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Pendulum still swinging

Pendulum still swinging

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Alpine White

Determined to save our club
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Apr 25, 2017
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I'm trying to make sense of where we stand after our first 3 fixtures, the transfer window and our pre-season friendlies.

My conclusion is the title, that the pendulum is still swinging.

We've seen some very worrying signs with big swings into the red, with the sale of CR7 and little reinvestment, some poor performances in friendlies against lower sides and a Saints B team and a very lackluster showing at Millwall.

We've also seen real positives, like the hammering of Wigan and Bradford and potentially good signings in Bauer, Greene and Bayliss. It seems only Bauer has been brought in as a starting 11 player, though.

So, we need some time for the pendulum to settle in the middle so we can see where we really are.

I have the impression we have a better squad than this time last season and can put poor sides to the sword. That will also help when the inevitable injuries come. It also seems AN may have learnt some lessons and is willing to change things around more than he was.

I just have this doubt whether we've got enough quality to trouble well organized sides. Maybe the trip to Swansea will give us a better view on where we stand. I'm fascinated to see if King Louis starts, or we go back to Maguire alone up top and play pointless high balls to him. Moult's position as first choice CF must have improved this week.
 
Chartley said:
I'm trying to make sense of where we stand after our first 3 fixtures, the transfer window and our pre-season friendlies.

My conclusion is the title, that the pendulum is still swinging.

We've seen some very worrying signs with big swings into the red, with the sale of CR7 and little reinvestment, some poor performances in friendlies against lower sides and a Saints B team and a very lackluster showing at Millwall.

We've also seen real positives, like the hammering of Wigan and Bradford and potentially good signings in Bauer, Greene and Bayliss. It seems only Bauer has been brought in as a starting 11 player, though.

So, we need some time for the pendulum to settle in the middle so we can see where we really are.

I have the impression we have a better squad than this time last season and can put poor sides to the sword. That will also help when the inevitable injuries come. It also seems AN may have learnt some lessons and is willing to change things around more than he was.

I just have this doubt whether we've got enough quality to trouble well organized sides. Maybe the trip to Swansea will give us a better view on where we stand. I'm fascinated to see if King Louis starts, or we go back to Maguire alone up top and play pointless high balls to him. Moult's position as first choice CF must have improved this week.
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Good post. For me the pendulum reaches the middle at the beginning of October.
 
It appears following the last couple of games that the manager and players have sat down and thought "fuck it, we are where we are but let's make the best of a bad situation."
 
raefil said:
Good post. For me the pendulum reaches the middle at the beginning of October.
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If we could just string 3 or 4 wins together now we would have momentum and believe which are also crucial to " having a go" as a previous poster put it. We need that excitement around the club as we are not hearing any plan from anyone else.
 
paddysr said:
It appears following the last couple of games that the manager and players have sat down and thought "fuck it, we are where we are but let's make the best of a bad situation."
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I suppose the up side of not having brought in players nailed on to be in the first 11 is that the squad players think they have more of a chance of getting into the first 11!
 
Potentially we have a squad capable of a very good season, options upfront plenty of midfielders capable of doing a job. Only real concern both 1st choice fullbacks have no adequate cover
 
tcinders said:
If we could just string 3 or 4 wins together now we would have momentum and believe which are also crucial to " having a go" as a previous poster put it. We need that excitement around the club as we are not hearing any plan from anyone else.
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I'ld like to see us go 5 or 6 unbeaten. I would take a point at Swansea as a good result, though of course I hope we win!
 
The "squad" is certainly better than 12 months ago imo, especially if you take in the January window- which most fans seem to have forgotten about. Many teams didnt pick up anyone in January but we brought in 5, including (allegedly) breaking the transfer record for Potts.
this Squad is better placed to deal with injuries and suspensions and Bodin and Harrop are also back.

however the LB slot needed attention and i worry over the lack of quality at CF.... the most annoying issue for most fans is that it would have only taken a few tweaks and a few extra quid (which we have) to really push on!! Hugill and Cunningham on loan instead of Nugent and Bayliss would have given us a perfect squad to hit the top 6 without any real financial risk....

But at the same time, when i look at what the other teams in the league are spending, their gates against ours etc etc - we are already punching above our weight and actually finishing top 10 could be classed as an achievement..

overall i feel the "pendulum" has swung in our favour if we avoid injuries (in specific areas and Pearson cards)
 
A lot hinges on injuries.

For instance, Rafferty at LB against Bradford - fine.

Rafferty at LB for a run of games in the league, massive problem.
 
STF72 said:
Potentially we have a squad capable of a very good season, options upfront plenty of midfielders capable of doing a job. Only real concern both 1st choice fullbacks have no adequate cover
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Agree with that assessment. I hope the full back situation doesn't come back to haunt us.
I wonder if Browne might be a better back up than Clarke at right back given that DJ played very well in his usual role on Saturday. Not sure.
 
Far too early days for making sensible predictions about the season IMO

Traditionally we will only know when the 'bad weather’ comes in
OH I forgot it's here already, were as the summer gone?
 
For me the end of November will tell us more and give AN some incline as to whether or not we need extra quality or cover in the January window. It only takes a couple of injuries for us to be stretched again. So pleased that some of the fringe players like DJ and Harrop and to a certain extent Barky last night are stepping up to the mark. Rudd and Ripley two clean sheets in 2 games. A great pass from Ledson showed he has the skill to overcome his previous scant involvement. AN definitely has a lot of things to work out before they go to Swansea.
 
I'd argue that the pendulum never really stops swinging. We looked like relegation fodder in October last year and then suddenly went on promotion winning form. We then finished the season with relegation form. It was all a bit inexplicable at times. You just never know how things will pan out.
 
Yep, far too early for a cogent adumbration based upon three very different performances. Shite end product at Millwall despite lots of possession, utterly superb in our 3-0 against Wigan, and a cracking second string performance last night with some players showing form they haven't produced before (or for a while) by all accounts.

After falling asleep listening to the commentary last night I had a bizarre but enjoyable series of dreams about a mute Nicole Sherzinger last night and it's fair to say that I woke up with a swinging pendulum.
 
BigMarkLeonard said:
Yep, far too early for a cogent adumbration based upon three very different performances. Shite end product at Millwall despite lots of possession, utterly superb in our 3-0 against Wigan, and a cracking second string performance last night with some players showing form they haven't produced before (or for a while) by all accounts.

After falling asleep listening to the commentary last night I had a bizarre but enjoyable series of dreams about a mute Nicole Sherzinger last night and it's fair to say that I woke up with a swinging pendulum.
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Well let's hope for a shamazing performance at Swansea
 
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