No excuses now guys

[Chico Hamilton III]

Very happy so far, it seems like we've got the players to help get us out of this league ( and got rid of most of the shit-stains that put us here in the first place). Must be a strange feeling for the new players though, knowing that if we ever do get promoted most of them won't be coming up with us. 

[martyn ellis]

This thread and the 'window poll' thread are very similar so we're getting a lot of the same comments, which is why I'm repeating some of mine here. Maybe they could be amalgamated. As I said elsewhere, business has been incisive, directed and bold, even though some of the players are not exactly household names. But as Bristol City showed, the important thing is to get a team playing as a team, no matter who you have playing. Dr Tony has done his bit. Now it's over to RDM and SC to meld and mould and get them playing together. I'm fairly optimistic and looking forward to Forest. But as someone said on the other thread, it won't be easy as there's a fair amount of fire power in some of our opposition and we're already 8 points off top.

[Small Rodent]

Absolutely no excuses anymore.

A new manager, coaching team, and new squad cannot blame from hereon in, any losses on the mindset of those that have left and the few dregs left behind. No hiding place.

[Ads]

The difference is the know how.

McCormack and Kodjia know what it is to score 20 goals.

Elpick, Jedinak, De Laet, Chester, Adomah all know what it is like to get promoted and in cases, win titles.

Three of them were club captains. That is a sea change from player who may well be capable of doing a job, but take time ti adapt to a country or league, while their confidence is being diminished.

[not3bad]

With Steve Round in as Tech Director as well, we have a lot of football knowledge and experience around. We should do pretty damn well when it all beds in.

Indeed. The task now is to bed it in as quickly as possible so we don't have as much ground to make up.

[levico]

No complaints from me on signings. He's exceeded my expectations if not my imagination.

Remaining concerns:

- goalkeeper. Want to give him a fair crack of the whip but how many points do we drop?

- The Bristol City syndrome. Thought we'd purged this but it was very evident. We don't take our chances, they get a goal back and we fold miserably.

- in the short term, Cissoko injury maybe a problem with Amavi still looking off the pace a little.

- Ayew, bad attitude, not a team player, very wasteful.

[rougegorge]

With Steve Round in as Tech Director as well, we have a lot of football knowledge and experience around. We should do pretty damn well when it all beds in.

Indeed. The task now is to bed it in as quickly as possible so we don't have as much ground to make up.

Yes, we now need to go on a good run and quickly. We can't get to October about 10 points or more adrift of the top 2 or 3, and say 'its' ok we've got time and a couple of wins can send you up the table' as by October the top few tend to stay put.

So looking at the next 6 games, we need to be getting at least 14 points

Nott'm Forest (H)
Brentford (H)
Ipswich (A)
Newcastle (H)
Barnsley (A)
Preston (A)

[Ads]

4 wins and draws shouldn't be beyond us.

[Mister E]

With Steve Round in as Tech Director as well, we have a lot of football knowledge and experience around. We should do pretty damn well when it all beds in.

Indeed. The task now is to bed it in as quickly as possible so we don't have as much ground to make up.

Yes, we now need to go on a good run and quickly. We can't get to October about 10 points or more adrift of the top 2 or 3, and say 'its' ok we've got time and a couple of wins can send you up the table' as by October the top few tend to stay put.

So looking at the next 6 games, we need to be getting at least 14 points

Nott'm Forest (H)
Brentford (H)
Ipswich (A)
Newcastle (H)
Barnsley (A)
Preston (A)

The most important thing right now is to get a win; regardless of performance. We also need to ensure no more 2nd half collapses.

It may, however, take a few games to get everything ticking over so expect some continuing glitches.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

The difference is the know how.

McCormack and Kodjia know what it is to score 20 goals.

Elpick, Jedinak, De Laet, Chester, Adomah all know what it is like to get promoted and in cases, win titles.

Three of them were club captains. That is a sea change from player who may well be capable of doing a job, but take time ti adapt to a country or league, while their confidence is being diminished.

Add to that a manager and his Assistant who both know all about promotion and we're pretty much as strong as we could be. I really don't think Xia is expecting promotion to take two seasons and neither should we. Once we start winning a few games and climb the table the expectation will increase and we have a squad that can deal with it.

I really feel this season is going to be memorable but this time for all the right reasons.

[chrisw1]

So with everyone fit, I reckon we're looking at:

                      Gollini

De Laet      Elphick  Chester   Cissokho

                 Jedinak    Tshibola

Adomah           McCormack      Ayew

                        Kodjia

Subs:  Bunn, Baker, Amavi, Bacuna, Westwood, Grealish, Gestede

Personally I'd swap Cissokho for Amavi and play Jack wide left instead of Ayew.

Agree and I'd put Bacuna in at right back instead of De Laet, at least for now anyway.

I agree with Clampy's amended team, but Ayew is really too good to be on the bench - a nice problem to have for a change and a great option to switch with any of the 3 attacking mids.

                  Gollini

Bacuna   Elphick  Chester   Amavi

                 Jedinak    Tshibola

Adomah           McCormack      Grealish

                        Kodjia


I also think there will be times when we need to play 3 in the middle and despite the general dislike of him here I think Westwood will play an important role for us this season.

[ChicagoLion]

4 wins and draws shouldn't be beyond us.

when was the last time we did that?

[TopDeck113]

If promotion come along, great, but I could cope with a season of adjustment and restoring the tarnished reputation, followed by a season of smashing teams for fun, winning the league by April and breaking the 100 point mark.  That's the sort of promotion that gives a club momentum.

[JJ-AV]

I hope we go 4411 now we've got Adomah. I don't like 4231 at all with McCormack, Ayew and Grealish, it's overkill and tends to become rigid because of the gaps between the 2 and the 3.

Means Ayew dropping to the bench though.

[Matt Collins]

I hope we go 4411 now we've got Adomah. I don't like 4231 at all with McCormack, Ayew and Grealish, it's overkill and tends to become rigid because of the gaps between the 2 and the 3.

Means Ayew dropping to the bench though.

Aren't they minor variations on the same shape? Or do you mean the wide midfielders should play more conservatively - we adomah and someone on the left for ayew and grealish?

I've not seen enough full games to know, but I had the impression ayew was tracking back pretty thoroughly. And it was bacuna playing there v Bristol which is probably the league game we were most over run in midfield in?