Reasons to worry ... Reasons to stay optimistic

[D.Winchester]

[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=35273.msg925855#msg925855 date=1250447948]
[quote author=Rafa4PM link=topic=35273.msg925831#msg925831 date=1250446100]
Reason to stay optimistic:

Our next 6 games are all quite friendly.
[/quote]I agree with this.
A really tough opening fixture vs easy games for Chelsea and Manchester has skewed perspective.
I expected (with Xabi leaving) an element of preoccupation with our midfield, but maybe not this much.
We played really poorly and got the same result as last year in a game we never really do well in.
Drawing with Stoke would be a greater cause for concern. But i dont believe ALL our key players will play that badly again.
[/quote]

Last season we totally bossed the majority of the away game at Spurs and gave away soft goals handing them the victory. The manner of todays perforamance after quite a lacklustre preseason together with lack of adequate cover in certain positions is a worry.

 

[Roger REDerer]

I think we'll continue to struggle in the next 6 games.

 

[Oncy]

[quote author=Roger REDerer link=topic=35273.msg926159#msg926159 date=1250474386]
I think we'll continue to struggle in the next 6 games.
[/quote]Christ, your 'I've got a feeling...' schtick didnt last long.

 

[sshafsg]

i expected a poor result in fact, this being a tough fixture for us ,we had few injured players returning half-fit, ie skrtel, gerrard,carra, and missing xabi's calming influence for such tough match

On the positive, I hope Rafa can now realize how out-of-depth lucas is..i'm not his greatest fan n never will be if he doesn't up his game...Some of u here might have a different sentiment wrt to his performance yesterday and thought he had a fairly good game, but i thought we lost direction in the midfield beoz of him...

He was average defensively but absent offensive...noticed him strolling instead of offering options whenever we are on the offensive..thus Gerrard had to drop back to offer more options, leavng Torres alone against King and Bassong...Torres and Gerrard looked poor coz Lucas was abysmal..

Did u all notice Gerrard gesturing angrily to Lucas while we were defending a corner?i think in the 70+ mins...and Gerrard could be more frustrated in the next match and if Lucas doesn't improve....I'm hoping Rafa realize that...

 

[Roger REDerer]

[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=35273.msg926175#msg926175 date=1250489962]
[quote author=Roger REDerer link=topic=35273.msg926159#msg926159 date=1250474386]
I think we'll continue to struggle in the next 6 games.
[/quote]Christ, your 'I've got a feeling...' schtick didnt last long.
[/quote]

Oops...

'I've got a feeling...' is from the heart.
'I think...' is from the brain.

I know for a fact, my heart's usually right in all matters, so don't worry.

I got a feeling.....that this year's gonna be .....ok I'll shut up now.

 

[Dreambeliever]

In terms of really believing we can win the league the reasons are very few.

We cannot afford any injuries and have to hope our big players never play as they did yesterday.

I'm hopeful for a cup this season.

 

[spider-Neil]

I not really asked if we're struggling as long as we are picking up points and I don't care HOW as long as we do.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Reasons to worry:

A poor result to start the season means we'll have to deal with DB being 'extra' depressed and pessimistic.

 

[Oncy]

Dont let yesterday fool yous into believing the (opposite of) hype lads. We're a fantastic football team and we're very much capable of winning this league.
It isnt away at Spurs this league will be won/lost. Its away at Stoke, Burnley, Hull, its home to West Ham, Bolton, Wigan etc. Manchester are SUPERB at getting points at the lower sides. Flat track bullies i believe its called. They will take nearly maximum points against the bottom 7 or 8, and we need to too. We can afford to lose games, we cant afford to lose games we SHOULD win. Spurs away isnt one of those. A draw would have been nice but we played poorly. It isnt the end of days. Just....you know....play better. We're very capable of winning the next 6 in a row. Panic stations are miles from here.

 

[themn]

I was loving Lucas giving Chunky Huddlestone a shove.

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=35273.msg926282#msg926282 date=1250501996]
Dont let yesterday fool yous into believing the (opposite of) hype lads. We're a fantastic football team and we're very much capable of winning this league.
It isnt away at Spurs this league will be won/lost. Its away at Stoke, Burnley, Hull, its home to West Ham, Bolton, Wigan etc. Manchester are SUPERB at getting points at the lower sides. Flat track bullies i believe its called. They will take nearly maximum points against the bottom 7 or 8, and we need to too. We can afford to lose games, we cant afford to lose games we SHOULD win. Spurs away isnt one of those. A draw would have been nice but we played poorly. It isnt the end of days. Just....you know....play better. We're very capable of winning the next 6 in a row. Panic stations are miles from here.
[/quote]

I agree with that but I would have said home games against the lower sides, teams we have always struggled to break down.

 

[Oncy]

[quote author=themn link=topic=35273.msg926284#msg926284 date=1250502126]
I was loving Lucas giving Chunky Huddlestone a shove.
[/quote]Me too. It endeared him to me greatly.

 

[Y1]

[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=35273.msg926282#msg926282 date=1250501996]
Dont let yesterday fool yous into believing the (opposite of) hype lads. We're a fantastic football team and we're very much capable of winning this league.
It isnt away at Spurs this league will be won/lost. Its away at Stoke, Burnley, Hull, its home to West Ham, Bolton, Wigan etc. Manchester are SUPERB at getting points at the lower sides. Flat track bullies i believe its called. They will take nearly maximum points against the bottom 7 or 8, and we need to too. We can afford to lose games, we cant afford to lose games we SHOULD win. Spurs away isnt one of those. A draw would have been nice but we played poorly. It isnt the end of days. Just....you know....play better. We're very capable of winning the next 6 in a row. Panic stations are miles from here.
[/quote]

I think this year should be tighter (I have been saying for a few years and somehow most teams simply roll over for Man U to stamper all over them) and therefore the top 6 teams should be taking points from each other. Hence what Oncy said is right, it is those weaker teams we MUST win and take full points against for us to stand any chance of winning.

 

[themn]

[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=35273.msg926286#msg926286 date=1250502254]
[quote author=themn link=topic=35273.msg926284#msg926284 date=1250502126]
I was loving Lucas giving Chunky Huddlestone a shove.
[/quote]Me too. It endeared him to me greatly.
[/quote]

*nods, smiling dreamily*

 

[Y1]

[quote author=themn link=topic=35273.msg926291#msg926291 date=1250502580]
[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=35273.msg926286#msg926286 date=1250502254]
[quote author=themn link=topic=35273.msg926284#msg926284 date=1250502126]
I was loving Lucas giving Chunky Huddlestone a shove.
[/quote]Me too. It endeared him to me greatly.
[/quote]

*nods, smiling dreamily*
[/quote]

Ah yes, I saw that. How did he get away from not getting a yellow for raised hands.

 

[Oncy]

[quote author=Y1 link=topic=35273.msg926296#msg926296 date=1250502958]
[quote author=themn link=topic=35273.msg926291#msg926291 date=1250502580]
[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=35273.msg926286#msg926286 date=1250502254]
[quote author=themn link=topic=35273.msg926284#msg926284 date=1250502126]
I was loving Lucas giving Chunky Huddlestone a shove.
[/quote]Me too. It endeared him to me greatly.
[/quote]

*nods, smiling dreamily*
[/quote]

Ah yes, I saw that. How did he get away from not getting a yellow for raised hands.
[/quote]Coz the ref was fucking shit.

 

[themn]

[quote author=Y1 link=topic=35273.msg926296#msg926296 date=1250502958]
[quote author=themn link=topic=35273.msg926291#msg926291 date=1250502580]
[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=35273.msg926286#msg926286 date=1250502254]
[quote author=themn link=topic=35273.msg926284#msg926284 date=1250502126]
I was loving Lucas giving Chunky Huddlestone a shove.
[/quote]Me too. It endeared him to me greatly.
[/quote]

*nods, smiling dreamily*
[/quote]

Ah yes, I saw that. How did he get away from not getting a yellow for raised hands.
[/quote]

The ref probably thought,

"Ah, bless"

 

[themn]

[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=35273.msg926298#msg926298 date=1250503208]
[quote author=Y1 link=topic=35273.msg926296#msg926296 date=1250502958]
[quote author=themn link=topic=35273.msg926291#msg926291 date=1250502580]
[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=35273.msg926286#msg926286 date=1250502254]
[quote author=themn link=topic=35273.msg926284#msg926284 date=1250502126]
I was loving Lucas giving Chunky Huddlestone a shove.
[/quote]Me too. It endeared him to me greatly.
[/quote]

*nods, smiling dreamily*
[/quote]

Ah yes, I saw that. How did he get away from not getting a yellow for raised hands.
[/quote]Coz the ref was fucking shit.
[/quote]

Yes, that also.

 

[Y1]

[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=35273.msg926298#msg926298 date=1250503208]
[quote author=Y1 link=topic=35273.msg926296#msg926296 date=1250502958]
[quote author=themn link=topic=35273.msg926291#msg926291 date=1250502580]
[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=35273.msg926286#msg926286 date=1250502254]
[quote author=themn link=topic=35273.msg926284#msg926284 date=1250502126]
I was loving Lucas giving Chunky Huddlestone a shove.
[/quote]Me too. It endeared him to me greatly.
[/quote]

*nods, smiling dreamily*
[/quote]

Ah yes, I saw that. How did he get away from not getting a yellow for raised hands.
[/quote]Coz the ref was fucking shit.
[/quote]

LOL. And another during the first half, he was tripped but he did not fall over! That was good to see. He certainly has toughen up.

 

[Fox]

I don't think the result was a surprise considering our pre season form, it matched it.

We looked sloppy, Stevie was puffing and is not fit enough yet so it was all expected if you think about it.

Spurs could have beaten us very easily if Keane was not such a shit finisher, I am thankful for that a stuffing would have hurt more.

Is the replacement of Arbeloa for Johnson such a difference to say the Lucas for Xabi has not weakened the 1st team massively.

Until our new man is fit our 1st 11 is not as good as last seasons that is the worry


Johnson was the plus, good start

 

[rage]

[quote author=Fox link=topic=35273.msg926314#msg926314 date=1250505376]
I don't think the result was a surprise considering our pre season form, it matched it.

We looked sloppy, Stevie was puffing and is not fit enough yet so it was all expected if you think about it.

Spurs could have beaten us very easily if Keane was not such a shit finisher, I am thankful for that a stuffing would have hurt more.

Is the replacement of Arbeloa for Johnson such a difference to say the Lucas for Xabi has not weakened the 1st team massively.

Until our new man is fit our 1st 11 is not as good as last seasons that is the worry


Johnson was the plus, good start
[/quote]

our first 11 is strongest if rafa has it in him to drop gerrard into centre midfield instead of lucas and play yossi behind torres.