Premier League Quality.....

[Torrix1889]

As well as learning to cope with the gamesmanship that we have seen with opposition players every week so far it is obvious in most areas of the park we lack that bit of quality needed. Mistakes at the back, losing possession cheaply in midfield and wasting gilt-edged chances up front.

I trust CW 100% and we can't forget this is his first time at this level as well so he is learning just as much as everyone else. We can have all the team spirit and determination in the world, (as we showed against Chelsea in particular) but if anything these mistakes coupled with a lack of quality will be our biggest hurdle.

I'm not being negative and really do think we will have enough to stay up but Saturday would have been a game we marked as one that we should get something from and but for 1 mistake, poor finishing and dodgy decisions we might just have done that.

The telling point for me was that despite 9 new signings costing north of £40m when Sharp came on for McBurnie we had a Championship side out there and 6 of those were regulars in our last League 1 campaign. We still created chances however and ran an established Premier League Southampton very close but that extra bit of nouse and quality saw them through and left us licking our wounds yet again.

I'm not sure what the answer is, maybe the new lads are struggling to fit into our style of play, (CWAK obviously see a lot more than we will ever do in training) and maybe with time they will slot in and improve our options.....for now, we have to keep the faith and continue to support the lads 100%.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

I know we can’t make the comparison with Norwich but I’m afraid it’s unavoidable. The two sides are probably on a par man for man. But they have Teemu Pukki.
He is the first name on the their team sheet, that “fox in the box” goal machine who thrives on the good service his teammates provide. Unfortunately we haven’t got a settled front line yet. So it’s harder for our providers to know the right ball to play.

 

[Rodley]

I think the answer is to stick behind Wilder and the lads and not to “knee jerk” constantly after every setback.

 

[grafikhaus]

As well as learning to cope with the gamesmanship that we have seen with opposition players every week so far it is obvious in most areas of the park we lack that bit of quality needed. Mistakes at the back, losing possession cheaply in midfield and wasting gilt-edged chances up front.

I trust CW 100% and we can't forget this is his first time at this level as well so he is learning just as much as everyone else. We can have all the team spirit and determination in the world, (as we showed against Chelsea in particular) but if anything these mistakes coupled with a lack of quality will be our biggest hurdle.

I'm not being negative and really do think we will have enough to stay up but Saturday would have been a game we marked as one that we should get something from and but for 1 mistake, poor finishing and dodgy decisions we might just have done that.

The telling point for me was that despite 9 new signings costing north of £40m when Sharp came on for McBurnie we had a Championship side out there and 6 of those were regulars in our last League 1 campaign. We still created chances however and ran an established Premier League Southampton very close but that extra bit of nouse and quality saw them through and left us licking our wounds yet again.

I'm not sure what the answer is, maybe the new lads are struggling to fit into our style of play, (CWAK obviously see a lot more than we will ever do in training) and maybe with time they will slot in and improve our options.....for now, we have to keep the faith and continue to support the lads 100%.

Some good calls there.

I think the answer is to stick behind Wilder and the lads and not to “knee jerk” constantly after every setback.

I don't think many (if any) are 'knee-jerking' just because of a defeat. Here's how I see our season so far:

We've competed well in every game. Having seen all three home games (and just the highlights of Bournemouth and Chelsea away) I think we've got through these games largely on skill and organisation, but also pure adrenaline. Southampton showed the small - but vital - difference that quality all over the pitch can bring.

More than the Palace - and even Leicester - games, cracks were beginning to show against Southampton.

To his credit, CW has stuck with the lads who got us promoted but to start a game with only McBurnie being the difference to last seasons' team is a step too far.

What were classed as 'wonder goals' in lower divisions are now routine in the PL - runaway leaders Liverpool couldn't have done a thing about Willems' goal for Newcastle. Therefore we need to take our own chances, which brings us to McGoldrick. He is not an out-and-out striker but contributes massively elsewhere. We were probably spoilt by his 15 league goals last season, but can't rely on him to be nearly as effective now. We've got to hope that CWs purchases can do the jobs they were brought in to do.

We can't look at any game as 'we should have got...' Every game is against skilful, battle-hardened Premier League players with the nous to foul and leave enough doubt in the refs' mind. We're going to have to rely on 'unexpected' results to keep us up.

Apart from that, it's obvious we're going to get nothing from refs. or VAR.

Over to you, Chris!

 

[Torrix1889]

Some good calls there.


What were classed as 'wonder goals' in lower divisions are now routine in the PL - runaway leaders Liverpool couldn't have done a thing about Willems' goal for Newcastle. Therefore we need to take our own chances, which brings us to McGoldrick. He is not an out-and-out striker but contributes massively elsewhere. We were probably spoilt by his 15 league goals last season, but can't rely on him to be nearly as effective now. We've got to hope that CWs purchases can do the jobs they were brought in to do.

Over to you, Chris!

I'm a massive fan of Didzy and his work-rate, he saves our arses on several occasions every game, bringing the ball down, a drop of the shoulder, swivel of the hips and he finds a bit of much needed space and gets a pass away but, (and it's a huge but) my 13 year old could finish better....problem Saturday was Didzy was dropping deep which was leaving Oli isolated up front without a strike partner. Didzy ends up doing 2 jobs, (particularly when we play Fleck and Lunny) No10 and striker as there is no natural link player.

For me if Didzy is playing then we need a 10 behind to let him concentrate on the one role. It worked with Sharp & Clarke and Duffy in the 10 so it's not necessarily Didzy that's the problem, (finishing apart) it's the midfield....Lunny, Fleck & Norwood together is too defensive/flat. Freeman, (maybe even ravel ebentually) for one of Fleck or Lunny would allow the strikers to be just that.

Ultimately as the Moose gets up to speed we may see Didzy benched more than starting and 2 of Oli, Moose and Robbo up top.