I don’t see our football as that ‘controlled’ tbh. There are times when we look wide open, definitely on the counter attack.

People see us knocking it about at the back as controlled when most of the time the opposition are the ones in control. Our slow approach has allowed them to get set defensively and they let us have it on the half way line because there’s no danger.

They are then happy with a point or waiting for us to make a mistake to get the 3.

9 hours ago, C3blue said:

I don’t see our football as that ‘controlled’ tbh. There are times when we look wide open, definitely on the counter attack.

People see us knocking it about at the back as controlled when most of the time the opposition are the ones in control. Our slow approach has allowed them to get set defensively and they let us have it on the half way line because there’s no danger.

They are then happy with a point or waiting for us to make a mistake to get the 3.

Exactly what I have said we take so long to move the ball that the opposition have a full day to get into their defensive shape while we faff around thinking we are in control. Crystal Palace shows how they controlled the match with their defensive game plan. We just huffed and puffed but not in a million years would we blow their house down.

4 hours ago, C3blue said:

I don’t see our football as that ‘controlled’ tbh. There are times when we look wide open, definitely on the counter attack.

People see us knocking it about at the back as controlled when most of the time the opposition are the ones in control. Our slow approach has allowed them to get set defensively and they let us have it on the half way line because there’s no danger.

They are then happy with a point or waiting for us to make a mistake to get the 3.

2 hours ago, El regreso said:

Exactly what I have said we take so long to move the ball that the opposition have a full day to get into their defensive shape while we faff around thinking we are in control. Crystal Palace shows how they controlled the match with their defensive game plan. We just huffed and puffed but not in a million years would we blow their house down.

It will come with time, we have a brand new attack yet again that needs to gel in. We have upgraded, but they still need time together.

I think Liverpool showed last night why some sort of plan for control in the midfield is a good thing. Not the most pleasing part of the game but the game is 90+ minutes long.

3 games from them:

Palace: lost after penalties and got to penalties with 2 incredible/lucky goals.

Bournemouth: won in the last minutes of the game after such an underwhelming and even game.

Newcastle: was outplayed most of the game and took every chance they got.

This luck has to change at some point.

19 minutes ago, evissy said:

This luck has to change at some point.

Carbon copy of last season for me ... when Salah kept baling them out for 3 points after unconvincing team performances.

Liverpool aren't a worry, they had a winning game plan and changed too much. i said it in June that this season will be a disappointment for them. Konate's head is elsewhere, Salah can't impact a game unless they're already a couple of goals in front, Frimpong is worse than Trent defensively and Kerkez looks like a fish out of water. Wirtz transfer could end up being one of the worst bit of business the league has seen, looks genuinely terrified on the pitch.

City seemingly struggling so much surprised me, i thought they would be back on form from match week one. I think they'll get better, maybe some teething problems until Rodri is properly back.

Spurs are a big shock, they look dangerous but could just be new manager bounce. They obviously won't win anything but they've got a well balanced squad and competent manager.

Forest are going to fall off once Nuno is sacked.

Arsenal are going to spend the season relying on set pieces again. Gyokeres looks slow and not an improvement. Probably finish 2nd or 3rd.

We absolutely should be going for the title this season.

2 minutes ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Liverpool aren't a worry, they had a winning game plan and changed too much. i said it in June that this season will be a disappointment for them. Konate's head is elsewhere, Salah can't impact a game unless they're already a couple of goals in front, Frimpong is worse than Trent defensively and Kerkez looks like a fish out of water. Wirtz transfer could end up being one of the worst bit of business the league has seen, looks genuinely terrified on the pitch.

City seemingly struggling so much surprised me, i thought they would be back on form from match week one. I think they'll get better, maybe some teething problems until Rodri is properly back.

Spurs are a big shock, they look dangerous but could just be new manager bounce. They obviously won't win anything but they've got a well balanced squad and competent manager.

Forest are going to fall off once Nuno is sacked.

Arsenal are going to spend the season relying on set pieces again. Gyokeres looks slow and not an improvement. Probably finish 2nd or 3rd.

We absolutely should be going for the title this season.

Agree with most of that.

Really hope Liverpool f**k up this year, although of course they could still get Isak, which will strengthen them.

Spurs are my main concern. Think Frank is a great coach and he will be determined to make them less "Spursy". But it's so hard to predict when there are so many injuries etc. Get an injury to key players (like Palmer for us for example) and it blows predictions out of the water.

But if we do stay relatively injury free (Colwill the exception), we must be looking at top 3 and challenging for the PL.

After seeing some rivals play Arsenal to me looks the biggest threat but I see us having a chance. But season is long, just breaking into it.

44 minutes ago, evissy said:

After seeing some rivals play Arsenal to me looks the biggest threat but I see us having a chance. But season is long, just breaking into it.

we have no chance with Sanchez in goal and the defence is not good enough

Sanchez alone defeats any chance for the league.

Just now, Sconnie Blue said:

Sanchez alone defeats any chance for the league.

He is a big worry for sure.

27 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Sanchez alone defeats any chance for the league.

We’ve had 5 windows to replace him and the board have deemed him good enough, they can’t use that as an excuse

9 minutes ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

We’ve had 5 windows to replace him and the board have deemed him good enough, they can’t use that as an excuse

They will. Bloke led all of Europe in errors leading to chances and errors leading to goals and they still had the gull to say he won us 9 points.

We can win the league with Sanchez in goal, but we won't win the league with Fernandez alongside Caicedo in the midfield pivot ...

1 hour ago, Sexyfootball said:

We can win the league with Sanchez in goal, but we won't win the league with Fernandez alongside Caicedo in the midfield pivot ...

Don't worry, Lavia is back (for 30 minutes) after the international break.

7 hours ago, Sexyfootball said:

We can win the league with Sanchez in goal, but we won't win the league with Fernandez alongside Caicedo in the midfield pivot ...

The fact that we can pick holes in the team tells me enough, we aren't ready yet. Goalkeeper, losing our best CB, the midfield, left wing. This squad, despite all of the money spent, is not ready. For me, it's top 4 again, but a comfortable top 4, none of this grinding our way to it by qualifying on the last day of the season and suffering the most boring football you can imagine for 5 months.

With Villa and Newcastle regressing, zero excuse.

20 hours ago, Scott Harris said:

The fact that we can pick holes in the team tells me enough, we aren't ready yet. Goalkeeper, losing our best CB, the midfield, left wing. This squad, despite all of the money spent, is not ready. For me, it's top 4 again, but a comfortable top 4, none of this grinding our way to it by qualifying on the last day of the season and suffering the most boring football you can imagine for 5 months.

Personally I would reserve judgement until halfway through the season because right now there's so many uncertainties with City, Pool and Arsenal.

City - their attack, midfield and defence have holes plus a new GK that's never played Pep's system and the PL(Trafford is also sh*t)

Pool - Wirtz started awful, MacAllister + Frimpong niggling injuries, Kerkez not fully adapted to the system, Konate Real bound, Van Dijk getting older, Salah getting older

Arsenal - depends on Eze, Dowman and Noni, Gyokeres plays like he has cement in his boots. Saka injured.

Directors have yet again done the impossible. They’ve managed to still move us sideways despite promising to strengthen now we qualified for Europe.

Pros:

Strikers improved.

Crucially depth in midfield.

Cons:

Wingers are worse than last season, discounting Estevao.

GK remains the same.

Loss of Colwill.

GK looks the most dangerous to me.

If / when Sanchez goes back to normal or gets injured then neither of the other two are good enough.

It shouldnt be too difficult to get an experienced keeper in ...for example a 30- 40 year old on a shortish contract.

Prime Sanchez is ok but only ok .

Edited August 29, 2025Aug 29 by OneTommyLangley

Basically 🫡🫡🫡

On 26/08/2025 at 19:51, Ukraine Bolt said:

We’ve had 5 windows to replace him and the board have deemed him good enough, they can’t use that as an excuse

I don't think they deemed him as good enough. We have signed 1000 gk.

On 26/08/2025 at 13:01, Sconnie Blue said:

They will. Bloke led all of Europe in errors leading to chances and errors leading to goals and they still had the gull to say he won us 9 points.

Been seeing a few clips recently of Penders. We're raving about this kid. Oh wow. Let's hope he improves dramatically. He is so on footed and his passing technique looks well suspect. He'll get eaten alive in this league. Hopefully he will improve rapidly now he's in competitive football. Well French Ligue 1 anyway.

2 minutes ago, WhiteWall said:

Been seeing a few clips recently of Penders. We're raving about this kid. Oh wow. Let's hope he improves dramatically. He is so on footed and his passing technique looks well suspect. He'll get eaten alive in this league. Hopefully he will improve rapidly now he's in competitive football. Well French Ligue 1 anyway.

The goalkeeping quality in the PL is trash anyway.

16 minutes ago, Bob stark said:

I don't think they deemed him as good enough. We have signed 1000 gk.

Come on Bob… “they don’t deem him good enough”? ....Really?

Lately I feel like I’m disagreeing with everything you say - honestly, it’s nothing personal, but you are always wrong! :D

Let’s actually look at the evidence:

1. After initially dropping Rob, we loaned out Petrovic and made Sánchez first choice.

2. Petrovic goes and wins GK of the Year in France… and what do we do? Sell him. Stick with Sánchez as first choice.

3. We buy Jørgensen, a shiny new toy… but still keep Sánchez as first choice.

4. Our “great young hope” Penders? Off on loan. Guess who stays number one? Yep - Rubbish Rob!

5. And now this summer: no new keeper signed, and guess started the season in goal? (Drum roll…) Rickety Robert!

That’s not one or two lucky breaks - that’s a whole host of decisions in his favour and backing him. So to argue “they don’t rate him”… mate, the club is treating him like he’s Cech reincarnated.