On the one hand, our squad actually looks weaker than the one which finished last season (we’ve not replaced Chuks or Millar) and our signings have hardly been stellar (Dobson and Clare have acquitted themselves well but are hardly what the end of season hyperbole would have had us expecting by way of summer recruitment). And clearly the squad is a couple of injuries away from skeletal). On the other, this bunch has had a summer of Nigel and are clearly in a better place mentally and have a better basic shape than we had last season. And a couple of the youngsters are really whetting the appetite. We need some serious business before the window closes but with Saturdays task in mind I hope a vibrant Valley and the Sandgaard feel good love in will be enough to carry us through against a Massives side in turmoil. Half their likely starters are hardly likely to be there by the end of august. I’ll be tuning in with a mixture of hope and expectation. But a victory should not disguise the fact that we need some serious business to be done in the next three weeks.
A difficult one to call but it should be a cracking atmosphere.
It will be important to stop Bannon dictating the tempo in midfield. Hopefully Dobson and Clare will get after him, disrupt his rhythm and, with Albie's quality, get control of that area. I see that Wednesday's top scorer last season, the attacking midfield player Josh Windass, is out with a hamstring injury.
Think it's actually transferitus I don't think he is the only one either.
so many insurance policy predictions here, frightened to predict a win - we need to do a lot more business but our first choice back line is virtually in place, our midfield is better and our strike force is just missing chucks really from last year and apparently Steff wed r not in a great place - same as the crowd predictions - everybody being conservative for fear of disappointment
A difficult one to call but it should be a cracking atmosphere.
It will be important to stop Bannon dictating the tempo in midfield. Hopefully Dobson and Clare will get after him, disrupt his rhythm and, with Albie's quality, get control of that area. I see that Wednesday's top scorer last season, the attacking midfield player Josh Windass, is out with a hamstring injury.
Think it's actually transferitus I don't think he is the only one either.
Is that the same complaint that has stopped Harry Kane going in to training ?
Watching the highlights of their last game vs Hudds and they look really vulnerable against the high press. I think pressing and winning the ball high will be one of our strengths this season.
Hope we have the firepower to stick away the chances!
Not having this "paper thin bench" shite though. At the end of the day these young lads are professional players and very talented. They will be hungry to grab there chance and anyone who comes on, I expect them to grab the opportunity with both hands.
So much doom and gloom on here its embarrassing.
Yes they’re talented, you have to be to make it through the academy structure.
The problem is that they’re not as talented as what either team already has on the pitch.
Honestly not looking for an argument, healthy debate haha but as we are in league 1 our players have a platform to perform. Also they are untested, we wont know if there good enough until there given the chance.
No arguments here mate, just chatting. It’s a game of options and neither of us are right or wrong.
Yeah I know what you mean, and they may be good enough in time, but I can’t see any reality where Ben Dempsey coming off the bench is going to be able to compete with Barry Bannan.
This isn’t a brilliant crop of u23’s, they’re not in the squad because they’re brilliant, we just have a lack of players and they’re temporarily filling the gap.
That last sentence is a damning indictment of 3 months worth of transfer dealings.
I'm sure not even the most optimistic fan would have thought we'd be going into the first game of the season with no fit left back & a bench that is either filled with U23's or the old guard who are simply there to make up the numbers.
And I doubt whether much will change in the next 3 weeks either.
Not having this "paper thin bench" shite though. At the end of the day these young lads are professional players and very talented. They will be hungry to grab there chance and anyone who comes on, I expect them to grab the opportunity with both hands.
So much doom and gloom on here its embarrassing.
Yes they’re talented, you have to be to make it through the academy structure.
The problem is that they’re not as talented as what either team already has on the pitch.
Honestly not looking for an argument, healthy debate haha but as we are in league 1 our players have a platform to perform. Also they are untested, we wont know if there good enough until there given the chance.
No arguments here mate, just chatting. It’s a game of options and neither of us are right or wrong.
Yeah I know what you mean, and they may be good enough in time, but I can’t see any reality where Ben Dempsey coming off the bench is going to be able to compete with Barry Bannan.
This isn’t a brilliant crop of u23’s, they’re not in the squad because they’re brilliant, we just have a lack of players and they’re temporarily filling the gap.
That last sentence is a damning indictment of 3 months worth of transfer dealings.
I'm sure not even the most optimistic fan would have thought we'd be going into the first game of the season with no fit left back & a bench that is either filled with U23's or the old guard who are simply there to make up the numbers.
And I doubt whether much will change in the next 3 weeks either.
It’s not through a lack of trying. We’re working extremely hard to bring players in, that’s excluding the money we’ve already spent on Stockley and DJ.
It’s just how the market is at the moment, plenty of teams are in the same boat and it’s not a disservice to the effort put in by the recruitment team.
I disagree on the point of not much changing in three weeks. We’ve got 4 loan slots left and money left in the budget for permanent signings. Patience is a virtue.
Can’t remember there ever being a first game of the season where you can guarantee what the starting line up will be subject to any unknown injuries on the training pitch this week, illustrating the lack of depth. I reckon a nil nil.
Can't make it unfortunately due to being back on crutches again ( 2nd time in 4 months) gutted I can't meet the lads beforehand and enjoy being back at the Valley.
so many insurance policy predictions here, frightened to predict a win - we need to do a lot more business but our first choice back line is virtually in place, our midfield is better and our strike force is just missing chucks really from last year and apparently Steff wed r not in a great place - same as the crowd predictions - everybody being conservative for fear of disappointment
I am predicting a crowd in the region of 15,000 and Wednesday to beat us 1-2 however it has nothing to do with insurance. I am a realist and do not walk around with rose tinted specs on.
Hope I am wrong on both counts however talk from some of more than 20,000 and a resounding win I can't buy in too.
so many insurance policy predictions here, frightened to predict a win - we need to do a lot more business but our first choice back line is virtually in place, our midfield is better and our strike force is just missing chucks really from last year and apparently Steff wed r not in a great place - same as the crowd predictions - everybody being conservative for fear of disappointment
I am predicting a crowd in the region of 15,000 and Wednesday to beat us 1-2 however it has nothing to do with insurance. I am a realist and do not walk around with rose tinted specs on.
Hope I am wrong on both counts however talk from some of more than 20,000 and a resounding win I can't buy in too.
Thanks for the preview @ForeverAddickted Great to have these back, always a highlight of the week, and with the mess of almost every new thread this summer, happy to have some actual league football to discuss.
The problem I have predicting this game is that I have a good handle on our strengths and weaknesses but am totally in the dark regarding Wednesday. I am a little fearful of the lack of goals in our side, but we are solid, the question is where are our opponents going to be?
I remember that last season it wasn't the ability or lack of it in individual players that got to me, it was that they played as if they'd never met each other.
I sincerely hope and expect that won't be the case under NA this year.
Glad to be back at the Valley, but have to leave 10 minutes early for a gig. (Thanks Sky...) My Leeds-supporting mate who's at the gig said "don't worry, you'll be 5-0 up by half time". Yeah, it doesn't work like that. I think we should win though no idea of the score. Just looking forward to being there.
Can't wait to walk down Floyd Road with that first game mixture of excitement and anticipation (usually dashed by full time!). This is my 60th anniversary season and I am determined to be there despite harbouring a few age related covid fears. I fancy us to win this. We have a strong, solid, well organised and talented first 11. Let's hope we get the reinforcements we need before injuries start to kick in
Comments
COM'MON YOU REDS!!!!!
(So excited thinking about Saturday a bit of wee has come out!)
Is that the same complaint that has stopped Harry Kane going in to training ?
Hope we have the firepower to stick away the chances!
I'm sure not even the most optimistic fan would have thought we'd be going into the first game of the season with no fit left back & a bench that is either filled with U23's or the old guard who are simply there to make up the numbers.
And I doubt whether much will change in the next 3 weeks either.
FFS.
Hope I am wrong on both counts however talk from some of more than 20,000 and a resounding win I can't buy in too.
Moaners can moan we would have won if we'd signed more players.
Optimists can claim we didn't lose and we'll only get better when we sign more players.
Davison's late cameo off the bench sparks further debate while Clare's goal caps a fine debut.
The words "cringe" and "embarrassing" and the phrases "it's only a song" and "get over yourself" are used frequently.
No one knows or cares where Sir Valiant or scary Robin have gone when they see the 'Arry the 'Addick and Ikey the Fishmonger, the new mascots.
I sincerely hope and expect that won't be the case under NA this year.
My Leeds-supporting mate who's at the gig said "don't worry, you'll be 5-0 up by half time". Yeah, it doesn't work like that.
I think we should win though no idea of the score. Just looking forward to being there.
This is my 60th anniversary season and I am determined to be there despite harbouring a few age related covid fears.
I fancy us to win this.
We have a strong, solid, well organised and talented first 11.
Let's hope we get the reinforcements we need before injuries start to kick in