hypochondriac

We were much better today than against Bournemouth.

Because some people are annoyed that we didn't score and that ultimately we lost the game. Others understand its preseason and it's about learning the system, getting fit for the start of the season and looking like we know what we are doing. I'm much more encouraged after this game than I was when we played half a team against Bournemouth. I'm not sure our second string are up to much but the first 11 will do very well in this division (even better if we get another two or three signings and everyone can see where we need them.)

Lol. Enjoyable game where we played some nice stuff. We have some exciting players this year. If we get that focal point up top then we could be really effective and score a load. Still a few issues at the back but again we will get another cb in which will help. Overall an encouraging game where we probably played the best we had all preseason.

We've been the better team. Score is mostly irrelevant other than would have been nice to score. We clearly should have had a penalty which would have been 1-1.

Proof of the pudding is in the eating.

Smallbone shanked one just now. Armstrong and Tella have missed a few and Stephens missed one early in the second half.

I expect we will too (not counting my chickens though after last summer!) Just hope it's soon...

We've had quite a few chances that a more clinical striker could easily have scored.

Personally I think we've been pretty decent. Definitely should have had a pen. Absolutely need someone clinical up top for the end of the window. Annoying to give away the goal but these guys are much better than Sheffield Wednesday. Good to watch some attractive football and I'd like a goal.

It could be that we expect Lyanco to have left by Friday and there isn't really anyone else to play there.

I'm guessing that Bednarek has been injured and he'd rather start Charles on Friday in that position over Lyanco which is fair enough.

True, we were just looking for too much of one thing last year without looking for the character and nous that is just as important.

We had a ridiculous league one team and pretty much the same team when we went up. Full of players who were performers but also real characters. The interview Lambert did earlier this year confirmed what I had always thought about how the team would metaphorically die for each other.

And up top. I really hope we don't go for an expensive gamble up top from a foreign league where temperemant could be suspect. A talismanic figure would be superb.

I'd also argue that jwp isn't much of a leader given some of the pathetic displays we put on when he was captain. Would a real leader have allowed that? Would Roy Keane have let it happen on his watch? Stephens may be but it remains to be seen if he will start every week.

Good someone else gets it. We got burnt last summer with loads predicting 9 or 10 for the window because we got in a load of promising kids. Like you say, it's leaders and personalities on the pitch in the mould of Fonte, Hammond, Lambert, Lallana even someone like Jaidi.

Like I said, I'll be happy when that happens. Worth remembering though that we had similar conversations last summer when everyone said we would get in a striker and we failed and then some posters said it was fine because we had got Mara in. The last thing I would want is to rely on this Arsenal youngster and another promising young defender and the same in midfield.

And when that happens I'll be the first to praise the club. But it hasn't happened yet and we haven't had much change really from a squad that finished bottom last year and were rotten. We need change ASAP.

Which is why I find the attitude of just wanting talent so odd. It's incredibly obvious that we need a leader at the back and a Grimes type figure in the middle. It's not that the likes of Edwards won't be a great signing, I just think we would live to regret it if we got someone like that and this Arsenal youngster abd left it at that.

Total speculation. We have nothing to suggest that the team will definitely be collectively stronger next week than at the end of September. I'm almost certain we will be better offensively by the end of the window for a start.

Would be easier if we aren't potentially losing points next week...

Absolutely. Let's say hypothetically we had replaced Elyounoussi and Walcott with promising youngsters, we still would have gone down. Some people seem to think we would be fine with just the talent and not the grit, guile and experience. They couldn't be more wrong

We need more players like Manning. A player of quality who has experience in this league, can play the way the manager wants and is untainted by last year.

Yes. We didn't buy much experience last year that was any good. The good players we did buy had no experience in the prem and certainly no experience of dealing with a relegation battle. We had zero craft and guile in that respect.

Goodness knows who we will play at cb if he isn't there. Maybe the new bloke