Shit start to the season

[mark1975]

The only thing that's annoyed me so far is his reluctance with subs, there's a long way to go and he deserves more backing than 4 games. Don't forget, this IS pretty much the same team that played so unimpressively for much of last season, it takes a while for a manager to stamp his authority on a side. I'm not saying that Hodgson will, I'm just saying that old habits die hard and many of the players look like they're stuck in the same slump as last year. It takes time, to at least make a fair judgement. Let's see how Konchesky, Meireles and Cole settle in.

 

[mark1975]

[quote author=Brendan link=topic=41863.msg1173980#msg1173980 date=1284408441]
Yeah, Budgie-face is a great manager.

We're lucky to have him


[/quote]

Yeah that's exactly what I'm saying, I should have just written him off on the back of four games.

Oh.

 

[manwithnoname]

So what the fuck *are* you saying?

He's shit?
He's great?
He's the right man for the job?
You don't fucking know, or have an opinion?

What is it?

 

[Loch Ness Monster]

I am not too disappointed with our start. We have a pretty shit squad and have missed a few players, and a cunty run of fixtures. I would have bitten your hand off for 8 points. Yesterday was a shite performance but a point is not too bad down there. Fuck, they have a better home record than about 90% of the league over the last 12 months.

 

[mark1975]

[quote author=Brendan link=topic=41863.msg1173991#msg1173991 date=1284409169]
So what the fuck *are* you saying?

He's shit?
He's great?
He's the right man for the job?
You don't fucking know, or have an opinion?

What is it?
[/quote]

I think I've said it enough times through the thread, he deserves time and he's had a start no different to our last manager. In fact he's had a season start no different to at least three of Benitez' seasons at Liverpool.

It's pretty obvious what the point is, I didn't once say he was a cunt and I didn't once say he was the right man for the job, because after four games only a fucking bellend would form such an opinion.

Yeah it's fairly obvious from his record that it's a questionable appointment, couldn't you contain your excitement at being 'oh so fucking right' beyond 4 games? I mean, if he does fail, you'll really be out there on your own, I doubt no one else would have seen it coming because they'd have been too busy at least giving him the grace of a bit of 'time' to give it a fucking go.

Soz if that didn't fit into your caveman-esque "he's a useless cunt" style.

 

[Dreambeliever]

We all knew it was a cuntish start to the season fixture wise.

But even if we lose to Utd Sunday I think we have the players and the coach to get into the top 4 this season.

Next Sunday might be the first time we see all our new signings start together and when they do we will be a totally different animal.


I cannot wait to see a front 5 of


Gerrard----------Raul

Jovan-------------------------Cole
---------------Torres-------------

 

[jexykrodic]

We've yet to see the potential we have displayed. There can be no better motivation than a trip to Old Trafford. Less complaining about the fixture list, roll up the sleeves and let our players play up to the reputations they have. The fans are due a display.

 

[Fox]

[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=41863.msg1173799#msg1173799 date=1284388861]
Seems everyone is of the conclusion that Hodgson has taken over where Rafa left off. I'm not overawed with his subs so far, but he's at least tried to address most of the problems we have (left back, central midfield) and I'm pretty sure his first choice midfield isn't Lucas and Poulsen, given he's said he wants to play Gerrard there and Meireles has just been bought for £11m (not to mention the effect of Cole's suspension).

Anyway.......... 5 points from 12, but for a gaff against Arsenal could have been 8pts from what was a difficult start.

This was Rafa's start:

1st season

Spurs (A) draw
City (H) win
Bolton (A) loss
United (A) loss
Norwich (H) Won
Chelsea (A) loss


2nd season:

Boro (A) draw
Sunderland (H) Win
Spurs (A) draw
United (H) draw
Brum (A) draw
Chelsea (H) loss

[/quote]


good post Mark.

I wish we had Chelsea's opening fixtures

West Ham
Stoke
Wigan
West Brom
Blackpool


Like I said if Cole had not been so daft with that tackle Lucas or Poulsen would not have even played against Brum and we may have done better.

I will judge Roy at the turn of the new year.

I hate all the pathetic name calling on here to players and our manager, it is embarrassing

 

[LeTallecWiz]

[quote author=Fox link=topic=41863.msg1174127#msg1174127 date=1284457495]
I hate all the pathetic name calling on here to players and our manager, it is embarrassing
[/quote]

Yah Fox, most of the site probably agrees with you here, with the only exception being what Lucas is called.

 

[Portly]

Many of us seem not to have noticed that Rafa's atrocious mismanagement of our player resources meant that Hodgson inherited a very thin squad for a club with top 4 ambitions. Since he arrived Hodgson has done his best to paper over the cracks with the limited financial resources available to him. I have no complaints.

 

[cochyn]

[quote author=Portly link=topic=41863.msg1174164#msg1174164 date=1284462503]
Many of us seem not to have noticed that Rafa's atrocious mismanagement of our player resources meant that Hodgson inherited a very thin squad for a club with top 4 ambitions. Since he arrived Hodgson has done his best to paper over the cracks with the limited financial resources available to him. I have no complaints.
[/quote]

is the correct answer i totally agree!!
I believe there is improvement to make and to come on what has happened so far!

 

[doctor_mac]

Considering we were clearly devoid of an attacking spark, Hodgson's decision to loan out Aquilani looks crazier and crazier.

 

[Woland]

Aquilani managed to play for 20 minutes on Sunday - that is the only thing I can garner about his performance, the fact that he came on, from all four reports I read.

 

[doctor_mac]

[quote author=crump link=topic=41863.msg1174191#msg1174191 date=1284465074]
Aquilani managed to play for 20 minutes on Sunday - that is the only thing I can garner about his performance, the fact that he came on, from all four reports I read.
[/quote]

He played for 12 minutes, so your grasp of the facts is indeed tenuous.

 

[Woland]

Lordy dordy. Well anyways, have you found any comments on his performance anywhere?

 

[manwithnoname]

[quote author=crump link=topic=41863.msg1174196#msg1174196 date=1284465666]
Lordy dordy. Well anyways, have you found any comments on his performance anywhere?
[/quote]

And what the fuck would you hope to glean from 12 minutes?

 

[Hansern]

I'm still clinging on to the belief that Roy will field a totally different midfield, now that everyone is fit and has returned from suspension.

The days of Poulsen Lucas being our midfield duo should be behind us.

We're the only team in the Premier League that needs 2 defensive midfielders, strange that.

 

[doctor_mac]

[quote author=crump link=topic=41863.msg1174196#msg1174196 date=1284465666]
Lordy dordy. Well anyways, have you found any comments on his performance anywhere?
[/quote]

No.

 

[Woland]

[quote author=Brendan link=topic=41863.msg1174197#msg1174197 date=1284465749]
[quote author=crump link=topic=41863.msg1174196#msg1174196 date=1284465666]
Lordy dordy. Well anyways, have you found any comments on his performance anywhere?
[/quote]

And what the fuck would you hope to glean from 12 minutes?
[/quote]

I was just wondering if he picked up a knock.

 

[mark1975]

I heard Aquilani went to reduce the wage bill.

 

[Hansern]

[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=41863.msg1174202#msg1174202 date=1284466164]
I heard Aquilani went to reduce the wage bill.
[/quote]

And because we have Meireles, Gerrard and Cole that can play in the same position. 🙂

 

[Avmenon]

Wished he'd taken Lucas with him.

 

[Portly]

I'm still not sure how good Aquilani actually is as a creative midfielder in the Premier League. From what I saw of him last season, he did seem to have some flair, but as so often with that type of midfielder, he gave the ball away quite a lot.

 

[doctor_mac]

[quote author=Portly link=topic=41863.msg1174207#msg1174207 date=1284466479]
I'm still not sure how good Aquilani actually is as a creative midfielder in the Premier League. From what I saw of him last season, he did seem to have some flair, but as so often with that type of midfielder, he gave the ball away quite a lot.
[/quote]

The fact was though, when he was on the pitch, things seemed to happen. He provided a number of assists in the few games he had. It is ridiculous he wasn't given a chance.

 

[Portly]

I agree that Aquilani looked like the kind of player who can make things happen. I think unpredictability is a key factor. Predecessors include Luis Garcia, Patrik Berger and Peter Cormack. All of them took stick from the crowd for giving the ball away when it didn't come off, but they were all more than worth their place.

Lucas rarely gives the ball away but he rarely makes anything happen! :🙂

 

[Delinquent]

[quote author=doctor_mac link=topic=41863.msg1174189#msg1174189 date=1284464982]
Considering we were clearly devoid of an attacking spark, Hodgson's decision to loan out Aquilani looks crazier and crazier.
[/quote]

Indeed. What annoyed me even more is hearing him speak about 'losing' Aquilani the following week, when quizzed about his lack of options. You didn't lose him Roy, you let him go.

 

[Delinquent]

[quote author=Brendan link=topic=41863.msg1174197#msg1174197 date=1284465749]
[quote author=crump link=topic=41863.msg1174196#msg1174196 date=1284465666]
Lordy dordy. Well anyways, have you found any comments on his performance anywhere?
[/quote]

And what the fuck would you hope to glean from 12 minutes?
[/quote]

That he's a lazy shithouse?

 

[manwithnoname]

Heh

Tooshay

 

[StevieM]

Let's not forget we laboured to beat WBA at home. We didn't have to play Lucas & Poulsen in that game - Maxi, Babel & Pacheco were left on the bench.

I'm trying not to be overly pessimistic, but I hope we don't spend half the season waiting for Meireles to "bed in" and I hope Joe Cole doesn't become Harry Kewell Mk II and spend as much time on the injury bench as the pitch.

Our midfield is gash - simple as. The one positive is that Gerrard looks a bit happier this season, because we can't afford him to have last season's form carry over in to this season.

The "Filler" players such as Jova, Maxi, Babel & N'Gog need to step up a gear and stop pretending to be footballers. Some of the youngsters need to stake a claim for a slice of the action and we need Torres to get his mojo back asap.

We aren't going to be playing attractive, expansive football any time soon - it's not really Hodgson's style - and really we all know he wasn't brought in to do that. His primary task is to stop us completely imploding - which we haven't, yet.

It's all looking a little bit depressing so far, because we haven't hit the ground running - which suggests a long hard season ahead.

 

[kingjulian]

I heard a tasty rumor that Roy is planning to get Veloso in January.

The rumor was 5mil gbp + Lucas for Miguel Veloso......i'd like that.

However, i'm not sure how true it is.

Raul, Miguel, Stevie would be a pretty solid trio. It certainly will be a tasty improvement on Lucas, Poulsen and Stevie. Jeez...Stevie sticks out like a sore thumb in the later.