How are we all feeling?

I was feeling positive anyway, yesterday made no difference, we can all see the improvement, we are scoring a few goals

The Negative people on here will still find fault even if we go on a 10 game winning streak and top the table, they will find something wrong, its just the way they are, leave them to it and crack on enjoying what we have

Buoyant :biggrin:

Anyone not skipping away from the ground yesterday is following the wrong sport. What it’s all about a 98th minute winner

I thought we played ok yesterday. It’s only QPR that has been a dreadful performance so far and in fairness I’m not sure they’ll be the whipping boys everyone seems to suggest as a narrow defeat to Ipswich and Southampton in successive weeks since

We could’ve won at Leicester, a minute from winning at Leeds. Yesterday was a patched up front 3. Our start has been fine just really need that striker in as the final piece of the jigsaw.

Huge moment that though and hopefully it will instill some belief now

Bulut seems determinedly a four at the back man, but we don’t really have the option of playing three at the back at the moment if things were going really wrong with four. There’s no evidence that he thinks Ng can play as part of a three, so it’s Simpson (Bulut preferred going with no centrebacks on the bench on Saturday despite one of them being taken off in the previous game because he’s finding the transition to the British game tough) or nothing.we need another centreback that the manager trusts more than a striker, good though someone like Keiffer Moore would be.

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Originally Posted by the other bob wilson

Bulut seems determinedly a four at the back man, but we don’t really have the option of playing three at the back at the moment if things were going really wrong with four. There’s no evidence that he thinks Ng can play as part of a three, so it’s Simpson (Bulut preferred going with no centrebacks on the bench on Saturday despite one of them being taken off in the previous game because he’s finding the transition to the British game tough) or nothing.we need another centreback that the manager trusts more than a striker, good though someone like Keiffer Moore would be.

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We are scoring goals

Getting more solid at the back is more important

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Originally Posted by Tuerto

McGuiness gets a bit of a free pass from City fans. I didn't see the game yesterday and i've not seen enough of Goutas, but i've seen plenty of McGuiness and i don't rate him, i don't feel comfortable with him. He gets square on to play, hardly ever sideways on which hampers his short movement and the ability to adjust his body in tight situations, that's why he's always throwing himself about, it looks good, but it's desperate stuff that isn't sustainable. And when it's brought up, inevitably the reason given is that he's a championship defender! **** me, fans are as soft as shit.

His successful stint at Sheffield Wednesday helped his cause, we are suckers for it, same with wintle, he was lauded by us lot during his spell at Blackpool because of a few comments on a message board.

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Not arguing with any of that assessment, his effort for getting himself out of a hole he's caused for himself is viewed as great defending by some. McGuinness technique is never the most comfortable and decision making poor. Siopis was similar in that respect which was a concern on Saturday but its only his first game so I'll wait on him. The City crowd love an all action trier and both were crowd pleasers on Saturday.

Going back to the central pairing Goutas is finding his feet physically and it'll be interesting to see how he adapts to the Championship.

By Championship standards it's still a weak squad. Not the weakest, but close. By way of comparison, this is our squad from 2020/21, the season before we really started to struggle at this level [20+ league appearances] :

Bennett
Morrison
Flint
Bacuna
Vaulks
Ralls
Moore
Murphy
Smithies
Nelson
Pack
Wilson
Ojo
Hoilett
Glatzel.

Yes, a couple of not-so-good there, but a solid but not spectacular squad that overall was much, much stronger than ours now - only Ralls remains.

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Originally Posted by blue matt

I was feeling positive anyway, yesterday made no difference, we can all see the improvement, we are scoring a few goals

The Negative people on here will still find fault even if we go on a 10 game winning streak and top the table, they will find something wrong, its just the way they are, leave them to it and crack on enjoying what we have

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Does Ronnie O'Sullivan just pat himself on the back if he wins 10 games on the trot? Does Guardiola not look to iron out any issues if Man City win 10 on the spin?

There's always room for improvement in anything. Some fans just enjoy the ride, some enjoy looking more deeply at things. Neither is right or wrong.

A lot of people seem to think QPR and Weds should have been an easy 6 points, but when on earth have there ever been easy games in the Championship? Especially when teams are on bad runs and fighting for points.

I'm sure Leicester and Leeds fans would have earmarked us as easy wins. It just doesn't work that way in this league.

As for us, it's going to take at least 15-20 games in my opinion to gauge what kind of season we're in for. But so far I'd say it's been a mixed bag. Bulut already touched on the mentality of the team and I think changing that is just as crucial as changing the level of performance. I'm certainly encouraged that he's shipped out (or is trying to ship out) most of what I would deem deadwood (Ojo, Allsop, Vontae-Campbell, Sawyers, Harris, Watters).

In terms of their replacements, it's early days. Some of them are undoubtedly improvements, and some of them are not. Centre back is obviously the problem position, and I wonder if the plan is to just get to January with whatever we can get, and then pay a fee for someone (Kipre, ideally). Conversely, I think we have far more quality and options in attack, and a fully fit Robinson (and, in a perfect world, Kieffer) could/would be huge for us.

We've looked a bit nervous (especially at home) and I can't say I'm impressed with the fitness levels of some players. But we were excellent for long periods away at Leeds and Leicester, and as bad as the QPR game was we still hit the bar twice and really shouldn't have lost that game. Very fine margins.

In summary: ask this question again at the end of October.

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Originally Posted by Eric the Half a Bee

Does Ronnie O'Sullivan just pat himself on the back if he wins 10 games on the trot? Does Guardiola not look to iron out any issues if Man City win 10 on the spin?

There's always room for improvement in anything. Some fans just enjoy the ride, some enjoy looking more deeply at things. Neither is right or wrong.

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indeed, but we also have a few who will never be happy, whatever the result, they like to moan and groan about the club :thumbup:

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Originally Posted by blue matt

indeed, but we also have a few who will never be happy, whatever the result, they like to moan and groan about the club

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We also have a few who will happily accept any old rubbish the club serves up, and who believe that doing so somehow makes them morally superior to anyone who isn’t as vacuous as they are.

Yes Wednesday did look limited but as it's early days they were still full of fight. We let ourselves down in that 15min spell when they scored and I think even the gaffer must be aware of this trait in our play. McGuiness is only a pup in terms of his position but even Bamba made howlers and I remember people slating Hudson when he first signed.

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Originally Posted by FormerlyJohnnyBreadhead

A lot of people seem to think QPR and Weds should have been an easy 6 points, but when on earth have there ever been easy games in the Championship? Especially when teams are on bad runs and fighting for points.

I'm sure Leicester and Leeds fans would have earmarked us as easy wins. It just doesn't work that way in this league.

As for us, it's going to take at least 15-20 games in my opinion to gauge what kind of season we're in for. But so far I'd say it's been a mixed bag. Bulut already touched on the mentality of the team and I think changing that is just as crucial as changing the level of performance. I'm certainly encouraged that he's shipped out (or is trying to ship out) most of what I would deem deadwood (Ojo, Allsop, Vontae-Campbell, Sawyers, Harris, Watters).

In terms of their replacements, it's early days. Some of them are undoubtedly improvements, and some of them are not. Centre back is obviously the problem position, and I wonder if the plan is to just get to January with whatever we can get, and then pay a fee for someone (Kipre, ideally). Conversely, I think we have far more quality and options in attack, and a fully fit Robinson (and, in a perfect world, Kieffer) could/would be huge for us.

We've looked a bit nervous (especially at home) and I can't say I'm impressed with the fitness levels of some players. But we were excellent for long periods away at Leeds and Leicester, and as bad as the QPR game was we still hit the bar twice and really shouldn't have lost that game. Very fine margins.

In summary: ask this question again at the end of October.

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I dont think its necessarily the points its the standard of football and trying to work out exactly what we are trying to do.

Losing to QPR is one thing. But being outplayed by them is another.

Im hoping there isnt a general fitness issue with the players as well. A lot of sides play a pressing game and force teams into errors(side like us who are just not good enough in possession). We dont press at all and I think thats why QPR in particular looked far better than what they are.

Im hoping its just a lack of game time for some and as fitness builds we can press the opposition and put them under pressure. At the moment they seem to have the freedom of the pitch.

I don’t think we can really judge until at least 10 games in. We’ve got a couple of players in midfield who have class we haven’t seen in quite a while, and also far more attacking options and look much more of a threat to score from open play than the last few years. Thought Meite also looked quite solid in the lone striker role on Saturday too.

The negatives are that it looks a lot more fragile defensively than it did last season and if there are any injuries to the 4 starters (maybe less at RB as we do have two decent options) we are completely fecked. Have to think he needs to get a more mobile CB option in - shame Panzo has gone elsewhere as it sounds like he was exactly what we needed.

Overall I think with an addition or two in defense we should be closer to mid table than relegation. Hopefully Tan has enough patience to stick with Bulut rather than jettisoning him at the first sign of a bad run and we finally can build a squad and a style of play.

I started the summer saying 19th-21st, after some decent signings I revised that to 16-18th. I’m more optimistic than in June and we could/should be on 8 points. I don’t see anything yet to say higher than 16th but maybe there are a couple more quality signings in the pipeline.

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Originally Posted by Eric the Half a Bee

Does Ronnie O'Sullivan just pat himself on the back if he wins 10 games on the trot? Does Guardiola not look to iron out any issues if Man City win 10 on the spin?

There's always room for improvement in anything. Some fans just enjoy the ride, some enjoy looking more deeply at things. Neither is right or wrong.

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If liz hurley came round to your house in a sexy dress saying she had a million quid you would quiz her like the local CID

I'm optimistic we'll have a better season this season and encouraged that our Manager has spotted our weaknesses early and is attempting to address them within the transfer constraints we are operating under.

He now also realises there are no easy games in the championship.

If we can get to January towards the upper reaches of the lower half I think he'll have some decent contacts to buy a few players if Vinnie gives him some cash.

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Originally Posted by The Lone Gunman

We also have a few who will happily accept any old rubbish the club serves up, and who believe that doing so somehow makes them morally superior to anyone who isn’t as vacuous as they are.

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Now who on earth could you be referring to? :sherlock:

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Originally Posted by SLUDGE FACTORY

If liz hurley came round to your house in a sexy dress saying she had a million quid you would quiz her like the local CID

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I'd assume she was lost.

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Originally Posted by Eric the Half a Bee

I'd assume she was lost.

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He'd probably prefer a quiz with Huge grant

Fantastic thanks - kind of you to ask 👍

Fair to middling.

And I expect to enjoy this season more than last. Which I didn't. Enjoy that is. :thumbup: