Will we stay up?

[The Bedlington Terrier]

No agenda, no criticism of VK but a simple question, "Will we stay up?"

[SAMMY BUBBLY]

Current results suggest No but I expect things to improve so Yes we will stay up.

[sinkov]

Too soon to say, we've lost against three of the best teams in the PL but beat a mediocre PL team in Forest. As ever, we only need to be above three teams to stay up. Ask me again after a dozen more games.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

Too soon to say, we've lost against three of the best teams in the PL but beat a mediocre PL team in Forest. As ever, we only need to be above three teams to stay up. Ask me again after a dozen more games.

I read this and it makes me think we are in serious bother: "Not sure Vinni has got the balance right in this window, despite spending a lot of money. He needed to strengthen the squad sufficiently to ensure we stay in the PL, and at the same time sign players with the potential to improve and increase in value, to sell on at a profit.

He's certainly signed plenty of players whose value could increase, whether he's signed enough players with the ability to keep us at this level, I'm not so sure."

[FromTheDarkness]

Disagree
Villa looked Very average against Liverpool. And Spurs will finish no higher than 6th, we have made teams look like top 3 by gifting time and space.

[Swissclaret]

It is far too early to tell. VK does need to come up with some changes. I think one season we went 10 matches without a win and still stayed up?

My only comment to sinkov’s post is that I hope that the «*old faces*» will not be overlooked. Brownhill was one of our best players against Spurs. Corke was better than Berge, who was anonymous along with Cullen. JBG was ineffective but I don’t think he makes much difference.

My biggest question mark is why VK thinks Roberts is better at LB than Taylor. We need some experienced men at the back. Taylor is proven at this level, can get forward and can deliver a ball. Apart from that he is a brave defender who takes no sh*t.

[outwoodclaret]

It is far too early to tell. VK does need to come up with some changes. I think one season we went 10 matches without a win and still stayed up?

My only comment to sinkov’s post is that I hope that the «*old faces*» will not be overlooked. Brownhill was one of our best players against Spurs. Corke was better than Berge, who was anonymous along with Cullen. JBG was ineffective but I don’t think he makes much difference.

My biggest question mark is why VK thinks Roberts is better at LB than Taylor. We need some experienced men at the back. Taylor is proven at this level, can get forward and can deliver a ball. Apart from that he is a brave defender who takes no sh*t.

Indeed when Gareth Southgate started playing Trippier at left back we said this was idiotic and in that case Gareth was still able to select an established right back. For Spurs VK moved his best right back Roberts and played him on the left but did not have a right back to call on to fill the space vacated by Roberts. At one stroke the defensive problems at full back were made worse on both wings! We need to sort out the defensive line up certainly and find the right midfield blend. Cullen and Brownhill should both start imo with Berge on the bench.

It is too early to call our season after three games which have exposed our limitations at trying to play attacking possession football against teams who are far better organised and with far better players than we met in the Championship. I certainly do not want to revert to the Dyche era. We will know after about 10 games how we are likely to fare this season. There is no point now bemoaning the fact that we do not have THB, Maatsen or Tella. We have what we have and I do not think it is beyond the realms of possibility that we can fashion an effective team out of the players we actually do have.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

Well said Sir Outwood.

[Quicknick]

Yes!

[Old Lancastrian]

Our next game is Forest - how we go on against them will indicate what the rest of the season could be like.
They will let us have possession and hit us on the counter - their forwards are strong and quick and they know how to defend. Their manager has them well drilled.If we defend like we have been we will suffer.
Hopefully the break will allow us to reset and go again.We only need to be better than 3 other teams 🙏