Pre-season 25-26

[Kenny]

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Going into the season with some cracking form under our belts and a squad brimming with confidence. It’s cool though. Results don’t mean anything in pre-season. We can throw the first few games and wait til the very end of the window to strengthen because it’s a tough window etc etc etc.

Get to fuck with all that shite. We are in trouble and Fosun can get in the sea.

To help with your blood pressure...we played 2 other pre season games. W0 D1 L1.

 

[C.L.D]

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I wish sports journalism was less about a
protecting access and more about accountability. And JP is meant to be one of the good ones (unlike over at E&S or wherever PTS is these days).

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

I think as it stands we're in flip a coin territory as to whether we stay up or not. Same as in August 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Eventually that coin will land the wrong way.

You cannot have Ki-Jana Hoever and Matt Doherty in a Premier League starting XI of any repute and we have zero depth anywhere. What if Wolfe's early knock had been serious and he was out until Oct/Nov, what were we going to do then? Play Hugo Bueno for months?

It's a ridiculous situation.

 

[PuntsWolf]

I don’t seem to care enough to be angry. Chicken or egg? Don’t know if it’s because I don’t have ST anymore so I’m not as invested, Jeff Shi has sucked the life out of me, the PL novelty has well and truly worn off or a combination of all the above.

 

[Jinky]

I think as it stands we're in flip a coin territory as to whether we stay up or not. Same as in August 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Eventually that coin will land the wrong way.

You cannot have Ki-Jana Hoever and Matt Doherty in a Premier League starting XI of any repute and we have zero depth anywhere. What if Wolfe's early knock had been serious and he was out until Oct/Nov, what were we going to do then? Play Hugo Bueno for months?

It's a ridiculous situation.

This isn’t a “I told you so” post, but it’s sort of what a few of us have been saying for months. Others chose to give them the benefit of the doubt (or stick their head in the sand out of blind faith) and that’s their prerogative - but here we are, a week away from Man City and our squad is fucking laughable.

 

[jd1981]

The managed decline of the squad is a disgrace, what’s most annoying is how so many of our fans have waved it through thinking it’s just the way it is and defending Fosun based on what they did between 2017-2020.
Selling high and replacing with btech solutions is a recipe for disaster.
We sold off our last remaining “get you off your seat” player this summer. Yep some promising signs from replacements but I don’t think they’ll be of that level.
3 signings leaves us with a PL with about 2 replacements, 5 leaves us with just about an ok bench.
Sa, Agbadou, Toti, Wolfe, Andre, J Gomes, Arias, Lopez and JSL all know they’re starting every game if fit as the competition for their spot is none existent, extremely unhealthy scenario.

 

[darlowolf64]

This isn’t a “I told you so” post, but it’s sort of what a few of us have been saying for months. Others chose to give them the benefit of the doubt (or stick their head in the sand out of blind faith) and that’s their prerogative - but here we are, a week away from Man City and our squad is fucking laughable.

You’re not unique in this. The majority have been saying it but in their own way and not wearing sackcloth and ashes about it.
It isn’t a great situation and it needs sorting but time is running out

 

[Celtiña]

Thanks for telling us how weak the Celta team was that just beat our first team - just what we needed to hear.

Its only for help, you guys need more players and other mentality.

This image of start the goal show what is the problem, 11 player back down to cover only 6. The position of all player are basically "what the fuck"

 

[prawnking]

Couldn't watch the game yesterday as I was out at a kid's festival standing in line for a meet and greet with Mr fucking Blobby, but seen quite a few comments online regarding lack of energy, no real style of play and even criticism of fitness levels...is any of that fair?

 

[prawnking]

Coming at me for being "annoying" from nowhere, unjustifiably FFS.

It was Johny Phillips that had the opinion that the "penny has dropped".

I know that, i'm sure Jinky does too, what's your point?

Weather could be getting into the high 20's/early 30's next week, be careful out there with your thin skin mate

 

[Lycan]

Couldn't watch the game yesterday as I was out at a kid's festival standing in line for a meet and greet with Mr fucking Blobby, but seen quite a few comments online regarding lack of energy, no real style of play and even criticism of fitness levels...is any of that fair?

Lack of energy - Probably fair. I mean it was a boring pre season friendly played at half pace.

Fitness levels - I mean this is how we improve fitness levels right, during pre season? Everyone does double training sessions, everyone gets minutes on the pitch so that they can cope with the intensity of the season. Isn't them being tired at this stage the whole point?

No style of play - When people say this I genuinely don't have any idea what they mean. The 'style' is exactly the same as it was last season under Pereira. All our issues are personnel based, not tactical.

So partly fair, partly just people who don't know what they're talking about.

Personally while I didn't exactly enjoy the game yesterday I'm certainly not seeing the alarm bells other people are, especially considering Celta are a Europa League team. There's no indication from anyone connected with the club that we're not going to make the signings we need, it's just a matter of when those players come in and whether they're of the quality required to make a difference. I've been impressed with the signings we have made, if everyone else we sign is just as good then I'll be happy and confident that we can have a good season.

The only thing that changed in my mind yesterday was that I've been saying since Wolfe came in that we need 3 or 4 signings. I now definitely think we need 4. Toti has 100+ Premier League games under his belt now and I'm happy with him as an option this season but he's far too inconsistent to be the only naturally left footed centre half at the club. We need genuine competition (hopefully improvement) there.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

Weather could be getting into the high 20's/early 30's next week, be careful out there with your thin skin mate

Yeah, how dare I call someone out when they are talking bollocks

 

[Loki]

Couldn't watch the game yesterday as I was out at a kid's festival standing in line for a meet and greet with Mr fucking Blobby, but seen quite a few comments online regarding lack of energy, no real style of play and even criticism of fitness levels...is any of that fair?

All fair in my view. Initially played with the fullbacks too high up the field leaving our back three constantly exposed. I agree with a good few on here that we need 3 or 4 signings. How long is it going to take to bed those in?

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

Hoever v RAN and Doku is terrifying.

 

[prawnking]

Yeah, how dare I call someone out when they are talking bollocks

You are allowed to do that without making half a dozen hysterical posts in quick succession.

That's what I'm taking the piss about FYI

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

You are allowed to do that without making half a dozen hysterical posts in quick succession.

That's what I'm taking the piss about FYI

I didn't realise it was important it whether it's 1 post or 3, but thanks for letting me know some 15 hours after the fact, it could be argued that's what is strange - particularly as you are one who comments so regularly about how this place is policed.

Anyway, enjoy your day and try and stop obsessing over me if you can x

 

[The Saturday Boy]

All fair in my view. Initially played with the fullbacks too high up the field leaving our back three constantly exposed. I agree with a good few on here that we need 3 or 4 signings. How long is it going to take to bed those in?

The whole thing looked really poorly set up, back to the O’Neill days of “stuff happening” but no obvious plan. The starting position for both wing backs was the half way line but without any obvious reason why or what it was meant to achieve. Usually, they got the ball, had no options, passed it back. Second half Beuno started deeper which at least gave him space to progress and also saw him get in behind CV.

The front 3 press was all over the place, possibly to be expected, but do it or don’t. Arias didn’t, JSL and Lopez did but it was haphazard and ineffective.

Andre and Gomes were outnumbered in midfield but both played well, but neither are particularly creative.

The back 3, in all iterations, were often exposed particularly when CV passed quickly through the middle.

If we play like that against City…there will be goals, but going 2-1 Wolves Hoever man of the match.

 

[prawnking]

I didn't realise it was important it whether it's 1 post or 3, but thanks for letting me know some 15 hours after the fact, it could be argued that's what is strange - particularly as you are one who comments so regularly about how this place is policed.

Anyway, enjoy your day and try and stop obsessing over me if you can x

Again, I'm not policing you, I'm laughing at you

 

[Lycan]

The starting position for both wing backs was the half way line

Same as last season then.

 

[The Saturday Boy]

Same as last season then.

Not both, no.