first fixture confirmed

yep, squad rotation is important especially later in the season. but first few matches should be all about trying to bully sides and look dominant. and strikers HATE being rotated, especially if they miss out on matches where they'd fancy their chances of getting a few goals.

one of lambert's failings at the end of last season was too much rotation for no real reason. for example, we finally saw dicko get a goal and start to look more confident and then he was dropped in following games. plus most of the players PL did bring in showed no extra urgency, energy or ability than those who had been in the side most of the season. which is also what's happened in too many league cup games of late - fringe players you'd expect would be desperate to impress, strolling around like they're still in a reserve game.

I think there are arguments for and against. I think Nuno will be keen to see,a few of the squad play competitive football and I can't imagine he will drop on his best team on day one. As well as the new signings, all the current players at the club will be new to him so I dont think there won't be a settled team for a few weeks. That's the problem with changing managers all the time, we are regularly starting with new managers sussing out who he favours

easiest way to solve that is win the first game of the season comfortably...then you don't need to make any changes until the team looks tired or stops winning.

Miranda has worked with Nuno before and I feel sure he'll know a little bit about Costa, Cav and Silvio.

It's going to be important that we get the players he wants in early, so that he can assess them as soon as players come back for pre season training. We don't want the farcical situation that we had at the beginning of last season where the coach had new players and no pre season games to asses the squad he inherited.

comment by wolfieintheSunshineState (U16306)
posted 37 minutes ago
Miranda has worked with Nuno before and I feel sure he'll know a little bit about Costa, Cav and Silvio.

It's going to be important that we get the players he wants in early, so that he can assess them as soon as players come back for pre season training. We don't want the farcical situation that we had at the beginning of last season where the coach had new players and no pre season games to asses the squad he inherited.
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The farce will never end. Nuno will be gone by November at the latest. These Chinese owners haven't got a bloody clue what they are doing or why. It's as if all their football related decisions are made using chopsticks, spinning plates and moon phases.

I see you haven't got rid of your negative hat Unc.

comment by wolfieintheSunshineState (U16306)

We don't want the farcical situation that we had at the beginning of last season where the coach had new players and no pre season games to asses the squad he inherited.
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You mean no pre-season games to teach them how to play football?

I would have hoped that players joining the club for hefty fees (millions) might have an inkling of how to play the game, even if they have to adapt.

Who knows how we will do under Nuno but it seems like a better managerial choice than the one the FA made when they appointed Aidy Boothroyd to manage the England youth team.

Never a real success in league football, certainly not renowned for teams that play good football and was sacked from his last club job when he took Northampton to bottom in League 2. Can only be a case of who you know not what you know

boothroyd the latest man gifted a first class ticket to ride the fa gravy train.

Date and time of match v Yeovil now confirmed. Molineux, Tuesday August 8th, 7.45 ko.