| So, six games in 13:34 - Sep 10 with 8675 views | kensalriser |
At the start of the season I felt we needed 15 points from the kind first eight games to think we might be a serious contender for top 8. We're still on track for that, but it wouldn't be a surprise if we fall short with one point from the next two.
Obviously we've made some promising signings and are playing better football, but we've failed to score in three games and the familiar problem of not winning games we dominate is still a thing. We've been beaten by the only decent team we've faced - the other five will all be comfortably bottom half in May. And the injuries are already mounting up.
So, a bit better, some cause for optimism, but I'll need some persuading we're capable of finishing above tenth.
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| So, six games in on 14:57 - Sep 10 with 5668 views | T_Block |
Agree,but thought last night was very very good bar scoring.lessons learnt
1.start with strongest eleven against top 10 , esp Burrell
2.Cannot tell yet if rotation is saving our team from getting injuries
3.Need coaching to beat a low block( Kone will be useful against this type of team)
4.Cannot rely on Kone for pace -ever I think we need another striker but that is asking too much.
5.Julian is correct in two players for each position and he is a fantastic manager .Marti who? |  | | |
| So, six games in on 15:00 - Sep 10 with 5650 views | OakR |
I predicted 9-12th in the pre-season where will we finish poll - I think that was a popular finishing position and most felt that would show progress. It definitely feels like that's a target that's achievable.
Our current points per game would see us finish on 84 points, though as you say some teams may not finish top half.
I don't feel our achilles heel will be injuries this season, and am less worried about that than last season. Finishing is our big issue, and last 3rd decision making. Julien mentioned it in his interview, so I think the question will be can we turn that around. If yes, anything is possible, if no I think we will still improve on last year and probably be in the 9-12 place finish.
I am feeling more confident than I have in a longtime, we have a way of playing now that makes us defensively better and able to break forward very well, but also able to play around with the ball when nothing is on.
We are generally in a good spell at the moment, we will have a bad spell. Hopefully we can keep emotions level like Julien does so we don't veer too much from one extreme to another. [Post edited 10 Sep 15:01]
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| So, six games in on 15:12 - Sep 10 with 5583 views | BlackAndGoldRanger |
Realistically I had us on about 11 points so where we should be with the quality (or lack thereof) we have faced. The issue is we should have 16 from 18 and we now have injuries stacking up.
IF we can grab a draw on Saturday then beat Preston (before they sack Heckingbottom) it's a great start to season but could have been even greater. Tougher tests to come but hopefully we have some warm bodies back by the West Ham (A) game on 9th October. | | | |
| So, six games in on 15:23 - Sep 10 with 5517 views | GaryBannister86 |
| So, six games in on 14:57 - Sep 10 by T_Block |
Agree,but thought last night was very very good bar scoring.lessons learnt
1.start with strongest eleven against top 10 , esp Burrell
2.Cannot tell yet if rotation is saving our team from getting injuries
3.Need coaching to beat a low block( Kone will be useful against this type of team)
4.Cannot rely on Kone for pace -ever I think we need another striker but that is asking too much.
5.Julian is correct in two players for each position and he is a fantastic manager .Marti who? |
It was Marti Cifuentes. The bloke who kept us up (and competitive) in the league with a squad and strikeforce that would struggle in League One.
Why does praise for one manager have to involve disrespecting another? JS is doing a good job, Marti did a good job too. [Post edited 10 Sep 15:29]
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| So, six games in on 15:24 - Sep 10 with 5507 views | Burnleyhoop |
Defence and midfield look sorted.
We look well short of quality in the forward positions and our wingers are made out of marshmallow.
If Chair and Lampty are our out for a while, our creativity will suffer and a lack of goals will result in a slide down the league. | | | |
| So, six games in on 16:42 - Sep 10 with 5298 views | KensalT |
Putting the ball in the net has been our biggest problem this season. The penalties against Millwall were terrible, and things haven't improved much since.
We've had the most shots in the Championship but we're only 13th for goals scored.
We've failed to score in three of our last five games.
Not the problem I was expecting us to have going into this season.
Injuries are piling up again. I know it's a tough league and the fixture scheduling is crazy, but this seems to be a persistent problem for us.
Looking forward I can see a lot of teams trying to do what Charlton did last night. Sit back, let us have the ball, and challenge us to break them down.
If we don't sharpen up in front of goal it could be a frustrating season.
But on the whole we are playing well and defending well. I think we have shown enough to believe we can finish in the top eight. [Post edited 10 Sep 22:49]
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| So, six games in on 17:06 - Sep 10 with 5202 views | derbyhoop |
I thought 9-12th pre season.
Given the failure to score in 3 of the 6 League games, coupled with a mounting injury list, then that makes it seems a challenging target. We've lost to the only side we've played who look likely to finish top 8.
However, some of the others I expected to be top half have not started well. Or at all. Burnley, Derby, Birmingham I'm looking at you. So top half is v achievable but, unless the injuries are short term, anything better seems unrealistic. |  |
| "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the Earth all one's lifetime." (Mark Twain)
Find me on twitter @derbyhoop and now on Bluesky |
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| So, six games in on 17:56 - Sep 10 with 5102 views | Match82 |
| So, six games in on 15:12 - Sep 10 by BlackAndGoldRanger |
Realistically I had us on about 11 points so where we should be with the quality (or lack thereof) we have faced. The issue is we should have 16 from 18 and we now have injuries stacking up.
IF we can grab a draw on Saturday then beat Preston (before they sack Heckingbottom) it's a great start to season but could have been even greater. Tougher tests to come but hopefully we have some warm bodies back by the West Ham (A) game on 9th October. |
If you'd have told me before the season that we "should" have 16 from 18 based on the way we were playing and chances we were creating I'd have a) ripped your hand off for that and b) thought you were insane |  | | |
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| So, six games in on 19:21 - Sep 10 with 4928 views | Wegerles_Stairs |
| So, six games in on 16:42 - Sep 10 by KensalT |
Putting the ball in the net has been our biggest problem this season. The penalties against Millwall were terrible, and things haven't improved much since.
We've had the most shots in the Championship but we're only 13th for goals scored.
We've failed to score in three of our last five games.
Not the problem I was expecting us to have going into this season.
Injuries are piling up again. I know it's a tough league and the fixture scheduling is crazy, but this seems to be a persistent problem for us.
Looking forward I can see a lot of teams trying to do what Charlton did last night. Sit back, let us have the ball, and challenge us to break them down.
If we don't sharpen up in front of goal it could be a frustrating season.
But on the whole we are playing well and defending well. I think we have shown enough to believe we can finish in the top eight. [Post edited 10 Sep 22:49]
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Absolutely need to find a way of winning when we have more possession as it's going to keep happening. It is bonkers that it's so long since it happened. | | | |
| So, six games in on 22:00 - Sep 10 with 4641 views | loftboy |
The most surprising fact I’ve seen is despite being a lot higher up the table we are only 1 point better off than after 6 games last season! [Post edited 10 Sep 22:04]
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| So, six games in on 22:15 - Sep 10 with 4584 views | wombat |
| So, six games in on 22:00 - Sep 10 by loftboy |
The most surprising fact I’ve seen is despite being a lot higher up the table we are only 1 point better off than after 6 games last season! [Post edited 10 Sep 22:04]
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For the teams who will sit deep against us and plenty will we at least have a keeper who is able to get the ball over the top of the teams defence before they settle , it’s an option we dint use atall agaisnt Charlton for some reason , Charles can drop the ball on a 6pence so use it , soon as he gets the ball who ever is up front should be busting a gut to get forward to make it easier for us to attack them , slow the ball down and it’s us habing to break through that again as they settled , go old school pump it long and ,et Burrell Lloyd chase it down |  |
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| So, six games in on 22:33 - Sep 10 with 4525 views | EN_Ranger |
| So, six games in on 19:21 - Sep 10 by Wegerles_Stairs |
Absolutely need to find a way of winning when we have more possession as it's going to keep happening. It is bonkers that it's so long since it happened. |
Teams will be aware of our weakness of winning with more possession, so more and more of them will just let us have the ball. It’s worked for Bolton, Charlton and Boro already | | | |
| So, six games in on 22:53 - Sep 10 with 4445 views | bosh67 |
| So, six games in on 22:33 - Sep 10 by EN_Ranger |
Teams will be aware of our weakness of winning with more possession, so more and more of them will just let us have the ball. It’s worked for Bolton, Charlton and Boro already |
I can see teams realising that we so obviously can't win with more possession that they don't even bother turning up at all. We'll be kicking off against no one and still managing to lose 1-0. |  |
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| So, six games in on 22:57 - Sep 10 with 4440 views | KensalT |
| So, six games in on 22:00 - Sep 10 by loftboy |
The most surprising fact I’ve seen is despite being a lot higher up the table we are only 1 point better off than after 6 games last season! [Post edited 10 Sep 22:04]
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The 7-1 at Coventry wouldn't have done much for our goal difference.
According to the season wiki we were 9th after 6 games, and we only sneaked into the top 6 once all season - after the 2-1 win at Bristol City in Round 9
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ | | | |
| So, six games in on 23:31 - Sep 10 with 4374 views | T_Block |
Yes Marti Cifuentes did a remarkable job.
Just beginning to believe in our present manager.
Hence a little joke….. | | | |
| So, six games in on 23:40 - Sep 10 with 4351 views | Hooparoo |
After 10 games has always been a benchmark for me. Quarter of the season. |  |
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| So, six games in on 23:54 - Sep 10 with 4330 views | SydneyRs |
| So, six games in on 22:33 - Sep 10 by EN_Ranger |
Teams will be aware of our weakness of winning with more possession, so more and more of them will just let us have the ball. It’s worked for Bolton, Charlton and Boro already |
Exactly what I was thinking, we're going to have to adapt to that. | | | |
| So, six games in on 01:24 - Sep 11 with 4254 views | bosh67 |
| So, six games in on 23:40 - Sep 10 by Hooparoo |
After 10 games has always been a benchmark for me. Quarter of the season. |
Half time technically in the 12th game but I know what you mean. :) | |
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| So, six games in on 09:12 - Sep 11 with 3953 views | NorthantsHoop |
Going along nicely, much more positive start this season. Tough away game tomorrow probably toughest away game on paper so far, a point at West Brom will be great. Either way need to beat Preston at home, just to get us those first 3 points at home we deserve with how we have been playing. |  | | |
| So, six games in on 09:18 - Sep 11 with 3935 views | loftboy |
| So, six games in on 09:12 - Sep 11 by NorthantsHoop |
Going along nicely, much more positive start this season. Tough away game tomorrow probably toughest away game on paper so far, a point at West Brom will be great. Either way need to beat Preston at home, just to get us those first 3 points at home we deserve with how we have been playing. |
We beat Cardiff at home ! | |
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| So, six games in on 09:25 - Sep 11 with 3914 views | hopekillsyou |
| So, six games in on 14:57 - Sep 10 by T_Block |
Agree,but thought last night was very very good bar scoring.lessons learnt
1.start with strongest eleven against top 10 , esp Burrell
2.Cannot tell yet if rotation is saving our team from getting injuries
3.Need coaching to beat a low block( Kone will be useful against this type of team)
4.Cannot rely on Kone for pace -ever I think we need another striker but that is asking too much.
5.Julian is correct in two players for each position and he is a fantastic manager .Marti who? |
“…fantastic manager”? Stephan? The jury is still out. I’m still unclear on the parameters of his job: I guess he does select the team ( I had my doubts about that last season) and coaches. He doesn’t appear to have Warnock ( or Gerry’s) man management skills. | | | |
| So, six games in on 14:25 - Sep 11 with 3692 views | TheChef |
Not a bad start by all means, only lost one game so far.
But let's see where we are after ten games! |  |
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| So, six games in on 15:46 - Sep 11 with 3567 views | gazza1 |
Decent enough start, played some nice stuff, but with the squad that we have I would have expected another 4 points minimum......the teams that we have played apart from Boro have been average and we have been the better team over the 90 minutes. | | | |
| So, six games in on 16:31 - Sep 11 with 3481 views | qpr1976 |
| So, six games in on 15:23 - Sep 10 by GaryBannister86 |
It was Marti Cifuentes. The bloke who kept us up (and competitive) in the league with a squad and strikeforce that would struggle in League One.
Why does praise for one manager have to involve disrespecting another? JS is doing a good job, Marti did a good job too. [Post edited 10 Sep 15:29]
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And the season before, Ainsworth kept us up.
Not many look back on him fondly (as a Manager).
I think most peoples dislike of Marti comes from him touting himself out to Stoke, Leicester, etc. whilst still being fairly fresh in his position with us. That and the poor run prior to his departure.
He did give us hope at one point though. | | | |
| So, six games in on 16:34 - Sep 11 with 3477 views | qpr1976 |
| So, six games in on 22:15 - Sep 10 by wombat |
For the teams who will sit deep against us and plenty will we at least have a keeper who is able to get the ball over the top of the teams defence before they settle , it’s an option we dint use atall agaisnt Charlton for some reason , Charles can drop the ball on a 6pence so use it , soon as he gets the ball who ever is up front should be busting a gut to get forward to make it easier for us to attack them , slow the ball down and it’s us habing to break through that again as they settled , go old school pump it long and ,et Burrell Lloyd chase it down |
How can we get him to take corners ?
And free kicks around their box ?? | | | |
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