Jinky
Typical Fosun
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2009
- Messages
- 35,638
- Reaction score
- 9,210
No Bear, so might as well get this started.
Probably repeating a few things already mentioned in the matchday thread here, but here goes.
YES, it was Manchester City (we'll forget people were saying it's a "good time to play them" before kick off etc) - but that was the most predictable result of the weekend right there.
I said it during the last two pre-season games, but we are a team that looks like it'll struggle to score goals, and we'll let in sloppy goals at the other end - which doesn't bode well. We are still 3-4 players short of having a competitive squad, and it's a shame that the powers that be are apparently happy to throw the first few games. We're going to be on an uphill struggle from day one, once again - and already find ourselves bottom of the league.
Obviously very early days, but Wolfe seems quite a way off the quality required. Not quite sure what he is? Didn't, or doesn't look like he can bomb forward and get at the opposition full backs - doesn't look skilful. Defensively he reminded me of Berra with his backing off. Doesn't look overly physical. If he was top of our list, or our top target for that LWB role, we're in trouble. I hope he improves - and fast.
The Hoever experiment over on the other side has been put to bed after one game. He's alright as a squad option. Not one you want to call on very often, but for a few cup games here and there and to throw on for the last 10 minutes to close a game out, he'll be ok - but it's absolutely laughable that he's started a PL game for us in 2025. Obviously we've got Tchatchoua coming in who will replace him - and we need to hope that he is of the quality required, but when he disappears in January, we're going to be stuck back with Hoever again. It's not good enough.
Agbadou is a real concern. His pre-season form was generally dismissed - but if he's bringing that in to the proper season, we're in real trouble. Really, really sloppy today - gave the ball away pathetically for their second which kills the game. Needs to get back to the level of last season ASAP. Don't know what's going on there.
I'm not quite sure why Vitor waited so long to make the changes. As I said in the matchday thread - if you're throwing those players on after 70 minutes, why hasn't he thrown them on after an hour when it's 0-2 and anything can happen? A rare blot on his record today, as generally he's pretty quick or spot on at making substitutions. Thought he got that wrong today, and whilst I can see WHY he started with Munetsi and Bellegarde, I think you've got to play at least one of Arias or Fer from the start. Wrong calls today, but a point made to Jeff Shi & co, not that it was needed.
For them, I thought Reijnders looked quality. Joao Gomes is a tough player to come up against but he met his match today. Reijnders ran the show. I think City will push Liverpool close this season, but of course, they'll get harder games from about 16 of the other clubs in the league than what they had today.
The Jota tribute was excellent and I had a tear in my eye watching it. I believe his wife & kids were sat next to Neves (?) so I'm sure she appreciated it.
Probably repeating a few things already mentioned in the matchday thread here, but here goes.
YES, it was Manchester City (we'll forget people were saying it's a "good time to play them" before kick off etc) - but that was the most predictable result of the weekend right there.
I said it during the last two pre-season games, but we are a team that looks like it'll struggle to score goals, and we'll let in sloppy goals at the other end - which doesn't bode well. We are still 3-4 players short of having a competitive squad, and it's a shame that the powers that be are apparently happy to throw the first few games. We're going to be on an uphill struggle from day one, once again - and already find ourselves bottom of the league.
Obviously very early days, but Wolfe seems quite a way off the quality required. Not quite sure what he is? Didn't, or doesn't look like he can bomb forward and get at the opposition full backs - doesn't look skilful. Defensively he reminded me of Berra with his backing off. Doesn't look overly physical. If he was top of our list, or our top target for that LWB role, we're in trouble. I hope he improves - and fast.
The Hoever experiment over on the other side has been put to bed after one game. He's alright as a squad option. Not one you want to call on very often, but for a few cup games here and there and to throw on for the last 10 minutes to close a game out, he'll be ok - but it's absolutely laughable that he's started a PL game for us in 2025. Obviously we've got Tchatchoua coming in who will replace him - and we need to hope that he is of the quality required, but when he disappears in January, we're going to be stuck back with Hoever again. It's not good enough.
Agbadou is a real concern. His pre-season form was generally dismissed - but if he's bringing that in to the proper season, we're in real trouble. Really, really sloppy today - gave the ball away pathetically for their second which kills the game. Needs to get back to the level of last season ASAP. Don't know what's going on there.
I'm not quite sure why Vitor waited so long to make the changes. As I said in the matchday thread - if you're throwing those players on after 70 minutes, why hasn't he thrown them on after an hour when it's 0-2 and anything can happen? A rare blot on his record today, as generally he's pretty quick or spot on at making substitutions. Thought he got that wrong today, and whilst I can see WHY he started with Munetsi and Bellegarde, I think you've got to play at least one of Arias or Fer from the start. Wrong calls today, but a point made to Jeff Shi & co, not that it was needed.
For them, I thought Reijnders looked quality. Joao Gomes is a tough player to come up against but he met his match today. Reijnders ran the show. I think City will push Liverpool close this season, but of course, they'll get harder games from about 16 of the other clubs in the league than what they had today.
The Jota tribute was excellent and I had a tear in my eye watching it. I believe his wife & kids were sat next to Neves (?) so I'm sure she appreciated it.
or back to Toti 
