Match Thread Stoke away 10th August 12:30 - Opening day! (4 Viewers)

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Yeah I think some people could be in for a shock.

To be honest most managers without the huge amount of credit in the bank MR has would have been dismissed for hovering above the relegation zone in October/November. Not that it's right but it's par for the course in this division.

 

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[SkyblueTexan]

People were much more bothered by yesterday's performance than result.

Agree. I was in that camp as well

 

[Gint11]

I had tickets in the home end. It’s always interesting to hear the opposition fans’ views, in the moment.

Highlights:

- MVE: Our best player
- Dovin: Doesn’t dominate his area. They were calling for more crosses to be put in.
- Allen: not quick or strong enough.
- Saka: good first touch. Not used enough.
- Thomas: dominated the aerial battle, terrible playing out from the back.
- Rudoni: Skilful but missing final ball.

They didn’t really comment on anyone else, which tells its own story. There was a lot of chatter about the lack of pace and urgency in our play, and the fact we didn’t have a competent midfield, which meant our build up was too predictable.

Also, much as I hate to admit it, I did find the ironic ‘woos’ quite funny, after Twist & Shout. They were clearly annoyed that we outsung them all game.

id also take that with a pinch of salt. Some fans don’t understand football well and make negative comments on opposing teams from a tribalistic viewpoint at times.

 

[Boicey]

This is a bed wetting comment but the mentality of us first half. Like we were a bit scared. Of what? The occasion? The atmosphere? Surely not.

A side issue. But how many of our players genuinely think they could play for a better team or at a higher level? How many really have that ambition? And I guess want to impress.
Simms, Rudoni, MVE (maybe Saka).

 

[HuckerbyDublinWhelan]

To be honest most managers without the huge amount of credit in the bank MR has would have been dismissed for hovering above the relegation zone in October/November. Not that it's right but it's par for the course in this division.

2bh I think if we have a similar start to the last two seasons, I’m not sure Doug will remain patient.

Ultimately I think we’ll be fine, we’ll beat Oxford on Friday and it’ll start us up and running

 

[Macca]

Oxford had a good win yesterday, so won't be a easy game for us.

Absolutely but always disappointed to get beat at home

 

[Macca]

In addition to the few extra signings you’d think that most players improved over last season and are better also.

You'd hope so but still think it will be harder than people think to get top 6

 

[Macca]

Spending 40 million over 2 years to finish 10th would be a very very poor return at this level .
We are spending more than almost all the teams around us

It would be but that money was largely accrued by the sale and loss of 2 extraordinary players. I do take the point but not sure when you look at what the money has been spent on that it guarantees success

 

[HuckerbyDublinWhelan]

It would be but that money was largely accrued by the sale and loss of 2 extraordinary players. I do take the point but not sure when you look at what the money has been spent on that it guarantees success

The loss of 2 extraordinary players, but the rest of the squad was barely mid table. 40m around the entire squad should be enough. It doesn’t guarantee success - but what it does is put pressure on the man with the control to succeed

 

[Macca]

I'm not sure it's as good as people think, I need a bit more convincing after yesterday.

Same with me going back to end of last season too. Jury out

 

[David O'Day]

This is a big season for Torp, i'm not overly convinced about him to be honest.

There's a player there but most would struggle playing along side Allen yesterday.

 

[Perennial Lurker]

The loss of 2 extraordinary players, but the rest of the squad was barely mid table. 40m around the entire squad should be enough. It doesn’t guarantee success - but what it does is put pressure on the man with the control to succeed

What a load of drivel

 

[Macca]

There's a player there but most would struggle playing along side Allen yesterday.

The season is going to hinge on which way it goes for a number of players. Torp, Wright, Simms, Thomas, Kitching

 

[HuckerbyDublinWhelan]

What a load of drivel

How is it? The owner wants us in the premier league - if we keep starting the season 15 games in, he’s not going to stick around - that’s the price of ambition.

we can’t keep starting the season a third of the way in.

like I said. I’m still convinced this is our year but there are some glaring issues we haven’t resolved from last season after being one of the highest spenders over the last 2 years

 

[Trueskyblue20]

id also take that with a pinch of salt. Some fans don’t understand football well and make negative comments on opposing teams from a tribalistic viewpoint at times.

Not sure tbh, I’d say their assessment there is bang on.

 

[Perennial Lurker]

How is it? The owner wants us in the premier league - if we keep starting the season 15 games in, he’s not going to stick around - that’s the price of ambition.

we can’t keep starting the season a third of the way in.

like I said. I’m still convinced this is our year but there are some glaring issues we haven’t resolved from last season after being one of the highest spenders over the last 2 years

We've played one game

 

[HuckerbyDublinWhelan]

We've played one game

And the original comment was a response to robins credit in the bank if we got to October/November in the same position we have the last two seasons?

 

[Perennial Lurker]

And the original comment was a response to robins credit in the bank if we got to October/November in the same position we have the last two seasons?

We've played one game

 

[HuckerbyDublinWhelan]

We've played one game

As stated I’m aware - doesn’t mean we can’t have the discussion. I’ve also said I think we’ll be fine. I think we’ll beat Oxford comfortably.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

And the original comment was a response to robins credit in the bank if we got to October/November in the same position we have the last two seasons?

Which in itself was made by comparison to what tends to happen in this division. It isn’t about wanting the manager gone.

 

[Sick Boy]

What a load of drivel

How's it drivel?

 

[HuckerbyDublinWhelan]

Which in itself was made by comparison to what tends to happen in this division. It isn’t about wanting the manager gone.

I know - I was speculating how Doug King would react. I’d be surprised if he bucks the division trend

 

[Grendel]

I know - I was speculating how Doug King would react. I’d be surprised if he bucks the division trend

He will get rid of robins if we have the start we did last season

 

[Perennial Lurker]

How's it drivel?

We've played one game

 

[Chris1987]

Okay maybe Torp was poor but I’d argue Allen and Thomas were worse. Our other European players were the best of the rest, Van Ewijk, Saka and Haji.

Spend more time on your geography homework

 

[wingy]

They won comfortably yesterday.

Brannigan sounds lovely like a star in the making, bit of a feature on him before their game,scored 2!!

 

[BlueSkiesForever]

Spend more time on your geography homework

Don’t think I need to: Van Ewijk from Heerenveen, Saka from KV Oostende, Haji from Antalyaspor (only about 5% of Turkey is in Europe but they’re a member of the EU Customs Union and are apparently currently negotiating to become a full member of the EU (according to wiki), plus they played in the Euros so I’d say that’s European enough).

 

[wingy]

This is a bed wetting comment but the mentality of us first half. Like we were a bit scared. Of what? The occasion? The atmosphere? Surely not.

The referee?

 

[Perennial Lurker]

Don’t think I need to: Van Ewijk from Heerenveen, Saka from KV Oostende, Haji from Antalyaspor (only about 5% of Turkey is in Europe but they’re a member of the EU Customs Union and are apparently currently negotiating to become a full member of the EU (according to wiki), plus they played in the Euros so I’d say that’s European enough).

Haven't been on a lot today but I'm guessing we are going to end up in the conference by xmas and we need about 11 new players before the end of the window ?

 

[Perennial Lurker]

The referee?

He was woeful

 

[Chris1987]

Don’t think I need to: Van Ewijk from Heerenveen, Saka from KV Oostende, Haji from Antalyaspor (only about 5% of Turkey is in Europe but they’re a member of the EU Customs Union and are apparently currently negotiating to become a full member of the EU (according to wiki), plus they played in the Euros so I’d say that’s European enough).

Those famous Europeans Sakamoto and Haji Wright.

 

[BlueSkiesForever]

Haven't been on a lot today but I'm guessing we are going to end up in the conference by xmas and we need about 11 new players before the end of the window ?

Nah nothing really, just Chris randomly having another stab at trying to diss me for something that seems pretty obvious (i.e. our signings from Europe were the best of a bad bunch against Stoke). Normal day on SBT tbh

I still think we need more quality in midfield but I don’t think that’s a new revelation or anything, seems like most on here feel the same? So yeah, no new developments tbh.

 

[Perennial Lurker]

Nah nothing really, just Chris randomly having another stab at trying to diss me for something that seems pretty obvious (i.e. our signings from Europe were the best of a bad bunch against Stoke). Normal day on SBT tbh

I still think we need more quality in midfield but I don’t think that’s a new revelation or anything, seems like most on here feel the same? So yeah, no new developments tbh.

We need another midfielder that's a given . Wouldn't want to see Torp and Allen as our starting combination again

 

[Chris1987]

Nah nothing really, just Chris randomly having another stab at trying to diss me for something that seems pretty obvious (i.e. our signings from Europe were the best of a bad bunch against Stoke). Normal day on SBT tbh

I still think we need more quality in midfield but I don’t think that’s a new revelation or anything, seems like most on here feel the same? So yeah, no new developments tbh.

Nope . You stated that they were European players not signings from Europe in your original post. The forever moving goalposts.

 

[BlueSkiesForever]

Those famous Europeans Sakamoto and Haji Wright.

Obviously I mean our signings from Europe when I say “our European players”, any half-decent Cov fan knows Saka is Japanese and Haji is American Seems like a proper bellendy point to make tbh, just another Chris-special where we’re wasting our lives arguing about pointless shit