And yet another opportunity to kickstart our season (I hope I’m not still saying that in January)
We’re now 4 unbeaten under Chris Hughton, and still seem to be stuttering - it’s bizarre, because on one hand, we do have some quality players within the squad, but yet it’s inevitable that it’s going to take time for the team to understand each other and really click - it’s one of the problems I suppose with having so many to choose from - it’s almost detrimental
But we are becoming hard to beat, which is always a good foundation on which to build
I feel Forest play better and have more of a chance of getting a few points when they play away from home - today would be a perfect opportunity for us to do just that
Middlesbrough though, have had a steady start to their campaign, and will provide tough opposition, but once again,I feel we have the squad, depth and quality to go there and get a result - it won’t be easy, and I’m not taking anything for granted - I just hope we can start off on the right foot, and that we can actually get the first goal to build upon, rather than conceding and end up chasing the game - that’s becoming far too regular for my liking
Let’s hope we can start showing what we’re made of here, and play with quality and intensity for the whole 90 minutes rather than having to wait until we’ve gone behind
A clean sheet would be a massive bonus
Once again, here’s hoping
Live @ https://www.ja606.co.uk/articles/viewLiveArticle/427425
MIDDLESBOROUGH v FOREST - Match Thread
posted on 31/10/20
This season is starting to look like damage limitation, with survival the objective, then let Chris figure out who he doesn’t fancy and let him continue, with almost a fresh start. Yes we have some really good individuals but at the moment that is all they are. We have 2 home games then an International break. Hopefully we will get some of the injured back soon and Chris will be able to pick more of a settled first eleven. Good news, we are still above the sheep, albeit on goal difference, bad news is that is all that is keeping us out of the drop zone.
posted on 31/10/20
comment by 🇬🇧 ThE ReVoLuTiOn Is HeRe 🇬🇧 (U22182)
posted 34 minutes ago
If things carry on like this, we will be in trouble
6 predict 6 points from the next 2 games
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I'd settle for 4.
The thing about promoted teams is that although they may not have better players than us; they have been playing together succesfully for at least twelve months which matters more.
That is what we need - stick with the first choice 18 for this season and it will bear fruit next season. My fear is that Hughton may want to overhaul the squad in January. The squad doesn't need additions. We need to ship out at least ten players in the next two windows.
posted on 31/10/20
Wednesday night is a big game. A good performance and a good win will boost confidence.
Some of the players need to be a bit braver. We have only conceded eleven in nine games so the back five is not too bad. Coventry have conceded 18 so we need to get at them. If we don't score on Wednesday night then things are bad - really bad. (Last night was a fluke)
posted on 31/10/20
We haven’t scored more than one goal in a game since Huddersfield, that’s about 14 games, only 2 clean sheets in that time, and a defence that switches off at least once per game. All Christie had to do today was track his man but yet again he switched off and let Johnson fire home. Until we sort out these basic errors we are going to struggle. The players shouldn’t need telling this, they are supposed to be professional, but it keeps happening. On the plus side Bong looked ok today, plus Hughton already knows him so may trust him. I’ll be honest I didn’t think we were in as much trouble as we are.
posted on 31/10/20
2 wins from the next 2 games and we’ll be mid table
The slight problem is that teams who you expected to be struggling such as Barnsley, Luton, Huddersfield etc are all getting results
There is defiantly no stand out team this year, although Brentford (again) seem to be scoring for fun, why can we be a bit more like that
posted on 31/10/20
Swansea and Brentford are the stand outs teams for me. They will definitely be up there.
posted on 31/10/20
I thankfully only watched the highlights.
No idea why Ribiero isn’t playing. Certainly better than Bong!
Christie and Figueiredo are a nightmare right side to our defence.
No Sow again?
Terrible team selection imo. Not surprised we lost.
posted on 31/10/20
Apparently Ribs is carrying an injury, first I’ve heard, but that is the story, Bong was actually ok I thought. Both Gigs and Christie always seem to have a mistake in them. We have two holding midfielders, 3 would be over kill. Yates, yet again had our best chance but headed wide.
posted on 31/10/20
Sow would be in for either Colback or Yates. I think we’ve only last a handful with Sow in the side.
If Yates is having our best chance then that says it all.
The worrying thing about the manager so far is that he sticks with players after poor performances (Christie, Figs, Ameobi).
Ignores players that have played well previously (Mighten, Ribeiro, Soh and Sow).
And plays players who are most likely not good enough (Bong, Cafu and Guerrero).
It will improve of course, but no chance I’m watching it at 2am. Thankfully we have McKenna and Samba in the side.
posted on 1/11/20
I'd have been happy to have started the season with Darikwa at RB and the rest of the back 5 as it was last season.
Arter is an upgrade on Watson IMO, with plenty to choose from to partner him. Arter seems to play further forward than Watson, but I feel Sow could possibly drop to collect the ball of Samba the way Watson used to.
The attacking midfielders were poor in the second half of last season and carried little threat. Knockaert and Freeman improve that situation quite a bit.
Finally Taylor is a big improvement on da Costa.
I think what I am saying is that automatic starters this season should be
Samba
Christie
Worrall
McKenna
Ribs
Arter
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Knockaert
Freeman
Lolley
Taylor or Grabban.
That is assuming we stick wit 4-2-3-1; other formations are available.