Originally Posted by
abbobrom
Calm down lads, this is our pre season. We have had three superb seasons under Nuno and we are now looking to change our system and transend and evolve. Three of last seasons regulars were missing and two of this seasons squad were not available. By my calculation that is virtually a 50% difference from last season.
Nuno must have had his reasons for letting Doherty leave. Jota, who we received a terrific fee for was becoming a bit part player. On his day he was fantastic, however, he rarely played the full ninety minutes, often on as a sub. Johnny is at the moment a big miss, and the way Podence has started, also effected our play yesterday.
West Ham, at the start of the month would have been seen as a side nailed on for relegation, however, after their performance against Arsenal, their confidence was on a high. Their first goal was a freak really, although well taken.. Atkinson let the Hammers take a quick free kick while one of our defenders was being pinned down on the half way line by a West Ham forward. Once the home side scored, they could sit back, defend and virtually say, "At the moment we have 3 points come and try and break us down".
They did this well and used our old system of hitting teams on the break. They bullied us at the back and our defenders who have been so good for several years suffered. It was our heaviest defeat for eight years...
We had much more possession than them but the statistic that mattered was that they scored four goals.
It will take time for the new lads to settle in, to gain an understanding and become a unit. They will, and you can put yesterday down to a bad day at the office.
Again I thought Neto had a good game and the subs that came on did well. However, I do think we are a better team with Dendoncker in the side. We have played four games now, winning one and loosing three including the Cup. Scoring three and conceding eight, not good for one of the best defences in the League last year.
On the bright side you could be a Manchester City supporter.