Cabrone

I want to see the manager change the system to something more attacking and maybe a goal or two. Ideally 2 up front and some kind of threat. Can't see much in the way of points out of this one but first things first, let's start scoring then we can concentrate on getting some points. We are in a rut at the moment.

We've scored 1 goal from open play in the last 10 home games, that's a serious issue. Whilst most of us are giving MP some slack because he inherited this situation he's got to make some serious changes. If he sticks to 1 up front I don't think things will change, we'll be staring down the barrel and he'll be gone by Christmas. Time to break free of his comfort zone, play our 2 best goalscorers up front, dump the underperformers, instruct the mid to quit the tippy tappy stuff, get more direct and give them time to gel together. A few goals from Charlie and Gabbi would do wonder for confidence and tails would be up. They are not a bad set of players and should be good enough for a mid table finish but current tactics - which don't seem to have changed much from last season - are strangling us. A pair of balls are required.

Personally I don't think we have as bad a set of players as many on here think we do. However we do have a manager who hasn't figured out how to play them and has also inherited a confidence issue. I hope he doesn't stubbornly stick to 1 up front because IMO the goal drought will continue, we'll be in big trouble by Xmas and he'll probably get the push. Everything must be focussed on scoring, I'll take shipping a few as long as we can get the goals flowing. We have (IMO) a potential international striker in Gabbi and a potential match winner (almost 20 goals for QPR) in Charlie so play them, not for a few minutes at the end of the game but for 6+ matches. They can't get match fit and figure each other out unless you play them. The mid needs to be set up to the forwards' strengths, drop the underperformers and use Tadic (in his correct position!!)\Long on the flanks to provide power, pace and guile. Plenty of service into the box and crosses. Also dump the prima donnas, no one is too big a 'name' to drop. Bring in hungry players and send a message to the underperformers. Trouble is does this manager have the balls and imagination to rip up this failied setup?

We are in a goal crisis so put out your goal scorers and drop those who aren't doing their jobs. Then make sure you service your goal scorers. No favouritism or picking based on reputation - either players perform or they are out. Boufal is too lightweight, maybe good in France but being found out in the Prem - out. Redmond has talent but doesn't produce it consistently, poor decision making - out. Davies + JWP out, not creative or tough enough. Play 442 with Austin and Gabbi up front. Why? Because they are proven goalscorers. Charlie is the spearhead, likes to operate in the 6 yard box so get the supply in there. He's also decent in the air so get crossing. Gabbi operates just behind in a free role, a goal scoring mischief maker that should be able to create mayhem and offer Charlie opportunities. Tired of hearing that Charlie doesn't run, so what? We have plenty of runners - he's paid to score. In the last few minutes of the Huddersfield game Bertrand got the ball infront of goal and fluffed it - had Charlie been there it may have been 3 points instead of 1, that's what he's paid for but he can't do it if you don't play him. The others have had their chance and failed, time for change. Midfield = Tadic on one side, Romeu + Lemina in the middle and Long on the other side. Tadic can infuriate but does have game turning capability, needs to start producing more regularly. Romeu is the steel, Lemina the box to box man and Long a wide runner that runs hard causing problems. Let Tadic\Long push inwards in a high tempo attack. Defence = Cedric, VVD, Hoedt\Yosh and Bertrand. Fairly stable setup - full backs to provide decent wing support. I'd like to see McQueen played a few times too. GK = whoever is showing the best form, forget reputation. Fraser should be constantly looking over his shoulder. We need big changes, this goal drought is serious now. Snap out of it or else heads will drop and we'll be on a serious slide.

So after 5 games we have scored in 1. In fact in our last 9 home games we have scored in just 1. Outside of the West Ham game the last home goal was scored on 5th April. Pathetic. I'd be a bit more accepting if I thought we were improving, creating chances and looking lively but we aren't. Today we managed 1 shot on target against a mid table (at best) outfit at home. Whilst it's not MP's fault he has inherited a lot of frustration from the dismal fare served up last season the fans patience is already running thin now. He must get those goals flowing or face the chop. As I posted in a previous thread when you only have 2 real goal scorers (forget Shane 'but he runs a lot' Long) and one of them (i.e. Charlie Austin) isn't even picked then it's hardly surprising the goals are ball achingly rare. Gabbi and Charlie are top class finishers but the manager doesn't appear to want us to score for some reason. Someone needs to remind him that football is entertainment and that fans want to see some goals. I don't give a toss if Charlie doesn't run enough - we need goals and he scores if given a bloody chance. Change the damn system if you have to, this midfield has proven time after time that it cannot score so give our front 2 the service that they are crying out for and let them get on with it. 4-4-2 with Austin\Gabbi up front please. I'd even put Long behind them, anything to get the damn goals flowing.

So the scoop is that VVD has left the training ground? What a balloon head.

If I thought I could make a few quid out of a football club and had no emotion or connection for it I'd do as many on here have suggested and take out a loan at a lower rate than what I think I could make out of it. I'd then sit and wait for the club to pay me off, eventually ending up with a club and no debt. That's not a bad return. I'd also invest the minimum to keep the club in the PL, the holy cash cow that SFC must be in. As a fan I hope Gao has something different in mind.

If Theo were to come here I think he'd fit in well with Gabbi, could be a decent partnership there. That said I'd just flog VVD to the highest bidder, Theo isn't the decider in this one for me. Pretty sure we could get someone as good if it comes to it. I don't get why VVD so adamant to go to Pool? They aren't going to win the league, maybe top 4 if they have a good season, I'd have thought Chelski would have a better shot at the title and I presume he's interested in silverware?? Or maybe he really is in it for just the money?

When you only have 2 real goal scorers (forget Shane 'but he runs a lot' Long) and one of them (i.e. Charlie Austin) isn't even picked then it's hardly surprising the goals are ball achingly rare. Gabbi and Charlie are top class finishers but the manager doesn't appear to want us to score for some reason. Someone needs to remind him that football is entertainment and that fans want to see some goals. 4-4-2 with Austin\Gabbi up front please.

Same as last season, a chronic lack of goals. We have the forwards to score them in Gabbi and Charlie but 1) they need to be picked TOGETHER and 2) they need support. Cannot see why we bother picking the same old players that offer next to no goal threat, why? It's boring the heck out of everyone. We look mid table so let's at least have a bit of fun eh? It's supposed to be entertainment. BTW well done the Terriers, keep up that spirit and they should be fine for at least another prem season.

Charlie and Gabbi up front for me, it looks like it's going to be a middling season so lets at least have some fun and a few goals. I don't get the Long fan club. So what if he runs a lot - he doesn't score. Reminds me of Paul 'model pro' Telfer.

Wet Spam end of season cruise looking good already.

3 points, got the rub of the green with some of the decisions but I'll take that. I can see some high scoring games this season, we've got a couple of handy strikers but the central defence is soft. wI Want to see Gabbi and Charlie together, could be fun. Love the kit, happy memories.

Up there with Lennon and McCartney.

VVD has behaved pretty badly but the dye is cast now and SFC need to take a cool headed business view. Sell to the highest bidder even if that is 'Pool and invest in some decent potential. VVD is bad for morale so shift him and go back to the black box.

As things stand right now I think mid to lower mid table. I think that we have decent fire power up front provided Austin\Gabi stay fit and Redmond gives us some service, midfield is going to rely heavily on Romeu and defence looks a bit leaky through the centre. Strikers will have to have their shooting boots on because I can see us shipping a few. Could be some exciting games this season, we'll see.

OK it's only a friendly so have to take the result with a pinch of salt but these games are about building momentum for the start of the season and currently we don't have any. Got to be careful here, we have some very winnable games in the early part of the season and if we go through those games in a daze getting few points then we'll have to play catch up whilst facing the big boys. We don't have the luxury of a bad start this season, we need points on the board from the off. I wouldn't want to be going into our final set of games in a dodgy position.

Play both, I believe they could complement each other and of course they know how to score. Could be a potent combination.

Cool heads are needed, if Pool stump up what Saints are asking then sell him off. Be done with it. Rather the cash to spend on players that want to be here than pay the wages of an uncommitted player that doesn't. Bad for morale and no good for our finances. Put your heart to one side and ignore that it's Pool - even if they were slimy in their approach - sell up and move on. There are other great CB options out there that can do a great job for us. I'd much rather VVD wanted to stay but I can understand why he wants to move. So be it.

Lets be real here, he's a very good player in demand who probably wants to win some silverware in addition to earning as much cash as he can. He's not from the area so has no affinities but has given us 2 years and significantly improved his value. The club have done well by him. Ignore the circus, sell for top dollar and use the money to find a couple of good replacements - that is the SFC business model after all and has served the club very well. Yes as a fan it sticks in the throat but players aren't fans - they are contracted staff and like the rest of us want the best that they can get.

No............just no.

Not sure about these fixtures, we're often not the fastest of starters and that's when a lot of our winnable fixtures are. Other than B'mth last 6 games look nasty - need to have our 40 points by start of April.

Eddie Howe.

Yeah who needs goals anyway? 6th lowest scorers in the prem, 5 of the last 6 games with no goals, 17 goals at home all season (2nd worst), 4th worst home points tally. The final position masks a very dull league campaign.

On paper finishing 8th and narrowly losing the league cup final seems a decent season but the reality is it's been as drab as hell. Highlights were VvD until he got injured and Gabbi when he first arrived - it's his injection of goals that gave us the spurt to get over the safety line with plenty of time to spare. Puel has underwhelmed me all season, don't mind losing but his teams have been by and large pretty boring. I also don't really know what his best team is. SFC needs an injection of energy, can't have another season like this.