Did you ever have a good head of hair in your younger days @just?

Got through it, otherwise not much positives to talk about. It's a long season, so not much point going overboard about a single result. In terms of the quality of the squad, I think we need a number 1 GK and a striker if we are to challenge something serious this year

For those who did not watch, and for our King of Gifs @mojo, extended highlights:

 

Makes it look like we should have put 8 past them lol.

That was pretty bad. The saving grace is we've qualified for the competition.

Hopefully we produce a much better performance against Palace.

5 hours ago, The Rising Sun said:

Do we now go into a big league format like the CL?

Yes we now are so lucky to get to go play 3 away games in potentially lovely winter places ranging from Cyprus, Kazakhstan, Northern Ireland, Finland, Bosnia! And we get to host three as well! 
 

much fun, lots of travel! 

Just glad we got through last night.

6 hours ago, icecoolguy22 said:

Got through it, otherwise not much positives to talk about. It's a long season, so not much point going overboard about a single result. In terms of the quality of the squad, I think we need a number 1 GK and a striker if we are to challenge something serious this year

Add a centre back , we seriously lack any quality in depth beyond the two current incumbents 

7 minutes ago, charierre said:

Add a centre back , we seriously lack any quality in depth beyond the two current incumbents 

I don't think cb is our problem 

6 minutes ago, Bob stark said:

I don't think cb is our problem 

It is if Colwill & Fofana are injured and we sell Trev. The rest are garbage.

 

11 minutes ago, Nibs said:

It is if Colwill & Fofana are injured and we sell Trev. The rest are garbage.

 

We could have conceded 4/5 against wolves easily with Colwill and Fofana at the back. 

I think maresca need to find better balance in midfield especially when Enzo is playing. 

Either force the team to play slow ball which kinda the opposite of how this team want to play or play Enzo as more of an attacker. 

 

 

 

Edited August 30, 20241 yr by Bob stark

Our B team is shocking and I'm a bit worried if any one of them needs to step up because of injuries to our first 11.

Tosin and disaster brothers are not good enough as subs for anyone wishing to go above mid table. Well not atm anyway, and I doubt their ceiling is any higher than it is atm. 

Kdh needs to be benched as soon as possible and only used if no one else is available with chucky coming back in january or next summer (depending on when chucky is ready by getting regular playing time on his loan). I think by then kdh's job will have been done and passed whatever tech/tactics/formation knowledge he has onto his replacement. 

And a special mention goes out to the pitch...wtf was that! There were better pitches in the states than this sh*t. Serviettes last game was against us at the bridge so they've had over a week at least to sort it out. No excuses but the pitch really didn't help our lot at all. Its as if they are used to decent pitches only. Madueke missed the ball completely as it bobbled up and it was at his feet at the time!

 

We need better subs/squad players and I really hope the rumours are true and trev stays instead of one of the disaster brothers.

Agreed though, extremely brave for Maresca to rotate so heavily with such a sh*t B team, but I have a feeling he will rotate less when further into this competition (I hope so anyway).

Edited August 30, 20241 yr by Simplymo

9 hours ago, just said:

RMH I see you have a new avatar. Is it Beyonce?

The Jackson 5 were 6 at the very beginning but one of the bros got forgotten, he’s some of a cult now.

We've got no chance of winning this competition if we continue to perform like we did in these two legs vs Servette.

 

11 hours ago, forbzy said:

They are second in the Swiss league at present, so they may be a team on the up.

7th out of 12 teams. 

1 hour ago, Bob stark said:

We could have conceded 4/5 against wolves easily with Colwill and Fofana at the back. 

I think maresca need to find better balance in midfield especially when Enzo is playing. 

Either force the team to play slow ball which kinda the opposite of how this team want to play or play Enzo as more of an attacker. 

 

 

 

You get it that it is physically impossible for us to have possession of the ball for the entire 90 +5 minutes of every game. So we need to have a strategy and have competent players to play when we don't have the ball. Whether they are rated of not, Fofana and Colwill are our primary, starting CB's. As @Nibs quite rightly points out, any injury to these players (not uncommon with these) and we are pretty much bu88ered because we are selling Chalobah and Disasi, Badiashile and Tosin are miles off of the required standard.

So i am not sure how our CBs are not a problem. Presumably we will arrange a deal with our opposition to let hem have the ball on the condition that they can only work it through midfield and are not allowed to cross into our box.

Bit concerned about the amount of goals we're conceding. 6 in 4 competitive bouts so far this season, 19 in 10 if you include preseason...

 

I think a lot of the problem is a lack of protection from midfield. Enzo looked to be on an island at times last night. 

See this is where the guy needs some coaching about his media pressers. If that was everything then holy sh*t we're in trouble.

 

12 minutes ago, WhiteWall said:

See this is where the guy needs some coaching about his media pressers. If that was everything then holy sh*t we're in trouble.

 

Looks like he's had some great media coaching to me ... from our very own Graham Potter LOL

1 hour ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

7th out of 12 teams. 

On goal difference. Management manipulation of statistics. Shame on you.

9 hours ago, Mod said:

Did you ever have a good head of hair in your younger days @just?

Didn't we all?

2 hours ago, Bob stark said:

We could have conceded 4/5 against wolves easily with Colwill and Fofana at the back. 

I think maresca need to find better balance in midfield especially when Enzo is playing. 

Either force the team to play slow ball which kinda the opposite of how this team want to play or play Enzo as more of an attacker. 

 

 

 

Enzo can't do it on his own as was the case last night. KDH was invisible.

46 minutes ago, WhiteWall said:

You get it that it is physically impossible for us to have possession of the ball for the entire 90 +5 minutes of every game. So we need to have a strategy and have competent players to play when we don't have the ball. Whether they are rated of not, Fofana and Colwill are our primary, starting CB's. As @Nibs quite rightly points out, any injury to these players (not uncommon with these) and we are pretty much bu88ered because we are selling Chalobah and Disasi, Badiashile and Tosin are miles off of the required standard.

So i am not sure how our CBs are not a problem. Presumably we will arrange a deal with our opposition to let hem have the ball on the condition that they can only work it through midfield and are not allowed to cross into our box.

It’s actually scary that we are forcing Chalobah to leave, who isn’t the greatest defender, in preference to Curly, Larry and Moe just to satisfy the accountant. We have a very good attack but without the foundation of a good defence we are a million miles away from the class of 2021, which should be the aspiration given our spend.

A few things.

Our keeper looked poor on both goals.

Nkunku looks class, does not go straight for goal yet looks for the better placed attacker unlike Madueke. Don't get me wrong Madueke can be a solid player for us though I can understand why he will not always start.

A bit unfortunate to lose on the night both Palmer and Jackson had chances. 

Mudryk played well to earn the penalty.

 

 

We were the better team but just can't defend for toffee.

Certainly disappointed to lose, but Servette didn't deserve the win despite a strong second half.

Onwards, to Palace, this Sunday.

Not overly concerned with last night. Not suprising we switched off at 3-0 on agg, given the pitch quality and opposition quality. 

Does need to be rectified moving forward though as we'll get caught out in this comp eventually if it continues and its not a habit you want at all.