Top of the league (4 Viewers)

[cc84cov]

Marosi v Burge - Upgrade
Dabo v Stirling - Downgrade
Mcfadz v Willis - Different type of player, marginal upgrade
Hyam - as last year
Mason - Better player than last year, upgrade
Kelly / Walsh - As last year. Better cover for Kelly's not infrequent injuries
Shipley v Bayliss - Different type of player, marginal downgrade
Westbrooke v Bright Downgrade
Godden v Baka - Upgrade
Jobello v Thomas - Downgrade
Hiwula - As last year. O'Hare would be an improvement

Over the whole we are better in 4 and worse in 4 and the same in three. We are stronger in the central spine where it really matters - Marosi, McFadz, Kelly/Walsh and Godden is much better. We were very reliant on the three loans last year.

Dabo over sterling for me

 

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[clint van damme]

A bit bloody harsh on Dabo. Sterling was piss poor in his first few games, granted he improved, but to say Dabo is a downgrade after 5 or 6 appearances is a joke, especially when he gets too little cover from Jobello!!!

Sterling only started to improve after his and the teams car crash performance away at Britol Rivers which was around mid October time

 

[steve cooper]

Definitely in the mix: Posh, Sunderland, Ipswich, Rotherham,
Contenders: Sky Blues, Fleetwood, Blackpool, Donny and Burton
Outsiders: MK Dons, Pompey

There are some big clubs in there, and some with strong financial backing
We are stronger than last year. so should be contenders, but not favourites. We could nick a top 2 if we keep plodding on the way we are. We have only played Burton and Pompey so far

Assuming nothing really changes throughout the season, in terms of teams' form, injuries, etc. of those 10, I think there are 2 or 3 teams 'marginally stronger than us' (some might say), Assuming that 2 of them get autos that would leave us with a great chance of winning the playoffs. I couldn't see us winning the playoffs last year even if we had made it, but I could this year if we have luck with avoiding too many injuries

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

Really pleased with the start, but we're only top because a handful of teams have played less games. Ipswich, Sunderland, Peterborough & Rotherham would all be above us if they won games in hand. Doubt we're top after next weekend when it evens out.

Not true only Doncaster and Ipswich and Sunderland and Peterborough an go above us but games in hand don’t equal points

 

[CCFC54321]

Only slight concern is that we don’t burn out after Xmas. Vital that the players missing step up to the plate when fit. If we are to go up every player has to get fit and stay fit.

If godden gets injured I worry but I’d imagine bakayoko will be gone in January so hopefully free up a salary for another forward. (Loan?)

 

[Skybluefaz]

Think it's their 5th!

So they are great going forward, good at the back. But have they ever thrown a kettle over a pub?

 

[Warwickhunt]

We'll definitely drop a few places but we'll still be right in the mix and I think we'd all have taken that at the start of the season.

depends if we can win against the Wombles or not on Tuesday?

 

[clint van damme]

depends if we can win against the Wombles or not on Tuesday?

Think it's safe to assume that some of those that can catch us will win midweek and Saturday. So even if we win Tuesday we'll drop.

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

Think it's safe to assume that some of those that can catch us will win midweek and Saturday. So even if we win Tuesday we'll drop.

Unlikely all 4 will

 

[harvey098]

Just makes the 2 points dropped vs Bolton even more frustrating.

However.... Playyyyy Up Sky Blues

We’re going to be saying this all season

 

[harvey098]

Think it's safe to assume that some of those that can catch us will win midweek and Saturday. So even if we win Tuesday we'll drop.

We could in theory be overtaken by 5 teams still (I haven’t checked their fixtures so if they’re playing each other then obviously they can’t both overtake etc) but as they say, I’d rather have the points on the board as we have

 

[Gibbo]

A bit bloody harsh on Dabo. Sterling was piss poor in his first few games, granted he improved, but to say Dabo is a downgrade after 5 or 6 appearances is a joke, especially when he gets too little cover from Jobello!!!

Stirling was an accomplished player with clear Prem potential, now in theChampionship, who after a sticky start was a class act, and MOM on several occaisions. Dabo is good L 1. and a booking waiting to happen. No contest really.

 

[clint van damme]

Stirling was an accomplished player with clear Prem potential, now in theChampionship, who after a sticky start was a class act, and MOM on several occaisions. Dabo is good L 1. and a booking waiting to happen. No contest really.

how do you know Dabo won't show similar improvement?
He's better defensively than Sterling was this time last year.

 

[fatso]

Dabo’s first 6 games were better than Stirling’s first six. There surely can’t be much doubt about that, Whether we say the same after 30 plus games remains to be seen, but Dabo’s done pretty good so far.

 

[Skybluefaz]

Stirling was an accomplished player with clear Prem potential, now in theChampionship, who after a sticky start was a class act, and MOM on several occaisions. Dabo is good L 1. and a booking waiting to happen. No contest really.

Have you been to many games this season?

 

[AStonesThrow]

Dabo over sterling for me

Am I right In saying that Dabo played for Vitesse in the Europa league last season? Arguably one of our most experienced (yet young) right backs we've had in the last 20 years, has provided inlets going forward creating a lot of space, been reasonably solid at the back (all bar a few placement and tracking errors which should be bread and butter). He, amongst others, are still establishing their place in a newly formed team, with players they've not played with before this season. Pretty sure many slated Grimmer early on yet for some reason hes become a club icon (good player but not quite an icon).

In the formation we play, the full backs have the 2nd hardest job on the pitch in terms of stamina and exertion. The hardest job for running and stamina being the ref

 

[AStonesThrow]

Stirling was an accomplished player with clear Prem potential, now in theChampionship, who after a sticky start was a class act, and MOM on several occaisions. Dabo is good L 1. and a booking waiting to happen. No contest really.

With all due respect, wasnt Roy Keane a booking waiting to happen too? Pepe for Madrid? Ramos? Doyle? Personally I'd rather see one or two of our players want to get stuck in and play proper football, rather than the Ryan Haynes type who want to tickle the ball off the opponent.

I know times have changed and footballs moved along, but imagine telling Chopper Harris or Billy Bremner not to risk a booking

 

[Garryb80]

Stirling was an accomplished player with clear Prem potential, now in theChampionship, who after a sticky start was a class act, and MOM on several occaisions. Dabo is good L 1. and a booking waiting to happen. No contest really.

Now not playing in the championship. Quick edit for you

 

[COVKIDSNEVERQUIT]

Don't over estimate the others, i believe we will be in the automatic positions at the end the season .

Agree, I said so before the season had started. onwards and upwards.

 

[Irish Sky Blue]

Stirling was an accomplished player with clear Prem potential, now in theChampionship, who after a sticky start was a class act, and MOM on several occaisions. Dabo is good L 1. and a booking waiting to happen. No contest really.

I would sooner have Dabo than Sterling. I liked Sterling although he started the season slowly and I felt he faded towards the end. I think Dabo is a more exciting player,tougher and stronger. I think he will get suspensions this season and his tendency to dive in may have consequences. However, a choice of Sterling or Dabo, I would choose the latter.

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

I would sooner have Dabo than Sterling. I liked Sterling although he started the season slowly and I felt he faded towards the end. I think Dabo is a more exciting player,tougher and stronger. I think he will get suspensions this season and his tendency to dive in may have consequences. However, a choice of Sterling or Dabo, I would choose the latter.

And dabo is contracted to the club so on that alone I would prefer him. I really like him and to come back from 2 own goals and not allow that to overly affect his game in the last 2 has been pretty remarkable

 

[CCFC88]

So they are great going forward, good at the back. But have they ever thrown a kettle over a pub?

And that's the real quiz

 

[standupforcity]

I would sooner have Dabo than Sterling. I liked Sterling although he started the season slowly and I felt he faded towards the end. I think Dabo is a more exciting player,tougher and stronger. I think he will get suspensions this season and his tendency to dive in may have consequences. However, a choice of Sterling or Dabo, I would choose the latter.

Agreed..also he's one of ours!!

 

[Liquid Gold]

Sterling only started to improve after his and the teams car crash performance away at Britol Rivers which was around mid October time

It was wet that day but that's taking it a bit far.

 

[Magwitch]

Dabo will be fine, thought although he defended okay Saturday his distribution was a bit off but I reckon he’s a good player who will get better.

 

[shmmeee]

Love how we’ve moved onto Dabo now Baka isn’t getting in the squad.

 

[ccfchoi87]

 

[block16]

Dabo is good can people fuck off with the finding a player to slate. We’re top ffs

 

[Deleted member 5849]

I'd rather a good start than a bad start!

 

[CCFC88]

You could also say that all the teams top of their league at this point last year made the top 6, which would meet most's preseason expectations on here.

 

[CanadianCCFC]

Top 2 will do for me .

 

[CanadianCCFC]

The thread survives!

 

[Covstar]

The thread survives!

Can see this thread coming close to beating the ''Elliot and Hoffman takeover rumour'' thread from couple of years ago which lasted about 160 odd pages if we carry on playing like this until the end of the season!

 

[harvey098]

Can see this thread coming close to beating the ''Elliot and Hoffman takeover rumour'' thread from couple of years ago which lasted about 160 odd pages if we carry on playing like this until the end of the season!

There was a Jimmy Hill one once that was a lot of pages and then ofc the “Conor Chaplin - Rumour”

 

[Evo1883]

You could also say that all the teams top of their league at this point last year made the top 6, which would meet most's preseason expectations on here.

Yep, 5 of the top 7 made the top 6 in the end