James

2 minutes ago, Chez said:

the more I look at us, the more doubts I have about us challenging. The keepers are the same, but McCarthy looks slower than last time round. It wasn't a strength, it still isn't.

In defence, KWP and Bednarek were our two best players at the back last time. Both gone. The replacement RB is a step down. THB might remain (and thus will be the same) and the left back position feels the same in terms of defensive quality, although we certainly have more depth. It also wasn't a strength last time. 

Central midfield feels roughly the same strength wise. Charles may have improved a little since last time, but more importantly will be his changed role that better suits him. Smallbone hasn't improved and is only useful when you have loads of the ball. Aribo was a key player in the run in. And he's off. We lacked bit last time. I still don't think we have that.

We look a little weaker out wide. Fraser looks slower, and there are less options. Brooks impressed me more than others on here, I know, but that little bit of quality is missing (assuming Dibling/Fernandes depart). A lot may rest of Robinson being a star.

Up front, the central strikers offer more variety, but do they give us a string focal point like Adams? Not sure. Armstrong is obviously here again, but is his heart in it? We are reliant on him being quickly reinvigorated like last time as his finishing got us out of jail a fair bit.

I know there is much more to it than just players. Martin had us dominate possession which strangled the life out of many teams. However, we were totally clueless without the ball and got murdered if we gave the ball away. Still's tactics must improve us, simple as that. 

Great summary. Just about sums up how I feel. Weaknesses last time are still weaknesses this season and, if anything, strengths from last time are less strong.

We are very likely to have Bree and Stephens as 2/4 in defence and Shea Charles as the lynch pin in midfield. Let’s be honest, none of those three were in our best 11 last time and some of them didn’t even make the subs bench in some games.

Up front we definitely have a more diverse group of threats and Archer should really score a shed load if given the right service but at this point in time It’s hard to see who is going to make the chances. 

22 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

I watched him with my own eyes two and I can remember one howler (Plymouth at home) and maybe half a dozen he should have done better with. That’s about par for a keeper over the course of a season and pointing out his save percentage statics were 4% lower than average isn’t enough to convince me that we were ‘promoted in spite of him’.

Every keeper makes the occasional howler. Whilst annoying that’s not really the problem, it’s the number of times you sit there and think “should he have done better with that?” - I asked myself that question a lot more than half a dozen times that season. By contrast, I’m having trouble thinking of many (or any) matches where a Bazunu save won us any points.

7 minutes ago, lambtiss said:

I think we need more than a pretty decent Championship side to finish in the top 2.

We only managed 4th last timevand that was with Adams, Bednarek, Walker Peters and Brooks. 

Downs was a big player for us that season but has had a poor season, patchy health to say the least and a falling out which saw him looking for a transfer.

 

I think we are several players short of competing for top 2. In particular, creative midfielders, good wingers and a reliable goalkeeper.

Exactly. I don’t get how folks can really think we are in the conversation for Top 2 right now. We were a mile off last time and, assuming Dibling and Fernandes leave, we are going into the season with a much weaker first XI. Maybe we’ve got a deeper squad this time round but in terms of pure talent in the first XI we were much better off last time. 

I’m curious, do those that disparage the stats which point to Bazunu being a very poor goalkeeper at this level think he looks any good when they watch him?
 

Stats or no stats, I just see a goalkeeper that makes the net look big and lets in a good number of shots I think a better keeper would save. Every time a shot is on target it’s sharp intake of breath time. 
 

Almost the entire fan base was overjoyed when Ramsdale signed, to be back to square one this season with a keeper that most of us don’t think is good enough is disappointing. 

12 hours ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

Second Tier Podcast is the perfect name for it.

They had the biggest agenda against us two years back 🤣

Any recommendations for Championship focused podcasts other than the Second Tier pod? I listen Ed to that last time we were in the Champ but not sure I can do another season of it..!

3 minutes ago, Smirking_Saint said:

Its bed wetting, the front line is fine, midfield will have Downes back, it wouldn’t surprise me if we start with either MF or TD

The defence is fine, im no Stephens fan but he’s probably better ok at this level and we have THB and Edwards

Baz/McCarthy despite soggy knickers are mid table quality, we probably could do with an improvement but its not disastrous

Its bed wetting

We all know we can’t buy until we sell, we aren’t getting a winger/No.10 until we sell MF/TD because whats the point

Baz is not mid table quality, not even close. 

The team today is OK for the Championship. Is it a team that is going to challenge at the top end? Not in my view.

Lots of the reaction to this summer is pent up frustration I think. We’ve just endured arguably the worst season in the club’s history and this summer we’d all hoped there would be a big rebuild - Spors told us there would be - as it is we’ve taken a team that was nowhere near good enough for the league we are trying to get back to and look likely to sell or loan all of the players that were in anyway decent.

Plenty of time to go yet but there needs to be significant activity. It’s hardly a surprise that supporters aren’t happy or excited at a team with Bazunu, Bree and Stephens as 3 of the back 5 and a forward line that is back to including Ryan Fraser and Adam Armstrong.

9 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

What do you mean, why? That’s literally the reason, his wages are amongst the highest at the club and will severely restrict our capacity to recruit.

I would forego some outfield recruitment if it meant keeping Ramsdale and not having Baz in goal. 

3 minutes ago, EBS1980 said:

Think Ramsdale loan needs to be put into context, wages being covered in full and £4M for one year. I’m not sure what people really expected from a loan deal?! I’m happy with that.

i just hope given we knew the likelihood of Ramsdale leaving that we know what keeper we want to bring in (be it a number 1 or 3) and push that deal through quickly now.

I hope to god we are not considering a deal for a number 3. Anyone that can’t immediately displace Baz or McCarthy isn’t worth thinking about. 

2 minutes ago, Harry_SFC said:

Good job the transfer window is open until September then. The business so far hasn't been great but it's never all done before the season starts. 

Agreed but realistically we need a fast start. We’ve got a young and inexperienced manager and a weaker team that’s low on confidence given how bad last season was. We’ve got until September but we know it doesn’t take long for heads to go down amongst this group. 

Just now, Football Special said:

Doesn't seem that good a deal to me, huge lack of quality throughout the team and lack of balance, IF we end up with Baz back in I'd say that's the end of automatic promotion hopes 

We are on the way to being a much weaker team than the last time we went down. At least last time we actually signed a few decent players, this year we’re on the way to stripping out all the quality and have signed a couple of back ups from the bargain bin.

Don’t like the deal for Ramsdale. Either sell him or

keep him. £4m doesn’t give us anything for replacement. Bazunu as number 1 is the stuff of nightmares, can see the howler v Pompey and the “Agent Bazunu” tweets already. 

2 minutes ago, Danbert said:

Those on a long contract will have to kick up a fuss if they want to leave and we haven't received an offer that forces our hand. I'm hoping we can keep Fernandes. I don't think anyone's stupid enough to pay what we'd expect for THB. Ramsdale has reportedly said he wants to leave, and we've been linked with a few goalies. 

I thought the reporting re Ramsdale was that he wanted to stay but felt he needed to leave as he wants to make the WC squad? Of our “Big 4” players Ramsdale is the one I could see staying. James Trafford made the England squad in the Championship and if Rambo’s options are top end of the Championship here or playing for PL cannon fodder like Leeds or Sunderland then he might prefer to take his chances here.

Unfortunately can’t see Fernandes staying when push comes to shove, someone will come in. Likewise THB. Suspect we will lose both towards the end of the window. Dibling who knows - pre Jan last year I’d have said no chance but tailed off last season and our price tag will put a lot of clubs off.

He’s solid in the Championship so fine for him to be a squad player.
 

However, I really don’t get this “leadership” stuff - last season he was banned for lengthy periods mouthing off at the ref and for pulling an opposing player’s hair. Not exactly model behaviour from a so called leader is it?

33 minutes ago, ErwinK1961 said:

Rangers can’t afford Downes.

KWP doesn’t play here anymore.

Dibling is never going for £65m

No team in Turkey is ever paying the money for THB.

No chance Fernandes is going to Leeds.

Other than that, great article.

 

 

Why on earth would any of our players consider a move to Leeds? They’ll be back down here in a year.

Dogshit decision from the ref in the build up to that goal.

Great header from Ross, pleased for him. Could be a big asset next season. 

Penny for Mr. Dias’ thoughts. Very gratifying to see Pep have a meltdown at full time. Hopefully the death of his dull as dishwater way of playing. Awful performance from City again.

12 minutes ago, washsaint said:

Rubbish - Stephens has been excellent this match and cares passinoately about the club.  More than can be said about the others

Yet he’s given away two penalties…sure sounds excellent..!

Jack Shoehorn needs to be the first one shown the door. Two penalties…FFS.

ABK our best defender at Chelsea and dropped. Could not make it up.

There was one point in the second half yesterday where THB was in midfield trying to win the ball back from a Chelsea player. Even once it was clear he wouldn’t be successful in winning it back he loitered around for a bit before returning to his actual position, by which point I think it had gone out for a goal kick.
 

My question is why is that sort of thing happening - either it’s the tactics which are quite clearly insane if those are the instructions or it’s a lack of effort because the players can’t be arsed to shift it to get back into shape from being out of position. I’d love to know the answer…

Honestly, what is the point in the rest of this season? We are useless.

Pretty happy with this. Like the sound of him not taking any shit, focus on running, pressing, solidity etc. Not an impulse appointment as someone SR has tracked for a while. 

If it goes well then we have our guy either in the Prem or the Championship (if he improves us but too much to do in the time) and if not we get a Rohl or Corberan in the summer. 
 

It’s a fairly unenviable situation here so fair play to him for agreeing to take it on. Best of luck. 

Rohl is a good choice. Happy with him if it’s true.