I hit a nerve on here a year or two back by suggesting Struijk isn't a Premiership centre-half. He has improved in my opinion, but surely it's time to put Bijol in there who i thought was the pick of the summer signings.

Calvert-Lewin did well again today though not as good as last week against more physical opposition. The ref didn't help though by awarding a series of ridiculously soft free-kicks against him. Was very unlucky not to score in the 2nd half, good reaction stop from the keeper.

Spot on regarding Stach. He's been anonymous in every 2nd period up to now.

Overall though, while slightly frustrated at the points tally, overall confident we can stay up a little more comfortably than i'd dared hope for. Two huge games next & i fully expect 6 points.

And Bamford is the best number 9 that's ever lived.

And we play better when Bamford plays.

comment by White as Snow (U22893)
posted 32 minutes ago
I hit a nerve on here a year or two back by suggesting Struijk isn't a Premiership centre-half. He has improved in my opinion, but surely it's time to put Bijol in there who i thought was the pick of the summer signings.

Calvert-Lewin did well again today though not as good as last week against more physical opposition. The ref didn't help though by awarding a series of ridiculously soft free-kicks against him. Was very unlucky not to score in the 2nd half, good reaction stop from the keeper.

Spot on regarding Stach. He's been anonymous in every 2nd period up to now.

Overall though, while slightly frustrated at the points tally, overall confident we can stay up a little more comfortably than i'd dared hope for. Two huge games next & i fully expect 6 points.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Not sure what Struijk did wring today. Can you enlighten me?

Point being, this is the Prem and the talent level is immense. It finds any player out. Aaronson left his side
of the pitch wide open all game long. Attack after
attack came down his side.

However, their two goals were scored off the opposite
wing. And our goal was created out of BA's crack at goal.

In other words, we can cut these games up however we want. Reality is, Gudmundson is the best LB we've had in years. Rodon's a beast. Stach's another beast.
Bogle's great. Longstaff's a revelation. Amps is a
natural born badass leader. Okafor looks like a solid
signing. DCL is really, really good. Pascal is keeping
one of our biggest signings out the side. So is
Darlow. Okay, Aaronson looks like a kid playing against men with his three strides to a grown up man's one,
but, see above. We can pick apart the players left and right. Literally.

Farke is still in charge. He gets a few things right.
And a lot of things wrong. He still does subs worse than the French navy. Despite him and everything, we could still finish 17th. Even though I predicted 19th.

I'm calmer than I was a few weeks ago. Plus, as I keep
saying, this is a really likable squad.

I have to agree with you about Aaronson. He is playing well and justifies his spot at the moment. Even if Willy was fully fit, I thnk Farke would choose Aaronson, on the basis of his consistency.
DCL, though, is starting to worry me. That's six good opportunities spurned in the last two games. I am sure Piroe would do better, but how do you keep the qualities DCL brings to the team while including Piroe for his finishing? One part of me thinks, persist with DCL and he will come good. Another part of me is still suffering from Bamford flashbacks and thinks we have brought in his twin brother.
I think Stach has worked his socks off and could do with a break, but is Ao ready to take his place? Finally, Okafor is showing real class, he just seems to glide through tackles and just needs to time his release of the ball a little better.
Overall, a good performance yesterday against a very good team. We need to believe in ourselves a little more, but given who is fit at the moment, I don't think Farke could have gotten much more out of the lads than he did.

comment by Stoopo (U4707)
posted 5 hours, 8 minutes ago
comment by White as Snow (U22893)
posted 32 minutes ago
I hit a nerve on here a year or two back by suggesting Struijk isn't a Premiership centre-half. He has improved in my opinion, but surely it's time to put Bijol in there who i thought was the pick of the summer signings.

Calvert-Lewin did well again today though not as good as last week against more physical opposition. The ref didn't help though by awarding a series of ridiculously soft free-kicks against him. Was very unlucky not to score in the 2nd half, good reaction stop from the keeper.

Spot on regarding Stach. He's been anonymous in every 2nd period up to now.

Overall though, while slightly frustrated at the points tally, overall confident we can stay up a little more comfortably than i'd dared hope for. Two huge games next & i fully expect 6 points.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Not sure what Struijk did wring today. Can you enlighten me?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
See OP 👍

comment by Batty (U4664)
posted 5 hours, 14 minutes ago
And we play better when Bamford plays.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
They still walk among us, even now.

“8 points from 7 games is probably enough to keep us up if we can repeat it for the rest of the season.”

That would definitely keep us up👍.

View from the sofa:

Good article from Kebablegs I agree with most of it
but not all of it. He does make good points.
I also think Batty and Snow make good arguments.
It’s a mixed bag and I think this is how it will pan out
this season…it will be the occasional win, draw and
losses.

The defence is my concern…I don’t like it!
Bogle (who I like) is out of form, needs to improve.
Struijk I have reservations about…is he good enough
at this level, maybe not?
Gudmundson, still making my mind up about him?

Agree Rodon is our best defender.
Generally our defence was outpaced, their attack at
times got through too easily, on the right and left flanks.

If I was giving the team marks out of ten for performance, it would be 5+ distinctly average.

Don't think Bogle is out of form hes been one of our best players this season. Just had an off day.

Spurs are second for a reason. Frank has turned them into a top side.

There's a lot to be happy about. We have looked good in every game we've played and are hanging in there. There will be wins and losses and we just have to accept it.

Ive been pleased with our defence and midfield overall. We just dont have the quality in the final third that a lot of established PL sides have.

This season has to be about staying up and we build from there. Add more quality to the squad. But we are competing in every game. A lit to be happy about

Take your point, Outwood, ref Bogle.

Do I think we have enough to stay up? Yes.

A 5 for Kebablegs.

comment by White as Snow (U22893)
posted 3 hours, 48 minutes ago
comment by Stoopo (U4707)
posted 5 hours, 8 minutes ago
comment by White as Snow (U22893)
posted 32 minutes ago
I hit a nerve on here a year or two back by suggesting Struijk isn't a Premiership centre-half. He has improved in my opinion, but surely it's time to put Bijol in there who i thought was the pick of the summer signings.

Calvert-Lewin did well again today though not as good as last week against more physical opposition. The ref didn't help though by awarding a series of ridiculously soft free-kicks against him. Was very unlucky not to score in the 2nd half, good reaction stop from the keeper.

Spot on regarding Stach. He's been anonymous in every 2nd period up to now.

Overall though, while slightly frustrated at the points tally, overall confident we can stay up a little more comfortably than i'd dared hope for. Two huge games next & i fully expect 6 points.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Not sure what Struijk did wring today. Can you enlighten me?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
See OP 👍
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I’m asking you as it’s you who posted its time to give Bijol Struijk’s place.

Again - what did he do badly yesterday?

comment by NJS (U8272)
posted 32 minutes ago
Take your point, Outwood, ref Bogle.

Do I think we have enough to stay up? Yes.

A 5 for Kebablegs.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I think we do. Just cos of how competitive we have been in games.

comment by Stoopo (U4707)
posted 1 hour, 36 minutes ago
comment by White as Snow (U22893)
posted 3 hours, 48 minutes ago
comment by Stoopo (U4707)
posted 5 hours, 8 minutes ago
comment by White as Snow (U22893)
posted 32 minutes ago
I hit a nerve on here a year or two back by suggesting Struijk isn't a Premiership centre-half. He has improved in my opinion, but surely it's time to put Bijol in there who i thought was the pick of the summer signings.

Calvert-Lewin did well again today though not as good as last week against more physical opposition. The ref didn't help though by awarding a series of ridiculously soft free-kicks against him. Was very unlucky not to score in the 2nd half, good reaction stop from the keeper.

Spot on regarding Stach. He's been anonymous in every 2nd period up to now.

Overall though, while slightly frustrated at the points tally, overall confident we can stay up a little more comfortably than i'd dared hope for. Two huge games next & i fully expect 6 points.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Not sure what Struijk did wring today. Can you enlighten me?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
See OP 👍
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I’m asking you as it’s you who posted its time to give Bijol Struijk’s place.

Again - what did he do badly yesterday?


--------------------------------------------------------------------

Struijk gets destroyed in this league defending 1-1 situations. Unlucky deflections or poor defending? A quicker better defender blocks these shots. Struijk is struggling both times which leads to nicks rather than blocks. Its poor defending at this level. Gyokeres made him look daft when he ran from the half way line. Our system protects Struijk from being isolated often so in the main he looks a competent defender at this level.

Bijol must be getting frustrated but for the last couple of seasons Struiyk has got crocked around the Christmas New Year time missing a big chunk of games so I think there's a good chance that scenario will repeat itself and then Bijol will get his chance to replace Struiyk as
despite some calls for him to be replaced now because Kudos an absolute class player that can make any defence look foolish I don't think Farke has any intention to do so and also last week our defence had Semenyo to deal with another incredible talent I think is starting to look like he belongs in the world class category so not sure Bijol or anyone else would have made any difference and have you seen Liverpool's so called world class defence leaking goals left right and centre? It happens and so I just think we have to accept where we are atm and our limitations and concentrate on picking up points and victories against the lower half sides who we face in the next two games and I reckon Struiyk Bogle and Gudmundsson will be more than good enough and DCL too.

Stoopo this is the 4th season of watching Struijk at this level. This is the first season he has been protected by a midfield shield. What was apparent in previous seasons and is still the case is he cannot defend 1on1 situations against the quicker forwards.
For the money he cost he has been a fantastic signing by Orta and he has a lot of positives. In this system he does not get isolated very often but when he does it’s big trouble. 3 goals I can think of already this season.
Nothing against the lad. Great signing and he’s possibly the best we have unless Bijol can do better so we go again. That’s what the forum is for - debating positives AND negatives.

Think people expect perfection, and if it was, most games would finish nil nil.

Were in the best league in the world, by a country mile, the most competitive top flight league, where even a Minnow like bournemouth ( probably 50 clubs in this country are historically bigger than them) can outspend every non english prem team, except barca real PSG and Bayern.

Bogle - out of form, he’s been brilliant and wasnt bad yesterday at all

Gudmundsson - played well yesterday, misjudged bouncing ball and we got punished.


Struyk - two deflected off him, unlucky

Bogle over hit 3 from good positions and imo his
usual attacking form was missing, normally his
biggest asset. But I will forgive him, one of the teams
most consistent and better players!

comment by LIW 100 Points, champions, Lose two games only (U8453)
posted 1 hour, 6 minutes ago
Think people expect perfection, and if it was, most games would finish nil nil.

Were in the best league in the world, by a country mile, the most competitive top flight league, where even a Minnow like bournemouth ( probably 50 clubs in this country are historically bigger than them) can outspend every non english prem team, except barca real PSG and Bayern.

Bogle - out of form, he’s been brilliant and wasnt bad yesterday at all

Gudmundsson - played well yesterday, misjudged bouncing ball and we got punished.


Struyk - two deflected off him, unlucky
----------------------------------------------------------------------

It's worth remembering that the conditions were crazy yesterday too.

I know it's the same for both teams, but it surely contributed to some of the mistakes made re. bouncing balls, getting to blocks etc.

Not an excuse, just another factor to consider. Wind and weather like that can make any player look bad.

Happy to be corrected on this but it seems that whereas Farke’s substitutions usually worked in the Championship, they’re proving poor at this level. To be fair he hasn’t got the same quality on the bench that most of our rivals have, but this could prove an Achilles heel.

Farkes subs usually make us look worse whatever division we play in.

Not sure what people are expecting? We have to be realistic here. We ain't gonna win every game. Just need to stay up and we can build.

I think all in all, we looked quite ok against a top PL team.
Kudus will make a lot of good PL defenders look slow and have an off day at work.

We need a bit better from DCL, but his overall play is very good. Maybe Piroe is s a bit better in front of goal, but nowhere near the quality DCL has in other areas of the game.

The only expectation I have is the right to discuss the positives and negatives on a forum. May as well close it down if we are not supposed to discuss weaknesses of players?
17th is a good season for us. Dont think anyone would say otherwise. However, it’s natural to wish for more. We are competing and hopes perhaps lifted of finishing a little higher?