed by his appointment and he had a lot to prove to turn me around..but he has started well. 
 

It’s a long season and we need to see what happens because he started well at Leicester and then slowed down/struggled mid season. 
 

Let’s keep our feet on the ground and see what happens over the course of the season. But he’s doing well so far. 

1 hour ago, Sconnie Blue said:

 

The Arsenal game is where he's going to have to really earn his money.

Well the horror run is almost here .. everything up until now is good but could be down the drain if we don’t do well in that run..

Pool - away

Newcastle - home

utd - away

Arsenal - home

Villa - home

Spurs - away

9 points are a bare minimum for me .. and anything above that a bonus..

 

 

6 hours ago, Jangz said:

Well the horror run is almost here .. everything up until now is good but could be down the drain if we don’t do well in that run..

Pool - away

Newcastle - home

utd - away

Arsenal - home

Villa - home

Spurs - away

9 points are a bare minimum for me .. and anything above that a bonus..

We had 7 points from those fixtures in 23/24. Wins vs Newcastle and Spurs. Draw vs Arsenal, and defeats in the rest. 

I'm expecting we will do better than that, as having more or less a full squad available should be a difference-maker, as should the additional quality in attack. Liverpool away is the only game I'm a little nervous about, albeit they've only had one game against a side currently in the top half so far, which they lost ... at home ... 🙂 

 

11 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

 

These internet people are really stealing a living. 'Set piece coach involved in set piece coaching'. 

2 hours ago, Sexyfootball said:

We had 7 points from those fixtures in 23/24. Wins vs Newcastle and Spurs. Draw vs Arsenal, and defeats in the rest. 

I'm expecting we will do better than that, as having more or less a full squad available should be a difference-maker, as should the additional quality in attack. Liverpool away is the only game I'm a little nervous about, albeit they've only had one game against a side currently in the top half so far, which they lost ... at home ... 🙂 

 

I’m not convinced that our defence is good enough to keep top teams out. The team will get punished if they are not firm enough. 

8 minutes ago, JM7 said:

I’m not convinced that our defence is good enough to keep top teams out. The team will get punished if they are not firm enough. 

We will concede in all those matches but I believe we either match whatever we concede or outscore them. 
Welcome to “Chaos Ball” 😂😂

2 hours ago, PloKoon13 said:

These internet people are really stealing a living. 'Set piece coach involved in set piece coaching'. 

Exactly. I saw it yesterday and was very surprised at such top class insight.

2 hours ago, PloKoon13 said:

These internet people are really stealing a living. 'Set piece coach involved in set piece coaching'. 

Its mind blowing stuff isnt it..

I like the guy but Sanchez will be the weak link in that run!

Hit a ball from distance and he’s probably got it covered, anything close to him or getting caught on passing out from the back and he morphs into the Michael Flatley Riverdance!

14 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

 

I blocked that account chats too much sh*te

4 hours ago, Sexyfootball said:

We had 7 points from those fixtures in 23/24. Wins vs Newcastle and Spurs. Draw vs Arsenal, and defeats in the rest. 

I'm expecting we will do better than that, as having more or less a full squad available should be a difference-maker, as should the additional quality in attack. Liverpool away is the only game I'm a little nervous about, albeit they've only had one game against a side currently in the top half so far, which they lost ... at home ... 🙂 

 

I have newcastle and villa as my wins at home and then i am hoping one more from any of the others. Apart from this there are 6  more matches and 12/13 points from them will take our tally to 35 points.. Double it and we make top 4.  For us to do any better we need do the hard yard.. i believe 80 points will get us 2/3rd and 90 wins us the league.. 

48 minutes ago, Mod said:

I like the guy but Sanchez will be the weak link in that run!

Hit a ball from distance and he’s probably got it covered, anything close to him or getting caught on passing out from the back and he morphs into the Michael Flatley Riverdance!

This run will be a test for everyone. Not just Sanchez. 

It's great going into matches properly nervous again vs just expecting the worse. 

18 hours ago, Argo said:

The Arsenal game is where he's going to have to really earn his money.

We simply have to block their runners who will do everything to block our keeper and any movement in the 6 yard box.  3 or 4 Arsenal players have no intention of playing the ball during corners.  This shouldn't be that difficult for teams to wise up to. 

On 30/09/2024 at 02:37, Jangz said:

Well the horror run is almost here .. everything up until now is good but could be down the drain if we don’t do well in that run..

Pool - away

Newcastle - home

utd - away

Arsenal - home

Villa - home

Spurs - away

9 points are a bare minimum for me .. and anything above that a bonus..

 

 

Arsenal and spurs...I don't mind if we lose to anyone else but I can't stand losing to them. Next step down is Liverpool.

I tell you what, we better be very careful about playing out from the back against Liverpool with the way they press teams. Don't need to gift them a goal, it'll be so demoralising. 

Actually now I will be disappointed if we don't get anything up there, I wouldn't have said that a few months ago.

Come on you BLUES !

3 hours ago, The Rising Sun said:

I tell you what, we better be very careful about playing out from the back against Liverpool with the way they press teams. Don't need to gift them a goal, it'll be so demoralising. 

Actually now I will be disappointed if we don't get anything up there, I wouldn't have said that a few months ago.

Come on you BLUES !

The thought of Sanchez vs that press is worrying 

I’ll never get my head around the insistence of managers to play out from the back every single time.

Maresca stated there might be another 10 instances because that’s the way he wants to play. Fair enough but why not launch a long ball now and again especially with the pace we have up front?

Sanchez’s attempt at the pass to Caicedo for the 2nd Brighton goal shows a real lack of ability in the basics and that’s really worrying going forward.

There are 3 teams with players good enough to play out like that and everyone else tries to copy it with players that just can't do it.

10 hours ago, 19seventyone said:

Maresca stated there might be another 10 instances because that’s the way he wants to play. Fair enough but why not launch a long ball now and again especially with the pace we have up front?

I wonder, (or maybe it's just wishful thinking) if Maresca states that to make teams think we will always play out from the back, inviting the press and opening up the possibility of the long ball. It was successful against Wolves and he might want Sanchez to try it if teams are playing such an aggressive press. As you say, with our pace up front we have more than enough ability to be successful with the odd route 1 ball.

Wonder if we will yet again pull players from international duty just to have them fit and ready for this run.

13 hours ago, 19seventyone said:

I’ll never get my head around the insistence of managers to play out from the back every single time.

Maresca stated there might be another 10 instances because that’s the way he wants to play. Fair enough but why not launch a long ball now and again especially with the pace we have up front?

Sanchez’s attempt at the pass to Caicedo for the 2nd Brighton goal shows a real lack of ability in the basics and that’s really worrying going forward.

Even Pep and City made some hilarious mistakes when they first started doing it properly.

It's all about ratio, if for one cock up we're getting 10 strong attacks out of it.....

Edited October 2, 20241 yr by Argo