Happy if we would have won against Forest and be 2nd. We still have poor away form and issues that have not been fixed. However, we are improving which is good but does not make me happy yet
10 games in, happy so far?
- Thread starter utdalltheway
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It's a good point, but looking at our next 10 fixtures there's no reason to believe we'll be that much better off if we carry on conceding at the rate we are
Spurs, Palace, Villa, Leeds and maybe Wolves (depends if we show up) could all be difficult losses unless we sharpen up away from home
Happy that we are on track for a European place. A bit annoyed that we left it so late to sort out the keeper and cost ourselves points (and a league cup place) early on.
Fairly confident that we can be in the Europa League places and at least knocking on the door for 5th.
Fairly confident that we can be in the Europa League places and at least knocking on the door for 5th.
I expect us to finish about 8th, about where we are. There are teams who are basically better than us who I expect to improve. Our attack has improved but we don't control games and are quite easy to get at.
It would be useful if we could adapt the formation as many games are crying out for 3 in the middle of midfield but this seems to be beyond our manager.
It would be useful if we could adapt the formation as many games are crying out for 3 in the middle of midfield but this seems to be beyond our manager.
Can't have too many complaints looking at the table. I'm not sure I'm happy but definitely a lot more optimistic than I was.
That’s a very pessimistic take!
Leeds, Wolves and Spurs are all definitely in the category of bad teams playing badly. We should be confident of winning all those games. Although Sod’s Law means we play Wolves after they sack their manager, not before
Also annoying that we’re likely to play Villa after they’ve got over early season wobbles. In terms of fixtures this season it’s really hard to think of any examples where the list has done us a favour. Liverpool really the only example I can think of.
Spurs have only conceded 8 goals and scored the same as us. Meanwhile we've conceded 15, with what 7 of those being against teams we should be beating comfortably?That’s a very pessimistic take!
Leeds, Wolves and Spurs are all definitely in the category of bad teams playing badly. We should be confident of winning all those games. Although Sod’s Law means we play Wolves after they sack their manager, not before
Also annoying that we’re likely to play Villa after they’ve got over early season wobbles. In terms of fixtures this season it’s really hard to think of any examples where the list has done us a favour. Liverpool really the only example I can think of.
I'm genuinely not trying to be pessimistic, but conceding idiotic goals is something that's going to continue to catch us out, even when playing bad teams playing badly. If we can sort that out and concede lets say 8 in the next 10, then we'll be comfortably in the top 4.
The last month has been a significant improvement. Let's see if they can build on it
Our ratio of conceded goals has drastically improved since we had the brilliant idea of sticking a competent keeper in net tbf
Every team we're going to come up against is going to be abit of a battle. It's just how its going to go. We have to steadily build our confidence and get back that aura, which I like to think we're currently doing. But honestly you could throw us up against a Div 2 side and it would still be abit of a struggle even with our recent decent form.
Though I am confident we'll finish in a European place come the end of the campaign and win the world Cup.
Though I am confident we'll finish in a European place come the end of the campaign and win the world Cup.
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Happy with our Old Trafford performances. Our away performances have been as bad as anything we saw last season though.
Seen nothing that tells me this team is capable of a run of consistently good results; I don't even mean like 10 wins in a row, but just a consistent run of good, solid performances. So, for me it's not happy or unhappy, it's still a "we'll see".
The last month has been a big plus. Before the season, I said I think we should be finishing top 5, and I still think that. The first 2 months were far worse than I expected, but we did enough to make up for that. The next 2 months will say a lot. We should be in that top 5 at New years and start to solidify the position, given we are getting to a calmer and easier run of fixtures. If we are still fighting around 8th or whatever, then I'd say no and back to Amorim out. If we are in that top 5, then it's fine. So it's in the balance.
Saying all that, I would be lying if I said I think the 343 is ultimately right for us. Any formation can work to an extent, more depends on the way you have them playing. But as a potential upper level, I don't think we'll get to the point of competing for trophies with a 343. So there's definitely an end date with how far Amorim can take us. For now, it's fine. It's like with Ole, anyone can be the guy to be the transition and stabilize the club as a steady top 4/5 team. To go beyond that, I think you just know pretty quickly and I think that's a much harder level to reach.
Saying all that, I would be lying if I said I think the 343 is ultimately right for us. Any formation can work to an extent, more depends on the way you have them playing. But as a potential upper level, I don't think we'll get to the point of competing for trophies with a 343. So there's definitely an end date with how far Amorim can take us. For now, it's fine. It's like with Ole, anyone can be the guy to be the transition and stabilize the club as a steady top 4/5 team. To go beyond that, I think you just know pretty quickly and I think that's a much harder level to reach.
It's early days in terms of a turnaround, but least there are signs. I'll take that over what I thought 2 months ago. Im still not sure his formation can work in the premier league, especially to be so inflexible with that formation. By new year we will have a much better idea of where we are. Apart from Arsenal no one looks great this season, most teams have lost at least 33% of their games. We won't win every game, but this season we probably won't need too. As long as we are in touch with the top 4 or europe then the games we lose shouldn't be seen as a catastrophe. If we lose touch like we had last season, then that's when questions should be seriously asked.
I expected us to finish somewhere between 5th and 10th. We are currently 8th and only two points from second place and 10 points above relegation. I'm pretty happy with this. I even think we are right now more likely to finish top5 than we were before season started. And let's not forget the worst case scenario we had with Amorim. That haven't happened. 3.75/5 start for this season.
I'm looking forward to games again and not dreading my ruined mood on weekends after an early Saturday kick-off, for example. It's been far from perfect, but I'm happy with the direction we seem to be going towards. I'd give it a 6.5 until now, all things considered.
One thing I'm very happy about is our summer transfer dealings. Very good players and with the right mentality as well, great stuff.
One thing I'm very happy about is our summer transfer dealings. Very good players and with the right mentality as well, great stuff.
Not at all, to be honest. I still feel we look extremely fragile and most of our games are on a knife edge. We struggle to control games, are still disjointed in attack and teams still cut through us far too easily.
I have replaced dread with low expectations. It's a step of sorts.
Bizarrely most happy after this weekend despite dropped points.
The way Forest turned the game on its head I felt like we were reverting to last season and would get absolutely hammered, but they actually dug in and finished the game looking the more likely to score.
I feel like we don’t concede an inordinate amount of chances per game but we still concede a lot of goals. I’d imagine there is a lot of xG overperformance against us, and it usually seems to involve poor defensive positioning or an inability to deal with situations from wide due to a wing back issue (obviously Bayindir caused us real issues before Lammens).
The way Forest turned the game on its head I felt like we were reverting to last season and would get absolutely hammered, but they actually dug in and finished the game looking the more likely to score.
I feel like we don’t concede an inordinate amount of chances per game but we still concede a lot of goals. I’d imagine there is a lot of xG overperformance against us, and it usually seems to involve poor defensive positioning or an inability to deal with situations from wide due to a wing back issue (obviously Bayindir caused us real issues before Lammens).
You are not wrong. But i feel this is more or less problem for every team in the EPL fighting for euro spots. Outside 1-3 top top teams everyone seems to have problems to build winning streaks and control games consistently. But yes, this team has been and still is fragile. But i would say a little less than last season.
We’ve got more points than I thought we’d have at this stage of the season and we’re scoring more goals so there is signs of encouragement. I imagine you’ll be able to count the number of games we win away from home in the league on one hand though and that’s a big concern.
Let’s see how the next ten games go, if we can get 17 points or more from those games and not take a step backwards then I think I’d be reasonably happen given how bad we were last season.
Let’s see how the next ten games go, if we can get 17 points or more from those games and not take a step backwards then I think I’d be reasonably happen given how bad we were last season.
This, should never be happy being 8th at this club even with the shitshow of last season.
Happy, we’re moving in the right direction. Still need to fill some gaps in the squad but we’ve recruited well. I think we can be competing for a CL place come the end of the season.
Happy that we are seeing minor improvements, but overall, hell no.
We still can not string 10 passes together, can't control a football, Bruno still is all over the pitch and fecks us up defensively, Mainoo can't be integrated, Dalot still can't cross a ball for his life.
While we are very very slowly improving, this "improvement" had quite a bit of an element of luck in it, as Amorim pointed out in a few of his pressers.
Long the improvement may continue, but you I still either have a panic attack when watching them play or I fall asleep slowly.
We still can not string 10 passes together, can't control a football, Bruno still is all over the pitch and fecks us up defensively, Mainoo can't be integrated, Dalot still can't cross a ball for his life.
While we are very very slowly improving, this "improvement" had quite a bit of an element of luck in it, as Amorim pointed out in a few of his pressers.
Long the improvement may continue, but you I still either have a panic attack when watching them play or I fall asleep slowly.
Im much happier now than i was after the Brentford game, that was shocking I felt for the first time maybe we needed to let Amorim go.
Since then its been much better, I actually thought a point was fair against Forest a game we'd of definitely lost last season.
6/10 for me, beat Spurs then its a 7 if we win then 20pts from the first 11 games considering who we've already played would be a very solid start.
One annoying thing is waiting a week for each game win lose or draw!
Since then its been much better, I actually thought a point was fair against Forest a game we'd of definitely lost last season.
6/10 for me, beat Spurs then its a 7 if we win then 20pts from the first 11 games considering who we've already played would be a very solid start.
One annoying thing is waiting a week for each game win lose or draw!
Happy? No.
Really unimpressed with selection (Bruno midfield, Dalot), in game management (terrible in game subs), huge gaps in the squad (our left side and midfield) and our abysmal away form. Our GD is just awful at +1 as we are leaking goals like a sieve.
Nothing has convinced me that Amorim is the man for the job, and that players such as Shaw, Casemiro and Maguire should not have been replaced in the summer.
Really unimpressed with selection (Bruno midfield, Dalot), in game management (terrible in game subs), huge gaps in the squad (our left side and midfield) and our abysmal away form. Our GD is just awful at +1 as we are leaking goals like a sieve.
Nothing has convinced me that Amorim is the man for the job, and that players such as Shaw, Casemiro and Maguire should not have been replaced in the summer.
Case and Harry are one of our best performers this season.
You might have framed my position in a sentence.I am indirefent. I am happy when we win, but also part of me don't see any future in this system and manager.
If we finish 8th I'd still expect us to let Amorim go, we need Europe and anything less than that is a failure this season. Too many teams are shaky for us not to take advantage. But I actually agree with you, I think we'll end up around 6-8, our lack of midfield control and the over reliance on our older midfield pairing makes us susceptible. Then you have the addition of AFCON and too many important players being injury prone makes me cautious.
Overall I've been cautiously optimistic, we're moving in the right direction, but I don't really see a huge change in the midfield to make me confident enough in this team.
Just one clean sheet in 10 games bothers me.
Can't too argue with that.
Definitely not happy. I'd say right now I'm "cautious".
- Our forwards look far more dangerous than the previous crop and we present any team with danger now.
- The midfield is still a glaring issue. We can't build up through the central areas at all unless it's launching a quick counter and Case/Bruno is hilariously immobile and lacks any sort of ability in tight spaces as a pair. It causes us to overly rely on building through the wings and when a team commits solely to defending that (especially our right side like Forrest did), we look out of ideas.
- Lemmens is a huge breath of fresh air simply for not looking like a contest winner once a game.
- INEOS seems to have done well on our signings so far with the exception of Dorgu, who I simply think will never develop the attacking nous needed in that position and was a poor gamble.
- Amorim FINALLY adapted his approach in some games but he has to continue to do so. The rigidity costs us points.
So I'm not optimistic but I'm not dreading every game or disinterested like I was at times last year. I still ultimately don't think Amorim is the guy because I think his system at a fundamental level doesn't work in the PL, but for now I'll settle for a good amount of points and some exciting games. Europe is a must though. The league is too shaky to not be taking advantage and at least getting 6th.
- Our forwards look far more dangerous than the previous crop and we present any team with danger now.
- The midfield is still a glaring issue. We can't build up through the central areas at all unless it's launching a quick counter and Case/Bruno is hilariously immobile and lacks any sort of ability in tight spaces as a pair. It causes us to overly rely on building through the wings and when a team commits solely to defending that (especially our right side like Forrest did), we look out of ideas.
- Lemmens is a huge breath of fresh air simply for not looking like a contest winner once a game.
- INEOS seems to have done well on our signings so far with the exception of Dorgu, who I simply think will never develop the attacking nous needed in that position and was a poor gamble.
- Amorim FINALLY adapted his approach in some games but he has to continue to do so. The rigidity costs us points.
So I'm not optimistic but I'm not dreading every game or disinterested like I was at times last year. I still ultimately don't think Amorim is the guy because I think his system at a fundamental level doesn't work in the PL, but for now I'll settle for a good amount of points and some exciting games. Europe is a must though. The league is too shaky to not be taking advantage and at least getting 6th.
Satisfactory so far. Amorim and the management missed a trick by waiting so long to sign Lammens. It could and should have been done so that he was ready to go on day 1.
I think it’s around about where I hoped we would be, nobody thought we would be challenging and we are within a stones throw of the European places. Football has been better, we have some stand out players emerging and all with the backdrop of having had quite a difficult start.
Neither happy nor unhappy so far. My expectations for this season (bare minimum European qualification, preferably a CL spot) were possibly slightly higher than an average fan on here but the improvement since Sunderland game has been palpable and meaningful. If we play like we have since Brentford loss, it’ll be a good season
Couldn't say I was happy but am starting to feel better about the club.
Doubt it will happen but a midfielder in January would be nice.
Doubt it will happen but a midfielder in January would be nice.
Happy enough with the points and table position. Still unconvinced with the performances and the viability of the style, but there seems to be some cause for hope.
Yes, we've had the hardest fixture list so far by at least one measure.
https://www.soccerstats.com/table.asp?league=england&tid=10
It's fun to look at, and while I would put something on it I wouldn't read that as gospel. Certainly picks up what you were saying about not playing a bad team in bad form.
Has it's obvious flaws though. Sunderland are currently rated as one of the hardest places to go to on that (not shown in my pictures), partly because they've had easy home fixtures so far v West Ham, Brentford, Villa, Wolves and Everton. Early days yet so that table will start to iron it out as the season progresses. You can take something from it, but 10 games to go rather than 10 games gone is a much better time to look at it.
It's rating our next 4 as relatively easy. West Ham and Everton at home fair enough, Palace away trickier which is ok in my book too. It thinks Spurs away is a kind a fixture as well which I'd question. It's because Spurs have specifically been dropping a lot of points at home up to now. As a team they're better and stronger than that in terms of how good they are overall.
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We look a lot more dangerous in attack and defense looks solid. In any case situation seems to be better compared to the beginning of the season and it seems its going somewhere, atmosphere in the team looks really good too. We still look vulnerable in midfield though and can't control games as much as we should or at all. But good signs are there and it isnt depressing to watch our games anymore.