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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.

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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. 

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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. 

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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 by JUICE690

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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.

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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! :cath:

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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. 

 

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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 by Optimistic Nut

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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.  

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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.

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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 by The College Dropout

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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.

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