I agree with this. Bring in LCB and RWB, keep Pedro and if we sell Sarr bring in a Prem striker on loan to replace him, we’d do very well. Let’s face it, we’re 2nd and we’ve been disjointed and a work in progress. Once all players settle in and the window finally shuts we will hopefully be in a good place. But too much reliance is on Bachmann right now. He’s kept us in three of our 5 games so far. It’s good he can do that but we must improve at the other end. Only 4 goals scored. Very few shots on target. But the bottom line is, even though we’re a bit broken, we’re still picking up points.
Pretty much how I see it. Only thing you've missed is the Bayat factor and potential for getting complete duds in.
One of those teams beat us in the premiership last season, another is currently top of the championship and both Brum & Preston have started the season in good enough form that they where in the top 7 on the days we played them. We have had a tough run of games so it's pretty pleasing to come out of it 2nd and unbeaten! We had the chances today to get all 3 points but our finishing was almost comical. Things are heading in the right direction, not least of which we're starting to look like a team again rather than a collection of 11 individuals like we did last season. There's still work to be done up front and on the balance of the team and now we're coming up against teams lower down the league the expectation will be to win more
We are very clearly a team/squad in transition so will wait and see until the transfer window shuts to form a proper opinion. Asprilla is different class, some of his balls over the top were superb just needs to bulk up a bit. I think Bayo ahead of Manaj, Bayo puts in a shift yet Manaj was quiet again I thought. RWB is a must with Gaspar playing RCB. Still undefeated, win at home, draw away. To sum our performance up I would say workman like, no major mistakes and nothing major happening up the other end either, nothing to get dismayed or overjoyed about apart from Asprilla really.
Agree with all these. Rests heavily on how we reinvest the funds we've gained, but positive signs so far.
Was I in a fever dream pre game, or were people theorising that a team containing Carl ****inson and Chris Iwelumo were better than our second placed promotion favourites??
Norwich are one place outside the playoffs and only two points behind us, doesn’t seem that bizarre to me.
Our new look strikeforce gives me an attack of the Joe Garners. There are absolutely no goals there at all, especially with the inability to join up the different areas of the pitch. The defence, midfield and attack are all completely disconnected from each other. Choudhury helps to take the ball from the defenders and work it into the midfield but getting it forward from there is a real struggle. Kayembe, bless him, is so one footed, which is fine until everyone has worked him out. Games like today are exactly what I thought of last year when those among us were saying how much more fun the championship is. It’s fun if you have a functioning team but this team seems to be the result of all the poor decisions that have been made over the past four years and none of the (admittedly few) good decisions. Manaj and Bayo will do incredibly well to get 15 goals between them. The best that can be said about Manaj is that at least got into the position to miss a couple and that he clearly works hard. I don’t even demand good results - I just want a team with a bit of fun about it again. Otherwise what’s the point? Even if we were to bore our way to promotion again this squad would need a Nottingham Forest-style makeover to avoid coming down again with fewer than 20 points. With short-term recruitment so hit and miss it’s hard to imagine they have the vision or resources to rebuild a squad to get anywhere like close to the 2019 squad. We’re trapped in the no man’s land of English football. Going up by the stairs and down in the elevator.
How are Preston a poor or average side? Again people are not using actual facts. They're unbeaten and yet to concede a goal. Of course as the season settles down, they may prove to be an average side. But we don’t know this. That’s just a prediction. But of course it satisfies a narrative to say our last two opponents are poor to average.
Guys can we cool it on the name calling and insults? I know today wasn't the best performance/team but let's not spoil our good start by turning on each other. Debate by all means, but don't get too personal.
Agree with the jist of your post, however, you haven't accounted for luck. We've definitely been fortunate to pick up points in a couple of games. I think Edwards is doing well so far, given the uncertainty and morale from last season.
Ok let’s talk luck A shot that was literally millimetres from going over the line A missed penalty. Hitting the woodwork We’ve had our share of bad luck too
Yes he was. He kept indicating that he had seen the shirt pulls (mandatory yellows I'd think) then play on and never go back for a card until Manaj copped one. Of course this is the rather odd ref with the headband, Darren Bond..."look at me, look at me". How jealous must Mike Dean be now? And the linesman on the side where the benches were, managed to miss flagging for throws way over the line and virtually bouncing off the advertising hoardings. At least the officiating fell into line with the (ahem) quality shown by the 2 teams. Dull, poor, grim, s***. Pick your 4 letter word today. The great entertainers, PNE, have an enviable one goal scored and none conceded record. They were so toothless that this record could sustain to the season's end. Keep up the good work you Lilysh**es!
What a sh*t result. We'll never score enough goals if Bayo and/or Manaj are regular starters. Didn't watch the game because I was at a birthday party, but by the sound of things it was pretty much the same sh*t that we displayed in the previous games this season. Sure, a lot of our players are very poor, but tbh I expected more from Edwards too. This could be a long season.
That’s a nonsensical way of deciding that the Preston side of this season must therefore be average. And just for balance, I don’t like it either when people say we’ve beaten two promotion rivals. We have no idea if Sheff U or Burnley fall into that category. The only measures of what a team is like right now is the league table
So four games is a better amount of games to judge a team than a decades worth? Where do you think PNE will finish?
10 seasons!! What a bizarre metric! They were a solid mid table side last year and have started well this. They are probably slightly above the average side we'll face this season and we've got an away point against them and probably should have got more.
Ive no idea but at the time we played then today they’re unbeaten. Which is a more relevant measure of our opponents today than your or my prediction of where they might follow. Form is what matters, not predictions.
