Stottie Posted September 17, 2023 Share Posted September 17, 2023 After the five hardest opening fixtures anyone can remember, we are fourth in the league in xG against. Pope's not been on top form, so actual goals against is higher. Two unlikely finishes from Nunez, who's missing easier chances against everyone else, didn't help either. Our defending against Brighton was more uncharacteristic error-strewn than systematically poor. We lost the midfield battle, but everyone does against Brighton. We've struggled a bit to create, but c'mon, Man City and Brighton away. Our group games in the CL Group of Death may prove easier. I expect more goal involvements from Barnes and Gordon as we learn to use their talents. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 17, 2023 Share Posted September 17, 2023 50 minutes ago, Stottie said: After the five hardest opening fixtures anyone can remember, we are fourth in the league in xG against. Pope's not been on top form, so actual goals against is higher. Two unlikely finishes from Nunez, who's missing easier chances against everyone else, didn't help either. Our defending against Brighton was more uncharacteristic error-strewn than systematically poor. We lost the midfield battle, but everyone does against Brighton. We've struggled a bit to create, but c'mon, Man City and Brighton away. Our group games in the CL Group of Death may prove easier. I expect more goal involvements from Barnes and Gordon as we learn to use their talents. The teams who have beaten us are 1st, 3rd and 4th and have a record of P12, W10, D1, L1 against clubs who aren't us. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cronky Posted September 17, 2023 Share Posted September 17, 2023 Might be my imagination, but I did sense that Eddie is quite angry at the way the media are trying to create a crisis out of the three defeats. Two away from home, and all against teams in the top four...hmm. Over the years, he's earned a bit more respect than that. Let's face it, most non-Geordies would prefer for our story to continue - ie hopes being constantly dashed, the roller coster of near success followed by failure. Schadenfreude. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronson333 Posted September 17, 2023 Share Posted September 17, 2023 I remember when beat wolves at home last season, a Bournemouth fan came on and said this was standard Howe and watch us go on a run, I think we then won the next seven or something. Yesterday felt very similar to that Wolves game. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 17, 2023 Share Posted September 17, 2023 7 hours ago, Optimistic Nut said: The teams who have beaten us are 1st, 3rd and 4th and have a record of P12, W10, D1, L1 against clubs who aren't us. Just extending this to the other two teams we've played. One 7th, one 10th. The 5 teams combined have P20, W14, D4, L2 away from playing us. Brentford had the potential to be an icky draw and we did great to get through a nervy first 20-25 mins and win that. Would be surprised if we've ever had a tougher start to the season in our history and we're through it. We definitely didn't cover ourselves in glory last half hour v Liverpool and at Brighton but overall we're probably where we'd expect to be after those 5 fixtures give or take a point. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
54 Posted September 17, 2023 Share Posted September 17, 2023 38 minutes ago, Optimistic Nut said: Just extending this to the other two teams we've played. One 7th, one 10th. The 5 teams combined have P20, W14, D4, L2 away from playing us. Brentford had the potential to be an icky draw and we did great to get through a nervy first 20-25 mins and win that. Would be surprised if we've ever had a tougher start to the season in our history and we're through it. We definitely didn't cover ourselves in glory last half hour v Liverpool and at Brighton but overall we're probably where we'd expect to be after those 5 fixtures give or take a point. I said before the season started that I'd be happy with 6 points or above from the first five fixtures and we got that. We now move on to an easier run of games in which we can hopefully climb the table. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tisd09 Posted September 17, 2023 Share Posted September 17, 2023 Thing is if we held on as we should have v Liverpool 9 points from the first 5 was probably around about par. Felt if we upped things v Man City they had a few gears to move through, obviously the Brighton performance was garbage but no embarrassment to come away from there with nothing this season. Overall we knew it was a tough start, a good performance midweek and another league win next weekend and things will look far better and we know there is room for improvement. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M1tche Posted September 17, 2023 Share Posted September 17, 2023 My only slight criticism with him is the subs atm, Liverpool ones were bad, and yesterday felt like it needed a midfield change to get the game back under control, but we won and thats the main thing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
54 Posted September 17, 2023 Share Posted September 17, 2023 2 minutes ago, M1tche said: My only slight criticism with him is the subs atm, Liverpool ones were bad, and yesterday felt like it needed a midfield change to get the game back under control, but we won and thats the main thing. I thought we controlled the midfield throughout the second half yesterday to be honest. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M1tche Posted September 17, 2023 Share Posted September 17, 2023 4 minutes ago, 54 said: I thought we controlled the midfield throughout the second half yesterday to be honest. Maybe I was just over nervous, felt like we needed a bit more of foothold from about 70 onwards. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fezzle Posted September 17, 2023 Share Posted September 17, 2023 12 hours ago, Gallowgate Toon said: I think he'll only make one change for Tuesday... Tonali for Anderson. No chance isak and almiron don't come in too. His lack of subs was telling yesterday Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallowgate Toon Posted September 17, 2023 Share Posted September 17, 2023 7 minutes ago, Fezzle said: No chance isak and almiron don't come in too. His lack of subs was telling yesterday Howe loves to keep a winning team together though, it's part of what helps to create that competitive mentality in the squad. With it being so early in the season, I don't think he'll be as worried about rotation as he will in a couple of months. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bimpy474 Posted September 17, 2023 Share Posted September 17, 2023 We're in a dip of a lack creativity, i've no doubt he'll find a way out of that, but i sure wish we should have gone for Maddison or Paqueta, we certainly need someone of their ilk. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fezzle Posted September 17, 2023 Share Posted September 17, 2023 2 minutes ago, Gallowgate Toon said: Howe loves to keep a winning team together though, it's part of what helps to create that competitive mentality in the squad. With it being so early in the season, I don't think he'll be as worried about rotation as he will in a couple of months. Maybe but those two were taken out with Milan in mind, tonali wasn't worth risking ahead of it too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fezzle Posted September 17, 2023 Share Posted September 17, 2023 3 minutes ago, Bimpy474 said: We're in a dip of a lack creativity, i've no doubt he'll find a way out of that, but i sure wish we should have gone for Maddison or Paqueta, we certainly need someone of their ilk. How he fits joe/willock/longstaff into a functional midfield will answer that, gets the right balance and there's enough there without doubt. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JUICE690 Posted September 17, 2023 Share Posted September 17, 2023 (edited) 7 hours ago, 54 said: I thought we controlled the midfield throughout the second half yesterday to be honest. Yeah I can only remember one real blunder where there were 4 of our players, all near a bouncing ball. All of them seemed to get in each others way waiting for the other to claim posession. Brentford player nicked it and burst forward. Honestly felt a goal coming from it. Was in the last 15 I think. Edited September 17, 2023 by JUICE690 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dokko Posted September 17, 2023 Share Posted September 17, 2023 We've played 4 of the current top 7 in the opening 5 games, and the 5th are keeping us out of the top 10. We've got some niggling injuries, all in the same-ish area as well, and had a better start than Manu & Chelsea. It's going to be a long and tough season with hopefully some memorable moments, and being brought down to earth early on can be a good thing in that everyone refocuses and stops taking things for granted. Sure we had the same points after 5 games last season and we had an easier start. turned out to be decent in the end. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottishMagpie Posted September 17, 2023 Share Posted September 17, 2023 3 minutes ago, Dokko said: We've played 4 of the current top 7 in the opening 5 games, and the 5th are keeping us out of the top 10. We've got some niggling injuries, all in the same-ish area as well, and had a better start than Manu & Chelsea. It's going to be a long and tough season with hopefully some memorable moments, and being brought down to earth early on can be a good thing in that everyone refocuses and stops taking things for granted. Sure we had the same points after 5 games last season and we had an easier start. turned out to be decent in the end. Damn you and you calm rationality! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackie Broon Posted September 17, 2023 Share Posted September 17, 2023 46 minutes ago, Dokko said: We've played 4 of the current top 7 in the opening 5 games, and the 5th are keeping us out of the top 10. We've got some niggling injuries, all in the same-ish area as well, and had a better start than Manu & Chelsea. It's going to be a long and tough season with hopefully some memorable moments, and being brought down to earth early on can be a good thing in that everyone refocuses and stops taking things for granted. Sure we had the same points after 5 games last season and we had an easier start. turned out to be decent in the end. Aye Forest H 2.0, Brighton A 0-0, Man City H 3-3, Wolves A 1-1, Liverpool A 1-2 - 6 points and +1 GD. Took us another 3 matches to get our 2nd win as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 18, 2023 Share Posted September 18, 2023 (edited) We got the depth/ability yet to make 4-5 changes in the league one weekend, play the strongest XI possible in the CL, then to keep things fresh, rotate a few who've started both games the previous 6 days for the weekend? Wouldn't touch the GK and CBs, though and midfield someone would have to play all 3 unless we thought Miley could start yet. So say Sunday v Sheff Utd we have something like: Pope Livramento Targett Schar Botman Tonali Hall Bruno/Longstaff/Anderson/Miley Murphy Almiron Isak Edited September 18, 2023 by Optimistic Nut Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBrownBottle Posted September 18, 2023 Share Posted September 18, 2023 14 hours ago, Dokko said: We've played 4 of the current top 7 in the opening 5 games, and the 5th are keeping us out of the top 10. We've got some niggling injuries, all in the same-ish area as well, and had a better start than Manu & Chelsea. It's going to be a long and tough season with hopefully some memorable moments, and being brought down to earth early on can be a good thing in that everyone refocuses and stops taking things for granted. Sure we had the same points after 5 games last season and we had an easier start. turned out to be decent in the end. I’ve just realised I haven’t looked at the table yet this season. This feels like being good again - I never really used to bother looking pre-Ashley until October. Under Ashley, I would look at it pretty much from day one of the season - due to relegation fears. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod Posted September 18, 2023 Share Posted September 18, 2023 6 minutes ago, TheBrownBottle said: I’ve just realised I haven’t looked at the table yet this season. This feels like being good again - I never really used to bother looking pre-Ashley until October. Under Ashley, I would look at it pretty much from day one of the season - due to relegation fears. You have just described an Everton fan. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBrownBottle Posted September 18, 2023 Share Posted September 18, 2023 3 minutes ago, Rod said: You have just described an Everton fan. Yep, that’s their lot now. My heart bleeds Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The College Dropout Posted September 18, 2023 Share Posted September 18, 2023 (edited) I think he plays the strongest team possible again unless players have niggles and the like. With 5 subs you can plan to give certain players an hour each game. Isak, Almiron and Tonali are ‘starters’ so they will get at least one start coming up. But the rest? Hall and Livra will do well to get an hour over both games. Nothing I’ve seen from Howe suggests he’s into heavy rotation. Edited September 18, 2023 by The College Dropout Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cronky Posted September 18, 2023 Share Posted September 18, 2023 57 minutes ago, The College Dropout said: Nothing I’ve seen from Howe suggests he’s into heavy rotation. I know what you mean, but this is his first time in European competition. I don't think he's got a choice. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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