The new season begins at Stoke on saturday. Quite a few players have left and around six atm have come in. I expect Christ Tiehi to be through the door very soon but not in time to figure on Saturday. Taylor has declared that he expects more of the same this season but he expects more points away than what we achieved last season(only won two away games!).
I do think we look a little bit stronger this season especially in the middle of the park. However, i fear the goal threat might be similar or slightly watered down with the loss of Ogbene. Taylor has said he would like to play 4.3.3. I just don't see how we will ever play that with the personnel we have. I think he will play 4.5.1 most of the time especially away and against the stronger teams at home. He has put three forwards on at times with 20 or so minutes to go but i believe his first priority will be to go well into most games with the scores level or at worst one down.
I have issue with the signing of Hall and the retention of Ferguson. No doubt both on their days are possibly championship players. However, Hall has another leg injury now (4th in his short period here) mainly hamstring and ferguson is still recovering from a hernia operation. I think we will be lucky to get ten good games out of both of them.
On saturday i think he will go 4.5.1. He has a decision to make in whether he goes for pace at full backs or old heads. I think he might play one of each. In the middle he would like to play Wiles, cafu and Rathbone in the advance roles with two holding behind them. Unfortunately Tiehi is not here and he would/will certainly be one of them. I fear it could be Cafu who has to play a deeper role to start with.I think the side will be similar to this.
Green not fit so Bramhall in the team. The other ten i selected are in. Not sure what the set up will be. Possibly still 4:5:1 . it could look like this.
Viktor
Onyedinma Morrison humphries Blackett
It looks like i am talking to myself. Very sad that we couldn't get the site and the chat going again as there were some good knowledge on here.
For what it is worth i think it will be a massive job for Taylor to keep us in this division (thought same last year but managed it). He has placed his faith in old heads at the back. That brings you two things. slow legs and bodies that break down easier than young ones. Already Hall and Peltier have got injuries and Morrison looks like he is running in treacle (as did Hall against Middlesbrough). Still early days and a few not so good teams in this league so all is not lost. However, if we keep playing the long ball up to the lone striker and with very little pace around him i can only see one outcome. I have not warmed to Hugill at all but the job he has been given is just about impossible to make an impact in the way we play. Still a couple of signings to come in i hope and a couple to move on. Desperate for some pace and a couple of solid full backs so we can play a flat back four. In a three at the back Humphries looks lost, yet when he plays in a back four he looks the business.
Hope it is not my last post but if it is thanks for looking and putting up with me. All the best everybody.
Hi Whiston sorry this board seems to have so few members I haven’t posted on here since last season I confess to going on Mad but there are some idiots on there that is gets very childish at times though busier I find the members on here are more knowledgeable and you can have a decent conversation with
Anyway as regards our first game where do you start? I’m similar to you re Hugill he’s great at holding the ball up riling defenders but as you say we need pace round him we are desperate for a left back to compete with Bramall but all MT keeps going on about is strengthening the spine of the team although I can understand the centre half saga re our personnel there injury wise
General opinion seems to be to go with a 433 but I don’t know how this would leave our midfield the plan from MT seems to be playing this Christ Tiehi as a defensive midfielder and Cafu further forward is what he says how that goes with the balance of the team who knows
I’m trying to look at it positively all the pre season optimism has evaporated somewhat but it’s a marathon not a sprint as they say the worry is that it was our great start with Warne that helped keep us up last year and trying to get Premiership loans in what will be a battle is hardly enticing if we maintain our poor start
