The old Chris Hughton discussion thread

[Dave]

I think people over-rate 'Premier League quality'. I think we'll stay up, just.

 

Same. We're shite, but so are a lot of teams.

[Mick]

I think people over-rate 'Premier League quality'. I think we'll stay up, just.

 

I think more people over-rate our squad.

 

I can't see an away win anywhere although I think we'll probably get one, I just don't see an away banker.  We've been historically (since Bobby) poor away from home and we didn't do very well away to the promoted teams so they aren't going to be easy away games.  If we need 40 points to stay up and only get 10 points away which is probably on a par with a lot of our Premiership seasons, where's the 30 home points coming from?  I can probably see us getting 24 points at best at home.

[Guest Heneage]

I've seen teams a lot worse in terms of 'footballing ability' than us stay up.

[Mick]

 

A French left-winger and a Welsh striker?

 

We need that level of impact.

[Cajun]

Routledge, Barton, Guthrie, Jonas and possibly at a wishful thinking push Nolan are the ones who I think will do a job. Ryan Taylor although generally being poor could be an option if desperate to deliver a decent set piece.

 

The problem will be if Jonas and routledge are out at the same time as the entire pace/energy will be lost so we need at least one more of that persuasion.

 

Not included gosling due to his injury and despite being impressed by the glimpses I have seen he doesn't seem to have much/any pace. Those who have seen him more regular have pretty much confirmed this.

[Ronaldo]

I think people over-rate 'Premier League quality'. I think we'll stay up, just.

 

I think more people over-rate our squad.

 

I can't see an away win anywhere although I think we'll probably get one, I just don't see an away banker.  We've been historically (since Bobby) poor away from home and we didn't do very well away to the promoted teams so they aren't going to be easy away games.  If we need 40 points to stay up and only get 10 points away which is probably on a par with a lot of our Premiership seasons, where's the 30 home points coming from?  I can probably see us getting 24 points at best at home.

 

There's no way we're getting 40 points.

[Rich]

 

A French left-winger and a Welsh striker?

 

We need that level of impact.

 

Can't see it mate. Those two cost about £18m all-told and God knows what money they were on.

 

Those halcyon days of Shepherd are long gone, unfortunately.

[Mick]

Routledge, Barton, Guthrie, Jonas and possibly at a wishful thinking push Nolan are the ones who I think will do a job. Ryan Taylor although generally being poor could be an option if desperate to deliver a decent set piece.

 

The problem will be if Jonas and routledge are out at the same time as the entire pace/energy will be lost so we need at least one more of that persuasion.

 

Not included gosling due to his injury and despite being impressed by the glimpses I have seen he doesn't seem to have much/any pace. Those who have seen him more regular have pretty much confirmed this.

 

Barton has done nothing since he came here and did very little last season, what makes you think he'll come good all of a sudden?

 

Nolan was embarrassingly shit last season when he didn't score in a shit division, he's not going to get the goals he got last season because he'll be up against better players, what will he offer then?  The most we can hope for is that he gets in the way.

[Mick]

 

There's no way we're getting 40 points.

 

To be fair, 40 points would have been close to mid table last season and 35 points kept West Ham up.  I'm not sure we can get that points total either and we'll probably need that many to stay up.

[Mick]

 

Can't see it mate. Those two cost about £18m all-told and God knows what money they were on.

 

Those halcyon days of Shepherd are long gone, unfortunately.

 

  That last line. 

[Yorkie]

Jesus wept. Can anyone else hear violins?

 

Teams have stayed up (and done extremely well in some cases) with considerably worse players than those in our squad. It certainly is too thin and we're a couple of upgrades away from certainty... but we've got drabs of quality and play like a team and we'll pick up enough points to stay up comfortably imo.

[Rich]

 

Can't see it mate. Those two cost about £18m all-told and God knows what money they were on.

 

Those halcyon days of Shepherd are long gone, unfortunately.

 

  That last line. 

 

I knew you'd like it

[Yorkie]

Tickled me n'all. He's a witty bugger is our Rich.

[Guest Heneage]

I'm really bored of the pessimists, we haven't even played a single game, and already people are saying we are down. I only hope that our players aren't as easily defeated.

[Mick]

Jesus wept. Can anyone else hear violins?

 

Teams have stayed up (and done extremely well in some cases) with considerably worse players than those in our squad. It certainly is too thin and we're a couple of upgrades away from certainty... but we've got drabs of quality and play like a team and we'll pick up enough points to stay up comfortably imo.

 

We haven't got the quality where it counts most, through the middle and that's where we'll struggle against too many teams.  That's not the sound of violins it's the sound of reality.

[Cajun]

Again it's just blind faith with Barton, he was a very good although troubled midfielder with city and if the likes of bowyer and Carr can play a big part in a team finishing mid table then the chances of Barton turning good suddenly don't look so bad.

 

Nolan I am hoping this season has got his confidence back, he scored a lot but not only that he really seemed to improve his all round game towards the end of season so there is a small glimmer of hope.

[JH]

Jesus wept. Can anyone else hear violins?

 

Teams have stayed up (and done extremely well in some cases) with considerably worse players than those in our squad. It certainly is too thin and we're a couple of upgrades away from certainty... but we've got drabs of quality and play like a team and we'll pick up enough points to stay up comfortably imo.

 

Teams have gone down with considerably better players than those in our squad too.

 

Viduka, Owen and Martins is a better striking option than Carroll, Best and Lovenkrands. We're far from survival as things stand. We need a Cleverley and a decent scoring striker and even then, it'll be close.

[Yorkie]

Jesus wept. Can anyone else hear violins?

 

Teams have stayed up (and done extremely well in some cases) with considerably worse players than those in our squad. It certainly is too thin and we're a couple of upgrades away from certainty... but we've got drabs of quality and play like a team and we'll pick up enough points to stay up comfortably imo.

 

We haven't got the quality where it counts most, through the middle and that's where we'll struggle against too many teams.  That's not the sound of violins it's the sound of reality.

 

OH NOES.

 

Relax man. We're going to be absolutely fine.

[Yorkie]

Jesus wept. Can anyone else hear violins?

 

Teams have stayed up (and done extremely well in some cases) with considerably worse players than those in our squad. It certainly is too thin and we're a couple of upgrades away from certainty... but we've got drabs of quality and play like a team and we'll pick up enough points to stay up comfortably imo.

 

Teams have gone down with considerably better players than those in our squad too.

 

Viduka, Owen and Martins is a better striking option than Carroll, Best and Lovenkrands. We're far from survival as things stand. We need a Cleverley and a decent scoring striker and even then, it'll be close.

[Mick]

I'm really bored of the pessimists, we haven't even played a single game, and already people are saying we are down. I only hope that our players aren't as easily defeated.

 

Who is saying we are down?  I think we'll struggle to stay up with our current squad but I'm not saying we're down.

[JH]

I'm sure Blyth Spartans have a good team spirit, but they'd be far from comfortable in the PL. I know it's an extreme, stupid example but you can't ignore how one paced and poor we are at times.

[Mick]

Again it's just blind faith with Barton, he was a very good although troubled midfielder with city and if the likes of bowyer and Carr can play a big part in a team finishing mid table then the chances of Barton turning good suddenly don't look so bad.

 

Nolan I am hoping this season has got his confidence back, he scored a lot but not only that he really seemed to improve his all round game towards the end of season so there is a small glimmer of hope.

 

I've been waiting for Barton to do something positive since the day he signed, I think I've given up on him now.

 

Nolan just hasn't got the pace and I didn't see him improve apart from his goals but if it's down to confidence then he might have a better season than the one before last.

 

[afar]

We may as well just not bother turning up, with the pessimistic twats in this thread. Lets give it a few games into the season at least, to see how our crapness ranks alongside the other crapness (and trust me there's a lot of it at the bottom of the PL) before we throw in the towel ? Just a thought.

[Cajun]

Tbf we were one paced and poor at times vs psv, most (including myself) were expecting a hiding but this team has developed a habit of digging a result out.

[Mick]

 

OH NOES.

 

Relax man. We're going to be absolutely fine.

 

Based on what?