[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=41863.msg1174571#msg1174571 date=1284533471]
[quote author=StevieM link=topic=41863.msg1174550#msg1174550 date=1284523690]
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.
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Bit harsh on N'Gog, aside from the City game he's done well and played above what he did last season. What is it? 5 goals? He's not going to be good enough to be second choice but he's done his job so far and netted a few too, no point judging him on last seasons form.
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I'm not judging him on last years form and he has done alright so far this year - but we need more from him if we are going to get anywhere near the top 4. He has the abilities to develop in to a decent footballer, but he needs to start playing to the best of his abaility consistently and imposing himself on games.