IF...and I stress IF, we went up through the playoffs
Here's a few sobering thoughts:
Keepers
Meslier - Old Biscuit Wrists (or Baquette wrists
as the French say) is another Orta project who hasn't
progressed in two seasons. Back-Up at best. I'd sell
and get a true starter with experience. Not Prem level.
Darlow - Farke doesn't trust him so...Not Prem level.
Klaesson - Farke doesn't trust him so... Not Prem level.
RB
Ayling - 30+ and moving on.
Shackleton - Farke doesn't trust him and not Prem level.
Probably moving on.
Roberts - Love him but, Burnley will recall him.
In other words...no RB.
LB
Firpo - Fcking useless defender. Another Orta project.
Get rid regardless. Sh 1 te. But, but, but, he's good
going forward...so what. We had better forwards and
we were still sh 1 Te. Adios Junior. Not Prem level.
RB/LB Cover
Byram - High IQ player but, China Dolls have more
endurance and less cracks. Not Prem level.
RCB
Rodon - Great Season. Probably sold on by Spurs to
a lower end Prem team in the summer. Prem level.
Cresswell - Farke doesn't trust him. Not Prem level. Yet.
LCB
Struijk - Injured a long time. Young and solid.
Prem level? Maybe.
Cooper - Love him but end of the line. Lower end
Champ player/upper end League One player.
Not Prem level.
CM
Ampadu - Our star in midfield. Neutered due to the club
having such a weak squad at CB. Prem level.
Gray - In the right hands, generational player. Prem level.
Gruev - Good at this level. Not Prem level.
Kamara - Good at this level. Not Prem level.
Wingers
Summerville - Will be sold. Prem level.
Gnonto - Will be sold. Prem level.
James - Prem level? Maybe.
Anthony - Back to Bournemouth after being utterly wasted
by the club and Farke. Prem level. Not ours.
Not a true #10 at the club. Enough said.
Square Pegs
Rutter - Inverted Winger. Possibly Prem level in the right
hands. But, Not Prem level yet.
Piroe - 9/10 Hybrid misfit who can score. Does not fit Farke.
Not Prem level. Championship player all day long.
Geldhart - Farke doesn't trust him so...Not Prem level.
If I'm his agent I say move on and progress elsewhere.
Striker/#9
Bamford - Lincolnshire Lewandowski. Glass Bamford.
Runs around a lot. Plays the fiddle. Does a podcast.
Scores with his elbow and nvtsack. No right foot.
As agressive as a male nurse in a pensioners care facility.
Another Orta vanity project with a clueless fan club.
Not Prem level.
Joseph - Farke doesn't trust him so...
Farke - Bielsa-like in that he's a stubborn fck with no plan B.
In summation, our squad is nowhere near good enough
to compete in the Prem. And based on the club sitting
on their hands in January thinking we were all set, I doubt
they realize how thin this squad actually is.
If we do go up via play offs, new low points tally is a given.
Might be a football blessing to get dispatched by Norwich.
That way the 49ers can concentrate on trying to build
a squad with actual balance.
Sobering Thoughts
posted 1 week, 6 days ago
Last solid game was away at Plymouth, since then it was character not necessarily good football that got us through i.e Leicester game. The international break killed Rodon, Amps and James mentally and physically and the rest is history.
Farke has made some very poor calls recently, most notably Gruev/Gray MF partnership, might as well have had Cannon and Ball.
Most of the bench could have been moonlighting for all we knew, as they were never going to be seen on the pitch.
I would say a midfield that scores no goals is basically not Championship Standard - needed better.
posted 1 week, 6 days ago
comment by LIW We’re Going Up As f@ck@ing Champions (U8453)
posted 19 minutes ago
comment by LeedsFanFor50Years (U6871)
posted 1 minute ago
I’d just like to know wtf happened to our team’s ability and confidence after the international break?
It’s bizarre - the unbeaten run, solid defence, scoring freely, then BAM. Nothing. I don’t get it…
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Constantly conceding early, has absolutely killed us.
Side is perfect for counter attacking.
Scored first once in last 8 games
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Reckon our strategy for playoffs will be to sit back hold tight and hope for a counter. Think we’ll be happy to give possession to the opposition - bit like Boro second half
posted 1 week, 6 days ago
Should add that Farke, as I mentioned a few threads ago, has relied far too heavily on young players who have never been close to a 46 game season, in arguably the toughest and most attritional league in world football - yes that was a corker Farke.
posted 1 week, 6 days ago
comment by The Very Rev Wilko (U21072)
posted 1 hour, 22 minutes ago
Should add that Farke, as I mentioned a few threads ago, has relied far too heavily on young players who have never been close to a 46 game season, in arguably the toughest and most attritional league in world football - yes that was a corker Farke.
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Compared to Leicester and Ipswich who had some massive experience in their team, they were able to rally and finish the job.
That Stoke loss looks pivotal. Farke rotated midweek, gave a start to Anthony, Gnonto, Gruev and we were awful and lost. Since then he’s not rotated at all and these players have been worked into the ground.
posted 1 week, 6 days ago
I must stop finding fault in others especially a certain German individual who dresses like Johnny Cash... he's doing what he thinks best and it's a tough high pressure job which I wouldn't want that responsibility constantly scrutinised by keyboard clever d1kz that think they
could do better.........BUT????
Was it my imagination that when Joseph was finally
brought on he was used as a winger cutting in from the left side???? I mean wtf is the point if when you have an out and out Striker at your disposal but you don't play him in that position?
Please someone tell me that was at the game yesterday that that didn't happen and I can continue my forgive and forget, we all make mistakes, be nice and what will be philosophy without questioning whether our head coach has actually been cast under some hypnotic weird spell after reading, "Top tips on how to succeed in soccer
management" by Jesse Marsch.
posted 1 week, 6 days ago
Find threads like these a bit silly. Yes, the squad isn't PL quality. Yes, we will have to sign a lot of players. This is the case for every side that gets promoted from the PL. Even Leicester will have 4 or 5 holes in their first eleven that will need filling upon promotion. Ipswich don't have a single PL level player in their squad.
We also won't go up, so its all a bit moot. Some of the players who chastise here are clearly good enough to be part of the team in a second championship campaign. Firpo, Bamford etc. Yet you call Anthony a Prem level player on no real basis. Very odd.
posted 1 week, 6 days ago
comment by Macca & The Metal Hips: fka Wheelchair Dav... (U8194)
posted 2 hours, 45 minutes ago
I must stop finding fault in others especially a certain German individual who dresses like Johnny Cash... he's doing what he thinks best and it's a tough high pressure job which I wouldn't want that responsibility constantly scrutinised by keyboard clever d1kz that think they
could do better.........BUT????
Was it my imagination that when Joseph was finally
brought on he was used as a winger cutting in from the left side???? I mean wtf is the point if when you have an out and out Striker at your disposal but you don't play him in that position?
Please someone tell me that was at the game yesterday that that didn't happen and I can continue my forgive and forget, we all make mistakes, be nice and what will be philosophy without questioning whether our head coach has actually been cast under some hypnotic weird spell after reading, "Top tips on how to succeed in soccer
management" by Jesse Marsch.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Think Joseph was playing the role Rutter played first half of the season. Leading the line and doing the legwork that Piroe can't, with him playing in behind.
posted 1 week, 6 days ago
comment by Lubo - Gyabi, you're gonna be the one that saves me. (U14008)
posted 4 hours, 2 minutes ago
Find threads like these a bit silly. Yes, the squad isn't PL quality. Yes, we will have to sign a lot of players. This is the case for every side that gets promoted from the PL. Even Leicester will have 4 or 5 holes in their first eleven that will need filling upon promotion. Ipswich don't have a single PL level player in their squad.
We also won't go up, so its all a bit moot. Some of the players who chastise here are clearly good enough to be part of the team in a second championship campaign. Firpo, Bamford etc. Yet you call Anthony a Prem level player on no real basis. Very odd.
^^^
100% Agree.
Bit silly. Very odd.
posted 1 week, 6 days ago
posted 1 week, 6 days ago
comment by Batty (U4664)
posted 1 hour, 56 minutes ago
comment by Lubo - Gyabi, you're gonna be the one that saves me. (U14008)
posted 4 hours, 2 minutes ago
Find threads like these a bit silly. Yes, the squad isn't PL quality. Yes, we will have to sign a lot of players. This is the case for every side that gets promoted from the PL. Even Leicester will have 4 or 5 holes in their first eleven that will need filling upon promotion. Ipswich don't have a single PL level player in their squad.
We also won't go up, so its all a bit moot. Some of the players who chastise here are clearly good enough to be part of the team in a second championship campaign. Firpo, Bamford etc. Yet you call Anthony a Prem level player on no real basis. Very odd.
^^^
100% Agree.
Bit silly. Very odd.
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Glad you've seen some sense for the first time in your life