Why are we pre-season favourites?

[Foxy]

Is this the Opposition first 11 thread?

No, but it is relevant to the discussion, given that people are discussing Bristol City.

 

[mattbianco1]

Best. comment. ever.

Which teams do you think will finish above us then?

Bristol & Preston are the only two who stand a chance IMO.

 

[sitwell]

Bristol's first XI currently is streets ahead of ours. They have goals from a variety of sources, whereas our top scorer got about 10. Without a striker we are nowhere near their side. Baldock, JET and Freeman would walk into our side.

You do see a different game ,did you see Bristol last season ? Did you see JET booed off and ridiculed by his own fans and the same Luke Freeman who was sub for a large part of last season for the worst team in the league. are you sure they would walk into our side ??

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

Bristol's first XI currently is streets ahead of ours. They have goals from a variety of sources, whereas our top scorer got about 10. Without a striker we are nowhere near their side. Baldock, JET and Freeman would walk into our side.

You still didn't answer the question about squad depth, but our friend from Bristol answered that for you! AS for the 3 you've quoted, I know a City fan who would gladly strangle JET, thinks the same about him as most on here did the early Murphy. Freeman has a massive rep on here from one good game against us, rest of the time very average, wouldn't swap him for any of ours. Baldock, I'll give you is better than any we have.....at the moment!

 

[stevieb]

Is it simple weight of betting, or are we missing something? I don't believe any impartial onlooker would look at our squad and think it's the best in the league, I'm pretty sure hardly anyone on here believes we will win the league, so what's it all about? Thoughts?

Size obviously matters. Most fans, most cash, most clout. Yet despite semi last year was worst league position for years. Mid table at best.

 

[blader]

You still didn't answer the question about squad depth, but our friend from Bristol answered that for you! AS for the 3 you've quoted, I know a City fan who would gladly strangle JET, thinks the same about him as most on here did the early Murphy. Freeman has a massive rep on here from one good game against us, rest of the time very average, wouldn't swap him for any of ours. Baldock, I'll give you is better than any we have.....at the moment!

I don't buy into the justification of 'squad depth'. Which would be more likely to get promotion in your opinion;

1) a squad of 18 average league 1 players
2) a squad of 11 good league 1 players and 7 below average replacements

At this level a good team trumps a 'steady squad'. Currently we have ample replacements for ample starting players. How many of our first 11 would have got into last years champions side? I reckon that's a good and fair yardstick.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

I don't buy into the justification of 'squad depth'. Which would be more likely to get promotion in your opinion;

1) a squad of 18 average league 1 players
2) a squad of 11 good league 1 players and 7 below average replacements

At this level a good team trumps a 'steady squad'. Currently we have ample replacements for ample starting players. How many of our first 11 would have got into last years champions side? I reckon that's a good and fair yardstick.

well judging by how many Wolves have been linked with, a good few! And you think the large squad Wolves had played no part?

 

[blader]

well judging by how many Wolves have been linked with, a good few! And you think the large squad Wolves had played no part?

Ofcourse it played a part, but they had better quality on their bench than we have in our current starting 11. I fear we have gone quantity over quality, we haven't signed a player yet this summer which has made me think 'oo that's a great signing'. Still lacking the quality required to win the league, as the bookies seem to suggest we will be doing.

 

[SwindonBladeJnr]

Ofcourse it played a part, but they had better quality on their bench than we have in our current starting 11. I fear we have gone quantity over quality, we haven't signed a player yet this summer which has made me think 'oo that's a great signing'. Still lacking the quality required to win the league, as the bookies seem to suggest we will be doing.

The thing is Blader, although I understand where you are coming from, it is based on some assumptions.

Just because we haven't made a signing that has had you thinking "oo that's a great signing", that doesn't actually mean that we haven't.

For all we know, McNulty could be that 20+ goal a season man that I keep seeing people bang on about. I'm not for one minute suggesting he definitely will be, but then I didn't expect the impact Scougall made coming from Livi last season. In addition, Diego may force his way in (signs are promising given he played yesterday). If he is as good as some of the experienced academy goers say he is, then we may have another attacking midfielder/forward capable of goals and quality.

Don't get me wrong, losing Harry and not retaining Coady and Brayford would make you worried that we will lack quality compared to last season, but as stated, who is to say that new stars won't emerge?

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

Is it simple weight of betting, or are we missing something? I don't believe any impartial onlooker would look at our squad and think it's the best in the league, I'm pretty sure hardly anyone on here believes we will win the league, so what's it all about? Thoughts?

Because we had a great run at the second half of the season. Currently we are stronger in terms of depth, which is a core requirement of a league winning team. We are expected to strengthen significantly over the coming weeks.
We have an established and competent manager.

 

[Slug]

Preston are the team to beat for me, they were much better than us last season when we escaped with a 0-0 draw thanks to Mickey Doyle's handling skills

However, If we can bring in Brayford and a serious goal scorer then I would make us the favourites

 

[FleaPitBlade]

I'll make a statement right here: our star striker is already at the club - a fitter, faster, sharper Jose Baxter.

I'm probably the only Blade in the galactic empire who doesn't think we so much need a goalscorer, more a bit of folly for the ones we've got. Scougall, Murphy, Flynn, Baxter all have 10-15 goals a season in them. Rather that than one 25 a season man.

 

[SwindonBladeJnr]

I'll make a statement right here: our star striker is already at the club - a fitter, faster, sharper Jose Baxter.

I really like Jose as a player, clever player with vision that few others at league one level have.

And whilst I don't think being the main man up front is ever going to be his best position - if he does come back this season a bit sharper physically then we have a fantastic player on our hands.

 

[Slug]

If Baxter can find a new level of fitness then you could be right as he possesses undoubted talent but his lack of mobility ( laziness?) last season often lead to him being well behind the play by the time the ball got to the oppositions box.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

I'll make a statement right here: our star striker is already at the club - a fitter, faster, sharper Jose Baxter.

I'm probably the only Blade in the galactic empire who doesn't think we so much need a goalscorer, more a bit of folly for the ones we've got. Scougall, Murphy, Flynn, Baxter all have 10-15 goals a season in them. Rather that than one 25 a season man.

Imagine Scougall, Murphy, Flynn, Baxter all scoring 10-15 goals a season along side a 25 a season man.

We'd only looking for another 35 goals for 100

 

[S5Blade]

If Baxter can find a new level of fitness then you could be right as he possesses undoubted talent but his lack of mobility ( laziness?) last season often lead to him being well behind the play by the time the ball got to the oppositions box.

he looked a lot fitter against Burton. Seems to have shed some more weight, put himself around and actually sprinted for a few balls. He also didn't have any extra stripes on his shirt so is defo rocking a medium!

 

[JOEYDEE]

Well I was deffo having a hundred quid on us at 6/1,after the wembley adventure,and climb up the league !
Then our 'star'players sort of drifted away with no possibility of return Bray,CC,and then Harry looks like sodding off..then Nige asked Porter to resign,sorry Re-sign !Then a few less than inspiring recruits(may be wrong on that),so I sorta looked at 'going up odds, 9/4ish so I thought mmm we've gotta win a play off final soon !So that dint look too bad..and then we lost 4-0 at Burton yesterday ,(Yes I know it was a final and we could have won a trophy and a few of the young lads might have froze on the day ,but still I have my doubts.....my question is ..Am I any less of a Blade ?

 

[Revolution]

I'm probably the only Blade in the galactic empire who doesn't think we so much need a goalscorer, more a bit of folly for the ones we've got. Scougall, Murphy, Flynn, Baxter all have 10-15 goals a season in them. Rather that than one 25 a season man.

Baxter yes. Murphy maybe. There is no evidence whatsoever to suggest the other 2 can do this.

You're still 15 goals light of what we need.

 

[Swanseablade]

Bloody hell, have I just joined pork talk without my knowledge?

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

[Glevum Blade]

Luke ayling
Aaron wilbraham
Sam baldock
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas
Luke freeman
Wade Elliot
Scott wagstaff

If you believe that the players you mentions are better than that collection of Bristol city players, we clearly see the game in a different way.

I think out of the players you mention only freeman and baldock would possibly be worthy of a place in our squad.
I also think we need another proper striker but can see us getting goals from all areas with our current players.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

Ofcourse it played a part, but they had better quality on their bench than we have in our current starting 11. I fear we have gone quantity over quality, we haven't signed a player yet this summer which has made me think 'oo that's a great signing'. Still lacking the quality required to win the league, as the bookies seem to suggest we will be doing.

Do you know, in your strivings to moan about all things Blade, you do talk daft sometimes!

Wolves at the start of last season were only 12 months out of the PL. I bet they had more quality on their bench than most of the Championship.

You state we're lacking quality, the bookies make us favourites. Now you show me a poor bookie and I'll show you a wednesday fan with an inferiority complex. Fact is neither exist!

 

[shorehamview]

Because we are Sheffield United, and therefore better than everyone else. Recent years may suggest differently, but we all know better, otherwise we'd be supporting some second- or even third-rate bunch of chancers.

 

[FleaPitBlade]

Baxter yes. Murphy maybe. There is no evidence whatsoever to suggest the other 2 can do this.

Yes there is - and you've now forced me into statto mode!

Flynn got 7 last season and hardly played a game until Weir was sacked. Scougall has averaged about 1 in 6 for us - that's 7 over a season so maybe your right about him but if he's pushing on there's 10 goals in him.

 

[Revolution]

Yes there is - and you've now forced me into statto mode!

Flynn got 7 last season and hardly played a game until Weir was sacked. Scougall has averaged about 1 in 6 for us - that's 7 over a season so maybe your right about him but if he's pushing on there's 10 goals in him.

5 league goals. 10 in 3 seasons. I will be surprised if he gets double figures in the league.

But even if he does, so must Baxter, and Murphy, and Scougall...the point is that the current squad will only score enough goals if everything breaks right.

We are desperate for someone who can score 15 or 20 goals.

Fun Flynn Fact: 9 of our Ryan's 10 league goals have been scored at the Lane. The only one scored away from home was at Carlisle in December 2012.

 

[Pinchy]

Aaron fucking Wilbraham? Good Pele, we've reached a new low in players to worry about, haven't we?

We're favourites because we finished like a train and we're the stand out "big club" in this division.

Bristol City v Preston - the new "El Classico" - can't wait!

Pele help us when we get to the Championship. Some of you will lock your doors and close your curtains for fear of the might of the opposition.

 

[Bladesway]

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Top work.

 

[blader]

Do you know, in your strivings to moan about all things Blade, you do talk daft sometimes!

Wolves at the start of last season were only 12 months out of the PL. I bet they had more quality on their bench than most of the Championship.

You state we're lacking quality, the bookies make us favourites. Now you show me a poor bookie and I'll show you a wednesday fan with an inferiority complex. Fact is neither exist!

The same bookies that had us favourites in our first 2 seasons and 2nd favourites last season? It has to be weight of betting, this is our weakest side since we've been in legue 1, hence why my OP makes the point I believe that's the only plausible reason.

 

[Lane Ender]

One practice match and the doom mongers are out FFS

 

[yuley82]

Bloody hell, have I just joined pork talk without my knowledge?

I'm talking about for L1 not all of football in Europe.

 

[stannyblade]

If Baxter can find a new level of fitness then you could be right as he possesses undoubted talent but his lack of mobility ( laziness?) last season often lead to him being well behind the play by the time the ball got to the oppositions box.

I dont get this about footballers and fitness. For fuck sake you get paid very well for doing something you should love doing. If that was me I would be looking after myself and training to be as fit as I possibly can